A LAST RESORT? by Tom and Ann Beaver
At the turn of the century, the Nisswa area resembled the central Ontario lake region -- isolated waters, no (or poor) roads, very few and small lake cabins, some logging activity, and a healthy resort business. Breezy Point was a fly-in, secluded, for-the-rich-and-famous spot. The smaller lakes like ours had ma and pa resorts with cozy lakeside cabins.
In the past 75 years, many of the big lake resorts have expanded, adding conference centers, restaurants, hotels, swimming pools, golf courses, all funneling to the same lakeshore that was a hideaway in the 1920s. The Cullens, on the other hand, still have three "ma and pa" resorts that emphasize the same cozy cabins and family-oriented, nature-loving activities that made them popular in the early 1900s. Although you will find an occasional vacancy in the spring and fall, don't expect to book your overflow company into any of these hot spots like you would the Best Western. Give them plenty of notice; many families who stay there have been coming to our lakes longer than the average residents. Audrey Masimore explained that the Eagle's Nest has a third generation family that has never missed a summer.
Fishing is still the big draw, but golf and the Paul Bunyan Trail add some "off campus" activities that are bonuses for the resorts as well as for us residents. On Lower Cullen, both the Eagle's Nest and Good Ol' Days feature kids' programs that utilize the Trail as well as the lake. These two resorts are the smallest on the Cullens, featuring cabins only.
Did you know that Good Ol' Days was once a logging camp? When logging petered out, the Quinns established "Quinns Family Cabins". The current owners of Good Ol' Days are Bob and Cindy Tyson. (Bob grew up on Gull Lake.) There are 12 cabins, five 1-bedroom and seven 2-bedroom. The resort's website is www.goodoldaysresort.com and its phone numbers are 218- 963-2478 and 800-227-4501.
The original Eagle's Nest Resort was established in the 1920's. It was purchased by Audrey and Steve Masimore in 1987. There are 15 cabins: three efficiency, six 1-bedroom, five 2-bedroom, and one 3-bedroom. The Eagle's Nest website is www.eaglesnestnisswa.com and its phone numbers are 218-963-2336 and 800-922-0440.
Bruce and Donna Galles' Upper Cullen Resort has has 11 lakeside cabins and 55 campsites. The resort first began in 1929. The Galles' have owned and operated the resort since 1984. The resort's website is www.uppercullen.com The resort's phone numbers are 218-963-2249 aand 888-872-8553.
So, you can expect to fish, swim, ski and
see
at these three ma and pa resorts, but don't bring your jet ski --
they are not allowed.
The Cullen chain's fourth resort, the former
Wilderness Point Resort on Middle Cullen Lake, was once known as
Mettler's Point Resort. It stretched from the east point westward
to the narrows until 1937 when the west end was subdivided into lots
and sold off as residential property. This resort is in the
process of a major makeover as Wilderness villas, LLC. We wil
provide updated information and comments on it once it is set up and
running under its new format and management.
Two of the three Cullen Lakes' ma and pa
resorts
are members of the Cullen Lakes Association (Widerness Villas has a
complimentary membership). Their owners work hard
to keep their guests informed on lake etiquette and lake
management.
The rest of us property owners should remember to do the same.
UPDATED March 10, 2005
