Summer 2005

Loon Lake Lodge had gone through many changes before we became its owners. We have learned that the original "cabin" was the single story structure which comprises the middle section of the house. In fact, what is here now was built around the original cabin and then the cabin was torn down from within. Then, years later they dug the basement and built the north end of the house, which had two small bedrooms above the basement. We are pretty sure at this point they also may have added indoor plumbing and a larger kitchen. In fact, the basement contained a summer kitchen with counter space, cabinets, a range and a VERY old International Harvester refrigerator. Ask my brother just how heavy that fridge was! To Poppy's delight, the fridge held cold beer, but it was over a year old. Then, in the 90's they had built the two story addition on the south end of the house, which has a large family room and full bath on main floor and a large bedroom, closet and full bath upstairs. This upstairs bedroom has been our "tree house" as it looks out among the tree tops and we feel like part of nature as we awake to the songs of the birds on a sunny day. The inside looked a bit different before we began our renovations. This is the area that has been undergoing the most drastic changes since fall 2005. These are "before" photos with paneling and walls that are being removed.

Before major renovations began, we had plenty of time for enjoying the lake! We celebrated our daughter and son-in-law's December wedding here at the lake with a reception for family and friends. We enjoyed our pontoon boat and fishing and we entertained a group in August before we closed things up for the season.

How the Changes Began

On a freakish Sunday afternoon, which lake folks refer to as the day of the "Loonami," sheer winds split the large elm tree in the front yard and dropped the top down on our roof. As you can see, it pretty much covered the entire house. Fortunately, it did not penetrate the roof at all. So, no water damage inside, just a mess outside. We knew we needed a new roof, but what a way to get one!

It extended over the entire house and drapped over the back and side of the second story roof as well. It was quite a sight to those driving by from the road side and those boating by on the lake. Even years later, folks say to us, "Oh, you were the place where the big tree fell."

The worst aspect of this dilema, we were scheduled to hold a big party as a belated wedding reception for our oldest daughter the very next Sunday. (Yes, our daughters both were married the year we bought the lake home, one in June and the other in December. It was a very big year for us!) The insurance inspector was called in and everything happened very quickly. By the following weekend all that was left of that tree was a huge stump, the only evidence of the elm that had covered the house the week before. The party went off perfectly and we loved sharing our new lake home with family and friends.

When this event prompted a new roof, we started thinking of what the future held for Loon Lake Lodge. An architect was called in and we began to dream. As you return daily to enjoy our blog, you will see what changes have been made and what is still in progress. Through all the saw dust, drywall mess, living among boxes and piles, tools everywhere and so many, many decisions; we are enjoying ever aspect of transforming Loon Lake Lodge into a place our family can make memories for years and years to come.

In the Beginning

Gonna take you back to when we first bought Loon Lake Lodge. The property was in need of a lot of tender loving care. It sat empty for one whole winter and we came across it in early spring. We had been looking for a "cottage" that we could eventually fix up for a retirement home. But, did we really need a three bedroom, three bath year round home?? Were we crazy? We closed on the deal in May and started to furnish it and move in before Memorial Day weekend. That was also the year our youngest daughter got married in early June. That same weekend our oldest daughter and her boyfriend came up after the wedding to see our new lake place and help us put the pier in for the first season. We were quickly learning the ropes of owning a lake home. That was when we had lawn chairs for furniture inside and old melmac plates to eat on. But we LOVED it. That same year my folks decided to sell their home on a very large lake about 40 minutes from our new place. We "inherited" everything they did not want to move to FL so we quickly had everything we needed to furnish and set up a household - and MORE!

Seriously, what really attracted us to this home was the POTENTIAL! Also, as with all real estate, it was location, location, location. It was on a beautiful LAKE! Our lot is large, allowing future expansion if needed. We had a great beach for swimming, and we had a lot across the road with a two car garage, a shed and fruit trees! All of this makes it one of the best locations on Loon Lake.

These photos show it before any improvements. In the following days I will take you through all we have done at Loon Lake Lodge. Ya'all come back now and see how things are evolving!

Here is just a teaser!

Welcome!

Well, here goes! I have been wanting to establish a blog to share all the excitement here at Loon Lake Lodge. Guess there is no time like the present. I will have to take you back a few years over the next few posts to catch you up to the current happenings here at Loon Lake Lodge. I pray all of you enjoy keeping up to date on what we are doing. Things can change pretty quickly here, and have changed quite a bit since we bought our little piece of paradise in the spring of 2004. At the current time, we have a third of our original house gone and are awaiting the framing of the new addition. We hope many of you can come enjoy the finished result sometime soon, preferably this spring or summer when life at the lake is a bit more tolerable. Temps are to drop to single digits this week and we are blanketed with several inches of snow with winds kicking up to drift it around our construction equipment and newly poured foundations. Although we love it here, winter is not the most fun living on a lake with slick county roads keeping us from the amenities of town. But, the rest of the year make up for all the winter difficulties. Plus, snow across the frozen lake is a beautiful sight when you are snuggled up warm inside.

Again, welcome and stop back often as we share the Evolution of Loon Lake Lodge.