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Testimonials

River Point Resort Testimonial Video                 ...created by Rob and Ellen Empson from Chaska, Minnesota        <Click on the video to watch

 River Point Resort has been owned by same "Koschak" family since 1944. Guests return year after year to enjoy our part of the North Woods, and to recharge, and relax in the natural ambiance of River Point's amazing wilderness peninsula. Following are just some of the many wonderful testimonials provided for your perusal.

If you have been a guest of River Point, and would like your testimonial to be included, please email it...add a photo if you like. We'll take care of it! 

 

"This summer will mark our 9th summer at River Point – our kids have grown up looking forward to coming back to the same cabin year after year, rekindling memories of summers past and creating new ones. It is like our home away from home for one week each summer.

 We love the Ely area and set out on a search for a resort that was quiet, family friendly, and embodied the Ely wilderness feel. After visiting many resorts, we found exactly what we were looking for at River Point Resort.

 We began coming to River Point when our children were two and four years old. We were impressed with the beautiful grounds, the lake side view of each and every cabin, and most importantly children of all ages are welcomed here. There are organized daily activities led by college students with a passion for the outdoors. Favorite memories for our children include making dream catchers & pine cone bird feeders, catching butterflies, howling to wolves, looking for animal tracks, and playing games at the beach.

 Steve, Jane and James have created an atmosphere where you can get away from it all. No phones, no TV, no distractions to having family time together in the great outdoors with cozy accommodations. They are gracious hosts, giving you your privacy, yet always available to help should you need anything.

 The lake is quiet with little boat traffic, which makes it perfect for quiet paddles in the canoe. We all love the hiking, boating and fishing, and days just hanging out at the beach relaxing, swimming and playing tether ball. The star gazing is fabulous – one year we saw the northern lights right from our boat dock. Looking forward to another summer vacation at River Point!"

                                           ~Bryan & Cathy B., White Bear Lake, MN

  

"My wife and I decided to do a quick little 5 day vacation to the Ely area. Having never been there before we knew we wanted a place to go and turn off our cell phones and computers and relax and enjoy each other’s company and nature’s beauty. When we arrived at River Point Resort we knew we had found the perfect spot. The accommodations were top notch, the staff was very friendly, and the location and scenery were unforgettable!  We commented many times to each other at just how peaceful it was to be there and how we rarely saw anyone, unless we went into town.  At the resort, we rented a canoe one day and paddled down the Kawishiwi River. It was so relaxing and beautiful. Other days we went hiking, visited the International Bear Center and International Wolf Center, visited the Soudan Underground Iron Ore Mine and also took a look at the fun shops and places to eat in town.  It was the perfect getaway weekend and relaxation trip.  Thanks for the wonderful time!"

~Justin and Alissa G.  Waconia MN

 

"Well, we made it home without incident. John and I really enjoyed the fishing and the resort. Hope you enjoyed the Missouri wine. Not ready to book a trip just yet, but hope to return some day. May your holidays be blessed and filled with family, love and good will."

~Humbly Yours, Dave W., Wright City, MO

 

 

 

 

"Our first real stacation in Minnesota was extraordinary from beginning to end! River Point Resort offered us the most refreshing week of our nearly four decades of marriage. We loved our accommodations and there are so many choices to bless each day in the midst of incredible beauty. We absolutely have a new favorite resort! Like us, you will find the wonderful host family to be the perfect icing and cherry garnish for this award winning resort."                        

                                                                 ~Carol W., Plymouth, MN

 

“Having worked in the business banking world for more than three decades, I was privileged to partner with many small and not-so-small business owners. Consequently, in new situations, I find that certain presentations and personalities continue to jump out at me.

Possibly my experiences have offered me a little more sensitivity for the need of critical components properly coming together to meet with success. The aesthetics of your property make it “a little piece of heaven on earth.” This is true only because of the many things behind the scenery. Your dedication and knowledge given to providing the very best through sacrifice, hard work, and attention to detail, is surpassed only by the genuine displays of your warm hearts.”                   

                                                               ~Dave. W., Plymouth, MN

 

“Just a note to let you know again how much we enjoyed our stay at River Point Resort. I’ve found in the past, that many resort owners have a tendency to exaggerate the quality of the accommodations and amenities of their facility. I believe that, if anything, you have understated yours. You are both gracious hosts and Nada and I found you a delight to socialize with! We look forward to seeing you again next year!

                                                              ~Daniel H., Downers Grove, IL

 

"When we want to experience the Ely area and it’s beautiful, rugged wilderness, wildlife, and solitude, there is only one place to stay, River Point Resort! River Point’s accommodations offer great views, are impeccably clean and nicely decorated. The grounds are beautiful! We have looked at many other properties in the area, River Point is the best! This family run business does it right. Steve, Jane, and James are very accommodating and genuinely nice people!"                 

