Geneva Beach Resort, Alexandria
established 1883
established 1883
Geneva Beach Resort in Alexandria was founded in 1883 by J.H. Letson. At the time, it was a singular hotel called Hotel Alexandria and its grand opening included a concert, banquet and formal ball. With its prime location on Lake Geneva, it became a stop for excursion parties that would ride a steamboat to visit different properties around the lake. The Great Northern Railroad made a special stop at a shelter that was built near the hotel, so many guests from the Twin Cities and Midwest states were able to vacation at the hotel. In 1896, J.H. Letson leased the hotel and its property to his nephew, J.L. Dickson, who renamed it the Geneva Beach Hotel. Daily rates were $2.00 a room. Sadly, in 1911, the hotel was destroyed by an electrical fire that burned the entire building to the ground. Luckily, the fire happened the day AFTER all of the summer guests had left.
In 1914, construction began on a new hotel complex boasting 32 rooms and eight large cottages. In 1917, J.L. Dickinson gifted the newly-built hotel to his son, Harry, as a wedding gift. The younger Dickinson renamed the hotel the Dickinson Inn. Harry Dickinson owned the property until 1930, when he moved to Minneapolis and sold it to A.J. DuBeau. DuBeau promptly renamed the hotel the Geneva Beach Hotel. A.J. DuBeau went on to own many hotels in central Minnesota and in 1936 sold the Geneva Beach Hotel to A.L. Roberts Hotel Corporation. At this time guests paid $25-$35 per week.
In June of 1942, disaster struck when the hotel caught fire from an over-heated chimney…this time the day BEFORE guests were due to arrive for the season. The resort was able to stay open for the summer, but the dining room, kitchen and lobby had to be relocated to the largest cottage. The seven other cottages remained open as well. Damages to the hotel was estimated to be around $20,000; however the hotel corporation was able to rebuild the structure and sold it to Robert and Evelyn Brown in 1943.
The Browns worked hard to restore the hotel to its former glory during their 26 years of ownership and, to breathe new life into the resort, they renamed it Brown’s Geneva Beach. In 1948, they built the Cottage Annex, which is still part of the resort today, now called the Geneva House. The Browns also modernized all of the cottages and, in later years, replaced the wood boats with aluminum ones. The resort became famous for its bass opening fishing galas and the Browns became known for their leadership in business across the state.
In 1969, yearning for warmer weather, the Browns sold the property to Larry and June Donatelle and moved to Arizona. The Donatelles renamed the property The Geneva Beach Resort & Motel and added to the property throughout the years. However, the Donatelles did not purchase the original Geneva Beach Hotel; that was torn down in 1971.
The resort passed through several hands over the next few years including Fred and Marlene Oelfke, who purchased the resort in 1976; Ward and Carol Sonsteby in 1986; Wally and Roxanne Tischer in 1991. Since 1996, the resort has been under the ownership of Tim and Carolyn Aarsvold, who changed the name of the property to what it is now known as today…Geneva Beach Resort.
The Aarsvolds spent time renovating the resort to include the Homestead Lodge, Linden Lodge and Maple Lodge. In 2013, they purchased the home just to the east of the resort, which is where the original hotel stood and is now called the Sugarbush Lodge on the resort. The Lodge features numerous historical artifacts and data so guests can read about and enjoy how Geneva Beach Resort came to be.
Learn more at www.genevabeachresort.com.
In 1914, construction began on a new hotel complex boasting 32 rooms and eight large cottages. In 1917, J.L. Dickinson gifted the newly-built hotel to his son, Harry, as a wedding gift. The younger Dickinson renamed the hotel the Dickinson Inn. Harry Dickinson owned the property until 1930, when he moved to Minneapolis and sold it to A.J. DuBeau. DuBeau promptly renamed the hotel the Geneva Beach Hotel. A.J. DuBeau went on to own many hotels in central Minnesota and in 1936 sold the Geneva Beach Hotel to A.L. Roberts Hotel Corporation. At this time guests paid $25-$35 per week.
In June of 1942, disaster struck when the hotel caught fire from an over-heated chimney…this time the day BEFORE guests were due to arrive for the season. The resort was able to stay open for the summer, but the dining room, kitchen and lobby had to be relocated to the largest cottage. The seven other cottages remained open as well. Damages to the hotel was estimated to be around $20,000; however the hotel corporation was able to rebuild the structure and sold it to Robert and Evelyn Brown in 1943.
The Browns worked hard to restore the hotel to its former glory during their 26 years of ownership and, to breathe new life into the resort, they renamed it Brown’s Geneva Beach. In 1948, they built the Cottage Annex, which is still part of the resort today, now called the Geneva House. The Browns also modernized all of the cottages and, in later years, replaced the wood boats with aluminum ones. The resort became famous for its bass opening fishing galas and the Browns became known for their leadership in business across the state.
In 1969, yearning for warmer weather, the Browns sold the property to Larry and June Donatelle and moved to Arizona. The Donatelles renamed the property The Geneva Beach Resort & Motel and added to the property throughout the years. However, the Donatelles did not purchase the original Geneva Beach Hotel; that was torn down in 1971.
The resort passed through several hands over the next few years including Fred and Marlene Oelfke, who purchased the resort in 1976; Ward and Carol Sonsteby in 1986; Wally and Roxanne Tischer in 1991. Since 1996, the resort has been under the ownership of Tim and Carolyn Aarsvold, who changed the name of the property to what it is now known as today…Geneva Beach Resort.
The Aarsvolds spent time renovating the resort to include the Homestead Lodge, Linden Lodge and Maple Lodge. In 2013, they purchased the home just to the east of the resort, which is where the original hotel stood and is now called the Sugarbush Lodge on the resort. The Lodge features numerous historical artifacts and data so guests can read about and enjoy how Geneva Beach Resort came to be.
Learn more at www.genevabeachresort.com.
