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/Bay Shore Resort

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

Long Bow Resort

I never saw Long Bow Resort, but I've bought a lot of post cards from this resort through the years.  It was located on Steamboat Bay near Minnesota Island.  It also was located near where Long Bow Golf Course is located. now.

Through the years it was known as just Long Bow Resort and sometimes Nelson's Long Bow Resort.  I'm not sure if it changed hands or if the Nelson's just decided to put their name on it.  The chamber map I'm using just said Long Bow Resort.  I also don't know when it closed down, but most likely in the late 70's on as a lot of the resorts that are gone did.

I would really appreciate any knowledge that anyone out there has about this resort.

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

LONG BOW RESORT - Steamboat Bay.  Modern or semi-modern knotty pine housekeeping cabins.  Lodge.  Playground.  Desirable lawn.  Private boats welcome.  Deep Freeze service.  Tel. KI 7-1355

Agency Bay Lodge

 Agency Bay Lodge is another one of those old resorts that are still around!  Obviously it is on Agency Bay and it has a beautiful lodge along with several original cabins that were built as twin houses or duplexes as we call them in Iowa!  There have been other cabins added.

The resort is still in great shape and has a beautiful beach.  Their website is https://www.agencybaylodge.com/

I have several postcard pictures of the resort, but not a lot of stories about the resort.  I would love to hear from all of you about your stories at Agency Bay Lodge!

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

AGENCY BAY LODGE  (AAA) - Ultra Modern Resort on Agency Bay - Leech Lake.  Save, sand beach.  Groceries - Refreshments - Boats - Bait - on black top road.  Bill and Ella Schilder.  Tel. KI 7-1015

Acorn Hill Resort

 Acorn Hill Resort is one of those old resorts that are still running.  It is a beautiful resort on Trader's Bay on Pine Point.  

I had the pleasure of staying at Acorn Hill several years ago on one of our family vacations after my grandpa sold his cabin.  It was great then an has improved over the years.  I remember the cabins were very roomy and nicely kept.  The harbor was great and really had all of the amenities you could imagine.

It's website is https://www.acornhill.com/ It is owned by the Walters!  Check out their website for more information.  

It has a really nice lodge.  We have stopped there for bait and snacks!  Everyone was really nice.

I found this picture on a Mobile RVing site.  I'm going to have to dig through our pictures and find some from the year we stayed there.  We stayed in the cabin on the right when we were there.

If anyone out there wants to share some of theirs with me, send them along!  

I would love to hear your stories about Acorn Hill Resort.

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

ACORN HILL RESORT - Pine Point.  7 all new strictly modern housekeeping cabins.  Safe Beach.  Playground.  Lodge and store.  Cement launching ramp.  Guides available.  Dona nd Dot Sherard.  Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1015

Horseshoe Bay Lodge

 Horseshoe Bay Lodge has been around for quite some time.  I'm not exactly sure how long they have been around, but it is on the very early Walker Chamber of Commerce maps from the 40's.  The original maps didn't have any information about the resorts themselves.  

Horseshoe Bay Lodge has been updated quite a bit and has cabins, condos, restaurant , and all the modern amenities you might imagine.  It is owned by Anderson Resorts now.   https://www.horseshoebayresort.com/

I have some old pictures from Horseshoe Bay.   It is always interesting to see how things used to be and how they have changed!

This one has been around for a long time.  I would love to hear your stories old and new!  

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

HORSESHOE BAY LODGE - Ultra-Modern housekeeping cottages, lake frontage, lake level, screened porches, gas stoves, electric refrigeration, oil heat.  Modified American Plan.  Fish cleaning, stamping.  Excellent beach playground equipment.  Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1366.

Updates

I'm not an expert blogger, so I hope you get this notice.  I'm not sure if they notify the followers when I update a post.  

I am in the process of updating the resort information that was listed on a map from the late 50's or early 60's from the Walker of Commerce.  I have many other maps, and I will update all resorts that are listed on those maps with info about the resort an who owned them at that time.

