The Golden Years of Minnesota Tourism

From the 1860's through the 1930's, Minnesotapassengers, ferried visitors to and from the island.
was a travel Mecca for sportsmen andAs the railroads pushed further north, tourists
woodswomen from the east coast and the deepventured into the central regions of Minnesota,
south. It was touted as "America's Favoriteincluding Alexandria, the Chain of Lakes north of
Fun-spot," "The Ideal Destination for Out-of-doorBrainerd, and Lake of the Woods at Warroad on
Vacations," and America's Vacation Wonderland,"the Canadian border. Rustic log resorts sprang up
among other fanciful titles. People from New Yorkon popular lakes, offering hunting, fishing, sailing,
to Alabama climbed aboard James J. Hill's Greathiking, golf and tennis, among other outdoor
Northern Railway to get a glimpse of the newpass-times.
frontier, rumored to have more than 10,000 lakes.One of the most enduring resorts is the
In the early days, the rustic areas surroundingNaniboujou Lodge, which is still located on the
Minneapolis and St. Paul were teeming with visitorsshores of Lake Superior. This fabulous get-away
searching for pristine, natural settings. The Twinwas built in the 1920's. It's cavernous great room
City Trolley Line ran tracks from the cities towas decorated from floor to ceiling with
rural communities, such as Stillwater, the birthplacemagnificent Cree Indian hieroglyphs. A huge river
of Minnesota, and Lake Minnetonka, a sprawlingrock fireplace anchors one end of the room,
irregular body of water with many islands andwhich is filled with rustic, but cozy furniture.
over 100 miles of shoreline.Regular visitors included Babe Ruth and Ring
Steamboat companies sprang up toLardner, the New York newspaperman.
accommodate the many travelers hoping forAnother famous get-away, still in-tact, is Breezy
tours of the breathtaking St. Croix River ValleyPoint Resort, a wonderful assortment of cabins
and the many bays of Lake Minnetonka. The toursurrounding a classic log lodge on a point in Pelican
boats were followed by grand Victorian hotelsLake. This was the quintessential 1920's rustic
with expansive views, electric lights and runningMinnesota vacation spot, with a fleet of boats for
water. The trolley car company built threerent, fishing guides and long, sandy beaches
spectacular amusement parks within 15 miles ofsurrounded by tall pine and birch trees. It was built
Minneapolis and St. Paul - the most scenic of whichby "Captain" Billy Fawcett, publisher of the popular
was Big Island Park, built on an island in the middle"Whiz Bang" magazine. Captain Billy was
of Lake Minnetonka. This park featured a dancewell-known in Hollywood and Breezy Point soon
hall, a network of charming promenades and abecame a favorite fun-spot for the likes of Clark
towering electric light house that was visible fromGable, Carole Lombard, western star Tom Mix
all points of the lake. Massive steamships, includingand boxer Jack Dempsey.
the "City of St. Louis" which could carry 1,000