Oh yeah, I was like,
whatever you guys are in.
Well, I guess let's just start with
the story of how you came to own
this place. To own here?
I mean, that story kind of starts
before that, obviously, of you
coming up here.
Yeah, no, not before I was coming
up here.
So we came up here, we used to stay
at a campground.
We started coming up.
Robin's aunt owned a resort up here
on Spider Lake in
like late 70s, early 80s,
called Pinecrest Resort.
So she came up
like as a kid, you know, and then
Robin brought me up in like 95.
And we came snowmobiling on weekend.
It was funny because Robin's Aunt
goes, you got the same look in your
eye that my husband had in his eye
the first time we came And she goes,
we never left.
15 years later, we
were looking for a place, we used to
camp in Minnesota, like
Bemidji, Minnesota.
And one time we were tired of
driving out there and Robin called
the Chamber of Commerce and
just asked for if we had any
campgrounds up here, nice
campground, the one that I told you
about. So we started staying there,
like one week, two weeks, three
weeks, you know.
And then we finally wanted to get a
permanent site so we ended up at
this deer run place.
So we start staying there and
then it was cool, It was fun.
I had a conversation with those guys
goofing around one time about,
you guys should sell this place and
retire. And they said, well, you
should buy it, this is our
retirement. So we said, we would buy
this place.
That kind of fell through, we ended
up, that kind of put the
bug in us. So we kept looking and
looking and looking and people knew
that owned this, knew that we were
looking. And they actually
approached us and said, Hey, we got
a resort for sale.
So had you been here before then?
A couple of times we came here for
music and all that stuff.
So they, yeah, we became friends
with them. We knew who they were.
So, yeah.
And then like I said, we own that we
managed that other resort.
So we were up here more off.
I was up here all summer long.
So kind of got to know everybody
more and stuff.
So were you in the hospitality
business before that?
No, I drove a truck for 30 years.
So, that's kind of a switch.
Yeah, big time.
Robin had never bartended before.
The day we bought this was the first
time she ever bartended. I bartended
when I was a kid.
Like 21 years old or whatever.
But that was it.
Running the other one gave us
a good idea.
Because there was no bar.
It was just a cabin.
So we had a good ideas with the
cabins and stuff like that.
How to manage it.
It wasn't enough for us both to be
up here. Robin was still working.
I was getting summers off.
My work was real cool.
Robin was still working back in
Indiana.
So you need you needed something
more in order for both of us.
Yeah. And then we were too far
apart. You know, it's getting hard.
Like she was always I was always up
here and she's down there and stuff.
The kids were still younger.
So what year was it that you bought
this?
We just bought this two years ago,
so this August will be
And how many years before
that have you started managing?
Three years, this will be our fifth
year, this is our fifth years, so
three years before that doing that.
And then we had that permanent site
for like two
years, two or three years, before
that. So that's how long we were
staying up here like a lot.
So it's been a gradual process.
Yeah, yeah, little by little.
Yep. It seems like that's what
happens to most people that
that come up here and live up here.
That's how that works.
This up here just kind of
place kind of grabs you brings you
in
I always said, like, people ask why
we drive all the way from, you know,
seven hours to come up here.
And I said, first of all, like the
lake. I'm like, there's nothing as
nice. If someone was like by the
Dells, we're just going out with
these guys.
If it was half as nice, we
would just go there.
But like this lake with the islands
and all that stuff, because I'm not
a huge fisherman.
I go out fishing a lot, but like we
like hanging out on the islands, and
all stuff like that.
Bouncing around the different
resorts and stuff.
So like it's just the people, you
come up and I tell them,
we go to a bar at And you
talk like the four people you're
with. You come in a bar up here,
it's like instant, like the whole
bar is talking to each other within
five minutes. So that's, it just
always been fun, you know, so.
I mean, do people say, oh, you feel
like a local?
Yeah, oh yeah, for sure, yeah.
And it's usually the first
conversation's like, hey, you guys
out fishing, or you know what are
you guys up to? You guys bumming
around, and then where are you from?
