Category Archives: All blog entries
Early Deer Seasons, Part 2: Daylight in the Swamp
Deer hunting was often included in early resort advertising, especially in the 1930s. It was the unofficial late closing of the tourist season. In 1945, my father decided to capitalize on Itasca State Park’s first deer season by adding a bunkhouse for … Continue reading
Posted in All blog entries, Minnesota Resorts, Minnesota Tourism
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Early Deer Seasons, Part 1: The First Itasca Park Deer Hunt
Deer have been an important part of Minnesota’s scenery since the forests were first opened by logging. They have proliferated along areas of forest and open meadows throughout the state. Antlers and mounted heads adorn lodges and cabins and have always matched … Continue reading
The Good Life in Minnesota
On August 13,1973, Time Magazine’s cover was labeled “The Good Life in Minnesota.” It showed a smiling young Governor Wendell Anderson lifting a northern pike. While 1973 would not be considered in the early resort period, I included the Time … Continue reading
Book interview
Click here to read a recent interview I did with the Park Rapids Enterprise regarding The Early Resorts of Minnesota.
A Boy’s Camp, a President, and a Painter
Many of the first resorts were referred to as “camps.” In 1930, one hundred were listed for tourists in The Minnesota Book by the Ten Thousand Lakes Greater Minnesota Association. Today you will find only a few resorts called “camps.” … Continue reading
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New book
The Early Resorts of Minnesota is now available! Click on the cover below to order.
First Memories, Last Conversations–Holland’s Resort and Fitger’s
It was a pleasure to visit Duluth recently. Ida Mae and I stayed at the Fitger’s Inn. This exceptional hotel is located in the large complex that once housed The Fitger’s Beer Company on the waterfront of Lake Superior. The … Continue reading
Posted in All blog entries, Minnesota Resorts, Minnesota Tourism
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John Dillinger Sat Here?
Sebago Camp didn’t match the style and size of some of the other early Brainerd area resorts. Located on the north side of Round Lake near Nisswa, it was quite small and isolated. But due to an incident in 1933 … Continue reading