About

Once Upon a Time…

Darrel Mensik started Camp Holiday Campground in the late 50’s. Mr. Mensik started with one cabin and 6 wooded sites along the southern shores of the lake. (Sites 1-6 still exist today) Prior to the Mensiks, The Bortchord Family owned the acreage and built the main home. Later added the original log cabin, which is now cabin 8. Mrs. Borchard bundled natural kindling from the forest floor and stored it in what now known as the office. John & Martha Monster bought the place in the early 70’s. John Monster (yes that is his REAL name) can tell you stories how the campers were lined up down the road for camping on 4th of July weekend.

Then one day in 1978 on a late cool September morning, Ann Erickson drove from southern Minnesota looking for a family business to raise her 2 daughters and son, while her husband Harvey, continued to work in the cities during the week. She noticed when meeting the autumn tree line around Lake Mille Lacs how lush and beautiful everything around her looked. The sky was Blue and the trees where filled with vibrant reds, bright oranges, and rich mustard colored leaves. If you talk to her now she will tell you how she remembers walking the grounds of the small campground, rustling the piles of leaves in her path and thinking, “This is the place”.

On April 1st of 1979, the Erickson Family motorcade of U-haul’s pulled down the driveway. At this time, there was only one cabin and 20 campsites. After the shock of 4ft of snow and a backed up, out of date, septic system, the adventures began. In the fall of 1985, the campground expanded, adding 20 full hookups and the long awaited shower house. Soon after, in the spring of 1989 the neighboring resort was purchased and merged with the camp to form Camp Holiday Resort and Campground. After 15 years of remodeling cabins, adding 2 wells, and 4 more septic systems; Camp Holiday has become a vacationer’s dreamland. The Renovations continue today with additions like a brand new 7 bedroom reunion home and paved access.

Three generations and thousands of vacationers that have passed through these grounds; have come to know Ann & Harvey Erickson and their family as the family that never stops working. It is common knowledge in these parts, that the Erickson’s have worked with their hearts and hands to make these grounds become everyone’s family “Home away from Home”. It had always been their vision was to pass the fruits of their labor on to their children. Hence, Therese, the youngest of three, along with her husband Paul Erickson (handy huh?), and their two children have been passed the torch.

The rest as they say is history.