06/03/2026
Way Back Wednesday:
"Road trips: because normal family dysfunction deserves a changing backdrop." — Unknown
Even with the depression upon us, the 1930s marked the start of what would become known as the Golden Age of resort vacations. As soon as school doors slammed shut for the start of summer, impossibly loaded family cars hit the streets and came from Minneapolis/ St. Paul and neighboring St Cloud to enjoy the resort experience that Central Minnesota had to offer. The increased affordability of the automobile as well as improved road conditions in the 1920s-1930s resulted in many family operated resorts springing up in and around our local area. The ending of World War II (veterans returned home), and the growth of the middle-class family led to a surge of lakeside haven popularity. With open arms folks welcomed the idea of automobile travel and summer vacations. No matter the size, location or amenities offered by these cherished retreats, they all offered the same single promise; a week or two where life simply slowed down and the challenges of everyday living were forgotten.
Image Credit/Information: Stearns History Museum/Sunset Point Resort_Richmond MN