                                                                ~Ron & Lynne P., Farmington, MN

 

 “My wife and I had a wonderful honeymoon at River Point Resort in Ely! We hope to come back with our family some day to enjoy your beautiful resort and Birch Lake. Thank you!

        ~David and Marie F.,
Grand Marais, MN

 

We have been coming to River Point for over 25 years because of the stunning location, the luxurious accommodations (we’ve stayed in several of them, each nicer than the one before), the courteous and helpful staff and because of the owners, Steve and Jane, who really go out of their way to make each visit memorable.”

                                                                ~Charlie and Jeanne P., Bloomington, MN

 

"Ely, Minnesota and the BWCA have always been a magical place to visit; our family has many fond memories associated with this pristine wilderness area.  Much like the changing seasons, so have our needs changed over the years in terms of selecting the perfect vacation spot.  We have tried several resorts in the Ely area and are thankful for eventually landing at River Point Resort. 

This summer will mark our fifth year at River Point Resort and we look forward to making the 900 mile drive because we know what awaits us.  The excitement sets in as we drive through the tiny town of Ely, marveling at her quaint shops and familiar Main Street.  As we drive through town and turn up the road, we anticipate reaching the entrance to River Point.  The mile long drive along a wooded roadway leads to what can only be described as one of the most splendid resort areas in the Midwest. 

The staff, especially owners Jane and Steve Koschak, are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and most caring.  I can honestly say they treat all their guests like members of their own family.  There is something for everybody – you can join in on many fun & interesting planned activities which are provided for guests, take advantage of the fine outfitting service if you’re so inclined to really rough it or you can go off on your own adventures without ever interacting with another soul if that is your desire! 

The accommodations are top-notch – I often joke with my friends that the “cabin” we stay in (Shifting Pine) is nicer than the house my husband and I lived in when we were first married!  Every comfort of home abounds and if you need anything – all you have to do is ask.   It’s like they’ve transported upscale suburban dwellings and nestled them neatly into the forest.  Even the pickiest of guests would agree that everything on the grounds exceeds expectations.

My husband would go fishing the entire time if he could, but there are so many other things to do!  We also canoe, hike, and just relax with a good book on the deck which overlooks the water.  It is a relaxing, peaceful and simply stunning place to spend a vacation.  Unlike other resorts or vacation spots, you actually feel rested and renewed when you leave.  There are so many reasons we keep coming back to River Point Resort – I highly recommend you see for yourself.’

                                                                ~Cathy G., Fishers, IN

 

 “We enjoyed our stay at River Point Resort. Great friendly staff and gorgeous lake. These pictures were from Birch Lake and the South Kawishiwi River, entry #32.”

                                                               ~Hank C., Minneapolis, MN 

 

“Jane and Steve…Thanks again for supplying such a wonderful vacation spot for us. The chalet was first rate, and the lake surroundings are so beautiful. We have developed a special spot in our hearts for this place. We look forward to coming to your resort again.”

                                                               ~Jamie and Jim M., Des Moines, IA

 

“When we go to River Point Resort, it is the benchmark start of our year—we relax, rejuvenate, and regroup. We make long-lasting friendships with people and animals! The accommodations are so pleasant and we feel as if it is truly our home away from home!”

                                                                ~Jane J. and Jerry G., Orland Park, IL

 

“River Point Resort is a wonderful place to stay for a vacation, honeymoon or just a getaway. Our family enjoyed all the hard work and friendly service from the staff to make our stay relaxing, for it was the first time we took our 3 month old little girl on vacation as a family. Thank you River Point Resort, Steve, Jane, and James Koschak and Staff”

                                                                ~Craig, Tina, and Hannah H., Isanti, MN

 

“You have a serene, restful, friendly resort that provides an ideal mix of activity, exploration, relaxation, and renewal. Thank you for all your help and hospitality, and to our guide, as well, for providing excellent guide service and instruction on our day in the BWCAW.

 It’s been a long time since we had a complete get-away-from it-all vacation and RPR proved to be an outstanding choice for that much needed time away from our routines. I want to come back right now, but alas, it will have to be in the future. I definitely want to come for a full week the next time. We’ll also be considering how many others in our family might want to join us at RPR.

 Until then, the image of the moon reflecting off the peaceful waters of Birch Lake at dusk while the loons call to one another in the distance will be firmly embedded in our minds whenever we need a quick mental break from the daily tasks at hand. All our best to you, Steve, James, Jane and the rest of the crew at RPR!”

