Brainerd Lakes Minnesota Articles

Every year Hyde-A-Way Bay Resort encourages Birch Lake to come alive and wake from its winter slumber and every year it does. Summer always comes in Minnesota—at Hyde-Away-Bay it becomes both exciting and electric and calm and peaceful all at once.

The resort has only seen three owners since its inception in 1957. Hyde-A-Way was started by Norby and Josephine Thill, who owned it until 1979. Their cleaning lady, Dorothy Forrest, outlasted the Thills: she finally retired in 2004. Dorothy was in her seventies and, reluctant as she was, she finally accepted the fact that she was pushing herself beyond her physical limits. In 1979, the Thills sold to John and Marilyn Fank. John had a farming background and loved resort ownership, but agreed to sell apparently because of the proddings of his wife.

He was a reluctant seller but when the Novotnys came along, he was finally ready to let go.

Mark and Beth met while attending South Dakota State University in Brookings at a Bible study in 1980. In the spring of 1981 they began dating. Mark found Beth’s character to be very attractive and also thought her very beautiful. Beth had to go to Connecticut shortly after they met to be a nanny over the summer. They wrote letters to each other everyday and their love grew—by the time Beth returned to school it didn’t take long for Mark to pop the question. Beth said yes and they married in June of ’82, immediately following graduation.

 He was ready once again to make a change. Then his hardware store burned down due to a combination of theft and arson, and the costs of starting over were simply too great. Beth didn’t want him to start over anyway. “I hardly got to see him,” she said. “He worked seventy hours a week and when he was home he was either dead tired or busy on the computer trying to catch up with the bookwork.” Mark was working so hard at the time that, when the family went on vacations, he had to stay home. “I didn’t like it. I knew something had to change too,” he said.

As a child, Beth had always stayed at Jeannie’s Resort, a small place near Menahga named after the owner’s daughter. “My dad would take two weeks off from work and the first week he spent the time parking cars at the fair in Fargo. He used that money to take the family on vacation the next week. Those were special times.” With her positive past experience, Beth thought resort ownership may be a good idea for their next venture.

 As the owners of Hyde-A-Way Bay Resort, the Novotnys have been able to provide similar special times to many of their guests, chief among them the Lackner clan. For forty-seven years they have been making their annual pilgrimage to the resort and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. In fact, Marvella Lackner’s son, Greg, and daughter, Mary, both got engaged while vacationing at Hyde-A-Way.

 When Greg got engaged to Julie he tried the creative approach: he took her out fishing, and soon they were encircled by five boats, each with a sign. Four of the signs had the words: “Will,” “You,” “Marry,” “Me?” The last sign said “Yes.” Greg confesses that he didn’t have a “No” sign made—he was pretty certain. As he had hoped, Julie said yes. She then told the rest of the boats, “Will you leave us alone? We’re fishing!”

 Mary’s husband, Brian Skelly, also proposed on the water, but he avoided the other boats. “Ours was a little simpler: he simply took me out on the water and asked if I would marry him,” said Mary.

 Along with two other families—the Greens and the Roberts—the Lackner group basically takes the resort over, a trend that has continued to grow over the years as the families have gotten bigger. Marvella’s Mom, Grandma B, started the tradition and, at one time, they had four generations represented at Hyde-A-Way. With her passing there are now three.

Grandma B was quite the character and would join in all the crazy fun that the group would have. One example was when she came out in yellow spandex to play butt quarters until 2:00 am with the group. (Butt quarters involves wearing tight-fitting pants or spandex shorts. Contestants then squeeze a quarter between their cheeks and shuffle across the room in an attempt to drop the quarter in a cup or glass without letting the quarter fall before they get to the cup.) In her later years she wasn’t able to hear that well so she laughed at everything, which in turn caused more laughs from the group.

It’s no wonder that Mark Lackner told me, “If our kids had to choose between Florida and Hyde-A-Way Bay, they would choose here, hands down. The kids count down the days. They long to see their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandma. We actually enjoy each other, even the in-laws. This is the trip we look forward to all year.” One of the group’s favorite events is horse racing night, which is actually a computer program set up by Mark Lackner, the self-described computer geek. For twenty years they’ve set up around the TVs and watch their computer-generated horse races.

