Joe's Lodge celebrates 100 years as popular family vacation destination

Jul. 20—BEMIDJI — Joe Parenteau's dream of starting a family-friendly resort on Lake Andrusia is still alive and well as Joe's Lodge celebrates its 100th anniversary.

In 1924,

Joe's Lodge

started out as a fishing camp before later being transformed into a vacation destination featuring cabins, RV camping sites and of course, great fishing.

It all began with Parenteau looking out across Lake Andrusia. He had a vision of starting a fishing camp for families, seeing the sandy shoreline and beautiful landscape on the other side of the waters. This led him to purchase the land and begin making his dream a reality.

Located on the Cass Lake Chain of Lakes, the resort has overcome many obstacles during its 10 decades of business, including surviving the Great Depression, World War II, the coronavirus pandemic and much more.

Over the years the lodge's various owners have renovated and continued to improve the resort, adapting to the needs of the guests and changing with the times. The majority of the cabins have been replaced since 2000, and the remainder have been remodeled.

There are 23 cabins

to choose from, each with bedding provided. All facilities are equipped with basic kitchen dishes and cookware, a picnic table, grill and many with dishwashers, too.

The main lodge also has a game room where guests can enjoy playing video games or pool. A small store offers basic grocery items, soft drinks, ice, tackle and bait, gas, firewood and souvenirs.

There are a wide-range of outdoor activities

such as two beachfronts with inflatable water toys, seven docks on the Mississippi River, two playgrounds, a tennis court, a volleyball court and more. Joe's has 40 acres that include hiking trails that extend into the Chippewa National Forest and they are located by several golf courses.

Many families make Joe's their annual vacation spot and have no intention of quitting their tradition.

"I think this is my 18th or 19th year coming here with my family," said guest Harley Effertz. "My extended family all live within 20 miles of each other and we travel three and a half hours to spend a week here together every summer. It's pretty amazing. My 5-year-old son, Caleb, has been counting down the days since March."

Current owners Adam and Kelley Olsen recently sat down with the previous owners, Sherry and Jack Frost, to reminisce about memories they have made at the resort.

"As kids get older they've come back and told us that Joe's was their favorite family trip because when you are here you are with family," Jack said. "It's a more intimate family type of vacation and I think this resort is one of the best uses of the land for people to come enjoy. We have a lot for people to do here."

A goal of all the owners past and present is to try to keep the resort affordable and family-friendly.

"People spend a week or two on the beautiful Chain of Lakes with good fishing and clear water — it becomes a family tradition," Jack said. "Joe used to tell the Marty's (the previous owners) and the Marty's told us, 'Not everyone can afford a vacation to Cancun or Mexico, but you can afford to come to northern Minnesota.' This is a family-oriented place."

The Frosts are not only the previous owners, they are also Kelley's parents. She shared a few of her memories growing up and working at the lodge.

"We moved here when I was 8, and I learned how to run a cash register, clean cabins and answer phones," Kelley said. "After the cabins were cleaned I could go play on the lake."

Adam chimed in to explain the couple's rationale for keeping the resort in the family.

"When we first talked about buying Joe's from her parents we knew that we were going to be able to raise a family amongst other families, and that the entire resort atmosphere is a huge family," Adam added. "When you've got seasonals that have been here 30 years, and you've got cabin guests that have been here 70 years, they become part of your family."

During the summer the Frosts are at the resort to help out and spend time with their family and reconnect with other longtime guests-turned-friends in the community.

"You are able to get involved in their families and become real good friends," Sherry said.

For many families, Joe's Lodge is an annual destination. The Renollette family, primarily based in the Twin Cities area, has been gathering at the resort each summer since 1941.

Candy (Renollette) Poland mentioned how her family started coming to the resort when she was just 2 years old.

"I'm 77 and I'm still coming," her sister Carol Renollete chimed in with a laugh.

Each year the family takes a group photo to remember their vacation at Joe's. This year, there were roughly 40 members and 14 cabins being rented by the Renollette family.

Even 4-year-old Archie Thompson couldn't help but contribute to the conversation about Joe's, adding that he enjoys their annual family treasure hunt the most.

"Grandma dresses them up like pirates and they find a treasure chest every day," Poland explained.

"And there's candy inside!" said Thompson with a smile.

Thompson has come to Joe's every year, with his first time being when he was two weeks old.

"I like to fish and swim," Thompson said.

"Just two days ago he caught a northern (pike), didn't you Archie?" Poland added.

"Yeah it was very heavy and we needed to get a net," Thompson replied.

Fishing is a huge draw at Joe's with access to several lakes through the Mississippi River. Lake Andrusia, in particular, is known for its walleye fishing, as well as northern, perch, bass crappies, muskies and sunfish.

Austin Line shared his favorite fishing story from Joe's. His goal as a kid was to make it into one of the photobooks that are in the lodge game room.

"I caught a big northern right off of that dock when I was about 10 years old," Line said, gesturing to the nearby dock. "It was kind of rainy out, so everyone was inside and my grandfather was napping. But he was the closest one, I needed a net and I was screaming for him until he came over. The photo is still in the game room today."

Jerry Lazarz has been coming for over 40 years and loves to see the family continue to grow.

"My favorite thing is coming every year and seeing the new kids," Lazarz said. "They grow up, get big, get married and then they start over again! It's a nice feeling to be up here because we've had a lot of good, good days. It's just a wonderful place to be and (the owners) have always treated us very, very well."

One thing the owners, past and present, will always be grateful for is the memories they are able to make with the returning guests from year to year. Both mentioned how they have been invited to funerals, weddings and other events of their guests.

"We (attended) a wedding for a granddaughter of people that had been up here for over 50 years," Sherry explained. "And I remember this little girl being born — now she just got married!"

Carol Renollette's son, Jay Schreder, shared why his family keeps coming back after all of these years and why he encourages others to do the same.

"We come to Joe's because of the family, people and the environment," Schreder left off. "My surrounding family, my extended family — we all come here. It's great; this is the greatest place on earth."