Birch Forest Lodge — Hotel in Chisholm

We had a great time at the Birch Forest Lodge. We chose this accommodation because of the other reviews but also the possible opportunity to be able to stargaze during a dark sky phase of the moon. And it didn't disappoint! Casey and Adam and lovely hosts. Adam was very helpful during the time I made the reservation and of course during the time we stayed. We chose to stay in Cabin 8. It has everything you need (except what they tell you to bring from home...towels, toiletries and hair dryer.) The cabin was in excellent condition, overall was very clean, had comfortable beds, enough dishes, pans, flatware, glasses were provided. We're older and our purpose to be there was for the stargazing and possible sighting of the Aurora Borealis. Fortunately the only night while we were in Minnesota that the Northern Lights decided to appear was Friday. We saw them in Duluth. Adam had photos of the same display on the same night but up at Orr, MN. He also took an incredible photo of the Milky Way and the beautiful star display with a camera way, way, way better than our iPhones could take! We got to see it in real time, but I'm so happy he shared the photo he took with me so we could remember how spectacular it was. The town of Orr is small but it has everything you need not far away from Birch Forest Lodge. Restaurants, gas station, grocery store. On the property itself, Casey and Adam have a lot of things for children to do, outdoor games, as well as the obvious lure: Pelican Lake. We're not boaters so we didn't do anything on the lake but they have boats available to rent. Other guests told us of incredible fishing expeditions. It's a popular place for that sport. The phone reception and Wi-Fi was excellent. We are on our bucket list endeavors and we're not sure we'll ever be up to Orr, MN again, but we enthusiastically and wholeheartedly recommend it to you if what you read in the website suits your needs. Our trip was wonderful and we got to experience Minnesota, the Aurora Borealis and the fabulous...

The owners of Birch Forest Lodge are very cordial and friendly. The grounds are well kept and neatly manicured. Our cabin was clean and tidy and comfortable. The lodge is welcoming and tends to the needs of young and old. They have games and activities and a life size chess board. Kids won't get board. Plus there is a nice swimming area for all to enjoy. The dock is very nice. There are vinyl rubber bumpers on all the approach areas to the slips. Electric plug-in access is posted on each slip. There are even chains where the bow of your boat is placed and you can easily hook your boat to the dock. Easy in and easy out. For fishing: we hit a negative week of unusual weather for August. Yet once we found the bass, we hit them good. Large mouth and small mouth bass were phenomenal. Those bass were "chunky" strong and clean. Very healthy fish. And they fought like the dickens. We would definitely visit BFL again. If you decide to visit, ask Adam (owner) about his rainbow bass and trips to the Amazon River. Very interesting. You won't be disappointed....

We stayed for 3 nights and had an amazing time! Our cabin was right on the water, which we absolutely loved. There was plenty for us to do, and the resort had a very family-oriented feel. Adam was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the lake—he gave us great tips on where the fish were biting.

The swim area was shallow for a long way out, which was perfect for our kids to safely explore and play. There were lots of clean paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes available for use, and the play structure was beautiful and well maintained and right on the lake.

We rented two different boats during our stay—one was brand new and both were very well maintained. The dock system made getting in and out easy, and Adam was always nearby and ready to help if we needed anything.

The resort is tucked away in the forest, giving it a peaceful, remote feel, but the town of Orr was just a short drive away and had everything we needed. Highly recommend if you're looking for a relaxing,...