About South Pier Inn
South Pier Inn is a family-owned inn on Duluth’s Lake Superior shoreline, thoughtfully tucked beside the
Aerial Lift Bridge on Park Point. What began as a small, independent hotel has become a tradition for many of
our guests—families who first visited as children and now return with families of their own.
We’ve always believed that a good stay is about more than a room. It’s about the feeling you get when you walk
through the door, the view waiting just outside your window, and the small, thoughtful details that make your
time here easy and memorable.
Our Story
Rooted in Duluth and family
In April 2001, the Sola family broke ground on the site where the South Pier Inn is located today adjacent to Canal Park. Construction continued through the following winter, and in May 2002, the Duluth hotel opened for business. Following its grand opening, the South Pier Inn received national acclaim, drawing media attention from such notable sources as the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the New York Post. In December 2013, the South Pier Inn was awarded “Small Hotel of the Year” by the Minnesota Lodging Association. We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and providing our guests with a truly unique and memorable water front lodging experience in Duluth, MN.
The Sola family, longtime residents of Park Point, had a vision for the land that the
inn is built on.
It was a beautiful day in June 2002 when the Solas cut the ribbon for the grand
opening of the South Pier Inn with Duluth Mayor Gary Doty.
Our Waterfront History
Long before it became a quiet place for guests to exhale, this stretch of shoreline was all about movement—ore ships passing through the canal, the steady rise and fall of the Aerial Lift Bridge, and the daily work of a busy harbor. Families would stand at the railings to watch the ships slip past at arm’s length, feeling the size of Lake Superior in every horn and wave.
Today, South Pier Inn is a calm, family-owned refuge on the same working waterfront. The ships still pass. The bridge still lifts. And our guests still open their windows to the sound of the lake, just as they have since the beginning.
What does this symbol mean?
Carved for centuries above the doors of Nordic homes, the Hannunvaakuna is a symbol of protection, balance, and safe passage. It marked a threshold — a place where those who entered were received with care.
Here, it reflects our belief that true hospitality is quiet, grounded, and deeply felt.