Since the 2024 winter graduation on Dec. 14, the Giant City Lodge has been shut down for the season in order to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the year prior, as well as time to to spend the holiday season with family and repair the odds and ends around the lodge.
The Kelley family has run the lodge since 1981, leading this year to be their 45th year leasing from the state. Over these years, the many generations of Kelleys have adjusted and formed a fixed schedule in running the dining room and cabins.
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On Friday Feb. 7, the lodge reopens for the new season, and in order to prepare for this big day, the Kelley family and lodge crew work to prepare for service.
While on their approximate two-month break, the repairs started with a plumbing issue that had eliminated the use of their second set of restrooms. While a big undertaking, the services lasted a week and were able to be resolved by this season’s opening.
“I wouldn’t say it’s major, because it wasn’t, you know, it’s been a nice size plumbing repair that shut down our secondary restrooms,” Mikey Kelley said.
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Within the rest of the break, both the Kelley family and crew took time to share the holidays with family and friends.
“We are here for other people to enjoy, that’s kind of the point of the service industry,” Kelley said. “We’re here so other people can enjoy their families, so it’s nice to have that time with our family whether that’s going on vacation as family or just being around each other.”
SIU student and lodge server Eli Ratcliff said he’s excited to get back to work.
“Being away from work was nice, since I was able to go home and relax, but recently I’ve been really looking forward to get back to work,” he said. “I miss all the people I get to meet and be around at the lodge.”
As time got closer to opening, the prep to start a new season began. Three weeks before opening, the lodge and cabins underwent a deep clean and update.
“Every single season, we always do a deep cleaning and touch ups,” Mikey Kelley said. “Of course, the lodge itself was built in the thirties by the (Civilian Conservation Corps). So being an old building, there’s always something breaking that David (lodge cook) usually gets to fix.”
The deep clean goes from top to bottom: shining, sweeping and scrubbing anything and everything. The carpets are shampooed and tables move from one room to another to accommodate the cleaning.
The week prior to opening the dining rooms are organized, and staff prepare for the new season at hand. Feb. 6, New hire Wyatt Horn completed his training.
“My first day at the lodge started with firm handshakes and warm hugs from people I haven’t seen in years,” Horn said. “But, being lifelong friends with the Kelleys did not stop them from training me the same way as other servers. On my first day, I was taught about the history of Giant City, the business’ traditional values and of course the extensive menu. My biggest takeaway from day one is to prioritize customer service and hospitality.”
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