The Early Resorts of Minnesota

I'm going to veer off the original path of my blog today, again.  In an earlier post, I talked about Up North at the Cabin, another favorite book of mine.  Actually it isn't so much veering off the path as having the path explained and made wider.

Last year I came across this book by Ren Holland.  I read some of the previews, looked at the website (especially the many pictures on the site) and thought that I needed to have this book!

I bought one for myself and one for my brother.   The pictures were so good. It was like a trip down memory lane for me to read about the resorts on Leech Lake. I found the other lakes and pictures just as interesting. I would love to time travel back to those days in the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's to see what those resorts and lakes looked like back then. This book is the next best thing!  My 18 year old daughter and I sat together for quite a long time looking at it.  

I would highly recommend this for anybody that has great memories about the lakes and the resorts of Minnesota.  It talks about many different areas and I found that the section about Leech Lake was great.  Very informative.  I really enjoyed the other parts of the book that talked about all areas of Minnesota. Each part of Minnesota has its own unique history and quirks.

Ren's blog is http://blog.renholland.com/  Look through the site. It is great!

Maplewood Resort

Maplewood Resort was located on the southeast side of Leech Lake.  It had one of the most beautiful beaches and locations on the lake.  Looking out on the big lake, it has a great view.  It was a really beautiful resort.  It was located next to the former Forestivew the Beautiful resort that has since gone the way of many resorts on the lake.

We stayed at Forestview the Beautiful a few times after my grandpa sold his cabin.  I always thought that Maplewood was a nice looking place.

One of the followers of this blog sent me a nice email about Maplewood, so I'm putting up this post so you can hear her memories.   She had some good stories about what going to the lake is all about!

The property is for sale as of 2021.

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

Maplewood Resort - South shore of beautiful Leech Lake on Highway 34.  Strictly modern family resort.  Eight cottages and lodge.  Safe sandy beach and boat harbor.  Tel. VE 6-6-2443  Mabel Williams.

Safe Harbor Resort

Safe Harbor was a resort that was on the southeast side of Leech Lake near Brevik.  It was located just north of Chippewa Lodge.  It originally was a part of Chippewa Lodge.

The owner, of Chippewa, Mr Campbell sold the cabins on the north side of the harbor at Chippewa around WWII.  I can't remember if it was right before or after the war, but my dad told me that it was around that time.  They sat high up on a bluff and had a really great view of the big lake.  Of course a spectacular view of the sunsets on the lake as everyone on the east side did.

I stayed once at Safe Harbor in the 70's when my brother and I spent a long weekend up at Leech fishing.  It looked very much like the picture posted here.  The picture is from a postcard I bought that was postmarked in 1956.  You can see the office/owner's quarters on the right of this picture.
They shared the harbor at Chippewa Lodge.

Sometime in the 80's or 90's, I don't remember, Bud Campbell the son of the elder Mr. Campbell, purchased Safe Harbor again for Chippewa Lodge.

My usual plea, I'd love to hear any stories that anyone has about Safe Harbor.  I don't know much about the resort, but I'm sure lots of people have great memories about staying there.  I did get a nice comment from Wild Rose about her time at Safe Harbor.  It was a comment on my original post on this blog.  I've copied and pasted it here.  If you are still reading this Rose, tell us some more stories!

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

Safe Harbor Resort - East shore.  Near Bear Island.  Modern housekeeping cabins.  Excellent haror facilities.  Jo and Margaret Slavik, Longville, Minn.  On Leech Lake, Brevik Road.  Tel. Walker VE 6-2432.

Wild RoseJune 22, 2012 at 7:32 PM

Went to Safe Harbor Resort back in the late '70s and have always wondered what happened to the family that owned it at that time. Lived next to the owner's daughter and went with her, her husband and their daughter. Absolutely gorgeous up there.

Pikedale Resort

Pikedale Resort is a really great resort that sits near Partridge Point on Leech.  The narrows that run between Partridge Point and Bear Island are one of the great walleye fishing spots on Leech Lake.  We have also caught many northern pikes near there on the Bear Island side.