And then then everybody all chimes
in. That's kind of cool.
So what is it like being on your end
of that? Because that's obviously
what a lot of people feel when they
come up to vacation.
Right, yeah, yeah.
Who gets to carry that over when
you're the one running them?
Oh yeah, when you're on the other
side, it's almost like the same
thing, it doesn't seem
like you're working, you're just
hanging out with friends, you know,
behind the bar, you are just on the
other side.
That's pretty much what it is, and
you still have the same
conversations, like everybody comes
in, that's how you usually start it.
Hey, what are you guys up to, you
fishing, or how's the fishing out
there, and stuff, so yeah.
So what has been,
our story is looking at fishing,
but also how fishing
in some ways is competing with
everything else to do with.
Right, yeah.
We talked about you know 20 30
40 years ago like it was fish.
Yeah
Yeah, yeah, just all little
nine-horse motors and stuff.
Yeah, so
And a lot of these cabins were built
for fisher.
Most of those places are built,
like that's why there's only a lot
of places, just two bathrooms.
Now you got a ton of people coming
in like when we have music and stuff
like that. So it's like, yeah, most
of them were built for people in the
bar. This bar used to end right
here.
The previous owner built this out
just to have more room, you know?
So just because like, it's coming
more in the summers.
Like fishing is still a big part of
it, but like spring and then
summer months, like June and July,
you get a lot of families doing the
recreation stuff, so.
And did you,
had that already happened before you
came up here? Was that part of the
way that you were a part of?
Yeah yeah yeah like a lot of
our friends that we met up here do
fish but like I said it's like
weekends like fish for a couple
hours and then spend the rest of the
day on islands or fish in the
evening you know
So, in terms of how you
advertise the resort, are
you advertising to two different
groups or are they one group that
does two different things?
I don't think we...
Like maybe in the spring and the
fall, you know, you kind of, we
talked about doing like package
deals, like we're spring fishermen,
our ice fishing is like this, like
the best spots right out in front.
So we like kind of focus them,
but the rest of the time, it's just
more like a family recreation
type thing where you got all that's
like the big, the big thing on the
lake is there's more, you know,
there's so much to do out here.
That's why it's not just directed at
just fishermen or just recreation
people.
So you've almost adopted
it, it's almost like some of the
clients came with the place.
Oh yeah, for sure, like, we're
probably like 70% repeat
customer, you know, so it's like
they've been here way longer than we
have, so yeah, you kind of got to
fit in.
And what have they taught you about
this place and the culture
of this place?
Like family type oriented, yeah,
like everybody knows each other,
like let's go, like the people here,
you gotta like fit in with the whole
crowd, you know? Like everybody
here, a lot of these people come the
same week, so this guy knows the guy
in that cabin already and stuff like
that, so we're kind of
like, let them figure, we kind of
just have to fit in in their groups
is more than what it is.
Now, Randy was telling us before
about all the work that the
owners do to try and improve
the quality.
To improve the fishing.
It's part of it, right?
Yeah, oh yeah.
Yeah, like the Resort Association,
like, so they put the fingerlings
in, we stock muskie, we,
you know, every so many years they
just keep doing stuff to keep the
lake, you know, that's a huge part
of it. There was no fish in the
lake. We probably wouldn't have
anywhere near the people coming up
here, so everybody has to pitch
in and do.
Yeah, so is that something that
the resort owners do on their
own? Do they work with the DNR or
how does that come together?
They, you know, there's probably
other resorts that could probably,
but like Treelands is a huge
part of like Treeland's resorts.
They own a couple different places.
They're like a huge part of the
fishery stuff. They put a lot of the
stuff together and then like the
Musky's Inc groups, they do a lot of
stuff. So it's all different, you
know, all different ones that keep
it going. But the Resort Owners
Association does a lot of it and
their partnerships with other,
they're in the DNR.
But like, yeah, they do a of stuff
just to improve, like, because some
places...
The DNR will put so many in
and then we'll add like they with
the money they collect or whatnot.
