Meet your Cook County Neighbor: Carl Madsen
Feb 24, 2024 05:39AM ● By Editor
Carl and Jack, 2023 - All photos provided
A Boreal Community Media exclusive - February 24, 2024
How did you land in Cook County? How did your journey lead you here? As Co- Owner/Operations Manager at Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters, you have a lot on your plate. How did the decision to purchase the business come about?
In 1988, my landscape architecture professor at Iowa State offered a class in the Boundary Waters; he always used Rockwood Lodge. We stayed in the bunkhouse and had breakfast in the lodge - all seven of us paddled to Horseshoe Lake. I remember it snowing as we crossed Poplar Lake in late September. A few years later I brought my wife (Stephanie) up to stay in Cabin 6. We went into Vista Lake to stay overnight; as we were paddling on Horseshoe Lake a big bull moose showed up in the water right in front of us. We were hooked. We came up year after year, staying in different cabins, with different owners of Rockwood. I was working as a Union Electrician in the Twin Cities, with two weeks of paid vacation - all spent in Cook County.
Eventually I became the maintenance person that helps get the cabins ready in the spring, and asked my brother-in-law Mike to come up and help as well, year after year. We kept asking the owner, Mike Sherfy, "How does a normal person buy a resort"? We found a consultant that helped us figure out all the pieces. Luckily my wife's sister, Carol, and her husband Mike decided to pitch in with us, sold their house and left South St Paul to join us at Rockwood. We are all 25 percent owners, with all the big decisions decided by Stephanie. This Summer is our 9th season so it must be working.
We had a group of four retirees stay with us every year, and Gary was an avid hiker from Washington DC. The entire group was a lot of fun. Gary wanted to go on a longer hike, so I asked my friend Jeff Knaeble (and his dog Ava) from Trail Center to lead the way. We started at the Stairway portage near Rose Lake and hiked back to Rockwood. Gary was a lot of fun that whole trip. The hike on the Border Route and South Lake trail was pretty rugged but he kept smiling...great guy.
I joined when I was 17 and served 20 years in the US Army Reserves, the Iowa and Minnesota National Guard, and three times on Active Duty. I was a Company Commander 3 different times and retired as a Major in the Engineers. I never did see combat, and the deployment to Germany for Desert Storm was an incredible experience. I think the three biggest memories I have are from my five parachute jumps with the US Army Airborne School, arming/disarming a live anti-tank mine, and standing in a live minefield in Kosovo. Although the day I came home from Desert Storm was pretty special.
It's not as difficult as you make it out to be; in fact the absolute quiet is worth all the preparation. Wear your life vest and make smart choices, but just go.
I don't think there is such a thing as winding down during the busy season; it's like drinking from a fire hose. Customer service everyday, seven days a week, 11 plus hours a day. I really can't complain; I love it.
There's not much to do between October and May; we have one cabin to rent during the winter and usually there's a cabin project that needs attention. I work on the company's website, listen and talk with other countries on my ham radio (my callsign is NØGFT), and watch a lot of hockey. Mid-trail we have many great restaurants that I really enjoy.
What is your favorite part about your life, living and working where you do?
Often the stress makes me question my decision, but I simply walk outside with my dog and stand next to the lake. The incredible experience of just breathing in the clean air and watching the water is the best meditation. The people that I see on the trail and on my weekly visits to Grand Marais are all so welcoming, I feel at home.
A Boreal Community Media exclusive - February 24, 2024
How did you land in Cook County? How did your journey lead you here? As Co- Owner/Operations Manager at Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters, you have a lot on your plate. How did the decision to purchase the business come about?
In 1988, my landscape architecture professor at Iowa State offered a class in the Boundary Waters; he always used Rockwood Lodge. We stayed in the bunkhouse and had breakfast in the lodge - all seven of us paddled to Horseshoe Lake. I remember it snowing as we crossed Poplar Lake in late September. A few years later I brought my wife (Stephanie) up to stay in Cabin 6. We went into Vista Lake to stay overnight; as we were paddling on Horseshoe Lake a big bull moose showed up in the water right in front of us. We were hooked. We came up year after year, staying in different cabins, with different owners of Rockwood. I was working as a Union Electrician in the Twin Cities, with two weeks of paid vacation - all spent in Cook County.
Eventually I became the maintenance person that helps get the cabins ready in the spring, and asked my brother-in-law Mike to come up and help as well, year after year. We kept asking the owner, Mike Sherfy, "How does a normal person buy a resort"? We found a consultant that helped us figure out all the pieces. Luckily my wife's sister, Carol, and her husband Mike decided to pitch in with us, sold their house and left South St Paul to join us at Rockwood. We are all 25 percent owners, with all the big decisions decided by Stephanie. This Summer is our 9th season so it must be working.
Carl Stephanie and Fresca the summer before we bought Rockwood 2015
Any fond memories of a particular guest/customer that stand out in your mind?
We had a group of four retirees stay with us every year, and Gary was an avid hiker from Washington DC. The entire group was a lot of fun. Gary wanted to go on a longer hike, so I asked my friend Jeff Knaeble (and his dog Ava) from Trail Center to lead the way. We started at the Stairway portage near Rose Lake and hiked back to Rockwood. Gary was a lot of fun that whole trip. The hike on the Border Route and South Lake trail was pretty rugged but he kept smiling...great guy.
Carl and his dad Lawrence Madsen, 1989
Thank you for your service to our country. Will you share your past military experience and some of the places you were stationed with us?
I joined when I was 17 and served 20 years in the US Army Reserves, the Iowa and Minnesota National Guard, and three times on Active Duty. I was a Company Commander 3 different times and retired as a Major in the Engineers. I never did see combat, and the deployment to Germany for Desert Storm was an incredible experience. I think the three biggest memories I have are from my five parachute jumps with the US Army Airborne School, arming/disarming a live anti-tank mine, and standing in a live minefield in Kosovo. Although the day I came home from Desert Storm was pretty special.
Carl in Grafenwöhr 1991
For the beginner thinking of a first time BWCAW trip, what words of wisdom or recommendations can you share?
It's not as difficult as you make it out to be; in fact the absolute quiet is worth all the preparation. Wear your life vest and make smart choices, but just go.
Family photo 2023
How do you wind down during the busy season? What keeps you motivated when the days are long and extremely busy?
I don't think there is such a thing as winding down during the busy season; it's like drinking from a fire hose. Customer service everyday, seven days a week, 11 plus hours a day. I really can't complain; I love it.
There's not much to do between October and May; we have one cabin to rent during the winter and usually there's a cabin project that needs attention. I work on the company's website, listen and talk with other countries on my ham radio (my callsign is NØGFT), and watch a lot of hockey. Mid-trail we have many great restaurants that I really enjoy.
What is your favorite part about your life, living and working where you do?
Often the stress makes me question my decision, but I simply walk outside with my dog and stand next to the lake. The incredible experience of just breathing in the clean air and watching the water is the best meditation. The people that I see on the trail and on my weekly visits to Grand Marais are all so welcoming, I feel at home.
Brule river near Horseshoe Lake 2022
Follow this link here to learn more about Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters.
North House Folk School table making class, 2019
