Pinestead Resort - Lake May

 I got a post on my blog asking about Pinestead Resort.  I did some research and here is what I came up with.  

Pinestead Resort was on the west side of Lake May .  I found information about the owners and the resort at the time on maps that I have collected through the years. 

I'm guessing this listing is from the 60's sometime. It had 10 digit numbers and prior to that, they had 2 letters and 5 digits.   

PINESTEAD RESORT - Chain on 5 lakes.  Top bass and pan fishing.  1 1/2 miles from Walker. 13 moderncabins.  Supurb beach, playground, game room, store, bait, freezer service, good boats. "A family resort."  Bill and Tina Blechschmidt, Walker, Minn 56484. Telephone 218-547-1024

This listing is from later in the 60's.  Again, just my best guess.  

PINESTEAD RESORT -Lake May.  Completely modern cabins, beach, shuffleboard, horseshoes, picnic area, playground.  Golf at Tianna Country Club. Variety fishing, chain of 6 spring fed lakes.  Deep freeze service. Mr and Mrs A Borgman.  Tel. 547-1447.

Moore's Lodge

The one right above was dated 1939

I received a note from JC about Moore's Lodge.  I can't believe that I haven't put up a posting for Moore's Lodge yet.  

Of course Moore's Lodge is a still running resort. I believe that the cabins are in a resortominium situation similar to Big Rock. They are owned but rented out for a certain proportion of the year.  

It's a beautiful resort and well kept.  Beautiful grounds and cabins on Agency Bay.  

Their website can be found at https://www.mooreslodge.com/  Check it out!  It is a beautiful place.

Here is JC's post he sent me.  He sounds like he has a lot of stories about life at Moore's Lodge in the 70's and maybe further.  Great stuff JC.  Thanks for posting. I hope to hear from you again.

Hi folks. I just got back home to Forest Lake from Leech Lake. Daughter has a cabin on Breezy Point and I was working in it. Neighbor told me about this so checking it out now. I see a post about Horseshoe Bay Resort. In 1973, my family and another moved all our belongings in U Haul trucks. Drove from Iowa to Horseshoe Bay Resort, which my folks and another family were at to purchase it. When we got there, the deal fell through. But we lucked out and they were able to buy Moores Lodge. This is where I spent high school years. I loved it!!! Made so many good friends over the summers. Great memories. And now my daughter has her own cabin, where my wife and I hope to visit often.

From the late 1950's early 60's Chamber of Commerce map:

Moore's Lodge - On agency Bay.  AAA approved. Eleven ultra Modern Housekeeping cottages. Indivual showers and tub. Save Sandy beach, playgound, lodge, guides available, minnows, gas, new boats, motors, filleting and freezing service. Beautiful grounds 6-hole putting course.  Walt and Gloria Reed - Walker, Minnesota. Tel. 547-1542

Another listing from the Chamber map, I know it's slightly older because of the phone number.

MOORE'S LODGE

Strictly modern resort on Agency Bay - Leech Lake.  Nicely furnished, very comfortable and well kept.  Safe  sandy beach, playground facilities, good boats and motors, harbor, guides available. Phone 3075W

Let's hear your Moore's Lodge stories!  

Traders Bay Lodge

I received a note from KMS on Traders Bay Lodge.  I looked back through my posts and I can't believe that I haven't made a post on Traders Bay Lodge.   So here you go!

Traders Bay Lodge sat on the southeast corner of Traders Bay. It is a beautiful spot.  I have been told that it was built in the 20's and 30's.  They had great grounds, beach, harbor.  When we stayed there, the cabins had been beautifully updated.  After the resort closed in the fall of 2017 or 2018, it fell into disrepair and was vandalized very heavily.  The cabins were eventually torn down.  It's always a sad day when I see resorts go this way.  The grounds are empty now and the harbor is mostly filled up with sand. I don't know what plans if any are on the horizon for that property.

I actually stayed at Traders Bay Lodge in 2001 at Christmas on a vacation with my family.  My two children were very young and TBL was one that had cabins open in the winter.  It was a great time.  It snowed lightly every day.  No wind or blizzards, just light snow falling through the trees, just like a movie.  The harbor at TBL had a hill on the south side and the owner scraped a path on the harbor ice so my kids could sled down the hill and across the harbor.  That was so nice of him and my kids had the best time. They were 11 and 7 at the time.  The owners were so great to us. 

