History of the Resort
Pike Point Resort is located two miles west of Tenstrike, MN. The first cabin was built in 1923 and was the only resort on Gull Lake for 13 years. Hi and Ada Richardson rode a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a side car, through the mountains, from Seattle WA, to Tenstrike, MN. They arrived on June 22, 1922 and remember crawling on their on their stomachs through the hazel brush and trees just to get a glimpse of the lake. The native Americans at the time called the lake ‘Big Medicine’ because they felt it was good for their health to camp in the summer beside the clear lake.
Every year thereafter they added another new cabin until there was eight. In 1939 they built the lodge that is used today as Cabin 5. The Richardson’s cut and planed the lumber themselves for the buildings and the furniture which is used in some of the cabins and the original lodge cabin today along with the modern lodge built some years later. Meals were served at the lodge for as many as 75 guests at one time. Ada and Hi often served the Rotary Club of Bemidji a complete dinner with fresh lemon pie for 50 cents a plate.
Cabins rented for $3 a day which included 3 meals a day and a boat. Minnows were 10 cents a dozen and boat rental was 50 cents a day. Fishing was fabulous in those days as it is today as well.
The Richardson’s would row across the lake to visit their in-laws and pick up a mess of fish . On the way back they would catch enough for their supper The lake was stocked from the Red Lake Hatchery and the Bemidji Hatchery….20 cans were put into the lake each year.
The Richardson’s had their own garden, chickens and cows. Ada canned fruits and vegetables for the farmers she served. Cloth linens were used at the dinner tables and water had to be carried from the lake for washing and cleaning. Food and ice were lowered in a box in the ground to keep cold until the lodge was built. Then an icebox was built in the lodge for the cold storage. The guests would get down on their knees to get their milk and meats out of the box in the ground.
Mr. Richardson died in 1943 and she remarried Galen Lapp in 1952 and they continued to operate the resort cabins but did not serve meals any longer as she had in the past. The camp was full each year with the cabins having the atmosphere of the ‘good old days’.
Ada and Galen Lapp recalled using the detachable row boat motor by Evinrude. That is what they were called back then. The motor was actually purchased for the resort from the Gibbons Store in Bemidji in the early 1920’s for about $50. Twenty-flat bottom row boats, hand made of pine by Richardson were used at that time.
Guests always wondered how this tiny 4’11” woman could possibly accomplish all the things she had done during the 50 years she owned the resort and still retain her pep and quick step.
The resort changed hands two other times between 1973 and 1979 until it was purchased by Ron and Joan Yearling. They had their work cut out for them with cabins needing work and updating. They loved the atmosphere of the log style cabins and the lakeshore of 950’ was definitely a reason to own this resort. The Yearlings raised 5 children in the home on the property and continued each year to greet new people coming in and to this day there are some that have been coming to the resort for over 40 years in this year of their first year coming into the resort business they had one reservation to start their summer.
The current lodge had been originally built down at the shoreline of the lake; unfortunately, the shoreline was deteriorating in front of the lodge so in 1976 the lodge was moved up the hill and placed on a foundation where it sits today. They created a large kitchen in the lodge and updated bathroom. The log lodge still maintains the original furniture and the magnificent lake rock fireplace. Joan and Ron also had a restaurant in the lodge for their guests to enjoy and it didn’t take long for the word to get out what great cooks they were and they were serving meals 3 times a day plus running the resort operation; the lodge today can no longer serve full meals, but we do have pizzas, and ice cream.
January 29, 2010, after Ron’s passing away a couple years earlier, Joan sold the resort to Scott and Sue Springer. Scott and Sue were excited about this great adventure and direction in their lives that God had given them. They lived in the remodeled original home site on the property. For the next 12 years, they hosted many wonderful people and made memories which will be cherished by all for the years to come. Many updates were made, and many of the cabins were rebuilt or remodeled during Scott and Sue’s ownership of the resort.
In March 2022 the Pratt family purchased the resort from Scott and Sue Springer, and they are thrilled to continue the traditions as a family run and family-oriented resort.
The Springers gave 6 out of 9 cabins complete renovations and re-built 2 new cabins; Pratt family members Bruce, Mandy, Robert and Dylan plan on continuing updating the property and providing the finest accommodations for their guests. The Pratt family has 20 years resort experience in the Brainerd Walker/Sauk Centre areas and can’t wait to start making lifelong memories with the Pike Point people, and new generations to come. In 2023 the resort turned 100 years old, and we hope that you and your family will come help us celebrate the beginning of the next 100 years of welcoming families and great fishing!
