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Bay View Lodge

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Dining (6)
Room & Suite (1)

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About

#4 of 4 campsites in Tower
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In 1926, the first guests arrived at historic Bay View Lodge eager to unpack, hit the lake, reel in a limit of walleyes and relax in the great outdoors.Today, our guests arrive with the same enthusiasm. We want your stay to be relaxed and comforting- where you can unwind after a day chasing trophy fish, golfing, or just relaxing with a cocktail on the lakeshore. We have a variety of accommodations to suit every guest’s needs. Whatever you are looking for in a Lake Vermilion resort vacation, we have the lodging just right for you.Our Guests enjoy world class fishing and world class fun! We are known as the “hotspot” on Lake Vermilion due to our massive three tier deck, complete with a full service tiki bar. A guest of Bay View can expect to hear live music on the weekends and the occasional steel drum band. We are known for inventing our signature drink – the “Blended Bulldog”…beware they do bite! Whether you are enjoying the pristine wilderness, partying at the Sunset Tiki bar, relaxing in one of our 15 comfortable units, or enjoying a delicious meal from the Bay View Kitchen, a visit to the Lodge offers a vacation experience unlike anywhere else.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Beach
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Room features
Kitchenette
Room types
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Andy M wrote a review Jul 2019
Saint Paul, Minnesota399 contributions104 helpful votes
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Bayview Lodge restaurant is open for the first time in a few summers. The decks have 3 tiers of seating, and then the indoor bar area is open as well. The outdoor tiki bar is open and it is easy to get drinks outside and/or sit around the tiki bar. The food was beautifully presented on the plate. Food was good. The Cobb salad had generous toppings. Each sandwich (including kids meals) came with a large portion of better than average fries. I thought the guacamole burger was small, but had a lot of guacamole. My wife ordered the Bootlegger cocktail (a mockery of a bootlegger- a Minnesota invented cocktail supposed to be blended lemon/lime, vodka, with fresh mint- and there are flexible variations) which was not good. It was on the rocks with lemon/lime, but no mint. Service was helpful, friendly, and attentive. Drinks and food are reasonably priced for portion size and quality. The "resort" has changed to be a campground, and all the old rental cabins are gone. The restaurant has separate ownership who also own and operate the Vermilion Club. Bayview has had some ill reputation over the years. Hopefully this is the start of a new era!
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Date of stay: July 2019
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Dean W wrote a review Aug 2016
Minneapolis, Minnesota40 contributions3 helpful votes
This on again, off again restaurant is a good spot for a drink if on the water. Food is less than desirable so keep expectations low. Cabins are rustic if you are staying and the bar/restaurant is only open on weekends. Positive - located on a great part of Vermilion with a nice outdoor bar.
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Date of stay: August 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
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Janet C wrote a review May 2016
New Lisbon, Wisconsin2 contributions
Great lake, fishing was ok. Cabin was nice but rustic. No tv which was wonderful. Bar and restaurant was a bit pricey but food was excellent. Owner and staff were very friendly and helpful. Convenience store and bait shop less than 5 miles away.
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Date of stay: May 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
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Krista R wrote a review Jul 2014
Freeport, Minnesota2 contributions9 helpful votes
We stayed at the Bayview for 3 nights and our cabin was horribly dirty. The bathtub and toilet were as brown as dirt. There were ants in the toaster. You couldn't even see out the filthy windows of the cabin. The corners of the rooms were thick with cobwebs. The dumpsters outside were overflowing with trash. The mattresses must be about 30 years old. There were no shades on the windows. The fridge would not shut tight. The staff never tried to contact us during our stay. When I requested a discount the owner called me a "deadbeat."
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Date of stay: July 2014
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chuch666 wrote a review Oct 2013
5 contributions2 helpful votes
To all the winging reviews use are very stuck up this place I held my 30th bday at and had a blast ok breaky aint special but it is breaky bacon is there thats all you need .we are ozzy not british .this place gets a good review from me cause im ozzy not stuck up ozzy.and there isnt a thing wrong with room 604 righto .we coming back soon .and price wise not bad just dont raise it any hire it at its peak.the only thing ill pick at is the doors slam shut hate to see a kid cop that on the arm or leg .ok :-)
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Date of stay: October 2013Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Abbi N wrote a review Oct 2012
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota1 contribution3 helpful votes
My girlfriends and I went to Bayview with no expectations! We wanted to just have a great time, and get away for the weekend. We honestly had the BEST time! We didn't want to leave. The staff was awesome, super friendly, accommodating, etc..Our Cabin was roomy, rustic, clean. We were able to bring our own alcohol, food, we dressed up in 80's gear all weekend, and all the other guests just loved it:) We also enjoyed eating and drinking at the bar/restaurant. Great Food and drinks! We are planning on going back semi annually. It is the perfect spot for a bachelor/bachelorette weekend. You feel like you can do anything, be yourself, just have a great time! A big thank you to the whole staff, you guys ROCK! See you again soon!
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Date of stay: August 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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A-dubbbb wrote a review Oct 2012
Minnesota8 contributions9 helpful votes
My family stayed at this resort in early September and was very disappointed. We knew ahead of time that this place had a bar and restaurant and this was one of the reasons why we decided to stay at this resort. It was very obvious that the bar/restaurant was where all the attention went and that the cabins and guests were a very distant 2nd. To keep this review as short as possible, the general theme of our stay was that no one cared about the condition of the resort or the guests staying at the resort. The grounds of this resort continuously had beer bottles, plastic cups and general trash through out our stay. At no time did we see any attempt to keep the place clean. Overall it looked like a dump. Our cabin needed the housekeepers to come back and put clean sheets on one of the beds. The hours of the lodged changed to opening at 3pm mid stay without notification so any sort of help was next to impossible including checking out. To my knowledge our family was the only people at the resort. The owner/operator was notified of everything in this review via email several weeks ago and I have not received any response which further proves this place does not deserve anyone's business.
