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Love Our Lakeshore: Why people keep coming back to Bayfield and the Lakeshore year after year
During this challenging time of change for our nation and for our national parks, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wants to shine a bright light – a lighthouse beacon if you will – on this very special place and on the people dedicated to protecting the national lakeshore for future generations. That’s the goal of our series entitled “Love our Lakeshore.” (You can tell us why you Love Our Lakeshore by filling out our simple form at this link.)
In this report Friends board member Neil Howk asks Bayfield business community member Rachael Lamkin, Assistant General Manager and Marketing Director of the Bayfield Inn, about the importance of relationship between the Lakeshore, the visitors and the local community, as an economic engine and as a special place worthy of our attention and protection.
Neil: What is your name and what business do you represent?
Rachael: My name is Rachael Lamkin and I represent The Bayfield Inn.
Neil: How did you get involved in this business?
Rachael: I was offered the AGM/Marketing Director position in 2016 while working at a seasonal business in the community. The Bayfield Inn has been hosting the community and travelers for over 100 years. We’re open year-round and are huge supporters of local arts, schools, music, community events, etc.
Neil: What does having a thriving Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and all its visitors mean to you and your business?
Rachael: Assuming we are in the tourism game it means a lot. Although we’re open year-round we rely on the busy summer months to be able to operate throughout the whole year. On a typical July day we host 100’s of lodging guests and can serve up to 700 meals a day in our onsite restaurants. It helps that our attraction is the best lake view in town from our rooftop deck bar/restaurant.
Neil: How important is the summer season to your business?
Rachael: Like the old saying, “make hay when the sun shines” the summer season is just that for Bayfield businesses. The Bayfield Inn stays open in the winter/off-season only so our locals to have a place to patronize, eat, play trivia, meet with friends and family, etc. but it is not a profitable time of year.
Neil: What do you love most about the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore?
Rachael: The Northwoods is a special place. It’s calming, it’s nature at its finest, people are friendly, the views are unlimited, and it’s a paradise for folks that embrace outdoor recreation. These attributes are obviously appealing as it shows in the amount of repeat guests that stay with The Bayfield Inn. We have many, many repeat guests that stay in the same unit and come the same time each year, and a few of our Apple Festival guests have been staying with us for 40 years!
Neil: With all the changes happening in the federal government, what is your hope for the future of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, as well as the park service staff who operate the park?
Rachael: We hope that a healthy balance can exist between over-tourism, park service staff and a small community and that the footprint of the National Lakeshore can remain pristine. I’m not sure that it’s always recognized that Bayfield is a town of just 400 residents and many seasonal businesses that do their best to accommodate and feed the thousands upon thousands of visitors each year.
Neil Howk began working as a park ranger/interpreter for the National Park Service in 1978. He worked at a number of different parks over the years and served as the assistant chief of interpretation at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore from 1993-2016. He now serves as a board member of Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
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