They'll add more to it, you know, so
so you were saying that you were had
a presentation they gave you
recently yeah talked about walleye
and some of the competing you know
the different fish that people go
for yeah
Yeah, it was very interesting.
DNR came and they did they do a test
every so many years.
I think they switch off from the
right then the east to the west side
of the lake and then they drag a net
and they'll tell you you know they
give us a report on or they just
post a report on you know up
and down numbers versus 10 years
ago, 20 years ago and stuff.
And is that, I mean, you said you
kind of fish or sometimes?
Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of fish.
Yeah, I'm not a huge fisherman.
I'm like, I always consider myself a
catcherman. That's why I like pan
fishing and stuff.
I like to go and take the kids out
when the, like right now it's
perfect.
Crappie are spawning, bluegill are
spawing. Go out there and catch a
bunch of fish in like a couple hours
and eat.
That's pretty, I like catch and eat
whatever I catch.
So are wall-line not
worth the time and the effort or
just?
I'm just not that good at it yet, I
don't think. I have a lot of guides
up here, and I keep telling my wife
I want to get out more, you Because
sometimes when I get out I don t
have a ton of time, but that's why
all these guys are like, hey, any
time you're ready, I'll teach you
how better to fish the walleye and
stuff.
Why is it that Walleye are
considered a cut above?
I don't know. Yeah, I don't know.
A taste of it. I think the taste is
one of the biggest parts.
Plus it's like, you know, it's not
as easy to catch.
And I think there's a little more
sport in it too.
Like people come up just, most
people are like, just walleye
fishermen. You know, especially this
part of the year.
You know pretty soon there'll be a
lot of muskie.
Like muskie come more summer and
stuff.
But there's just, there's something,
I mean, anyone, almost anyone, a kid
can fish panfish off the deck.
Right, yeah, yeah. It's usually your
first fish.
Right, yeah.
Yep, yep. And walleye is just, yeah,
it's just harder to, you know,
harder and it's just more of a sport
and stuff. So like, and people, you,
know, they're all after the 24,
25, 30.
You're fine, come on in.
Do you want me to talk to him in
this, sir? No, you're fine.
Come on in, guys.
What the heck?
Watch, don't tip over anything.
I didn't know you were a celebrity.
I am, yeah.
We're trying our best.
How's it going?
We just come to see how the other
half
Yeah, yeah, these guys are staying
at our place on the other side.
How's it going?
How are ya?
So, I mean, I guess,
in terms of, obviously
the DNR has put a lot of time and
money into research.
Right. And they're trying to make
sure that Walleye are still there.
Oh yeah.
What would it mean if, like,
there weren't...
I think it would cut down on fish.
I think there's a good example in
Minnesota that miles lack,
I think that's what it's called.
Yeah, they cut out walleye fishing
for like two years to let it
replenish kind of deal and the
resorts like they really struggle
like now I guess it's fantastic I
mean it worked out in the long run
but I mean there's lot I think a lot
of people they just come to walleye.
It's not as elusive as a mussel,
but you know more you know
what people are looking to get.
I'm so sorry, would you mind just
sitting on that chair over there?
Oh, which chair?
Just hold on to this.
Can I let him be behind you?
Yeah, yeah, that's fine.
Thanks, appreciate it.
Right.
We'll be done soon.
We need to be quiet and simple.
No, you guys keep your quiet.
We just do one year in a
classic, you know.
We're going to be doing that in
1985.
What was that?
So, one of
the other groups that exists up
here, and that's obviously forever,
are the tribes.
Do they factor into what people
think of when they think of these
waters and fishing, especially
walleye?
Yeah, I mean, I think the tribes, a
lot of the islands are theirs,
islands out here and stuff, you
know, so it's part of
the, you know, this is actually
a reservation, like we're on like
the road and stuff going down, it's
a reservation property here, so
yeah.
So I mean I guess, yeah, they're
always, I mean everyone knows
the Native Islands are and stuff
like that, and like new posts,
because it's kind of weird,
like I guess you can go back to,
last year was the 100 year
anniversary, but if you ask,
Looks like that.