They bet, but this is no high stakes gambling. “It’s $2 for a bet. It’s been two bucks for twenty years. We did not let inflation take over. Hay’s gone up, stabling has gone up, and the price it takes to buy a horse has gone up, but [for us] it’s still two bucks,” Lackner said.

 Mark and Beth had looked at a number of resorts before buying Hyde-A-Way Bay, but this one had everything they were looking for: a beautiful view with state-owned woods across the bay, cabins that were in nice shape, and a decent house for them to live in. Sure, they’ve made changes: Mark can’t help himself. The very first year they had the resort, Mark and Beth (with a tremendous amount of help from their son Collin) built a new lodge and turned the existing lodge into a duplex. They have continued to build and remodel to the present day.

 Beth had always felt that Mark would enjoy owning a resort, because he was handy, independent, and loved to help people. She thought it would be a retirement project. “I guess that means we’ve retired,” Mark said with a laugh.

The Lackners, Greens, and Roberts groups do a Monday night dance every year in Hyde-A-Way Bay’s lodge. This year they had a luau and wore hula skirts. Only in northern Minnesota can you hula in a log lodge with whitetail deer heads, bearskin rugs, beaver pelts, and mounted walleye.To offset the Minnesota Northwoods feel they brought in a few tropical-style decorations like paper crabs, pink flamingos, and inflatable plastic palm trees. The participants, ranging from three to eighty-one, dressed in dollar store grass skirts, straw hats, and Hawaiian shirts. The families had a blast as they hula’d to ‘80s rock.

 Fun Facts

·        Hyde-A-Way Bay’s guests are so loyal, one family has been coming for forty-seven years.

·        Hyde-A-Way Bay offers sixteen beautiful housekeeping cabins.

·        Birch Lake is 1,267 acres, with a max depth of forty-five feet and good water clarity. It is a good fishery for northerns, walleye, crappie, and largemouth bass.

Photography done by Doug Ohman

 Story from "Resorts of Minnesota" by Neil Johnson
To find out more visit www.resortsofminnesota.com

There’s a reason it’s called the “Brainerd Lakes Area”, not just Brainerd.  It’s our heritage. Brainerd will forever be rooted in history books as a major center of ideas, tackle and tactics that propelled the fishing industry forward.  

Nick Adams, long-time head of Lindy Little Joe fishing tackle said, “This area virtually became the epicenter of innovative fishing tactics.” Dr. Roland Kehr, former board member of Lindy said, “We’re a super-mecca for tackle and fishing creativity, and have been for decades.”  

Joe Fellegy, one of Minnesota’s foremost chroniclers of things “fishy” said, “We live in the hot-bed of how-to. Once Ron Lindner understood people would pay for fishing know-how, the rest of the world couldn’t catch-up.” Al Lindner viewed it like this, “Education was the heartbeat. We lived in a hot-bed of scientific fishing and shared what we learned in magazines and television.”

Adams, ever the philosopher, noted that our forefathers from the Scandinavian countries and the Native Americans fished here for generations. “It’s in our genes; it’s what we do,” he said. Fishing innovation evolved from the love of fishing, and includes companies like Normark, Lindy, Northland, Gopher, and many other local manufacturers.

Products were being made in Brainerd, and tourists and anglers helped spread the word.  “Lindy was an innovator in promotions, and the Lindy Rig had the support of top guides”, Adams said. Lindy started from the simple Lindy Rig, which is credited to Al and Ron Lindner. The epicenter in Brainerd grew naturally. “We had the people, the water, the desire to improve old techniques and bring creative new products to market, the right conditions, a good promotional image, solid companies and a good reputation,” he said.

Dr. Kehr said the multiple species available made Brainerd a unique area. “With about 425 lakes in a 25-mile radius, the likelihood of success was much greater,” he said. Joe Fellegy saw the revolution coming while guiding walleye fisherman from his Mille Lacs launch. He was one of the original writers and editors for In-Fisherman Magazine. Light line, small hooks, flashers and leeches popped onto the scene, and backed with promotions for the Lindy Rig, “A huge transition occurred and the growth curve raced upward,” Fellegy said. “With a profit to be made and the right products and thinkers here in the Brainerd area, the ‘Hucksters of How-to’ went to market,” he said with an affectionate chuckle. “We had the perfect combination of people in the 1970’s, and they’re still here, along with a new generation keeping the trends alive.”

