Beginning in the 1860s, the first vestiges of the resorts of Lake County appeared around the sparkling pools of the regions many hot springs and upon the shores of Clear Lake. Lured by the supposed medicinal qualities of the water, people flocked to rustic campgrounds and cabins to take the cure for their ailments, drink, and bathe, staying for long periods each summer. Within a few years, ambitious entrepreneurs bottled the springs mineral waters and built more luxurious accommodations and amenities. Although the claims of curative waters lost sway over time, resorts equipped with extensive recreational facilities, dance floors, live music, bountiful food, hunting, fishing, and childrens entertainment continued to draw visitors in droves. Families filled the resorts in summers, and by the 1940s, large group and society meetings as well as conventions began to utilize the resorts on spring and fall weekends. Though few original resorts remain, today, in 2007, the regions business directory lists 51 Lake County resorts.

As Minnesota's tourism expanded beyond the hotels along the Mississippi and early railroad lines, small family resorts emerged. They catered to the simple pleasures of an outdoor enthusiast: a good fishing lake, a passable road, and a lodge with a cabin or two. As the demands of tourists shifted throughout the twentieth century, the state's resorts were dramatically altered. The Early Resorts of Minnesota:Tourism in the Land of 10,000 Lakes explains how resorts evolved, their prime locations, owners, amenities, and the rustic elegance that made Minnesota's resorts national icons. This book provides images from early tourism, with a website to help you further explore the history of Minnesota's treasures.

Native Americans roamed the beautiful lands of northern Michigan for many years, leaving a legacy of mature forests, clear waters, and plentiful game. By 1871, waves of immigrants were arriving from Europe, as well as Union soldiers after the Civil War. These pioneers brought with them the tools, know-how, and determination to transform the wild land into an economy based on the timber, railroads, and farming. Schools, churches, businesses, and tourism blossomed. The county's 156 lakes and 46 trout streams offered pristine settings for swimming, boating, hunting, and fishing. Resorts, sporting clubs, and cottage colonies sprang up to meet the needs of seasonal visitors. Early fishing guide and hotelier Andrew J. Bradford, financiers Curtis W. MacPhail and Robert J. Smith, philanthropist Martin Johnson, and others nurtured the growth of the communities. The Civilian Conservation Corps replanted the forests and built roads, the African American resort of Idlewild showcased black entertainers, and Raymond W. Overholzer built Shrine of the Pines, all promoting the county's development.

Since the first rustic vacation retreat for hunters and fishermen was built in 1871, Okoboji and the Iowa Great Lakes have been a drawing card for families, generation after generation. Over the decades, dozens of vacation resorts, from the magnificent Hotel Orleans on Big Spirit Lake to the iconic Inn on West Okoboji, have lured happy summertime visitors. Just mentioning the name of a resort often evokes memories of swimming, boating, fishing, waterskiing, or just good times spent with friends and family. However, most of these vacation resorts are now gone--The Inn, Manhattan Beach Hotel, Templar Park, and Crandall's Lodge have all been demolished. Vacation Village has become Village West, and the Crescent Beach resort, which at one time boasted over 100 apartments or cottages, now has fewer than 30 motel-style units. Gone too are dozens of friendly mom-and-pop cottage resorts all around the lakes, replaced by condominiums and private residences.