I have great memories of fishing those narrows on many opening days.  We also fished for northern pike in Headquarters Bay on a regular basis.  You can see Headquarters Bay at the top of the picture in the background.

Pikedale has a great harbor and a great location.  A really nice lodge too.

My dad told me when the resort opened, it was called the Picture Window Resort.  I'm not sure when they changed the name to Pikedale.  I only remember it being called Pikedale.

I would love to hear any stories anyone has to share about Pikedale.

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

PIKEDALE - Partridge Point.  Six housekeeping cabins.  Modern.  J.W. and Ruth Nelson, Longville, Minn.  Tel VE 6-2232

Merit Lodge

Merit Lodge was one of the most beautiful resort settings on Leech Lake without a doubt.  The lodge building is a great old building that has been taken care of through the years.

Merit Lodge sat on the south side of Leech Lake right to the west of Huddle's.  Most of the old cabins are gone now, but the lodge is still there and is used as a restaurant by Trapper's Landing.  They are building upscale time share condos where Merit Lodge cabins used to be.  The Merit Lodge resort was owned for a time by Huddle's(a great old time family resort) but was sold sometime after 2000 I believe.

The Merits originally used the resort to entertain guests of their business that they ran and then I believe that it eventually morphed into a resort.  

Merit Lodge was a beautiful resort.  I hope that someone will find this and share a story with us.  The color picture is more as I remember Merit Lodge.  Although I think that they were painted a dark red at some point in time after this picture was taken, they were the red color at the end of Merit Lodge's life as a resort.  Anybody out there stay at Merit Lodge?  Tell me about your experience!



I have an update.  I bought this on eBay a few years ago and I'm trying to date it by the names of the owners.  I left my copy of The Early Resorts of Minnesota by Ren Holland at the lake, so I'll post it here until I can get up there again.  

A very interesting thing on this lighter is they refer to it as Merit Lodge the Exceptional.  I've never heard that tag line on Merit Lodge.  Of course about the same time I've seen Forest View the Beautiful on a lot of things from Forest View in that era.

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

Merit Lodge - AAA American and housekeeping Plans.  Family resort an convention catering.  Boat Harbor, launching, safe beach, meals, movies, water-skiing, guides, launch, playground.  Al and Jean Schwarz, Walker, Minn.  Tel. VE 6-2321 

Brindley's Harbor Resort

My good friend Doug Clough is going to be my guest blogger on his memories of Brindley's Harbor Resort.  It will be nice to have a professional writer on this site!  Please read the comments for this post below.  They are great stories from Doug.  Well worth your time.

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

Brindley's Resort - Trading Post By Pine Point.  New, completely modern housekeeping cottages.   Individual showers, hot water, heater, gas heat, recreation room, safe sand beach.  Bernice and Joe Brindley Tel. KI-7-1721

Paul Bunyan Land

Probably one of the coolest parts of my vacation time when we went up to Leech Lake was a trip to Paul Bunyan's Vacationland in Brainerd.  We didn't go every year, but it was great when we went.  Everyone that has been in Minnesota, knows the story of Paul Bunyan and we loved going there as kids.

I was lucky enough to be able to take my kids here before it was moved.  We all have good memories of this place.

The coolest thing was when Paul would raise his right hand and say hello to the kids as they came in the park.  It was always a mystery to the kids how Paul knew their names.  Just a little information as you went into the park took care of that.

It used to sit at the intersection of MN State Highways 371(the new bypass) and 210.  It was relocated to This Old Farm off of Highway 18 just minutes away from Brainerd, MN sometime in the early to mid 2000's.

Here is a link that describes the move and Paul's new digs:  http://www.brainerd.com/news/archives/paul-bunyan-land.html

Also the link to Paul Bunyan Land site:  http://www.paulbunyanland.com/

They have a bunch of really cool stuff there besides the refurbished Paul Bunyan Land and you can find a brochure at their site.

I have to be honest, I haven't been to Paul Bunyan Land since they moved, but I think I'll have to make the trip again soon.

I'd love to hear anyone's memories of their trips to Paul Bunyan Land.