Pledges to Preserve “this Magical Place” and Take it to New Heights
We are pleased to announce that a dynamic new team brought together by Andy Levin and Mary Freeman has acquired Stokely Creek Lodge, one of North America’s premier cross-country ski and snowshoe destinations, in Goulais River, ON. The new team will be in place to run the lodge for the upcoming winter season, which starts on December 27.
The ownership team consists of Andy and Mary, who will be majority owners; Tim Kunin of Minneapolis; and Josh and Deanna Plath of Goulais River, who will also manage day-to-day operations of the lodge and trail systems.
Stokely Creek Lodge is often on Top 10 lists for cross country skiing. It boasts 100 kilometers of immaculately groomed cross-country ski trails across 10,000 acres of stunning mountains, streams, lakes and forests – as well as a separate 25 kilometers of trails crafted expressly for snowshoeing. The lodge and nearby buildings sleep 85 people in cozy comfort, and the kitchen prepares three delicious meals a day for up to 105. In the off-season, Stokely Creek hosts weddings, meetings, retreats, reunions, conferences and sporting events.
Andy Levin said, “We can’t quite believe we are now entrusted with preserving and polishing this magical place. Stokely Creek is not just a business. It is a sacred trust helping generations of Canadians and Americans leave their cares in the parking lot and get outdoors to exercise and experience one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Mary and I got engaged on snowshoes in nearby Lake Superior Provincial Park, and we have come to Stokely for years with our four kids. Without fail, it is the highlight of our winter.”
Mary Freeman thanked previous owners Gaylen and Susan Byker. “Over the last 17 years, Gaylen and Sue worked with many stakeholders to create a true winter wonderland experience. The whole place mixes a welcoming, down-home feeling with high standards in such a natural way. It’s not just skiing and snowshoeing – Stokely is deeply relaxing and has a real community feeling. What an honor to nurture and grow what the Byker’s have created.”
Deanna and Josh Plath leaned into the opportunity to tie Stokely more strongly to the greater Soo community and to bring fresh ideas to the business. “As people who grew up right here, avid skiers and parents of young kids, we can’t wait to expand the activities and options for people in the community to enjoy this incredible place. We will have new, magical lighting on the snowshoe trail up from the parking lot ready to go on day one, and you can expect lots of new events, learning opportunities and initiatives coming to Stokely.”
In a parting blog post https://www.stokelycreek.com/blog, Gaylen and Sue Byker shared that “Saying goodbye to Stokely has been deeply emotional for our family. We take comfort in knowing it’s being passed to a team who share our love for this place and who will carry its legacy forward with care and respect.”
The new Stokely Creek Lodge website http://www.stokelycreek.com and online reservation system are now live! Please visit to learn more and to join us this winter.
For further information contact Andy Levin at (248) 808-1420, asl@andylevin.org or Deanna Plath at (705) 206-8341, deanna.harten@gmail.com.