Train Bell Resort, Merrifield
established 1908
It was the pine trees, not the lake that spurred the development of Train Bell Resort. The Gull River Lumber Company used a rail line to bring pine trees to their Brainerd sawmill. As the train gradually switched to transporting passengers on a more regular basis, the Merrifield postmistress, Marie Doerfer Russel, noticed many passengers at the town’s station and realized travelers would benefit from a place to stay near the station. So she and her husband, George, built a large house and rented rooms. They called the structure the “Wigwam.” It was a 30-minute ride from Brainerd. They served meals and rented comfortable beds. By 1911, their hotel was prospering and they began offering more services.
In 1913, Marie unexpectedly died, leaving her husband and an 11-month son. George was unable to manage the property himself and ultimately lost it to foreclosure. It was sold to Clyde Parker and his family, who hired Martha Bronson to manage the Wigwam. She was 57 years old when she started operating the hotel. Three years later, she bought land just to the north and in 1921 she purchased the hotel.
Martha built two cabins herself and by 1922 she was renting boats, selling bait and serving as a fishing guide. Guests arrived by railroad as there was no road. At age 79 and in failing health, Martha sold the resort to Fred and Hilda Johnson. It was not a good match and only eight months later the title transferred to Elof Olson. Elof had worked for the railroad and was a good carpenter so he put both set of skills to work in building four small cabins near the existing hotel. He obtained a large brass train bell and mounted it in front of the hotel, christening his new business as Train Bell Resort.
Over the next decade, the Olsons added more cabins and brought electricity and running water. The hotel room rate of $2.50 per day included meals. Cabins rented for $3 per day or $18 per week and included use of a boat, ice, electric plates and linens. Family style chicken dinners were available to the public and served on the sun porch. Olson sold the business to W.J. and Josephine Westensee (known as Pat and Josie) in 1945. World War II was ending and they knew many returning soldiers had a pent-up desire for fun, gambling and drinking. The added more than 20 slot machines in the lodge, as the hotel was now called. The machines were profitable until anti-gaming legislation passed at the urging of Governor Luther Youngdahl and slot machine profits disappeared. Even so, the Westensees were able to burn their mortgage after over five years of ownership. Two years later, they sold the resort.
The new owners, Frank and Irlene Ramp, operated Train Bell Resort for 23 years and still live in the yellow house that guests drive by as they enter the resort. In 1976, John and Karen Wiser took ownership, adding a small campground. In 1982, Ernie and Evangeline Knutson took the helm, operating the resort for nine seasons. In 1990, they sold their interest to Harold and Rosemarie Kraft. The Krafts made many changes, including building a new owner’s house, constructing villas with a meeting room, adding lofts to cabins, refurbishing the boathouse into a cabin.
In 2001, they sold the resort to Mike and Connie Bruesch. The couple created a store, a recreation center, a movie center and a new beach with sand volleyball, horseshoes, a playground and plenty of lounge chairs. They also added a full activities program and theme weeks. The Train Bell Express was a new feature in 2003…a 33-foot locomotive for giving guests rides.
Current owners John and Kristi Gordon took over in 2013. They installed a webcam, upgraded the WiFi, improved waste management and began a recycling program. They added air conditioning, digital cable and flatscreen TVs. In 2015, they survived a storm with 95 mph winds for 30 minutes, causing great destruction. With the help of their staff, guests and church, they were able to recover within 48 hours and carry on with business as usual.
In 2017, they ushered in the 75th anniversary of the Kuhn family coming to Train Bell Resort, which included accepting a bell, commissioned by the Kuhn family and presented to John and Kristi and Train Bell; it now forever stands on the lakeshore between Cabins 9 and 10 ... reminding families to gather at the lake.
Learn more at http://www.trainbellresort.com.
established 1908
It was the pine trees, not the lake that spurred the development of Train Bell Resort. The Gull River Lumber Company used a rail line to bring pine trees to their Brainerd sawmill. As the train gradually switched to transporting passengers on a more regular basis, the Merrifield postmistress, Marie Doerfer Russel, noticed many passengers at the town’s station and realized travelers would benefit from a place to stay near the station. So she and her husband, George, built a large house and rented rooms. They called the structure the “Wigwam.” It was a 30-minute ride from Brainerd. They served meals and rented comfortable beds. By 1911, their hotel was prospering and they began offering more services.
In 1913, Marie unexpectedly died, leaving her husband and an 11-month son. George was unable to manage the property himself and ultimately lost it to foreclosure. It was sold to Clyde Parker and his family, who hired Martha Bronson to manage the Wigwam. She was 57 years old when she started operating the hotel. Three years later, she bought land just to the north and in 1921 she purchased the hotel.
Martha built two cabins herself and by 1922 she was renting boats, selling bait and serving as a fishing guide. Guests arrived by railroad as there was no road. At age 79 and in failing health, Martha sold the resort to Fred and Hilda Johnson. It was not a good match and only eight months later the title transferred to Elof Olson. Elof had worked for the railroad and was a good carpenter so he put both set of skills to work in building four small cabins near the existing hotel. He obtained a large brass train bell and mounted it in front of the hotel, christening his new business as Train Bell Resort.
Over the next decade, the Olsons added more cabins and brought electricity and running water. The hotel room rate of $2.50 per day included meals. Cabins rented for $3 per day or $18 per week and included use of a boat, ice, electric plates and linens. Family style chicken dinners were available to the public and served on the sun porch. Olson sold the business to W.J. and Josephine Westensee (known as Pat and Josie) in 1945. World War II was ending and they knew many returning soldiers had a pent-up desire for fun, gambling and drinking. The added more than 20 slot machines in the lodge, as the hotel was now called. The machines were profitable until anti-gaming legislation passed at the urging of Governor Luther Youngdahl and slot machine profits disappeared. Even so, the Westensees were able to burn their mortgage after over five years of ownership. Two years later, they sold the resort.
The new owners, Frank and Irlene Ramp, operated Train Bell Resort for 23 years and still live in the yellow house that guests drive by as they enter the resort. In 1976, John and Karen Wiser took ownership, adding a small campground. In 1982, Ernie and Evangeline Knutson took the helm, operating the resort for nine seasons. In 1990, they sold their interest to Harold and Rosemarie Kraft. The Krafts made many changes, including building a new owner’s house, constructing villas with a meeting room, adding lofts to cabins, refurbishing the boathouse into a cabin.
In 2001, they sold the resort to Mike and Connie Bruesch. The couple created a store, a recreation center, a movie center and a new beach with sand volleyball, horseshoes, a playground and plenty of lounge chairs. They also added a full activities program and theme weeks. The Train Bell Express was a new feature in 2003…a 33-foot locomotive for giving guests rides.
Current owners John and Kristi Gordon took over in 2013. They installed a webcam, upgraded the WiFi, improved waste management and began a recycling program. They added air conditioning, digital cable and flatscreen TVs. In 2015, they survived a storm with 95 mph winds for 30 minutes, causing great destruction. With the help of their staff, guests and church, they were able to recover within 48 hours and carry on with business as usual.
In 2017, they ushered in the 75th anniversary of the Kuhn family coming to Train Bell Resort, which included accepting a bell, commissioned by the Kuhn family and presented to John and Kristi and Train Bell; it now forever stands on the lakeshore between Cabins 9 and 10 ... reminding families to gather at the lake.
Learn more at http://www.trainbellresort.com.