Resort owners, it's like, oh,
they're celebrating like a hundred
year anniversary.
The natives, it was like a
100 year, they have t-shirts, some
of them had t-shirts, like a one
hundred year, you know, they were
sad about it, you know, like it was
two different, two different deals,
you know, so yeah.
Obviously way back in the 80s
there were the walleye wars yeah
yeah yeah i i never experienced
but i heard stories about all that
like fights at the drinks and stuff
like that yeah
doesn't exist, you don't hear people
talk.
No, you know,
I don't know.
I never see a boat with a needle.
I mean, I don't what the difference
is, but you know.
They can fish earlier
in the year, so I think they get a
better chance.
You know, like with spearing and
stuff like that.
But that doesn't fact I mean, you
know, I guess you sometimes you
hear poor people.
Yeah.
Yeah Yeah, yeah,
yeah you hear
I have a feeling it like died or
like died down, you know, like you
hear people. I think some people
disagree that they can fish when
it's when an
early one, you know in the spawn and
stuff like that. But you don't hear
it's not as much like I don't think
as it used to be. Like I said, we
were nowhere near being here during
that time, but I heard of like all
the stuff that would happen.
Do you think people know how many
fish the tribes put back in through
like their stocking programs or
things like that?
Or is it just more of that almost
doesn't like that their full
existence is kind of separate?
Yeah, yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, like we we don't get as many
like what I mean when we have those
meetings just a couple weeks So
the tribe comes and talks and stuff
and they talk about you know What
they were talking about like camping
islands and stuff like that But
yeah, that mean ours the DNR
just gave us bigger bigger
thing on what they got stocked in So
yeah, so I don't know I guess you
don't really think about it
In terms of like your long-term
plan, is this like a semi-retirement
or is this the like...
Yeah, like eight to 10 years was our
plan. Yeah, I was 52 when we bought
it. I was kind of somewhere around
62 and then retire.
Les, we really love it and it
gets easier as we go on after we're
done remodeling everything and
stuff. And then who knows, someone
could come in a couple years and
be like, who wouldn't want to be
retired, you know?
I mean, is that gonna be like,
you're gonna be the one trying to
know who's interested in buying?
Yeah, yeah, it could be.
I always tell people now, like you
hear people go, oh, you know,
what made you do this?
And that's really cool.
Me and my wife talk about doing
that. I'm always like, well, come
see me in eight years, you know,
like we got another eight years and
that's when you're looking, you
know, so.
So what's it like for you
when people pull in that you know,
I've been here forever?
Just like, yeah.
I mean, there's a family
coming back.
It is like a big family like it's
like our Sundays for music and then
like the people now we're just
getting to know like like these guys
we know from the other place three
four years now after you hear a
couple years it becomes like family
you know or we know what weeks
certain groups are coming and we're
like oh hey so-and-so is coming
this week the McMahon group is
coming this week or that we call the
one group the Italians from
Milwaukee they're coming it's look
it's fun yeah it's a like you know
it's it is like family yeah.
And you can almost see their
milestones like just on the brandy
like this is the first year his
grandson came
Yeah, yeah, and it's
cool. Yeah, and we tried like, like,
but those guys, they, they came up
and they asked me about a
like basket that their friends made.
They talked about it.
So she went out and dug it out of
there. I'm like, it's still over
there. You can go get it. You know,
so, but you can see how, how like
it's, that's, I love it when they
come and they've been here coming so
long. And then, and when they, and
they take care of the place, like
it's their own, you know what I
mean? Like, like the cabins are
better when they leave.
It's just cleaner, cleaner when they
got here. You know? So it makes it,
they're just, they know they're
coming back next year, so.
It's a big part of it.
Anything else that you want to add
along what we've been talking about?
Yeah, what did I think of?
That was good.
Thank you for sitting with us.
Yeah, yeah, no problem.
So I think what we'd like to do
is if you, you said to those of your
friends, if they're okay with us
sitting...