Attention, cabin owners: your spring getaway just got away.
Counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin are telling vacationers not to visit their cabins, because of fears of coronavirus. Several counties have issued travel advisories, quarantine-in-place orders and requests that cabin owners do not arrive seeking woodsy alternatives to metro area sheltering in place.
“We do not need ‘cabin people’ coming up and demanding life as usual in cabin country,” said Tammy Brenizer, owner of Brenizer MotorSports in Frederic, Wis.
At the same time, she said she depends on the annual migration of cabin-dwellers for her business. “It’s a catch-22 for us,” said Brenizer.
‘DON’T BRING IT HERE’
The Minnesota two-week stay-at-home order went into effect Friday, and the month-long Wisconsin order has been in effect since Wednesday. The orders close all businesses not deemed to be “essential services.”
But the temptation to make a pilgrimage is strong for cabin owners, and there will be no physical barriers, such as roadblocks, preventing it.
That’s why the Wisconsin counties of Sawyer, Barron, Bayfield and Washburn felt the need to issue their own keep-out orders.
Barron County will let cabin owners in — if they agree to a 14-day self-quarantine.
“We don’t want you to bring it here,” said Sarah Turner, spokeswoman for the Barron County Public Health Department. “If you do come to your cabin, you stay there for 14 days, and do not shop at our stores.”
Not everyone says the get-tough approach is necessary.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. At least, not now,” said Matt Kilian, president of the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce in north-central Minnesota. “Cabin owners have a right to their cabins, they pay taxes, and they contribute to the community.”
Kilian said there are 2,500 seasonal cabins in Crow Wing County, and the businesses depend on them.
“A lot of retailers would welcome the business, as long as they do it safely,” said Kilian.
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SMALL HOSPITALS
The disease has set up a classic urban-rural conflict. Metro area residents bought cabins as a refuge from city problems like congestion, noise, pollution or even — at least now — coronavirus.
Outstate counties have vulnerable elderly populations and generally small hospitals and scarce medical resources. They aren’t prepared for a wave of infected urbanites.
Some of them have made the difficult decision to forego the tourism dollars that the region depends on, to avoid the spread of the disease.
Brenizer of Brenizer MotorSports worries about the missing revenue, but worries even more about her employees getting sick. “We are already working fewer hours and have laid off people,” she said. “We are not essential.”
VERY DIFFERENT TIMES
Conoravirus has not taken root in many rural counties so far, but the fear certainly has.
Cook County, Minn., officials said some locals wanted to barricade U.S. Highway 61, one access to Duluth and the North Shore from the south.
“We’re looking at times that are very different than what we’re used to,” said Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk, according to Minnesota Public Radio.
“I want it to be clear to people that we’re not saying we don’t want you and we don’t like you and we think you’re infested with germs,” she said. “We want you to be healthy so you can continue to visit here.”
‘TRAVELING TO YOUR CABIN IS NOT ESSENTIAL’
It’s unclear exactly how the travel bans will be enforced, if at all. Cook County officials said their advisory is not legally enforceable.
In Wisconsin’s Barron County, Turner said the sheriff won’t be turning back cars as they enter. But he could, for example, order visitors to stay indoors for 14 days.
“Traveling to your cabin is not essential,” said Turner.
A FEW QUESTIONS
The stay-away orders have left some cabin owners confused.
So far, Otter Tail County in Minnesota has not issued advisories. But if it does, cabin owner Mark Jensen would have a few questions.
He said he would abide by any rules, but wondered about the 14-day quarantine. Would he be able to walk around on his property? Would he be able to fish?
“After all, fishing is my favorite form of social distancing,” he said.
PRECAUTIONS UP NORTH
Barb Atkinson of St. Paul wanted to go to her cabin in Polk County, Wis., “to break up the monotony during this time.”
It was her neighbors, not the county, who talked her out of it. Several year-round homeowners on the lake asked the cabin owners to stay away.
“It is a bummer, but completely understandable. This is about the greater good, not our own needs,” she said.
In Brainerd, there are no confirmed cases in the county — which reinforces the misconception that coronavirus will remain an urban problem.
Nevertheless, Kilian sees precautions everywhere — especially in the restaurants. Most of the Brainerd chamber’s restaurant-members were open, with home delivery and curbside pickup.
He said a cabin visit will be safe and fun — as long as normal precautions are taken, such as keeping at least six feet from other people.
But in Frederic, Wis., Brenizer isn’t so sure.
“We love our cabin friends. We need their business more than ever right now,” she said. “But we are afraid what will happen when they get up here.”
