Cabin Handbook

1056 Devil Track Rd, Grand Marais, MN 55604, Cook County, Devil Track Lake

Welcome to The Minne Stuga. We’re honored to have you up. 

How did we get here?

In the midst of the same ole conversation and the collective yearn for more less in our life, we started looking up, to an unkempt place free of digital distraction and full of wild. A place to kayak on a lake and let bread rise on the counter and make coffee the slow way. A place to read a whole book and play a long game. A place to get lost and then found, to be bored and get inspired. A place to listen to the bonfire crackle, the crickets chirp, the birds sing, and the tall trees whistle. A place to spot the big dipper, the sly fox, and the morel mushroom. A place to disconnect and reconnect. A place to make and a place to share—with you. 

Late July 2019, we found her between the tall winding woods and the Gunflint Trail, perched on Devil Track Lake in Grand Marais, MN, and we snatched her up as fast as we could. She’s a chalet-frame, one part chalet and a couple parts A-Frame. Her cedar-clad walls hold a nostalgic, warm fragrance and tell a story we hope we’ve preserved in the restoration process, while adding our design spin inspired by east coast charm, California nostalgia, and northwoods cabin culture.

Maybe you found your way up here for the same reasons—for peace and quiet—or reasons unique to you. Whatever the case, we invite you to check in to check out. Or is it check out to check in?

Either way, welcome away. 

Kevin and Melissa Coleman + The Minne Stuga Team

Table of Contents

Important instructions
Contact
Internet
Marshall Speaker
Range
Coffee Maker
Recycling
Air Conditioning
Heat
Projector
Charcoal Grill
Fireplace
Bonfires
Water Sports
Sauna
Babies
Check Out Instructions

Below are the most important instructions. Should you need in-depth instructions, you’ll find more below.

• We are on a septic system. Please only flush toilet paper down the toilet. All feminine products, Kleenex’s, wet wipes, etc. should be disposed of in the trash can.

• All trash must be bagged i in order to be picked up by our trash service. TRASH DAY is Thursday. Please drag the bin to the end of the driveway on Wednesday night and back in on Thursday. We do not have recyclying at the cabin. (See note on page 6 for ways to recycle.) Any loose recycling or trash placed in the bin will not get picked up and will create a trash overflow problem. Be sure to keep the trash can locked as we have hungry animals roaming about. Thank you for understanding!

• Please read the check out instructions prior to check out.

• For makeup removal, please use the black washcloths.

• For outdoor towels, please use the striped towels.

• Please hand wash all knives and pots and pans to preserve their integrity.

• The front door has a tendency to swing open with a mighty gust of wind. To prevent this, make sure you pull the door closed until you hear a click.

• You’ll find an additional refrigerator in the basement as needed. Plug-in prior to use.
  

For questions or concerns during your stay, don’t hesitate to call or text us at 612-460-1530.

Should you want to access the world wide web, the information is below. If you’re looking for ways to disconnect, that information is also below. One benefit of having internet at the cabin—streaming movies on the projector and music on the speaker.

How to connect:

Network: Minnestuga
Password: hyggeinthestuga

Ways to disconnect:

• Forget you ever read the internet password.

• Place your phone in airplane mode, using it only as a camera.

• Store devices in your suitcase. 

• Power off. 
  

To pair your phone to the speaker, simply tap the source button until you reach the Bluetooth icon, then hold down the button until you hear the pairing sound. Select ““Marshall” in your Bluetooth settings to begin streaming. Stream The Minne Stuga playlist here.

The projector and projector screen are located in the downstairs front closet for your use. Please have an adult help set up.

Screen

• Begin by pulling the legs of the screen down to open to a stand.

• Then turn the screen barrel clockwise until perpendicular.

• Near the top of the rod, you’ll notice a button/lever. Press to release the interior rod up until it clicks into place.

• Finally, pull the handle of the screen up and rest it in the notch to lock in place.

• To break down, reverse the above steps.

Projector

• Plug in the projector. For the size of the screen, it only needs to be about 3-4 feet away. Stack on the storage box and/or books to achieve the right height.

• Make sure the Roku stick is plugged into the HDMI port and the power cord.

• Using either the buttons on the projector or the projector remote, navigate to the “HDMI” setting to use the Roku. Now, using the Roku remote, login into your app of choice to stream. Be sure to log out before leaving the cabin.

• If the Roku freezes, try unplugging it from the device to reset. Note: It may take a second to load the app.

To turn the burners on:

• Select the dial corresponding to the burner. Turn to the flame icon and allow for a couple of seconds of clicking to ignite. Then select the desired flame for cooking.

To turn the on oven:

• Turn the temperature dial to the desired heat. This will not turn on the oven.

• Next, turn the dial on the far left from “OFF” mode to one of the designated modes below. This will turn on the oven. Return both knobs to the “OFF” position when finished.

Oven Modes:

Convection: This mode is like the conventional (traditional) mode with the addition of a fan. This is best for roasting, browning, and crisping. Not recommended for baking.

Conventional: This mode is the most traditional mode, with the heat coming from the bottom of the oven. Best for baking or, when in doubt, anything.

Defrost: This mode is best for defrosting without drying or par-baking (partially cooking).

Grilling/Broiling: This mode is best suited for roast meats (fillet steak, grilled fish, and vegetables), applying heat from the top of the oven.

We have a variety of ways to make coffee the manual way, including a Chemex, Aeropress, and French Press. We also have an automatic OXO Brew coffee machine that makes really great coffee in a stainless steel carafe.

To Brew

• Add a flat-bottomed paper filter. 

• Place the carafe with the lid into the machine.

