10 Jun Steele Hill Resort’s Onsite Pond
Steele Hill is an amenity-rich resort located in the heart of the Lakes Region. While vacationing, guests enjoy multiple indoor pools and hot tubs, miles of walking and electric bike trails, a free 9-hole executive golf course, exclusive fitness center, saunas and so much more. One of the main highlights of the property is the onsite pond located adjacent to the check-in and registration building. The pond measures at 330 feet long, 115 feet wide and 20 feet deep, dating back to the early 1900s where it was then known as a watering hole for the states third largest dairy farm located atop Steele Hill.
Today the pond serves as a lifeline for various organisms including amphibians, wet scaled vertebrate, aquatic plants, waterfowl and freshwater crustaceans to name a few. Once spring arrives, the pond becomes a lively habitat for the thriving wildlife. Canadian geese and native songbirds migrate back up north joining the returning Mallard ducks. Painted turtles and American bullfrogs reappear from hibernating in their underground lairs. Later in the spring, the resort receives a delivery of 200 eight-to-ten-inch rainbow trout to stock the pond for catch and release fishing. Steele Hill Resort offers many exciting activities pondside including catch and release fishing derbies, frog catching and evening s’mores at the firepit overlooking the body of water.
The Resort’s wetland habitat is the perfect spot for a relaxed, educational vacation experience. Guests can listen to and view the beautiful natural surroundings, gaining a better understanding of the native species at the resort. Visitors can observe the different stages of the lifecycles and habits of various animals including frogs and turtles and get hands on exploration while catching amphibians or fish. The pond is also a source of entertainment throughout the winter months as it converts into an ice skating rink where guests enjoy playing a pickup game of hockey or figure skating across the iced over pond.