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Darrel
Mensik started Camp Holiday Campground in the late 50's.
Mr. Mensik started with one cabin and 6 wooded sites
along the southern shores of the lake. (Sites 1-6 still
exist today) Prior to the Mensiks, The Bortchord Family
owned the acreage and built the main home. Later added
the original log cabin, which is now cabin 8. Mrs. Borchard
bundled natural kindling from the forest floor and stored
it in what now known as the office. John & Martha
Monster bought the place in the early 70's. John Monster
(yes that is his REAL name) can tell you stories how
the campers were lined up down the road for camping
on 4th of July weekend.
Then one day in
1978 on a late cool September morning, Ann Erickson
drove from southern Minnesota looking for a family business
to raise her 2 daughters and son, while her husband
Harvey, continued to work in the cities during the week.
She noticed when meeting the autumn tree line around
Lake Mille Lacs how lush and beautiful everything around
her looked. The sky was Blue and the trees where filled
with vibrant reds, bright oranges, and rich mustard
colored leaves. If you talk to her now she will tell
you how she remembers walking the grounds of the small
campground, rustling the piles of leaves in her path
and thinking, "This is the place".
On April 1st
of 1979, the Erickson Family motorcade of U-haul's pulled
down the driveway. At this time, there was only one
cabin and 20 campsites. After the shock of 4ft of snow
and a backed up, out of date, septic system, the adventures
began. In the fall of 1985, the campground expanded,
adding 20 full hookups and the long awaited shower house.
Soon after, in the spring of 1989 the neighboring resort
was purchased and merged with the camp to form Camp
Holiday Resort and Campground. After 15 years of remodeling
cabins, adding 2 wells, and 4 more septic systems; Camp
Holiday has become a vacationer's dreamland. The Renovations
continue today with additions like a brand new 7 bedroom
reunion home and paved access.
Three generations
and thousands of vacationers that have passed through
these grounds; have come to know Ann & Harvey Erickson
and their family as the family that never stops working.
It is common knowledge in these parts, that the Erickson's
have worked with their hearts and hands to make these
grounds become everyone's family "Home away from
Home". It had always been their vision was to pass
the fruits of their labor on to their children. Hence,
Therese, the youngest of three, along with her husband
Paul Erickson (handy huh?), and their two children have
been passed the torch.
The
rest they say is history.
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