Where Grit Meets Quiet: Inside Grand Marais Barbell
When you walk into Grand Marais Barbell for the first time, don’t be surprised if your jaw drops. Quietly tucked into the scenic rhythm of Cedar Grove Business Park, the gym opens into a wide, high-ceilinged space and a grounded energy that makes you want to move. Grand Marais Barbell is a powerhouse, humbly built, but impossible to ignore.
Whether you’re in Cook County for a weekend retreat or a month-long stay, for people who live by their workout routine, skipping leg day just isn’t an option. And here, it doesn’t have to be. With options of daily and weekly drop-ins, family passes, and monthly memberships, this space is built for both short-term guests and the people who call this town home. It’s more than a gym; it’s a rare fusion of rural charm and professional-grade training ground.
Carmen Skildum, the owner and trainer behind it all, welcomes members 24 hours a day, with more equipment than you’d expect to find in cities double this size.
“People walk in and they’re like, WHOA,” Carmen laughs. “They don’t realize how big it is until they’re in here.”
First Impressions Matter
Walk through the front door and you’re met with a clean, intentional entryway, a one-of-a-kind desk, custom bench, cubbies, and hooks for your layers. Respecting the space and signage by removing my shoes, I entered the place where the growth happens. The gym runs 24/7 on an honor system- something Carmen says only works because people treat the space like its theirs.
“No outside shoes, clean your stuff, dont bring food- its basic. But people have been amazing.”
With high ceilings and plenty of room for lifting, the open floorplan offers just the right kind of space for whatever your workout demands. Music spills through the space- headphones or not, it’s the heartbeat of the gym.
The upstairs space is especially unique, made from a reclaimed basketball court floor transported from Michigan.
“It’s beautiful but also reclaimed,” she says.
A local craftsman installed it piece by piece. And now, Grand Marais Barbell is where clients stretch, meditate, and take in what Carmen calls the “good cardio views.”
The idea came during a winter of long drives across the state for her son’s high school basketball games.
“We kept seeing all these cool old gym floors,” she says.
With her husband’s contracting skills and a shared interest in using leftover materials creatively, they turned that spark into a stunning, sustainable design element.
“We wanted the gym to be built with as many creative aspects as we could,” Carmen adds. “It was a way to keep the project fun and less wasteful.”
A Gym That Listens
With views you absolutely cannot beat while working out, Carmen is open and ready for evolution. In just two months, the gyms layout has already changed three times.
“At first I had everything pushed to the outside and was like, yeah, this is cool,” Carmen says. “But then I realized… It was kind of intimidating.”
Each change reflects feedback from her members, literally. A small peanut butter pretzel jar doubles as a suggestion box- Iconic.
“People write stuff and I actually read it,” she says, “I want them to know they can just talk to me, its just me running this, no management. My numbers on the door.”
This isn’t a faceless franchise. This is a small business built with community in mind. Carmen handpicked every weight plate, machine, and rack. She invested in quality, not quantity.
“If Cheers Were a Gym”
Visitors are welcome, encouraged even. Whether you’re visiting and searching for a gym in Grand Marais, MN, or you’re a local curious about a new lifting space, GMBB makes it easy to walk in and feel grounded.
Summer in Minnesota usually means fewer gym-goers, people want to be outside in the glorious environment to revel in while they can. But Carmen has noticed a steady stream of day-pass users lately. Primarily tourists who still want to get a lift in before hitting the lake or hiking trails.
“They’re kind of like the sprinkles on top,” she says of visitors joining Grand Marais Barbell.
When you step inside, remember: you’re sharing a space that locals lift in, grow in, and return to day after day. Respect the gym, and it’ll more than return the favor.
If you’re just passing through, don’t overthink it.
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Carmen says. “One member recently dubbed Grand Marais Barbell as ‘if Cheers were a gym,’ so the vibes are welcoming and very relaxed.”
Whether you’re a seasoned lifter or just trying not to lose momentum on vacation, you’ll be met with a smile and a clean rack.
“Please make yourselves at home and enjoy the small-town gym vibe. It’s your gym too, even if it’s just for the week.”
Where Movement Builds Community
Right now, Carmen is still getting to know the community that’s showing up.
“It’s not just people I used to train,” she says. “There’s people I didn’t know existed coming in here.”
Over time, she hopes the gym becomes a town staple, a place for movement and connection.
“Group workouts, events, just people being together. That’s where I’d like to take it. But nothing happens overnight. I’m patient.”
That vision is already starting to take shape.
“We hosted a Memorial Day workout in May that was a fun time,” she shares. “Going forward I’d love to do partner challenges, in-house competitions, and more group workouts that bring people together.”
With the gym located right next to mountain biking and hiking trails, Carmen is even dreaming up a sort of local “triathlon” that uses the natural surroundings as part of the experience. It’s movement, but rooted in place and in people.
“I want it to feel like a gathering, not just a workout.”
In the end, Grand Marais Barbell isn’t just a place to lift. It’s a space that’s growing with the people inside it. Whether you’re in town for the season or putting down roots, you’ll feel it.
You might not know everyone’s name, but you’ll feel like you belong. And that’s more than most gyms can promise.