Al Lindner said, “Rigging and jigging walleyes was an adventure for guides; resorts were full of tourists and vacationers. Mille Lacs, Leech, Pelican, Gull, Whitefish and hundreds of smaller lakes were loaded with fish - all species.”  He listed the reasons for the confluence of fishing innovation as he saw them after returning from the Vietnam jungles in 1968:

1. The Nisswa Guides League was big, with Marv Koep constantly promoting.
2. The early Lindy staff with Gary Roach, Babe Winkelman, dozens of other experts, and Ron and I, on the PR trail.
3. The waters of the area.
4. The Lindy Rig.
5. Tactics, like back-trolling, long rods, flashers, leeches, light monofilament fishing line, trolling motors, deeper fishing, and maps. Spinnerbaits and worms also came onto the scene.
6. The In-Fisherman magazine and TV series, packed with how-to lessons.
7. A public desire to learn more about how and where to fish.
8. Fishing experts bringing tactics back to Brainerd from across North America.

34 acre Rezone—Mississippi River—Center Township—Map

Crow Wing County Planning and Zoning recommended approval for this development on March 22, 2007.

A zoning change from greenspace and agricultural to rural residential 5 was granted for 34 acres along the Mississippi river in Crow Wing County. A preliminary plat is to follow.

Wood Crest—Upper Whitefish Lake—Crosslake, MN—Map

Crow Wing County Planning and Zoning recommended approval for this development on March 22, 2007.

10 lot development on the western shore of Upper Whitefish Lake in Crow Wing County. Development covers 74.17 acres.

Acreage: 7370
Max Depth: 138 ft
Fish: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Bullhead

200 acre Rezone—Upper Cullen Lake—Breezy Point, MN—Map

Crow Wing County Planning and Zoning recommended approval for this development on March 22, 2007.

A zoning change from green space and agricultural to shoreland residential 2 was granted for 200 acres along the north shore of Upper Cullen Lake in Crow Wing County.

 
Lake Acreage: 435
Max Depth: 45 ft.
Fish: Bluegill, Northern Pike

Heritage Acres—Shirt Lake—Deerwood, MN—Map

Crow Wing Planning and Zoning recommended approval for this development on March 8th, 2007.

7 lots on 15 acres off the south east edge of Shirt Lake in Crow Wing.

 
Lake Acreage: 224
Max Depth: 38 ft.
Fish: Bluegill, Yellow bullhead

24 acres rezoned—Pelican Lake—Breezy Point—Map  

Crow Wing County Planning and Zoning recommended approval for this zoning change on March 8^th, 2007

A zoning change from buffer to agricultural land has been requested for a 24.2 acre area just off the southern edge of Pelican Lake in St. Louis County. It is a wooded area with varied topography and appears to meet all the requirements for agricultural zoning districts.

Lake Acreage: 8253 
Max Depth: 104 ft.
Fish: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass

28 acre parcel rezoned—Pelican Lake—Breezy Point, MN—Map

Crow Wing Planning and Zoning recommended approval for this zoning change on March 8^th, 2007. A zoning change from green space to shoreline residential 2 has been requested for a 28.35 acre parcel located on the eastern shore of Pelican Lake in St. Louis County.

This proposal was tabled so that the claimant could provide better documentation concerning the road access to the proposed property.

Acreage: 8253
Ave. Depth:
Max Depth: 104 ft.
Fish: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass

Thomas Beach—Pelican Lake—Breezy Point, MN—Map

A zoning change from buffer to agricultural was requested for 24.2 acres of land along the southern tip of Pelican Lake in Crow Wing County. Request is in support of an upcoming plat survey.

Lake Acreage: 8253
Max Depth: 104 ft.
Fish: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass

40 Acres Rezoned—Mallard Lake—Lake Hubert, MN—Map

A zoning change from green space to agricultural was requested for 40 acres along the south shore of Mallard Lake in Crow Wing County. Request is in support of an upcoming plat survey

Minnesota DNR lake survey unavailable.

Located about 15 miles north of Brainerd, the community of Nisswa serves as a gateway to Minnesota’s fabulous lake country. All year long, residents of this charming city revel in the experience of living their dreams amidst the lakes and forests of the northland. The winter season is no exception.

