The Mayhew Inn
107 W Wisconsin St
Grand Marais, MN
Named for the pioneer who platted Grand Marais. Six architecturally distinct units, harbor-view rooftop decks, and a Dragon Lounge with a wood-fired pizza oven, downtown on Lake Superior's North Shore.
About The Mayhew Inn
The Mayhew takes its name from Henry Mayhew, the explorer who developed the Gunflint Trail and platted Grand Marais in the 1870s. The current inn revives the name in a converted downtown building one block from the harbor, reimagined as something Grand Marais had never had before: a boutique property with the privacy of a vacation rental and the shared amenities of a hotel. Five individually designed ground-floor units occupy the building, each with a private coded entry and direct exterior access. The shared spaces fill in the social layer that private cabin rentals typically lack: a wood-paneled lobby with a working fireplace, vinyl records, and a complimentary ice-making bar, and the outdoor Dragon Lounge with its brick pizza oven and fire pit.
What The Mayhew Inn Is Known For
The Mayhew is the only property of its kind in Grand Marais, a town that draws serious outdoor travelers who have spent decades booking chain motels or driving two hours back to Duluth for a good room. The private-coded-entry model, the Dragon Lounge, and the rooftop Lake Superior views represent a genuine addition to the North Shore, not a renovation of something that already existed. Henry Mayhew opened the original hotel in the 1870s so travelers could reach this stretch of Superior's coast. The Mayhew Inn does the same thing, differently.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- WiFi
- Rooftop harbor decks
- Dragon Lounge with wood-fired pizza oven
- Outdoor fireplace
- Private backyard courtyards
- Shared lobby with fireplace and vinyl record bar
- Complimentary Mayhew Blend Coffee
- Free high-speed WiFi
What Guests Love
- Each ground-floor unit has its own private coded entry with direct exterior access and no shared interior corridors between arrival and the room door.
- The Dragon Lounge, with its brick wood-fired pizza oven, open-air fireplace, and outdoor seating, is a rare shared amenity for a property this size.
- Rooftop decks give harbor-facing views over the Grand Marais boat launch and out to Lake Superior's open water.
- Downtown Grand Marais location is walkable to restaurants, outfitters, and the Lake Superior harbor.
- Dogs are welcome in all indoor units.
- The full property sleeps up to 28 guests and can be booked as a complete buyout for events, weddings, and group retreats.
Worth Knowing
- Parking is in a complimentary lot one block from the property, not directly at unit doors.
- The full property sleeps up to 28 guests across all units and can be booked as a complete buyout for events, weddings, and group retreats. Individual unit availability may be limited during full-buyout holds.
- Self-service check-in means there is no on-site staff. Guests receive a property code and a unit code before arrival, and the Lobby and Dragon Lounge are shared spaces for all current guests.
- Grand Marais has limited cell service in some areas; the Mayhew's WiFi is noted as strong throughout the property.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
The Room
Five ground-floor units at the Mayhew, each architecturally distinct: the Plaid Cabin, Thunderbird, Fur Trader, The Storefront, and one additional unit. All use individual coded entry from the exterior, with no shared interior corridors between arrival and the room door. Each unit has a private en-suite bath, high-speed WiFi, and access to the lobby's complimentary Mayhew Blend Coffee. Some units open onto private secluded backyard courtyards. Dogs are welcome in indoor units. The full property (including additional upper-floor accommodations) sleeps up to 28 guests and can be reserved as a complete buyout for groups and events.
The Grounds
The Mayhew sits in downtown Grand Marais, a block from the Lake Superior harbor and within walking distance of the town's restaurants, outfitters, and galleries. The property centers on the Dragon Lounge: an outdoor shared space with a brick wood-fired pizza oven, an open-air fireplace, and seating under the sky. Ground-floor units open onto private secluded backyard courtyards. The Artist Loft has a private balcony terrace with harbor and lake views. A rooftop deck gives higher-floor guests unobstructed sightlines over the Grand Marais harbor to Lake Superior. A complimentary parking lot is located one block from the property.
The Experience
Grand Marais is a town of about 1,300 people, the last town before the Boundary Waters. The Mayhew puts guests in the center of it: a block from the harbor, walking distance to the Angry Trout Cafe, North Shore Winery, and the town's canoe outfitters. After dinner, the Dragon Lounge functions as the property's social center, with the pizza oven and outdoor fireplace running spring through fall. On clear nights the rooftop deck looks out over Lake Superior with nothing between the deck and open water. In summer that means kayaking, waterfall hikes, and paddling the BWCAW. In winter it means snowshoeing the Pincushion Mountain trails and dog-sled outfitter access a few miles up the Gunflint Trail.
Details
Grand Marais, MN 55604
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Mayhew Inn have EV charging?
No, The Mayhew Inn does not have EV charging.
Does The Mayhew Inn have WiFi?
Yes, The Mayhew Inn has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Mayhew Inn?
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 50 miles, about a 100 minute drive. Cascade River State Park: 10 miles, about a 20 minute drive. Tettegouche State Park: 60 miles, about a 120 minute drive.
How far is The Mayhew Inn from Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
50 miles, about a 100 minute drive.
How far is The Mayhew Inn from Cascade River State Park?
10 miles, about a 20 minute drive.
How far is The Mayhew Inn from Tettegouche State Park?
60 miles, about a 120 minute drive.
Is The Mayhew Inn pet friendly?
Yes. The Mayhew Inn welcomes pets. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
Is parking available at the Mayhew Inn?
The Mayhew has a complimentary parking lot one block from the property. Parking is free but not immediately adjacent to unit doors.
How does check-in work at the Mayhew Inn?
The Mayhew uses self-service check-in. Before arrival, guests receive a property access code and a private unit access code. There is no front desk.
What is the Dragon Lounge?
The Dragon Lounge is the Mayhew's outdoor shared space, with a brick wood-fired pizza oven, an open-air fireplace, and seating open to all guests during their stay.
How far is the Mayhew Inn from the Boundary Waters?
The Gunflint Trail heads north from Grand Marais into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Entry points are roughly 50 miles from downtown.
Is breakfast included at the Mayhew Inn?
Breakfast is not included. Complimentary Mayhew Blend Coffee is provided, and several breakfast cafes are within walking distance in downtown Grand Marais.
Can the Mayhew Inn be booked for a full group?
Yes. The property sleeps up to 28 guests across units and can be reserved as a complete buyout for events, weddings, and group retreats.
Does The Mayhew Inn have a pool?
The Mayhew Inn does not have a pool. The property has a shared courtyard.
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Things to Do Near the North Shore
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
50 miles, about a 100 minute drive.
The Gunflint Trail heads north from Grand Marais for 57 miles into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the largest roadless areas in the eastern United States. Grand Marais outfitters handle entry permits, canoe rentals, and fully outfitted multi-day trip packages.
Cascade River State Park
10 miles, about a 20 minute drive.
Cascade River State Park, 10 miles west on Highway 61, offers the most accessible waterfall sequence on the North Shore, with the Cascade River dropping nearly 900 feet through a series of gorges and falls before reaching Lake Superior.
Tettegouche State Park
60 miles, about a 120 minute drive.
Tettegouche State Park, about 60 miles southwest on Highway 61, anchors the central North Shore with the High Falls of the Baptism River, the tallest waterfall fully within Minnesota, and more than 23 miles of hiking trails above Lake Superior.