Clear Lake businesses excited to start the season

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Published on Friday, June 3, 2016

Photos by John Drinkwater. Parks Canada staff Megan Cooper (left) and Keanne Brown perform a summer makeover on the Wasagaming Moose. 

By John Drinkwater

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Looking back at the 2015 season, RMNP operators are ready to thestart the new season. Richard Dupuis, Riding Mountain National Park’s manager of Visitor Experience commented on last year’s season, “We had the busiest [year] in 15 years. We recalibrated the counters at the gates last year and our figures show an increase of 18 per cent in Park attendance. Great weather helped as well. We are constantly improving our events and camping experiences.

The popular oTENTiks were increased to 30 and are being provided with electricity for heating and charging mobile devices etc.

During the winter, skating on Clear Lake was popular and the Lakehouse was open for accomodation.

We are being more stringent this year in boat inspections, with a reduction in lauch sites. 2,300 inspections were undertaken in 2015 with 45 vessels being decontaminated.”

Sandra Shwetz, owner of the Boardwalk on Clear Lake, said they had a good season, with many first time visitors. They evaluated their business and are providing more ice cream varieties. An all day breakfast will be available this year, comprising of a cinnamon bun, real or candy bacon and “eggs”, made with vanilla ice cream with lemon or orange sherbet topping. 

Leanne Krieger of the Clear Lake Trading Post predicts increasing business in 2016.

CAO of Friends of RMNP, George Hartlan said winter activities produced positive comments from visitors.

Val Morrison of Mooswa Resort commented, “2015 was remarkable, 2016 will be even better with our increase in rooms.”

There are changes taking place at the Lakehouse and its sister hotel The Arrowhead Family Resort.

An addition to Lakehouse will be complete by the end of June and will create a small meeting room, guest lounge and a breakfast room. New menu items will be available at their ice cream shop.

The Arrowhead, formerly the New Chalet, offers 33 rooms. Guests at both Lakehouse and Arrowhead can bring the enamelware coffee mugs, supplied in their room, to the Ice Cream shop, receiving a complimentary fresh brewed coffee.

Signage for Arrowhead Family Resort, formerly New Chalet.