Seemingly all 1,953 residents of Nisswa turned out Feb. 16-18 for the 35^th Annual Nisswa Jubilee, a celebration of life in northern Minnesota that warms the spirit of everyone during what can be the coldest time of the year.

This year’s event, hosted by the Brainerd Lakes Area Lions Club, began Feb. 9 with the Miss Nisswa pageant at the Lutheran Church of the Cross. The event was sponsored by the Nisswa Women of Today club. Eight contestants vied for the title.

A popular adjunct of the Miss Nisswa pageant is the Little Miss Nisswa contest. This year, 20 second-grade girls vied for the title. Since all of the girls are so darn cute, each year the winner is drawn from a hat.

The 2007 Jubilee really kicked off Friday, Feb. 15, with a Medallion Hunt sponsored by the Lakes Area Lions Club and the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce. The medallion, featuring the image of a loon made by Ken Hansen of Ken’s Mini Donuts, was found on Saturday in downtown Nisswa. The finders won a $200 cash prize.

Friday’s activities were capped off by a dance at the Nisswa American Legion Club. You had to have an official two-dollar Jubilee button to get in the door to listen and dance to the live music of The Country Jim.

Saturday dawned bright and crisp with just a nip of a wind as winter revelers gathered in downtown Nisswa for a full day of events. A food court set up in the parking lot of The Pickle Factory bar and grill was serving pork on a stick and turkey sandwiches along with hot beverages for the hungry crowd.

A snow sculpture contest Saturday had friends and families creating several large imaginative sculptures. One sculpture featured a 1930’s era filling station and a pickup truck while another was of a boatfull of anglers trying their luck for walleye.

Children were entertained by fun and games at a Mini Jubilee held in the Nisswa Community Center while adults participated in a broomball tournament at the Nisswa Park. All the while, a helicopter provided scenic rides over the Nisswa area to those who preferred an aerial view of the festivities.

More than a thousand hardy souls lined both sides of Main Street as the big Jubilee Parade got under way at noon. As the theme of the Jubilee was “Generations of Nisswa,” the parade featured the Dullum family. Enough generational representatives of the Dullum family were on hand to fill four vehicles.

A highlight of the parade was the Nisswa Fire Department which brought out its shiniest red equipment. Sirens blared as the hose trucks and pumpers rolled down the parade route.

Following the parade, a wood splitting contest was held for both men and women. Axe wielders vied to see who could split a 20-log pile in the fastest time. Several hundred spectators cheered the choppers along as they worked their way through the ricks.

As Saturday came to a close, revelers adjourned to the Nisswa Legion for a meat raffle and pork sandwiches. The day wrapped up with a dance at the Legion featuring live music provided by the group Silent Partner.

On Sunday, the Nisswa Fire Department sponsored The Scott “Mike” Thurlow Memorial Scholarship Fishing Derby on beautiful Nisswa Lake. Hundreds of anglers stood over holes drilled through more than two feet of ice in hopes that a big one would come their way.

Events like the Nisswa Jubilee prove that Minnesota’s fantastic lake country is a great place to live, no matter what the season may be.

Photo and article courtesy of Frank Zaworski. Frank is a freelance writer based out of Menagha, MN.

People who live in the lakes region of Minnesota year round appreciate the area’s beauty no matter what the season. That’s why several thousand hearty Minnesotans visit Breezy Point Resort in early January every year. They come to celebrate winter in the form of Ice Fest, an annual event that is a cooperative effort between Breezy Point and the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s event was held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 5-6, at Breezy Point on the shores of magnificent Pelican Lake. While the winter of 2006-2007 lacked the normal snow cover, the frozen surface of Pelican Lake provided an ideal venue for winter activities ranging from ice skating to ice golfing.

Ice Fest is geared to entertain the entire family. Horse-drawn wagon rides, figure skating, hockey, face painting, and ice fishing kept young and old alike moving throughout the day.

Those ready for a break could grab a hot cider or bratwurst from the heated concession stand operated by a group of Pequot Lakes hockey moms.

For the daring, helicopter rides were available that gave riders an aerial tour around Pelican Lake.

