By: Stephanie Korver
On November 18 at 1:00 in the afternoon, locals will be watching closely as history is made and a dream continues for one lucky buyer as Lake Shetek Lodge, Motel & Campground is sold at auction on Valhalla Island. With potential buyers expected from outside the area, the reputation of Lake Shetek for being a recreational hot spot in Southwest Minnesota is clear. What isn’t clear is who the next owner will be, or what the buyers will land on as a sale price.
Dreams have laid the groundwork for Valhalla Island since Omaha grain merchant and millionaire, Rudolph Beal, bought the island in 1906. The interesting story of his vision for a recreational entertainment island located midway between Omaha and Minneapolis was published in the Southwest Sailor this past summer, which is archived online at swmnsailor.com. For today’s article, we’ll jump ahead to the grand opening of Lake Shetek Lodge in 1979.
When Doug Rugg, Terry Lingen, and Larry Darger opened for business on May 1, 1979, they had the dream of sharing the joys of Minnesota lake life with tourists and visitors, moving the lodge in from Slayton, and adding a multi-level addition and patio areas to maximize guest views of the 200 feet of beautiful sand beach. With pontoon rides, lake fun, and outdoor activities, guests flocked in from surrounding areas, and nearly every guest fell in love with the active island, many returning year after year. They expanded the business with a seasonally-rented campground, providing a prime summer spot on a private beach for RV owners.
Owned for the last 25 years by the property’s second owner, John Mahrt, the vacation spot has expanded to what it is today, with 463 feet of shoreline and 22 units for guests in two lakeside lodging buildings, plus a thrr bed, two bath Manager’s Suite, and 10 campsites with full hook-ups. With a need for quality lodging options in Southwest Minnesota, residents in the area are hoping that a motivated buyer will reopen the recently-closed lodge in time for next year’s busy summer season, just in time to celebrate Lake Shetek Lodge’s 40th Anniversary year.
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