Left to Right: Cole, Paul, Therese, Beau and Teddy
2006 is the 28th year an Erickson's family has settled on the shores of Turtle Lake. In fact the 3rd generation of Erickson sons; Beau; 11 years old and Cole; 9 years old, are at your service. They will be ready to get your bait and tell you the best fishing spots.        Therese, CEO and executive launder princess, can be found in the office, making change for crumpled up wet dollar bills or renting one of the many recreational watercraft available here in the resort. Paul, the Big Kaahunna, is found anywhere from the office to the local lumber yard, planning the next project or repairing the latest catastrophe.        Paul and Therese have been married for 11 years. They met over a campfire just like the ones that burn nightly in the resort. Therese grew up here in the resort. Paul is from the LaCrosse area and graduated from Mankato State. He is an avid sportsman. Since 1983 he has been the captain of fishing launch in Mille Lacs Lake. He has caught many trophy walleye including those on the walls in the office.        Opening of hunting season for Erickson Family is like Christmas day; expect there are many Christmas mornings with duck, grouse, pheasant, bear opening days and deer season having two opening days each for bows and rifles. After Therese stayed home a few fall seasons by her lonesome and the boys were big enough to join, she thought if you can't beat them, might as well join them. Therefore, Therese has become quite a sportsman herself. Above is her first Bear kill in 2002 plus she bagged ducks, pheasant and killed her first dear using a bow and arrow. The boys are learning quickly, that Santa Claus and The Great White Hunter are synonymous.
	CAMP HOLIDAY HISTORY
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 they say is history.