“The purpose of Ice Fest is to get people outside and have a little fun,” said Dave Gravdahl, general manager of Breezy Point Resort and one of the originators of Ice Fest.“Our first event was held in 1994 after some us in the Chamber of Commerce began developing our idea for a way to celebrate winter fun. This year’s chairman, Mike Wiebolt, owner of Pelican Square Market in Pequot Lakes, has done a wonderful job putting together an event that has something for everyone.”

While many activities are fun for kids, there are plenty of activities to keep adults entertained, especially after the sun goes down. A karaoke contest is held dockside at Breezy Point both Friday and Saturday evenings, followed by live entertainment in the resort’s Marina Lounge and the neighboring Commander Bar and Primetime Food and Spirits.

Unfortunately, due to the unseasonably warm weather and poor ice conditions, both the ice auger competition and the snowmobile races were cancelled this year. Breezy Point’s Ice Fest is the home of the World Ice Auger Competition, a contest that pits contestants and their highly modified ice augers against each other to see who could punch through the ice the fastest. A muscle powered division also exists for the old school ice fishers out there.             

The weekend celebration culminated Saturday night with an ice dance at the Marina Lounge and a huge fireworks display over the frozen waters of Pelican Lake.

Enjoying all of Minnesota’s four seasons is one of the great pleasures of living in the lakes region. Enjoying Ice Fest at Breezy Point on a January weekend makes living here even better.

Frank Zaworski is a freelance writer based out of Menahga MN

Photo by Frank Zaworski

Crow Wing County was named for the Crow Wing River, a somewhat erroneous translation of the original Ojibwe word, Kagiwigwan which means Raven or Raven's Feather. According to the native inhabitance, the bend of the river as it emptied into the nearby Mississippi resembled that of a raven's wing.

The first European settlers entered the region during the Christmas season of 1805. Lt. Zebulon Montgomery Pike (later of Pike's Peak fame) was leading a contingent of U.S soldiers through the area in search of the source of the Mississippi River. They camped there for one night and saw the fertile soil and ample hunting that the natives enjoy and it wasn't too long before others began to take notice.

Allan and William Morrison founded the first white settlement at Crow Wing Village, located eight miles south of modern day Brainerd. Bolstered by a healthy fur trade with the local Indians, it mainly functioned as a stopping-off place on route from St. Anthony to Red River, with trader's stores and warehouses, saloons, and blacksmith shops. When the fur trade began to wane in 1848, logging took over as the regions primary industry. However, this new boom didn't last long when the North Pacific railroad built a bridge over the Mississippi at nearby Brainerd making it more accessible to the trading community. Soon the village of Crow Wing was abandoned in favor the rapidly growing Brainerd.  

Brainerd was founded in 1870 as The Crossing, a name applied to its first building, a log store and trading post built when the Northern Pacific survey determined that the crossing of the Mississippi would be there. John Gregory Smith, the president of Northern Pacific, didn't want the town to be named Smithville or Smithton, so he chose to call the town, Brainerd, his wife's maiden name.

The railroads presence soon allowed numerous other industries to flourish including lumber, paper companies, flowering mills, and agricultural tools just to name a few. Brainerd even had a burgeoning tourist trade in the early days. The area was known for its purity of air, sandy soil, and fishing and boating. And today it is no different.

Brainerd is now the county seat and the largest community in the Brainerd Lakes area with a population of over 13,000 year round residents. This idyllic lake community is surrounded by over 450 sand bottom lakes including the popular Gull Lake Chain and Whitefish Chains. Anglers from all over the state prize these waters for their crystal clarity and wide variety of fish found there. The clear waters also provide an ideal setting for boaters and swimmers during the summer months.

Golfers are in for a treat because this is the home of the legendary Brainerd Golf Trail. Golf Digest ranked it as one of the "Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World," and it is easy to see why. With over 520 holes and courses designed by such greats as Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones, this trail is sure to present a unique challenge to golfers everywhere.

Not a golfer? Not to worry, this city is bursting with opportunities for excitement, beauty, and enrichment for both body and mind.

Got a need for speed? Visit the region's largest racetrack Brainerd's International Raceway featuring a world-class quarter mile drag strip and a three-mile championship road course.

Nature lovers will enjoy the abundance of trails open for exploration. Whether you want to hike, mountain bike, rollerblade, or snowmobile, these trails are perfect for enjoying the region's wild beauty in a very personal way. The famous Paul Bunyan Trail begins at Brainerd winding a 100 mile path north through forests, lakes, and streams all the way up to Bemidji. All but the last couple of miles are paved where it leads into the majestic forests of Bemidji State Park.