           ~James and Janice U., Maryville, TN

 

“I’m back in the saddle at work and I’m wanting to close my eyes, click my heels and be back at the resort/Boundary Waters! What a journey it was, made some wonderful memories and more to come. Thank you so much for your hospitality, and smiles everyday—feels like we’ve known you forever. Where you live is called ‘God’s Country,’ the beauty says it all. Until the next adventure in 2010!"

                                                                ~Amy C., Red Wing, MN

 

“Thanks again for your hospitality! Our family truly enjoyed your beautiful area and plan on making it an annual event!

                                                                ~Karen M., Eden Prairie, MN 

  

“Thanks ever so for our two-week sojourn north. It was wonderful to get away…I was thinking how grand it is for you to have such a positive impact on the lives of so many people. It’s really cool. The setting is delightful; the staff has always been friendly and courteous and there’s no better location to actually “get away” from the rat race in such wonderful surroundings. Sure, you might experience cell phone connectivity issues…but, that’s one of the reasons we go; to get away from the constant bombardment of electronics! You can fish, swim, canoe, kayak, hike, shop in Wolf Den ( I swear we own half of everything they sell) or venture into town Ely for a few hours.

 Time is yours to do whatever…no one pushes you to get up/out and do anything (unless it’s a family member). We read, we read A LOT…on the deck, on the pier, on the beach; in the boat…we snooze and relax…and basically spend our time decompressing from the craziness of our “real” lives. You can sit and see/hear the loons, the eagles flying overhead, the laughter of young kids at the swimming beach, watch the rabbits nibbling the clover, see the chipmunks foraging for whatever they can, and the deer…oh the deer. This year, a doe and her fawn and the buck were evident (and visible) almost everyday. (Apparently, there was a moose on site, but I personally missed seeing it—drat.) In the evening, bon fires and s’mores are pretty much standard every night.

 The River Point experience is yours to make it what you will. This year, we added the significant other of one daughter…next year we’re also bringing a best friend from Oregon…and look forward to the year we’ll be bringing grandchildren, as well. Clearly, we don’t think you can go wrong at River Point. It’s an annual sojourn to reconnect, with nature, your family and your soul. A wonderful location to find inner peace.”

      ~Pam H., Park Ridge, IL

 

 

   "I enjoyed a wonderful few days in August 2009 at your resort with the Notaro/Llewellyn/Swanson clan. Having grown up, just up the road from you, there was a lot of sweet nostalgia for me. I was particularly pleased to see the resurgence of the bald eagles which we observed along the shores of the lake.

I have your webcam on my desktop and check it mornings when I get up at 0600-0700 my time here in Australia, being 1400-1500 your time. Not the greatest time for watching deer but I have seen a couple and saved them to my picture file. I had forgotten how bloody early the sun sets up there and have recorded some beauts. Looks like the ice is beginning to get pretty soft out there now and it won’t be long till we see the loons and boats out there again.

Wishing you all a very successful 2010 tourist season."

Kindest Regards,

                                             ~Roger D., Australia

 

"We had a great time vacationing at River Point. You have a beautiful place to call home and we felt so welcome during our stay. Our time spent at your resort was beyond anything we could have imagined. From the lake/river...the walks on the Trail of Reflections...to the comforts and privacy of our Villa [Aspenwood Villa]...we have many great memories. Our four nights went so quickly and we wish we would have spent the entire week. We have no doubt that our next visit will be longer. We are so happy that we chose River Point for our vacation! We spent many hours/days searching online for a place that we would want to come back to year after year and we found it in River Point!"

                                            ~Don and Laurie, S, Siren, WI

 

"Thanks again for supplying such a wonderful vacation spot for us. The Chalet was first rate, and the lake surroundings are SO beautiful. We have developed a special spot inour hearts for this place. We look forward to coming to your resort again."

                                           ~Jamie and Jim M., Des Moines, IA

 

"We enjoyed our stay immensely and look forward to our next return, hopefully sooner than later. We found the accommodations [Bayport Cabin] exceeded our expectations, and the hospitality of your crew was exceptional. It would be hard to imagine it to be any better! I'm sure I enjoyed myself much more than a stay on a beach somewhere like Kauai. When I was leaving, i felt like I was almost leaving "home" and have told several people I was in my element there.

I have told many already of our wonderful experience and won't hestitate to recommend your resort. Our tough decision may be as to whom we may bring with us next time, as our options are already lining up! Denise's father of few words, Gene, said he thought it was "great". Have a great summer and thank you again for making it such a special experience...it was also great seeing Denise catch her first fish!"

                                         ~Randy and Denise G. and family, Breckenridge, CO

 

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