Well, I guess let's just start with the story of how you came to own here.
Yeah.
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 Pine
Crest Resort.
So we started coming up or she came up like as a kid, you know, and then Robin brought
me up in like 95, like when we came snowing on the weekend, it was funny because Robin's
aunt goes, you got the same looking year I that my husband had in his eye the first time
we came up and she goes, we never left.
So then, you know, 20 or 15 years later, we started, we were looking for a place, we
used to camp in Minnesota, like the midge, Minnesota and one time we were tired of driving
out there and Robin's called the Chamber of Commerce and just asked for, if we had
any campgrounds up here, nice campgrounds, that 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 with this deer run place.
So we started staying there and then it was cool, it was fun and then had conversation
with those guys goofing around one time about, you guys should sell this place and retire
and they said, well, what you should buy 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 on this knew that we
were looking and they actually approached us and said, hey, we got a resort for sale.
So.
Have you been here before then?
Yeah, a couple of times, we came here for music and all that stuff.
So they, yeah, we came friends.
So then we knew where they were.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then, like I said, we own that we managed another 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 like.
So were you in hospitality business before that?
No, drove a truck for 30 years.
Yeah.
So that's kind of a switch.
Yeah.
Yeah, big thing.
Yeah.
Never.
Robin had never bartended before.
The day we bought this was the first time she ever bartended it.
I bartended when I was a kid, like 20 years, 21 years old or whatever, but that was it.
And we just like running the other one gave us a good idea of which because that one was
there was no bar.
It's just a cabin.
So we had a good idea with the cabins and stuff like that, how to manage it.
And then 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 needed something more in order for you for both of us.
Yeah.
And then we were too far apart.
You know, she was always, I was always up here and she's down there and stuff.
The kids were still younger.
Okay.
Yeah.
So what year was it that you bought this?
We just bought this two years ago.
So this August will be two years, so 20, 20, 20, 20 years before that, how do you start
to manage it?
Three years, this will be our fifth year, this is our fifth year.
So three years before that, you know, man.
Okay.
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.
A little by little.
Yep.
And it seems like that's what happens to most people that come up here and live up here.
That's how that works.
It's just that up here just kind of, place kind of grabs you and brings you in.
I always said, like people ask, why do we drive all the way from, you know, seven hours
that come up here?
And I said, first of all, like the lake, I'm like, there's nothing that's nice.
If something was like by the Delos, where he's 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'd like hanging out
on the islands and all stuff like that and bounce around the different resort and stuff.
So, like it's just the people you come up here and I tell them, we go to a bar at home
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 stopping each other
within five minutes.
So that's just always been fun, you know.
I mean, do people say, oh, you feel like a local?
Yeah.
Oh, yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
And it's usually the first conversation is 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 everybody old 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.
Do you get to carry that over when you're the one running the bar?
Oh, yeah.
When you're on the other side, it's almost like the same thing.
It's more like you're hanging.
It doesn't seem like you're working, you're just hanging out with friends, you know, behind
the bar.
You're 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 started.
Hey, what are you guys up to?
You know, you're fishing or how's the fishing up there and stuff.
So, yeah.
So what has been, our story is looking at fishing, but also like how fishing in some
ways is competing with everything else to do with people.
Right, yeah.
Because we talked about 20, 30, 40 years ago, like it was fishing.
Yeah, yeah.
Just all the little nine horse motors and stuff.
Yeah.
And a lot of these cabins were built for fishing.
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 more, it's coming more in the summers, like fishing is still
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.
And did you, did that already happen before you came up here?
Was that part of the way that you were a part of?
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we met up here to do fish, but like you said, it's like weekends, like fish for a
couple hours and then spend the rest of the day on the islands or fish in the evening,
you know?
So like that.
Yeah.
And so in terms of how you advertise the resort, do you, are you advertising in two different
groups or are they one group that does two different things?
It's, I don't think we like maybe in the spring and the fall, we, you know, you kind of,
we talk about doing like package deals, like we're paying spring fishing or our ice fishing,
like this, like the best spots around the front.
So we like kind of focus them, but the rest time, it's just more like a family recreation
type thing where you got all, that's what 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 we're talking.
So that you've almost adopted there, there'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 known, they've been here way longer.
Yeah.
So you kind of got to fit in.