Nature comes alive for both the young and old at the Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center. 94 acres of Minnesota's second growth forest is available for exploration via their walking trails. Explore them yourself, or accompany one of their naturalists on a guided hike.

Pillsbury State Forest is the state's oldest park. It has been in operation for over 100 years, allowing both residents and visitors alike to hike its great trails and experience a wide variety of Minnesota wildlife in their natural habitat.

Brainerd offers plenty for those craving the arts. Numerous art galleries and theatres showcase the talents of local artists year round. The summer months feature the"Rhythm of the Rails" a musical revue that traces the history of the Brainerd Lakes region through railroad lore and music. 

Breezy Point, MN--Green Trees, Blue Water, Great People

Located along the northern shores of Big Pelican Lake, Breezy Point has historically been a popular "up north" vacation destination. The area first began gaining popularity in the 1920s when Wilfred Hamilton Fawcett, the magazine publishing mogul popularly known as Capt. Billy, built the Breezy Point Resort in 1921. This impressive resort boasted a magnificent lodge built out of Norway Pines some of which were over 70ft. in length and could accommodate up to 700 people making it one of the largest of the time. The resort attracted many of America's elite including Clark Gable, Harry S. Truman, and Dr. Charlie Mayo, founder of Mayo Clinic.

As the resort developed so did the area around it and in 1939 the Village of Pelican Lake was incorporated covering over 15 square miles. The name change to City of Breezy Point is owed to a misplaced order of furniture.  Because of the confusion of having a town named Pelican Lakes on Pelican Lake next to Pelican Township, a load of furniture ordered by Breezy Point Resort was mistakenly shipped to Pelican Rapids, which is over 100 miles west of Pelican Lake!  The owners of the resort, concerned about this blatant lack of identity for their resort, and for the city, petitioned the city government for a name change.

In December of 1969, the Village of Pelican Lakes officially became the Village of Breezy Point, borrowing the name of Fawcett's popular resort. Breezy Point finally became a city in 1974 when a Minnesota statue was passed declaring all villages become cities

Today, the city of Breezy Point is a thriving community characterized by both family and retirement residences. About 1,300 call Breezy Point their home year round, but the population can swell to as much as 5,000 when thousands of Minnesotans come to enjoy what Breezy Point and the surrounding area have to offer.

During the summer months, Pelican Lake is one of the most popular attractions. Its excellent water quality makes for excellent fishing, swimming, boating and other aquatic sports. Those looking to shoot a round of 18 won't be disappointed. Breezy Point features the championship Whitebirch Course with plenty of sand, water, and trees to challenge your golf game.

Winter in Breezy Point is just as fun as the summer. Thousand of miles of trails surround the area, perfect cross country skiers and snowmobile fanatics. The newest trail, the Paul Bunyan State Trail which connects Brainerd to Bemidji, is easily accessible from Breezy Point.  Ice fishing, and tubing is always fun with friends and family. Breezy Point is also the home of the Breezy Point Ice Fest and World Championship Ice Auger Contest. This festival pits contestants and their highly modified ice augers against each other to see who can punch through the ice the fastest. There is also a muscle power division for "old schoolers" out there. Other activities include human bowling, sno-golf, snowmobile racing, and a fireworks spectacular.

The Pine River Dam completed in 1886 was the boom that started the Crosslake area and its sole industry, logging. The chain of lakes was created in order to move the heavy beams from place to place, before that the lakes were not interconnected.

The logging camp at Cross Lake had eating and sleeping accommodations for 1,400 men. The camp included large stables, office buildings, a blacksmith shop, a small roundhouse, and warehouses.

Crosslake was formally organized in 1903. The last load of logs was hauled in to camp in 1906. The camp and railroad were dismantled by 1912.

Today, Crosslake is known for its many beautiful resorts and fine dining establishments. The city takes full advantage of its position on the Whitefish Chain, offering sandy beaches, stunning views and ideal conditions for boating and fishing. Many of the resorts offer lake level cottages as well as access to hiking and cross-country skiing trails in the surrounding area.