Enjoy.  I hope you will post to my blog with your memories of your time at Leech Lake.

Pine Cone Resort

 Have you ever looked at people on an old postcard and wondered what ever became of them or who they were?  Just a random thought.

Pine Cone Resort was on Kabekona Bay of Leech Lake.  According to the old map, it was located at the first spot after you turned off of 371 and on to the road that ran along Kabekona Bay.  If you drive in there today, you can see a beautiful beach and a strip of land between the road and the beach where the cabins used to sit.  It was right to the east of Bayview Resort.  

These pictures are from the 50's I believe.  I have seen postcards from the late 50's for Pine Cone Resort.

From one of the Chamber of Commerce maps from the 50's or early 60's judging by the cars in the picture on the Chamber map.  I wish they had put the dates on those old maps.    

Pine Cone Resort - Kabekona Bay.  Modern housekeeping cabins.  Excellent beach, boat launching, harbor, spacious grounds, boats, store.  Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Tometie Jr. and Charles Tometie, Box 72 Walker.  Tel. KI 7-1474.

I don't know anything else about Pine Cone Resort.  I would love to find out more about it.  Let's hear your stories!   

Walker Bay Resort

 Walker Bay Resort goes back a long ways.   According to the maps, it was just north of Walker on 371.  It is a beautiful place on the lake.    

I have a couple of connections with Walker Bay Resort.  As a kid, we visited there because a friend of my dad KC Johnson operated his launch out of Walker Bay Resort and lived in a trailer house at the back of the resort property if my memory serves me correctly.  My Friend Roger Sasse used to stay at Walker Bay Resort until it closed.

Anderson's Cove bought some of the cabins from Walker Bay Resort in the mid to late 90's.  I'm not sure exactly when it closed, but it had to be in the mid 90's or near that time.

It is a beautiful picture and the grounds look fantastic.  I hope some of you out there will have some great stories to tell about your time at Walker Bay Resort.  I'll post any updates as I get them.

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

Modern family resort.  Beach, shady lawn, playground.  Harbor - cement ramp - individual docks - private lockers - deep freeze - guide service.  Jim and Nadine Livingston.  Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1567. 

Lake View Resort

A beautiful picture of Lake View Resort.

Renae Geving gave me the following information about Lake View Resort. 

Tom and Blanche Barker built Lake View Resort in 1938 and operated it along with his business, Barker's Jewelry & Gift Shop in Walker until 1941 when he sold the resort to Thomas Coleman in November.

Coleman sold to  Elos and Mary Ray in 1944.   

Fred and Gesina Turner bought the resort in 1953 and they sold to Paul and Gertrude Bantz in 1956.  

Fred Turner, Sr. returned to operate the resort in 1956 while he and his wife also operated the Sportsman's Grill in Walker at the location of the Outdoorsman Cafe. 

Paul Vantz and his son Bob became owners in the 1970s and they sold a portion of the resort to Walker Bay Resort. Harold Bruns, owner of Walker Bay resort moved half of the cabins to the Walker Bay resort in 1978. 

The postcard picture that is posted here was from this time when the Bantz's owned the resort.  I'm not sure if they sold it to Mr. Turner or if he just operated the resort.  

Anybody out there with some stories about Lake View Resort?   I'd love to find out more.

To anybody reading this post, Renae is writing a book about the old and new Leech Lake Resorts.  I can't wait for the book to come out and pour over it!  I believe that it will be out next year sometime.  

This resort wasn't listed on the Chamber of Commerce map that I'm looking at now. I will use some of the other maps that I have and list that information when I get it.

Paradise Point Resort

Here is another resort that was gone before we started spending much time on the west side of the Lake.  As I noted, we spent our time up at the lake on the west side near Brevik.  We didn't get on the lake at all on the west side, just got to Walker a couple of times while we were up there. 

These pictures are fantastic.  When I look at pictures like this, I wonder who the people were that were in the picture.  It looks like they had a launch at the resort as the boat on the right had the resort name on it.  Then the rental boats on the left and a guy in one of them.  All wood boats of course, I've driven a few of those wooden boats with a 5 1/2 horse motor on it!

