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.