Be sure to stop by Crosslake Days (August 5-13) and enjoy the classic car show and town wide chili cook off.

Visitors to the lakes region of central Minnesota, particularly those from Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, describe generically describe their excursion as "going up north." Travelers typically experience a sense of "up northness" as they pass beyond Brainerd and approach the picturesque city of Nisswa.

Leaving the corn, alfalfa and potato fields behind as they near Nisswa, travelers enter a world of crystalline lakes and lofty pines that murmur a gentle welcome common to this unique part of Minnesota.

The community of Nisswa, population about 2,000 and growing, stands as a gateway to the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Surrounded by more than 200 lakes within a 30-mile radius, Nisswa has always been a cordial host to lakes area residents and visitors, providing tasty food and comfortable lodging, and "pretty good" shopping for just about everything needed for the home, cabin or person.

While Nisswa is evolving, it remains true to what it has always been, a center of commercial activity for visitors and local residents. In the second half of the 18^th century, the area was heavily logged of its stands of white pine and other valuable timber. By the 1880's, the area was pretty well "logged over" and the logging companies began to pull out.

While the forest was temporarily gone, the lakes remained and the lumber companies left behind a rail line running to the Twin Cities. Also staying behind was Webster Whiting Brooks Hill of the Clough Bros. Logging Company who married Bessie Ruby Leigh in 1886. They established their home, the first in the area, near Nisswa Lake. Other families began to settle nearby. Smiley Township was founded in 1900. Local residents renamed the township Nisswa, from the Ojibwe word "nessawae" which roughly means "three," when the town was incorporated in 1908.

The Northern Pacific Railroad established regular passenger service to the Nisswa area during these early years, providing service for Twin Citians eager to partake of the area's beautiful lakes and outstanding fishing. The area's resort industry flourished, featuring some of the premier resorts in North America. Many are still in operation today.

Names like Cragun's, Madden's and Breezy Point attract visitors from all over the world.

Today, Nisswa bustles year-round providing the goods and services needed by visitors and area residents. The community is host to a bevy of festivals that brighten the scene all year long. Here is a sampling:

Ice Fishing

The festival action begins with the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake held each year on the third weekend in January. The world's largest ice fishing contest provides thousand of anglers the chance to win cash and prizes. 

Winter Jubilee

The Nisswa Winter Jubilee in February offers a weekend of winter fun with snow sculptures, log splitting, a winter parade on Main Street and dancing to liven things up. An ice fishing contest is held on Nisswa Lake.

Scandinavian Festival

With about half the population of Nisswa tracing their heritage back to Norway and Sweden, the Nisswa Stamman Scandinavian Festival in June is a big event. The Stamman is one of the largest traditional Nordic music festivals in the Upper Midwest. Over 100 folk musicians from Scandinavia and the U.S. gather to perform and entertain.

Art Festival

The Majestic Pines Art Festival held in July is a juried festival that draws artists and crafters from the local area and around the Midwest. Artists set up all over town to share their talents.

City of Lights

The holiday season is celebrated in grand fashion in Nisswa. Each year, all merchants in downtown Nisswa adorn their facades with thousands of lights. On the day after Thanksgiving, a special festival is held to turn on the lights all at once. The cityscape blazes into the night as fireworks explode over the heads in a spectacular display. The afternoon begins with horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, hot cider and much more.

There is plenty to do all year long in the Nisswa area. Golfers, for example, can accept the challenges offered by 450 holes of golf in the Nisswa lakes area. Area courses range from first time players courses to some designed by such luminaries as Robert Trent Jones and Arnold Palmer.

Bikers and hikers in summer and cross-country skiers and snowmobilers in winter can enjoy the Paul Bunyan State Trail that runs right through downtown Nisswa. The Paul Bunyan is one of the longest contiguous railroad bed conversion trails in the nation. Seventy miles of the trail from Baxter to Walker is paved.

Whether visitors shop out of need, or do it recreationally, the Nisswa area has numerous specialty and gift shops providing an appealing array of shopping options. Thankfully, parking is free.

As a vacation destination, or as a place to put down some roots next to the pines, cedars, oaks and maples, the Nisswa lakes area is hard to beat. Locals claim there is no place like Nisswa. Believe it.

Contributed by Frank Zaworski. Frank is a freelance writer based out of Menahga, MN.          

