Grand View Lodge Spa and Golf Resort, just outside of Brainerd, MI., brought back old memories of when my parents loaded up the car to go on a summertime road trip to a lake resort for a week.
Except, Grand View Lodge is in Nisswa, Minnesota, which is about 143 miles North of the Twin Cities and about 3 miles outside of the TMobile cell phone range. The compound has the Old Fashion Campground feel, but with modern amenities.
Seasonal rain kept me and my posse from playing one of the Pine Golf Courses located at the Lodge. However, we did get to play The Preserve the next day.
History
Grand View Lodge has provided guests relaxing vacation experiences for more than 90 years. Its roots grow deep in the history of the Brainerd Lakes area. Selected in 1979 for the National Registry of Historic Places, Grand View Lodge’s Main Lodge offers one of the most well-preserved examples of early resort log construction in existence today. As part of the Historic designation, the Lodge cannot be altered by construction and only materials authentic to the early 1900s can be used throughout. It remains a testimony to the vision and taste of early area entrepreneurs who foresaw the charm of the lakes area. The story of Grand View Lodge is hallmarked by entrepreneurship, family legacy, and dedication to Minnesota’s natural beauty.
Early Origin In 1916, Mr. M.V. Baker began selling 50-foot parcels on the Gull Lake shoreline. His holdings included 238 lots along 3,000 feet of lakefront, which he had purchased for $43.00 per acre. In turn, he offered the lakefront lots for $10 per foot. By 1919, business was so brisk he decided to build a larger lodge to house prospective buyers when they arrived to view the property. Because the Gull Lake Dam had not yet been built, flooding was a relevant concern. Baker elected to build the Main Lodge set back nearly 400 feet from the shoreline. The lodge was built from Norway pine felled on the property and designed on a large scale to hold not only prospective buyers but those who came to enjoy Gull Lake. Today, the Historic Main Lodge remains a focal point for the entire Grand View Lodge resort.
I would say if you are looking for a place to get out of the Texas summer heat, then you need to make a trip North to Minnesota and check out the Grand View Lodge…make sure to check out those Walleye Fish Chips.
Let Me know How I Can Help.
