The history of
Little Winnie Resort is closely intertwined with the history of Lake
Winnibigoshish. The resort was built in 1930 and was
originally named Little Winnie Lodge. The original cabins rented for $15 per
week and were very rustic. According to the original owner,
Mel Olson,there weren't any
"modern" cabins in the area until after World War II.
The area didn't have electricity until 1943. Area roads at the
time were also nothing more than
trails through the brush. Olson said that if you
were to meet another car on the "road" to Bena one of you would have
to find a place in the forest to "turn out" in order to let the
other car past.
Much has changed in the 85+ years since
Little Winnie's beginning. In 2000, the Graupman family
purchased the resort. They enlarged the lodge to add a
restroom, a bait and tackle shop, a gift shop and an indoor
fish-cleaning house. They also added a heated swimming pool, a large
patio out front, and purchased new boats and motors for rental use.
They have updated and renovated several of the cabins and enlarged
the seasonal campground which includes full hookups and a
centralized shower house.
Since it's beginning in 1930, Little Winnie Resort has always had a
high percentage of repeat customers. Over the years, amenities
and services have been added to make your vacation more enjoyable;
but the atmosphere and wild beauty and peacefulness of the northwoods and Little Winnie Resort remain.
Call 1-800-346-8501 today to
experience a great Minnesota vacation in one of Minnesota's most
historic areas.