I would love to hear stories or see pictures of your times at Traders Bay Lodge.  I can tell you that I thought it was a beautiful place and I loved staying there.

There is still a Facebook page for Traders Bay Lodge.  I have attached a few pictures I have found here and there on the Facebook page.  Another personal note, the red cabin at the top of the pictures is the one we stayed in at TBL.

Here is the post from KMS.  If you want to respond to him it is on the home page of the blog:

• Old Resorts on Leech Lake, Minnesota

From 1970 to around '84, my parents Don and Joan Medici owned Traders Bay Lodge. It was a great place to grow up. As a kid, I didn't realize how lucky we were, it's only as an adult that you know most kids DON'T grow up on a fishing resort!

The resort is gone now and has been for a few years. All the cabins torn down. Many of them were pretty old when we bought, built in the 20s and 30s.

Everything changes but we're lucky enough to still have a home on the north end of the lake (Steamboat Bay) and have a couple of really nice resorts as neighbors. Anderson's Cove and Hiawatha Beach are still going strong!

 From the Walker Chamber of Commerce map from the late 50's early 60's:

TRADERS BAY LODGE - Leech Lake.  Modern housekeeping cabins individual showers.  Level grounds, excellent beach, lawn games. Personal dock, fish cleaning.  Guides, tackle, groceries.  Duane and Marguerite Ogle, Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1031

UPDATE ON LIEN'S RESORT

 I posted this on the original post for Lien's Resort.  Great news!  

UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE UPDATE!!!!!

I was over by Lien's Resort just yesterday 7-20-22 and it is now up for rent as a resort, sort of.  It is listed on VRBO.  It is such a beautiful spot on the lake.  Beautiful sunsets and a wide open view of the big lake.  They have been beautifully remodeled and would be a great place for a family vacation as there are 6  cabins there for rent by the week during peak season.  

For those of you that have followed my blog, you know what a fan of resorts I am.  I'm just so happy about Lien's being up for rent again as a resort.

Here is the listing for cabin 1.  I would say that would be my favorite.   If your looking, this is a great place.  

https://www.vrbo.com/2616529?noDates=true&unitId=3187043

I wish I had a new picture of the resort, but take my word for it, it's beautiful!  

Big Rock Resort

 Big Rock Resort is located in Horseshoe Bay facing the big part of Leech.  Or the big lake as it is often referred to.  

This is another one of those great old resorts that is still operating.  It has been updated a lot, just a beautiful looking resort.  The grounds are beautiful as well as the cabins.  They also have a swimming pool there.  You can find it at https://www.bigrockresort.com/

I believe that it has gone "condo" where people own the cabins and they are rented out by the resort. It appears that they are open year around as well. 

There is great fishing at Big Rock Reef, of course located out front of Big Rock Resort.  I've caught a LOT of walleyes on that reef.

As always, I'd love to hear your stories.  

From the late 1950's early 60's Chamber of Commerce map:

BIG ROCK RESORT - Modern family resort.  New Lodge.  Recreation room, ping pong, shuffleboard.  Sheltered boat harbor where your boat is ready and safe.  Dock.  Fish cleaning.  Mr. and Mrs Ed Kotula, Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1066

This picture is from a post card that was sent in 1966.

Bay Shore Cottages

This resort was located on the east side of Sucker Bay up toward the north part of the bay.   I know nothing else about this resort, I'm hoping that someone out there can give me more information about this resort!

From the late 1950's early 60's Chamber of Commerce map:

BAY SHORE COTTAGES - On Sucker Bay, Leech Lake,.  Deluxe modern housekeeping cottages.  "Best in the Northwest."  Playground, fishing, hunting, boats, motors.  Mr and Mrs J. V. Lestina, Box 51, Schley, Minn. 

Bakers Resort

 This resort was located on Agency Bay just to the east of Roosevelt Canal.  There are several large new houses where the map shows that the resort was located.

I would love for anyone that knows anything about this resort to go ahead and post to this blog.  It was a great spot on the lake with a nice beach where the resort was marked on the map and according to the chamber listing.

From the late 1950's early 60's Chamber of Commerce map:

BAKERS RESORT - Agency Bay - modern housekeeping cottages, central showers.  Excellene beach.  Playground equipment.  Boats, motors, bait, tackle, groceries, boat ramp.  Open all year.  Harry and Lea O'Neil.  Tel KI 7- 1323, Walker, Minn