• Determine the number of cups of coffee you want to make, and add the exact amount of water to the water tank. (For example: Let’s say you want to make 3 mugs of coffee. A mug holds about 2 cups of coffee, so “a cup of coffee” is actually 2 cups when brewing. Coffee for 3 mugs equates to 6 cups of coffee, 6 cups of water. Note: Our mugs run large, holding about 3 cups when full.)

• Now, using the black OXO scoop, add one scoop of medium-grind coffee per cup. (6 cups, 6 scoops.)

• Make sure the dial is set to carafe. 

• Press the power button followed by the number of cups to brew: 2-4 or 5-8.

At this time we do not have recycling. If you wish to throw your recyclables away, they must be bagged and placed in the trashcan in order to be picked up. If you’d like to recycle, you can do so at the Recycling Center, directly on your way out of town, or pack and recycle at home. See here for directions.

We have AC wall units in each of the bedrooms for those warm summer nights. Use the remote to set (not the Nest). Slide the bottom cover of the remote down for more options. To conserve energy, please set the temperature to 72° when not in use during your stay, if needed. Be sure the Nest is set to OFF when in use.

We have both infloor and radiant heat, depending on the room. You’ll notice a nearby Nest thermostat to control the heat for each space. Note: The Nest only controls the heat, not the AC. To control the dials with mirror fronts, swipe your finger up and down along the right side of the fixture. All other dials can be changed with a twist, right or left.

A charcoal grill is located off the side deck. Remove the cover before use and grill at least 10 feet away from the cabin. Please clean after each use and cover once cooled.

The fireplace is original to the cabin and was restored in 2021. Besides the cedar-clad walls and the perfectly pitched ceilings, the wood-fired hearth drew us in. I think it will do the same for you. Before stoking a fire, there are a couple of things to know.

• Check to make sure the flue damper is in the open position. When it is open, the “V” on the damper handle will be parallel to the black pipe.

• Next, open both doors of the fireplace. Place a couple of logs on the rack inside the fireplace. Underneath your logs, place a fire starter or newspaper and light. There is a lighter in the hidden kitchen utensils drawer.

• Once the logs have caught fire, place the screen in front of the fireplace while in use.

• The fire must be completely out before retiring for the evening, which can be done by spreading out logs/coals. After doing so, close both doors to the fireplace tightly. Leave the damper in the open position to allow leftover heat and air to escape up the flue. It’s safe to close the next morning.

You’ll find two locations for a cozy outdoor fire. For long-winded, marshmallow roasting, story-telling fires, use the wood fire pit located below the deck. For quick, short-winded fires, try the propane fire pit on the deck. (Note: this pit is closed during the winter months.) During the dry summer months, check the Minnesota DNR website for fire danger levels and burning restrictions in Cook County prior to starting your bonfire.

Wood Fire Pit

• To start a fire, place a fire starter underneath your logs in the rock ring, and light the corner of your starter with a lighter or match. There is a lighter in the hidden kitchen utensils drawer.

• You’ll find roasting sticks in the front closet for your use. Please clean and return to the closet after each use.

Propane Fire Pit

• To start a fire, find the silver propane fireplace valve key in the hidden kitchen utensils drawer. Plug the key into the small hole on the lake-facing side of the fire pit, and turn counterclockwise 1-2 turns until you hear a small hiss of gas.

• Press the nearby rubber starter button. If the fire does not start after a couple pushes of the button, turn off the propane with the key, turning clockwise, and make sure there are no rocks covering the igniter in the fire pit. (The igniter is the small pointy metal part on the lake-facing side of the fire bowl.) Once you’ve made sure it’s clear, use the valve key to turn on the gas again, and press the button.

• If you’re having trouble, carefully try lighting using the lighter from the middle top kitchen drawer. 

• Use the key to adjust the size of the flame, being mindful to keep the flame at a low-medium height to protect the cabin. Please do not leave the fire unattended.

• When finished, use the key valve to shut off the flame by turning clockwise as far as you can and until the flame dissipates. Return the key to the kitchen utensil drawer.

We have a canoe and several paddleboards for use during your stay during the summer and early fall months, plus a host of life jackets. Please store the boards upside down, fin side up. Please store the canoe upside down or sideways to keep from filling with water.

In May of 2023, we added a sauna from Sota Sauna Co. to help tensions of everyday life melt away. With an electric heater, it’s easy to turn off and on and takes about 45 minutes to heat up. You will find complete usage instructions inside the sauna, but here are a couple notes:

• Please keep children out of the sauna as the electric dial is easily accessible. Note: There is no lock on the sauna for safety reasons.

• Please remove shoes before entering.

• Please use the striped outdoor towels.

• Please store the sauna oil away from the heater.

• The light inside the sauna is a discrete black button in the middle of the backrest.

We have a pack n’ play and highchair for use during your stay in the first floor bedroom closet. The pack n’ play assembles in under a minute and the highchair quickly unfolds for use. Please wipe down the highchair after each use. You’ll also see plastic dinnerware for your use. Note: it is not microwave friendly.

From guest-to-guest the turnover is quick. To help make this more doable for our team, please help with the following: 

• Remove all used sheets from beds and place on the floor, leaving the pillows, wool blankets, and duvets on the beds.

• Place all used towels on the bathroom floor.

• Clean all dishes, running the dishwasher before leaving.

• Wipe up any major spills.

• Remove all food from the kitchen, refrigerator(s), and freezer.

• Turn off all lights.

• Close all windows.

• Make sure the flue to the fireplace is closed. The "V" should be facing the floor, not facing you.

• Summer: Turn the AC up to 74°, if needed. Winter: No need to adjust at departure. The heat is set for away settings.

• Lock the front door and place the key back in the lockbox.

• To ensure the next stay is just as wonderful, please make us aware of any issues, accidents, or stains prior to check out by text at 612-460-1530 so that we can prepare our turnover team.

• Happy trails home, wherever home may be.