Formally known as Sibley and Frogtown, Pequot Lake is seemingly named for the Pequot Indian tribe who, strangely, existed in eastern Connecticut never inhabited the region. Some attribute the strange name choice to a variation of a Chippewa word for arrow, while others point to a native American woman named O-Pequot who helped the early settlers by allowing them to use her dugout as a school and church.

This city offers idyllic conditions for campers and cabin dwellers alike, sharing access to the crystal clear waters of the Whitefish Chain.

Local festivals include the world famous Beanhole Days where cast iron skillets filled with baked beans are lowered into giant wood burning pits to cook. When they are finished, the kettles are raised out of the ground and shared with all in attendance. While the beans are the main draw, people also come to enjoy the craft fair and the local entertainment.

Nestled in the heart of northeastern Minnesota Lake country, the Brainerd Lake Area is ideal for anyone looking to get away from it all. With over 465 lakes in the region and over 520 holes of golf to play, it's no surprise that the Brainerd Lake Area is Minnesota's #1 resort destination.

Gull Lake, one of the more popular lakes in the region, is located a few miles northwest of Brainerd. The largest lake in a chain of 7 (Gull, Upper Gull, Love, Margaret, Nisswa, Ray, Spider), Gull Lake provides both boaters and anglers with a unique set of challenges. The six northern lakes are interconnected by channels that wind through scenic woodlands while a rock reef lies in the middle of the northern portion of Gull Lake itself. Gull Lake is home to a wide variety of fish species and provides an angler with a great opportunity to hook walleye during the fall and winter months, crappie during the early spring, and decent blue gill, sunfish, and northern pike all year round.

To the east of Gull Lake lies North Long Lake. North Long Lake is 6,000 acres in size and is one of the larger and more popular recreational lakes in the Brainerd Area Fisheries management area. According to the latest cabin count (1993), development is fairly dense with over 450 cabins and homes and about a dozen resorts and campgrounds located along the shores. The lake is comprised of three distinct basins, each having its own characteristics. In many ways, the three basins can be considered to be separate lakes. This variety of habitat accounts for a widely diverse fish population.

Pelican Lake, located east of Breezy Point, has a very well developed shore line. There are approximately 20 homes/cabins per shoreline mile and a dozen resorts of different sizes and varieties. Don't let all this development fool you, though. Pelican's excellent water quality and diverse aquatic plant life allows for an enjoyable experience for all those who use the lake.

The Whitefish Lake Chain consists of 14 interconnected lakes in the northern half of Crow Wing County. Each lake has its unique characteristics, presenting a would be angler with a variety of challenges and rewards. The smaller lakes have little bays and coves, beaver and muskrat lodges, and is home to more of the shallow water fish. The larger lakes like Rush, Cross, Upper and Lower Whitefish  prove to be a little more difficult with sunken island, underwater points, weed lines, river bars, and more elusive deep-water varieties of fish. All of these lakes have very high clarity ratings, making them excellent for swimming and boating.

If you want to spend some time away from the lake, the surrounding communities offer a wealth of things to do.

Satisfy your inner Tiger Woods and challenge the Brainerd Golf Trail in Brainerd. Golf Digest ranked it as one of "The Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World."

Celebrate all things Scandinavian  at the Stamman Scandinavian Festival in Nisswa. Or cheer on your favorite turtle at the annual Turtle Races downtown.

Crosslake takes full advantage of its position on the Whitefish Chain, offering sandy beaches, stunning views and ideal conditions for boating and fishing. Many of the resorts offer lake level cottages as well as access to hiking and cross-country skiing trails in the surrounding area.

Winter enthusiasts should go to Breezy Point for Ice Fest and the World Championship Ice Auger competition. It's a celebration of skiing, skating and heavily modified power tools.

And don't miss Beanhole Days celebrated in Pequot Lakes on the shores of Sibley Lake. Giant cast iron skillets filled with a special baked bean recipe are lowered into giant wood burning pits to cook. When they are finished, the kettles are raised out of the ground and shared with all in attendance. While the beans are the main draw, people also come to enjoy the craft fair and the local entertainment.       

For Lakeshoredreams.com, the counties grouped in Brainerd Lakes MN include:

Wadena County MN, Crow Wing County MN, Todd County MN, Morrison County MN

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