I just got home from a 4th of July weekend to Garrison ,Mn, I hadn't been back to Mille Lacs since 1994 due to my fathers death. My dad started taking me fishing on Mille Lacs when I was 5 years old in 1968 we had so many great times together on Mille Lacs I wanted to go back and feel some of those memories..... I was stunned to see what has happened to the area.. I can see the native American and the State Of Minnesota aren't very proud of their Heritage... So many of the local businesses that were once packed are gone. Seguchie Lodge, Pikes Point, Garrison Motel, The Headquarters to name a few. The clean state park that once use to have people staying in tents having picnics and full, was very dirty and unmowed, unmaintained and bathrooms locked up!!!!! Hats off to the survivors: Terrys Boat Harbor ,Twin Pines, Blue Goose, Spotlite Cafe ,Y-Club, Tutts Bait Shop and Bobs Trailer Park to name the ones I remember. I can understand the frustration of the local people, their own State seems to have decided their tax dollar mean NOTHING... I have one question to the State Of Minnesota and the local Native American ,are you proud of where your from? You are killing your HERITAGE!!!!!
I can see that 16 years away would show you alot of change. Sometimes it catches me off guard driving past one of the closed up businesses to. The westside is much worse than the eastside of the lake. The towns of Isle, Onamia and Wahkon all have had their changes over the years also.
I've been on or around the lake a long time.......I for one wonder when it will stop and or change directions. Some resorts are doing well, building, investing in their bussiness. We all hope for the best, Its still sad to see some of the "Big Time Places" closed up...
Many people, myself included, go back to what they used to call home and are amazed at how things have went.... in reality, when too many people leave and do not frequent and help survive, things do fall in disrepair & or close. It is not just specific to the Mille Lacs area.
As Bobber has stated very well, the change has been progressive and it is quite sad. In the years when I was growing up around Malmo and the eastside, Isle had many good little shops and cafes. Even Isle has been hard hit by some changes and buy outs that are not pretty and that were not in the best interst of the copmmunity.
There have been some very short sighted events in Isle and it shows even more so on the Garrison area. For example, Wigwam Bay used to be incredible place to fish and hang out. I am not so sure now.
Lets hope the parks can be cleaned up and opened and maintained with dignity for all. Mille Lacs lake lovers must unite!
Hope I didn't come off to harsh I am one of those guys that hates change, it is so obvious to see what the casino has done to the Mille Lacs Area... Thanks for your reply I plan on coming back soon. Question is the park in Garrison a State Park or City Park. (South Of McDonalds)....
I am a food sales rep and I see firsthand what a casino can do to an area such as Mille lacs who had so many Independant owned establishments... They cannot compete with the Casino. It's to bad people can't just STOP supporting what is hurting the area.
On the positive side, those of you that used to go to Carlsona Beach Supper Club on the north side of the lake will be happy to hear that work has started on rebuilding that landmark. Demolition is under way and Ron (the owner) plans on having the restaurant reopened before the end of the year.
I understand what you say about Mille Lacs. I live in CA but come to MN at least 2-3 times a year to fish with my brother and see my dad. Seems we always go by or hit Mille Lacs at least once during my visits. Many of the changes you note are not isolated to MN. I live about 30min east of Disneyland and for many years was surrounded by dairies. Now those diaries are rapidly being replaced by homes and retail malls. Sad yes, but the reasons are not too dissimlar to what is happening there. Besides the change in laws, codes and environmental standards, many of the sons and daughters of these dairymen are also moving out of the area and choosing not to stay with the family business for a variety of reasons. Many of us parents have tried to make sure our children get better jobs (and incomes) than we had. If they succeed to that end, we lose the business (as we age) which may have been started by our parents or even their parents. It is tough to see and maybe be a part of. And a big recession does no one and no business any good. Here in CA there was strong talk of closing the state parks as a money saving move. So you have many reasons driving these changes. It's tough and hard to watch but hopefully the pendulum swings back and the business environment improves.
My family history with Mille Lacs goes back past my own. One of my oldest memories is of Otto's Resort (then it was Martins', Brown's, etc.) south of Garrison. My grandfather use to run the launch (Fishhawk) out of there.