And what have they taught you about this place and like the culture of this place?
Like, uh, like, uh, just like family, like what, like family type, yeah, like everybody's,
everybody knows each other.
Like, let's go like the people here, you got to like fit in with the whole crowd, you
know, like everybody here, like a lot of these people come the same week.
So this guy knows, you know, and that cabin already and stuff like that.
So like we're kind of like, let them figure, we kind of just have to fit in and their groups
is more than what it is.
You know, Randy was telling us before about all the work that the owners do to try and
improve the quality.
Yeah.
To improve the fishing.
Yeah.
It is part of it, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Like the resort is association.
Like, like, so they put the fingerlings in.
We stock musky.
We, you know, every, every so many years, they just keep doing stuff to keep the lake, you
know, that's, 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, so everybody has to pitch in and do different things.
Yeah.
So is that something that the resort owners do on their own?
Do they work in the DNR or how does that come together?
They, you know, there's probably other resorts that could probably, but like treat, like
treelands is a huge part of like treelands resorts, you know, a couple of different places.
They're like a huge part of like the, the fishery stuff.
They put a lot of this stuff together and then like the muskies in 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, there's a lot of them, their partnership with other
there in the DNR.
But like, yeah, they do a lot of stuff just to improve.
Like, because someplace they'll, they'll, 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 that they gave you recently.
Yeah.
You talked about walleye and some of the competing, you know, the different fish that people
go for.
Yeah.
Mm hmm.
That was very interesting.
DNR came and they did, they do a test every so many years.
I think they switch off on the right, on 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, you kind of finished or sometimes?
Yeah.
I'm not a huge fisherman.
I'm like, I always consider myself a catcherman.
That's why I like paying fish and stuff.
I like to go and take the kids out when the, like right now it's perfect.
Copy or spawn and bluegular spawn and go out there and catch a bunch of fish like two
blowers and eat.
That's pretty, I like to catch and eat whatever I catch.
So are, are walleye not worth the time with the effort or just?
I'm just not that good at it yet.
I don't think like, I have a lot of guides up here and I keep telling my wife on and
get out more, you know, because like sometimes when I get out, I don't have a ton of time.
But that's why all these guys are like, hey, anytime you're ready, I'll teach you all
like better than fish walleye and stuff, you know, so.
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 part.
Plus it's like, you know, it's not as easy to catch and I think so it's one more sport
in it to you.
Like people, people come up just, most people are like, just walleye fishermen, you know,
especially this part of the year, you know, pretty soon they'll be a lot of musky, like
musky come more summer and stuff, you know.
But there's just, there's something, I mean, anyone, almost anyone, a kid can fish fan
fish off.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's just harder, 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-inch, you're fine.
Come on in.
Come on in.
Oh, you're fine.
Come on in, guys.
What the heck?
Watch, don't take over anything.
I didn't know you were a celebrity.
I am, yeah.
Hey.
We're trying our best.
Come on in.
How's it going?
We just kind of see how the other.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
These guys are staying at our place on the other side.
How are you?
Good.
So, I mean, I guess, in terms of, obviously, the DNR put a lot of time in modern research.
Right.
And they're trying to make sure that walleyers, too.
Oh, yeah.
Mm-hmm.
What would it mean if, like, there were a walleye out there?
I think it would cut down efficiently.
I think it was a good example in Minnesota that miles, miles, whack, and it's cold.
Yeah.
They cut out walleye fish in for like two years to let it replenish, kind of, you know, in
the resorts.
Like, they really struggle.
And now I guess it's fantastic.
I mean, it worked out in the long run, but, I mean, there's a lot of people.
They just come to walleyers.
Like, that'll do you see them.
That is at least as a must go.
Yeah.
More, you know, more, but people are looking at it.
Yeah.
What's your.
Oh.
I'm so sorry.
Would you mind just sitting on that chair over there?
Oh.
Was it shared?
Oh, just some.
Hold on.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's fine.
I know.
I appreciate it.
Right.
We'll be coming soon.
No, you guys are here.
We just do it while you're in it.
Classic experience.
What was that?
So, one of the other groups that exists up here, and that's, I don't see forever, are
they?
Yeah.
Do they factor into what people think of when they think of these water, non-fishing,
especially walleye?
Yeah.
