Our Northland landscape makes for a terrific backyard with thousands of acres of public forests, multiple river systems, and, of course, more lakes than mosquitoes at a campfire. Not only that, we needn’t lose sleep over poisonous snakes, mudslides, hurricanes, or those pesky shark bites. The only things we’re short on here are mountains and deserts but if you’ve ever hiked a steep mountain (they’re all steep) or thorny desert, you’d probably agree that visiting these places on occasion is enough. Yes, we have it good in our neck of the woods.

I was reminded of this fact the other day, but this time it wasn’t about our natural resources; instead, it was about the people and places that make it special. It happened when we took a boat ride from our cabin to Polley’s Resort on Lake Vermilion to pick up some items from their resort store and at the same time, make donation towards their annual wow-inducing 4th of July fireworks show.

A half century ago, I rented a boat space from Tod Polley and his mother Marie, and it’s oddly comforting each time I walk the familiar trails of the grounds and find their resort store much as it was fifty years ago and indeed since 1941 when the Polley family built it. Mark Polley operates today with the same hospitality that his family has shown over three generations.

The visit got me thinking about how nice it is to have long-running family businesses in this quickly changing world. There’s a charm about them, perhaps even, an earned trust and it’s a phenomenon quite prevalent on our local lakes. Recognition of these generational lakeside businesses nearing one hundred years or more is only appropriate. Following are a few I’ve had the pleasure of patronizing. My sincere apologies to any that may have been missed.

My first steps as a five-year-old fishing prodigy (or “nutcase” as my wife might put it) occurred at Cabin-O-Pines Resort on Pelican Lake. The resort began as a trading post in 1910, primarily catering to timber-men and the nearby Ojibwa people. However, the fishing public soon became the mainstay, and rightly so, as I can attest. With a food cooler the size of a coffin and a can full of worms, our family would leave the docks with every expectation of a stringer of pike and some trophy-size sunfish by the end of the day, and the expectation was more than satisfied. The cherry on top was the resort store, which provided me with a wealth of memories that include Four-O soda pop, Mars candy bars, and a galaxy of fishing lures. Today, the resort is operated by Ross and Lara Coyer, five generations deep.

Heading northeast from Orr, one comes upon a quaint gem of water, Echo Lake, and the resort, Timber Wolf Point. Cut from the thick forest, the resort was established by the Oberg family seventy years and four generations ago. As they like to say, “We don’t have to get back to nature, we never left it.” There must have been something in the water seventy years ago, as that is also when the Melgeorge family built a resort on a former logging camp site on the shore of another gem not far away, Elephant Lake. Three generations later, they cater year-round to those who love to fish, camp, snowmobile, and eat good food.

To the far north lies Crane Lake, noted as the gateway to Voyageurs National Park, but it’s also a mecca for family businesses. In 1923, John Handberg opened a lodge on the shores of Crane Lake, and an outboard motor sales business took off shortly thereafter. Handbergs Marine and Store continues to this day, with the fourth and fifth generations now helping folks access the wonders of Voyageur Country while enjoying a freshly scooped ice cream cone.

Similarly, four generations of Scott family members have operated Scott’s Peaceful Valley Resort on Crane Lake since 1941. Scotts Resort and Seaplane Base opened in 1948, featuring a bar and grill, gift shop, and, of course, a place to park your airplane. I don’t need a place to park an airplane, but it’s nice to know I’d have a place to park one should that day come.

Just across the bay, John and Millie Nelson’s dream of a first-class jewel in the wilderness came true when they opened Nelson’s resort in 1931. It has seen four generations pitching in to provide hospitality in a unique edge-of-the-wilderness experience.

Cruising back to Lake Vermilion, one finds Ludlow’s Island Resort, established in 1933 where three generations have worked to now provide “five-star” accommodations. I feel a need to brag a bit here as two of the stars at the resort were my sons, Dave and Pat, who worked there in guest services during their youth. Bragging aside, we cross over to the east end of the lake to Aronson’s Boat Works, which has operated under three generations since 1914. Another name for the business could be “Boat’s R Us” as Aronson’s has provided transportation, ferry services, mail delivery, boat sales, boat service, and just about anything else you can do with a boat. Minnesotans enjoy the highest boat ownership rate per capita in the United States, and the Aronson family is doing its best to keep it that way.

In conclusion, these families together have made a very deep impact on the Northland. A common thread is that they go beyond offering quality goods and services – they become treasured members of the community. Whether providing employment, supporting fire departments, service organizations, churches, charities, or by putting on a fine firework show for everyone to enjoy, they understand the value of giving back. They get it. They’re in tune with us. It’s pretty cool stuff actually.

Leo is retired and lives in rural Cook with his wife, Lindy. He is the author of three books, She Won’t Mow the Daisies, The Cabin Experience, and Life Over Easy. Leo can be contacted by email at llwilenius@gmail.com.