As you sit in the lodge and look at the resort owner, do you ever wonder if they were always a resort owner or did they have "another life'? Well, some of us followed family tradition and carried on where our parents left off, and some came from larger cities to live the "great life".

Johnson's Resort is not owned by the Johnson's, actually the owners are Pete & Barb Czarnecki formerly of Arlington Heights, IL. Pete was a firefighter/paramedic and owned his own remodeling business. Barb describes herself as a full time Girl Scout Volunteer. You will usually find Barb in and around the lodge. And Pete? Just listen for the sound of a hammer, follow it and you'll find him renovating, building or remodeling something. Any chance of going back? "NONE!!"

Ken & Judy Guerra lived another life before purchasing Timberlake Lodge. Ken worked for Sears as a Merchandise Manager in Chicago and Judy was a teacher at Our Lady of Victory School. Judy is still employed as a teacher, at LCO Community College. When asked if they would return to Chicago, they responded, "Not a chance, we were born to be up here".

Dianne & Terry Wilke of Chippewa Pines Resort, were from separate states and got together while she was a resort owner. Dianne previously worked at a chemical plant as an office manager in the Chicagoland area before moving to her resort in 1984. Terry was a lithographer for a large printing firm in Waterloo, WI for 24 years. He gladly gave up his career to join Dianne in the resort business. Do they regret leaving the big cities? Hardly! They like it so much that they sold one resort and bought another. Now, that's crazy.

Ruth & Denny Aaron are from Eau Claire, WI. Denny worked at Uniroyal Tire Co and Ruth worked in the bookkeeping and accounting field. In 1992 they purchased Deer Run Resort. They took the resort from a very small 3-unit business and improved it to include 24 permanent RV's and 5 rental units. Denny said he went back to Eau Claire recently and it just wasn't home anymore. "This is home and where I always want to be."

Treeland Resorts is one of the largest family owned and operated resorts in the northern part of WI. It has been in the family since 1928. The current owners, Cheryl, Harold and Jan Treland have more than the resort in common. They are all teachers. Cheryl and Harold both work full time at the resort, and Jan teaches in Birchwood. "The resort is a never ending job, and you only get out of it what you put into it," said Cheryl. "We all had to work outside the resort and at the resort at the same time. We had to put our time in to be able to buy into the family business - it wasn't just given to us."

John Dettloff at Indian Trail Resort hasn't known anything else. His parents started in the resort business when he was just 10 years old. Today, John has taken over much of the responsibility with his mom, Pat. Would he trade it for a "real" job? "Never" says John. "Why would I want to give up something I love so much to move into a city?

Tony and Lori De Joode of R & R Bayview Resort and Restaurant moved here from Osceola, WI to help Tony's parents with the resort. Tony worked with brain injured clients as an employment specialist and Lori was a restaurant manager. Darrell and Raydene De Joode moved from Brighton MI. Buying a resort was one of Darrell's dream's, to have a family business. "We are carrying out his dream" says Tony. Miss the city? Not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marl and Jack Reeder fulfilled a long time dream by purchasing their resort, Reeder's Recess in 1974. Before that they operated F.B. Reeder Hardware, Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. In addition, Marl has been a teacher for 37 years. Marl says she wouldn't move south for love nor money!