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Date of stay: September 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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MonsterMusic wrote a review Sept 2012
Grand Rapids, Minnesota1 contribution
We had a wonderful stay at Bay View Lodge. Clean cabins with a fantastic view of beautiful Lake Vermilion. Food was excellent and well worth the wait not to mention the atmosphere of the tiki bar/deck over looking the lake.
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Date of stay: July 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Erin P wrote a review Sept 2012
Minneapolis1 contribution2 helpful votes
I’ve come up to Bay View two summers in a row now to celebrate my birthday. Last year, I was also recovering from a pretty nasty divorce, and a trip to Bay View Lodge was just what the doctor ordered. Anyone who has been through the Big D, or had a troubled time in their life, should be required to spend a weekend here. You couldn’t pay for better therapy. You are truly able to get away from it all here, and much like Vegas, what happens here stays here. The scenic beauty of Lake Vermilion, or the Big V, as the locals lovingly call it, is a great backdrop for cutting loose and partying. We especially loved taking as many White Dog shots as we could handle (a favorite local pastime) and Toni-ing drinks into the bar. The tiki bar is a great spot to start the night out – last year as we sat out there and enjoyed the night, the bartender stepped away very briefly, and we witnessed marshal law breaking out. People jumped over the bar and grabbed liquor bottles; others were hoisted over by their ankles and guzzled beer straight from the tap. It was rowdy and out of control, but my guests and I were delighted and amused by the laid back nature of this place. If the crowd gets hammered enough, the kitchen will serve platters of breadsticks to try to soak up some liquor so you feel like you can drink even more. This year, we were treated to an impromptu fireworks display in the form of a couple drunks lighting some off from the lawn outside our cabin, which was a fun and celebratory addition to our evening of getting hammered and dancing until we died (or got wine-eyed). None of the doors work in this place, which is amazing – I was kicking in doors all weekend, feeling like Chuck Norris. If you visit on a weekend when the DIVAS are playing – get ready. We were treated to a visit by them this year. These sassy ladies will sing their way into your heart with show tunes and witty repartee. The cast of characters running around really cannot be described, but here’s my best try at a snapshot of the fine people I have met at this place over my last two visits: The Chainsaw Brothers, Bobby and Charlie –were working on the cleanup at the Soudan mine. Biggest men I have ever seen in my life. Favorite activities are taking mystery shots, pouring gasoline on open flames, and lifting women up to crack their backs. Pretty sure one of them also left their underwear on our lawn the last night. “I Just Farted” Jessica – an ambitious young woman who, alongside her belligerent drunk of a boyfriend Mike, got out of small town MN and escaped to Eagan, where she and Mike attend community college and live the American dream on a daily basis. Drunk Sarah – this lovely lady made an appearance both years although was in much better form the first year, when she walked around biting everyone at the bar. May or may not have rabies. Tall. Went home with some Persian pop stars the first year. Toni “Dick Stick” – this woman was a groupie with the band playing there the first year, and shared her most prized possession with us – a lipstick in the form of male genitalia. It was breathtaking, minus the slightly unsettling purple color. She also gave us some of the sagest advice I’ve ever received: “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. But, if you do, name it after me.” And, of course, “It’s a Kool. It’ll either cure ya or kill ya.” The Carrier Men – these guys were up both years, and are almost entirely responsible for the fun I’ve had at Bay View. They go up every year to fish and party, and these guys really know how to cut loose. There is one man in particular who holds a very special place in my heart, and to who I am forever indebted for helping me to get through a very trying time in my life. OLD TIM – the man, the legend. A two-time veteran of the Big D, Tim is full of life advice, kind words, real talk, and, most importantly, good weed. There is really no way to describe this man except to say he is your best dream and your worst nightmare wrapped in a bow of foul language and chauvinism. He single-handedly broke up a race war happening by the swing set this year, using just the power of his words. He is a poet, he is a scholar, he is a philosopher. He is passionate about the female menses. He will take you to a crescendo like you’ve never seen before, akin to seeing a double rainbow or a split embryo. This man is the only reason I recovered from my divorce, and he has taught me the true meaning of intimacy. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you like to have fun, party, get wild, and crescendo, this is the place for you. Don’t be an idiot and bring your family to a place that is made for us folks who don’t have one and don’t want you getting in the way of our good time. Insider tip: look for the sauna next to the fish house. Great spot to hide out with a new friend, if you know what I mean (wink). I’ve already booked for 2013 and am counting down the days.
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Date of stay: June 2012
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Angelhunter87 wrote a review Sept 2012
Bovey Tracey, United Kingdom1 contribution
During the day it's peaceful with great fishing. By night they have amazing bands that everyone will enjoy with entertaining fun staff and some of the best food I have ever tasted. The cabins are cozy and clean making you never want to leave. I'm counting down the days until I can return to the wonderful place known as Bay View Lodge.
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Date of stay: August 2012
Value
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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LOCATION
United StatesMinnesotaTower
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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BAY VIEW LODGE: See 21 Reviews, Price Comparison and 38 Photos (Tower, MN) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Bay View Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Bay View Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Pier 77 Mini-Golf (3.2 km), The Vermilion Club (3.4 km), and Fortune Bay Resort Casino (4.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Bay View Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Bay View Lodge?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Bay View Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Bay View Lodge?
Conveniently located restaurants include Vermilion Club, The Wilderness Grill, and Sunset Steakhouse.
Are pets allowed at Bay View Lodge?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Is Bay View Lodge accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.