I mean, I think the tribes, I was like, they, a lot of islands are there.
Islands out here and stuff, you know, so they're, it's part of the, you know, a lot.
We're on, this is actually reservation.
Like, we're on, like, the road and stuff going down as a reservation.
Yeah.
So, I mean, I guess, yeah, they're always, I mean, everyone knows that native islands are
and stuff like that.
And, like, new poses.
Because it, like, it's kind of weird, like, I guess you can go back to, like, the last
year was the 100-year anniversary.
And if you ask, like, resort owners, it's like, oh, they're celebrating, like, 100-year
anniversary with the, the natives.
It's not, it's like 100-year.
They have teach, some of them have teachers, like, 100-year, you know, they're sad about,
you know, like, it was two different, two different deals, you know.
Yeah.
And obviously, way back in the 80s, there were like the walleye wars.
Yeah.
I never experienced, but I heard stories about all that, like, fights at the dreams and stuff
like that.
Yeah.
But that doesn't exist?
You don't hear people talking?
No.
You know, I don't know.
I don't know.
I never see, like, a boatload of natives out of fish.
I mean, I don't know what the difference is, but, you know, like, I don't know.
They, they can fish, like, earlier in the year, so I think they get a better chance, you
know, like, with spear and stuff like that, with their spawn and stuff.
But that doesn't fact.
I mean, you don't, I guess you, sometimes you hear poor people probably.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You hear?
I don't know.
I'm feeling it, like, died or the, like, died down, you know, like, year people.
So I think some people disagree that they can fish when it's, when, when an early one, you
know, in the spawn and stuff like that.
But, you know, it's not as much of my kind of thing as it used to be.
Like I said, I, we were nowhere near being here during that time, but I heard of, like,
all the stuff that would happen and stuff.
Do you think people know how many fish the tribes put back in through, like, their stocking
programs or things like that?
There's just more of that almost doesn't, like, their full existence is kind of separate.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't know.
Yeah.
Like, we, we don't get as many.
Like, I mean, when we have those meetings just a week, so the tribe comes and talks and stuff.
And they talk about, you know, what they were talking about, like, camp and islands and stuff
like that.
But yeah.
I mean, ours, the DNR just gave, I guess, 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 too much.
Yeah.
Yeah.
In terms of, like, your long-term plans, is this, like, semi-retirement or is this, like,
like, yeah, like eight to ten years was our plan.
Yeah.
I was 52 when we bought it.
I was kind of somewhere around 62.
And then we're tired.
Unless we really love it.
And, you know, it gets easier.
We go on after we're done remodeling everything and stuff.
So.
And then who knows?
Or someone could come in a couple of years with me.
Who wouldn't want to be retired, you know?
I mean, of course that could be, like, you're going to be the one finding out who's interested
in buying it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That could be.
I always tell people now, like, you hear people go, you know, yeah.
What made you do this?
It's cool.
Me and my wife talk about doing them.
I'm always like, well, come see me in eight years.
You know, like, we got another eight years.
And if 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?
It's like, I mean, is it a family coming back?
It is like a big family.
Like, like, our Sunday's for music.
And then, like, we're just getting to know, like, these guys we know from the other place
three, four years now.
After you're here a couple of years, it becomes, like, family.
You know, we know what week certain groups are coming.
And we're like, oh, hey, so and so is coming this week.
The main group coming this week or that good call, the one group, the Italians from Milwaukee.
They're coming.
It's like it's fun.
Yeah.
It's like, you know, it is like family.
You can almost see their milestones.
Like, just on the branding, like, this is the first year his grandson came.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's cool.
Yeah.
And we try and like, like, but those guys, they, they came up and they asked me about a, like,
basket that their friends made.
So she went out and dug it out of there.
I'm like, it's still over there.
You can go get any else away.
You can see how, like, it's, that's a lot of them when they come and they, they've been
here coming so long.
And when they, and they take care of the place, like, it's their own, you know, I mean, like,
like the cabins are better when they leave.
It's just cleaner, cleaner when they got out here.
He also makes it, they're just, they know they're coming back next year.
So it's a big part of that.
Anything else that you want to add along what we've been talking about?
Yeah.
What do I think about that?
That was good.
Thank you for.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No problem.
So I think what we'd like to do is if you, you said you're those are your friends.
If they're okay with us.