Forest View Resort

UPDATE:  Here is an article from when Forestview resort closed.  It was written by Gail DeBoer a fantastic writer for the Pilot-Independent.  It tells a lot of the history of Forestview Resort. If you don't subscribe to the PI you should!  

https://www.walkermn.com/news/forestview-lodges-77-year-history-comes-to-a-close/article_e94c0852-33b7-5be1-a7af-18324eeeed01.html 

Forestview Resort was one of the jewels of Leech Lake for a long time.  It was a true fishing resort that grew into a family fishing resort but went by the wayside eventually.  It was a huge resort that covered a lot of land and had a lot of cabins.  They often called it Forestview the Beautiful.  At one time they painted that on the side of their boats.  And it was beautiful.

Forestview opened in 1924.  It really was one of the move beautiful resorts on the lake.  From Ren Holland's book The Early Resorts of Minnesota, they had room for 75 guests, $3.50 per day, and $21 per week.  I highly recommend Ren's book.  He has done a lot of research.  See my post on his book.

As the case with many of the old jewels, it fell into disrepair late in it's life and the owners figured out that they could make more money selling out the developers than running a resort.  I can remember when Vera Kinder and her sons ran the place.

It really was quite a place.  My family stayed at Forest View when it was at the tail end of its life.  It was like an old beauty queen.  You could tell that it was once upon a time a beautiful and great place, but it wasn't what it was.  I found it very sad that it ended up being sold off for a luxury development.

I'd love to hear your stories about Forestview Resort.  One of the great resorts on Leech Lake that have gone by the wayside.

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

Forestview Lodge - American-modified plans.  Large boat, golf, water-skiing included.  Heated swimming pool.  Fireplace, gas heat.  Pleasant family resort with facilities for conventions.  Launch, boat, harbor.  Walker, Minn.  Tel VE 6-6-2441

Journey's End Lodge

I found this picture of the restaurant at Journey's End Lodge.  It was located south end of Walker Bay.   The lodge and some of the cabins are still there.  They have been sold off as private cabins.

The lodge is so beautiful. I do know that many of the resorts had what they called the American Plan where they rented you a cabin and also prepared meals for you as a part of your stay there.  I always found this picture so interesting.  I don't know if this dining room was just for the people that stayed at the resort or if anyone could eat there.

It is obviously from another time and another era.  It reminds me of the restaurant that they have at the old Merit Lodge on the south side of Leech Lake.

Anybody out there have any stories about Journey's End Lodge?

I'm thrilled about the response that I've gotten from this post!  As we are now leasing a cabin at Ivanhoe Resort next door to where Journey's End Lodge used to be, I have more interest at this point besides some cool pictures.

I have added one more picture that James Nelson sent me.  Enjoy!  Emily and James, more stories are always welcome!  I do really enjoy reading them.

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

Journey's End Lodge - Strictly modern cottages.  Dining room.  Excellent beach, lawn games.  Housekeeping cottages, modified or American plan.  Good fishing ins afe boats, water sports.  James and Marilou Fladebou, Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1502

Sunset View Resort

This picture is from the 30's or 40's I'm pretty sure.  It is from Sunset View Resort, it sat on the hill overlooking the lake.  I think it was cabin #2.  My grandparents and my dad stayed in this cabin when they went to the lake before Grandpa built his own cabin down the shoreline about a half a mile.

A gentleman named Hal Berger owned the resort, and owned a lot of the land near Brevik.  My grandpa bought his lot from Hal.

This resort has absolutely one of the best beaches on the lake.  Wide and deep.  And the views of the sunset are breathtaking.  A very good choice of names.

As kids we used to go to the store up the hill at the top of Sunset View.  We would buy candy but I really remember the individual pies that you could buy in a tin.  It was always a great treat to get one of those.  They eventually moved the store to the bottom of the hill on the beach.  My brother Pete could tell a lot of good stories about the store when it was on the hill.

I always loved this resort, although we only stayed here a couple of times after my grandpa sold his cabin.  However it was a huge part of my childhood memories of my time up north at the lake, as we spent a lot of time going to the store.

From that 50's 60's map:  

On East shore of Leech Lake.  Modern and rustic cottages, beach, groceries, playground, private harbor, new boats, motors, bait, gas, tackle. P.O. Longville, Minnesota.  Tel. Walker VE 6-2436.  

I added another picture.

Old Resorts on Leech Lake, Minnesota.

You can search individual resorts and other topics in the search box in the upper left corner.

Hello,

My family has been going to Leech Lake, Minnesota since the 30's.  We have spent most of our time on the lake on the east side of the lake near Brevik.  We have been fortunate so far we have had 4 generations of my family go up to Leech Lake.  

I have been collecting old maps, postcards, and check out many old resort postcards online.

It made me start wondering,  who out there has stories, knows where the old resorts were located, what happened to them, anything that someone might want to share with me.

When I was a young kid in the 60's(a long time ago) there were many resorts on the east side near Brevik, Jensen's Cabins, Pikedale, Twin Port Resort, Bear Island View, Lein's, Sunset View Resort(maybe the best beach on the lake!) Carlson's Resort(this one was near my grandfather's cabin) Safe Harbor, Chippewa Lodge.  I think that there are only 3 of these, Carlson's Resort, Chippewa and Pikedale, that are still operating as a resort.

I may have missed one or two, but those were the ones that were in my little corner of the lake.

I'm interested in hearing about other resorts that are gone, changed names, or are still operating with their old name, what happened to them, where they were located, anything that you want to share.  I see such names as OB's camp, Point View Resort, Battle Point Lodge, Nelson's Long Bow Resort, and they are all gone.  I remember when some of them closed down, but some were before my time.

I'm not just looking for stories from resorts in "My" corner of the lake, but anyplace on the lake.  The south shore, Diamond Point, Walker area, Battle Point, Sugar point, up Onigum road, Federal Dam, anyplace on the lake!  I love hearing people's stories.  Even if they aren't about old resorts, just your time at Leech Lake.

Stories anyone?