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Supper clubs, they were called. They opened in the evening for dinner guests, although a few had some meal accommodations for resort guests during the day. Part of the appeal was the woodland or lake scenery.
Breezeway, The Paul Bunyan restaurant, Shig-Wak, and the Viking Manor have gone by the wayside although in two cases the resort businesses have survived.
The Breezeway was a large log structure at the corner of Hwy. 88 and the Van Vac Road. It was built and operated by Gertrude and Rom LaMontagne. Steaks seemed to be the specialty. Two rental cabins were also a part of the operation. When the restaurant closed probably in the late 50s, the main building was turned into a duplex. That lasted 10 or so years. The restaurant had a huge split stone fireplace crafted by local artisan John Brown. It was dismantled and sold to a local party. No sign of the buildings is apparent.
The other three eating places similarly went by the wayside, but parts of them remain. Just a few miles further east on Grant McMahan Boulevard was home to the Paul Bunyan Wilderness Lodge. It was the “go to” place for burgers of all sizes and combinations. When owners changed, so did the business. It is now a resort with rentals of boats, pontoons, and other watercraft.
The original building has an interesting history. Beginning its life as a Finnish social hall in Winton, it was ferried over the ice to Olson’s Bay on the west side of Shagawa. Leonard Klun took the initiative to make this happen. After he sold the lodge and resort, new owners added the restaurant. Fabulous burgers and a chance to gain some notoriety by finishing a mountain of a meal. With new owners again, food service was dropped.
Up the Echo Trail on Little Long Lake, Arlo and Margaret White opened Shig-Wak Resort and soon a supper club. Seafood became the main attraction. When the Whites decided to sell, once again the new owners went back to resort only accommodations.
Bear Island Resort, on Bear Island Lake, began as Rothman Cabins started by Joseph and Clara Rothman. When they sold to Wally and Liz Ahlquist, Svea Ahlquist, Wally’s mother thought they should add a restaurant. Svea was herself from Sweden and was indeed a colorful character. With both a culinary and artistic flair, she created a dining room with rosemaled beams and Scandinavian folk painting. Viking Manor had an interesting atmosphere and a unique menu.
The Viking Manor had a stellar reputation, enough so that when Lynda Bird Johnson, President Johnson’s daughter was here on a canoe trip, she made a point of dining there.
The menu featured ebelskivers, Swedish pancakes, fruit soup, and special breads. Then eventually the resort was sold (several times over) and the Scandinavian atmosphere disappeared. The entire resort property was later divided up and sold privately.
Having had the good fortune to eat at all these places, I can say I miss every one of them. It seemed like such a nice thing to drive out into the country to have a meal in a different setting than that of being home or even going “downtown.” There is practically no opportunity for that now.
An exhibit of pictures and menus is featured now at the Minnesota North Vermilion College. Feel free to give us further information or to ask questions by calling the historical society office at 218-365-3226. The office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon until 4 p.m. The new manager is Adam Kovall.
