Minnesota’s Grand Portage Lodge and Casino is eagerly anticipating when the international border between Canada and the U.S. reopens so it can begin welcoming Canadians again.
Grand Portage’s enterprise administrator Brian Sherburne says Covid-19 has hurt the lodge, which in normal times would attract many visitors from Canada, or anglers visiting Canada, who seek lodging on their way north.
The U.S. has extended the border closing to August 21 even though Canada will open its side on August 9. The lodge has a casino, dining, bar, lodging, marina, retail, convenience store gas station, RV park and lakeside cabins.
Sherburne told the Toronto Star, “We are so looking forward to the day when we can welcome our Canadian friends back.” he said. “This is a symbiotic relationship and with all the northern businesses across the southern border of Canada being closed, it’s been a challenge for both sides and we would sure like to see that day when we could return back to normal.”
