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| Eco-Lodge / Dining |
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| Environmental Impact |
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Pickerel River Waterway system
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This is a wild, yet sensitive place that attracts and inspires people in different |
ways and, for some, provokes action. Such is the case for Verena and Urs |
Bartschi. Since taking ownership of the historic Mirror Lodge, they have been |
taking steps to better care for the environment. Now, those steps are becoming |
leaps and bounds, spanning every aspect of their business, from recycling to |
hot-water-system and composting toilets. |
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| Dealing with waste was first on the agenda. Right from the start in 2003, the new |
| owners began separating all garbage in order to recycle the waste carefully. |
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| In some cottages composting toilets were installed. |
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| The hot water supply of the lodge and the restaurant relies on the sun as its |
| primary source. Two solar-thermal hot water panels were installed on the roof to |
| feed all hot water needs of the restaurant and the lodge. |
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Cost is a certainly a concern for the business owner but, through these and other
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projects, the Bartschis demonstrate that caring for the environment is a priority |
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Water, in every way, is a concern for the Bartschis, especially because their site |
is accessible only by water. Old Mirror Lodge is only a short distance from the |
Maple Drive Parking Lot and dock. That is why they changed the 2-stroke motor |
on the pontoon into a 4-stroke motor. So they the noise and the usage of |
gasoline were reduced. |
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| Bartschis intend to keep taking steps to minimize the environmental impact of |
| their business endeavors and to promote awareness of what can be done. In |
| some situations, it requires a little extra initial expenditure but, in the long run, |
| doing what you can to protect the environment pays off, and everyone benefits. |
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| Personal story |
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| In Fall 2002 we bought the resort and changed the name from Lancaster House |
| back to Old Mirror Lodge. The name refers to the magic mirroring effect |
| of the lake on its surroundings. In our fully licensed restaurant we offer fine |
| Canadian dining. On the sundeck you can enjoy the most pristine scenery of |
| Toad Lake, Pickerel River,
and the greatest sunsets and star-studded skies. |
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| We provide All Inclusive Arrangements which means all meals are included, also |
| linen, towels, chambermaid service, boat and motor, and the usage of canoes |
| and kayaks. |
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| Our newly renovated cottages are direct on the waterfront with individual docks. |
| You have access to 70 km (50 miles) waterways of the historical Pickerel River |
| System which is famous for great fishing: Walleye, pike, bass and many other |
| species. |
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| History of the area |
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| Captain Ed Kelcey built a log house on his property at Toad Lake on |
| Pickerel River. In 1918 sparks from the smock stack of the passing steam |
| boat, the Nelly Bly, ignited the Lodge. |
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| Three years after the house burnt down Captain Kelcey built a tourist fishing |
| camp and called it Mirror Lodge. He added two cottages, catered to fisherman |
| and offered American Plan arrangements. During the war years the resort |
| was shut down. |
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| The lodge was sold to Norman Bottrell in 1945. During the 25 years the Bottrells |
| owned the camp they built two more cottages and made many renovations. |
| 1970 the camp was sold to Jack Cummings and then in 1972 to Tony Chinnici. |
| A year later Walter Johnson took over and sold the place in 1988 to an English |
| man. The name of the lodge was then changed to Lancaster House, Family |
| Resort. |
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Activities |
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