I wonder what the stories about the resort and the people that are that are in the pictures.

I have been told that a lot of the pictures that were on these old post cards were just taken by the owners or someone that did it for them and they sent them in and had post cards made.

Paradise Point Resort was of course located on Paradise Point in Shingobee Bay.  There is nothing on Paradise Point now.  There is one white garage near the water to the north of the point.  It looks like it could have been a part of the resort.

I would love to hear anything that you might know about the resort.   The pictures look like the 50's I'm guessing.  I might be off, but that would be my best guess. 

Sigh.  What I wouldn't give to travel back in time and see all of these places.  I'm not sure when they tore it down, but I'm sure it was a sad day when the last owner closed the doors for the last time and they tore the cabins down.

Info from a Walker Chamber of Commerce from the late 50's early 60's

On sheltered waters of Shingobee Bay, leech Lake.  Modern, ultra-modern cabins.  Playground equipment equipment, swimming float.  A variety of fish.  Mervin K Johnson, Walker, Minn.  Tel. KI 7-1229.

North Star Camp

North Star Camp was located on the north tip of Portage Bay on Leech Lake.  It is closest to Bena and Federal Dam.

I have been to the site before, it is really beautiful and had a great beach.  I have had some other posts from people wondering about North Star Camp.  One post thought it was on Lake Winnibigoshish.  I'm not sure if there was a North Star Camp on Winnie or on Cass, but there was one on Leech!

Beautiful pictures.  Looks like it was a nice place.  I hope to hear from any of you that may have stayed there or near there.

Island Motel and Resort on Shingobee Island

Hello!  It has been a while since I posted.  I'll try to do better!

This is an interesting place.  The building is still standing and in use on Shingobee Island.  It looks really neat!  The back side sits right on the lake, almost overhanging over the lake. 

I don't know if there are many of you out there that stayed there, but if you still go to the lake, you can drive by it!

Bayside Resort

Bayside is an old resort that is still operating today.  It is on Agency Bay and here is it's website.

http://www.baysideleechlake.com/

I have often driven by on the lake and looked at this resort.  It is a really nice looking, very clean resort.  The yellow cabins look great!

I have a few older pictures from postcards that I have bought, including the back side of an old postcard when it was Heinie's Bayside Resort.  A postcard from another era(1955), it says write for reservations!

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

Agency Bay.  8 houskeeping cabins.  Modern.  Supplies.  Surfaced road.  LeRoy and Martha Vang.  Tel. KI 7-1350. Walker, MN.

I would love to hear your stories from the Bayside Resort!

Sugar Point Resort and Herman's Resort

I have been to Sugar Point Resort a couple of different times just to cruise through and check it out.  It has been a few years ago and the resort has changed hands since the last time I was there.  I remember that it is a beautiful piece of property on the east side of Leech and they have a lot of great cabins.

I emailed the current owners, Christie and Jamie and Christie responded with a little bit of information about the resort:

"Sugar Point Resort was once comprised of 2 resorts,  one of them being Herman's Resort. The owners were Herman and Florence Storhaug. 

There is certainly a lot of history in our neck of the woods!

We took over in 2015. The previous owners were here 34 years. They are going to put together some resort history to share with us."

Thanks for that Christie.  I thought I would post the following information for Sugar Point.

The address and website for Sugar Point Resort is:

10125 Sugar Point Dr. NW
Federal Dam, MN 56641

http://sugarpoint.com/

I'm looking forward to hearing more from Christie and Jamie.  

From the late 1950's early 60's Chamber of Commerce map for Herman's Resort.  There were no listings for Sugar Point Resort:

Herman's Resort - On beautiful Sugar Point.  Sheltered harbors, launch, guide, fish filleting, freezer, groceries, snack bar, TV.  Cement ramp, motors, bait, gas, tackle, playground, swimming.  Herman and Florence Storhaug, Federal Dam, Minn.  Tel. 645-3155.