Located north of Duluth in the majestic Superior National Forest of the Mesabi Iron Range, Giants Ridge provides its guests with sensational first-class recreation and dining in a Minnesota Northwood’s setting. This premier family vacation destination welcomes guests year-round with its picturesque landscape, award-winning seasonal activities, modern facilities, delectable cuisine, and cherished events.
Giants Ridge offers incredible four-season adventures for every level of outdoor enthusiast. The summer months feature two of the nation’s most critically acclaimed championship golf courses, The Legend and The Quarry. Giants Ridge was the “Editor’s Choice” in Golf Digest magazine where it was also ranked as one of the “The Best Golf Resorts in the Americas.” The Quarry is ranked as the #1 public course in Minnesota and #4 overall, while The Legend is ranked the #4 public course in Minnesota and #14 overall. The Quarry is also ranked #30 on Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” list. There are very few golfing facilities in the nation that can claim such prestigious accolades for two separate courses, making Giants Ridge a truly unique place to enjoy this wonderful sport.
In the colder climate of the winter season, this recreation hub turns into a snow sports paradise with 35 pristine alpine ski runs, two snowboarding terrain parks, a snow tubing park and more than 60 kilometers of cross-country trails for snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and fat tire biking. The Midwest’s #1 ski destination added to its repertoire this past ski season with the introduction of two brand new, state-of-the-art ski lifts that bring eager skiers to the top of the slopes at twice the efficiency of their predecessors.
Fred Seymour, the General Manager of Giants Ridge, facilitated the implementation of the two lifts and was also instrumental in setting up the ski, teaching, and rental programs that are now available. With Fred, his team, and the new lifts’ help, this past winter saw Giant Ridge’s most successful season in property history.
Marketing has also played a fundamental role in recent success. Jaimie Niska, the Marketing Director of Giants Ridge, joined the team in May 2017 and brought her strong marketing experience as well as a familiarity with major local groups such as Explore Minnesota and the Iron Range Tourism Bureau. Her team created the “Bridge at the Ridge” campaign, a social media strategy to keep online followers in the loop and excited for upcoming events through videos with stories and updates from Bridgette, their Marketing Coordinator.
From the holiday dining specials to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Giants Ridge followers know that there is always an exciting event to attend. Benji Neff, Mountain Supervisor, has done a phenomenal job helping oversee functions such as their annual fundraiser, “Rampage,” that is run in partnership with United Way as well as “The Grind,” a thrilling bike race. Benji looks forward to this coming season and the implementation of a fresh biking program that will utilize the new lift systems as well as the many acres of exciting new bike trails.
Much of what brings Giants Ridge its acclaim is the quality of the pristine landscapes and natural beauty. Sean Peyla, Director of Maintenance, has worked his way up through the Giants Ridge team for the past 16 years and is now responsible for keeping the award-winning property stunning year-round. Whether it’s the gorgeous ivory blankets perfectly prepared for a skier’s delight or the pitch that’s been plucked from a golfer’s dream, John oversees all the golf and ski maintenance operations.
Giants Ridge also has three exquisite dining options, the Burnt Onion, the seasonal Wacootah Grille, and Bunkers Snack Bar at Legend Golf Course. The newly appointed Head Chef, Kellie Hunter, is the heart of Giants Ridge dining. Kellie grew up in a culinary world with many generations of Chefs on both sides of her family. She earned her Culinary Degree from Hibbing Community College, has held the Sous Chef position at two other fantastic restaurants, has opened three kitchens, and she is constantly trying to improve her culinary skills by regularly attending classes. One of the campaigns Kellie has introduced since she began is Sushi Nights on Fridays throughout the ski season which has seen tremendous success.
Guest Services, Inc. couldn’t be more excited about all of the great achievements of the Giants Ridge team. We look forward to continuing to provide our legendary service at this world-class property and are incredibly gracious for all of the team members that make it possible.