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1936 The 7 1/2 acre resort property was purchased by E.J.
Schmidt and F.R. Seyferth.
1937 E.J. Schmidt and wife and F.R. Seyferth, took a mortgage
out for $2,500 to build the resort. Shing Wako was well known as a dance hall,
tavern, country store and gas station; as well as a housekeeping resort with six
cottages, an ice house, a maintained beach, dock and boats for fishing. The
dance hall, tavern, country store and gas station stood where the office and
residence is now. It was THE place to go on a Saturday night!
1940’s Electricity was added to the resort. A cabin was built
for Aunt Ann, now cabin 7 – it was called the “Big Cabin” and had an indoor
bathroom with toilet, sink and a shower!
1945 E.J. and Minnie Schmidt sold Shing Wako Resort to Charles
and Rose Aymar.
 
1946 Charles and Rose Aymar sold Shing Wako Resort to John and
Genevieve (Jean) McGraw. Mrs. McGraw's brother, Bud May and his wife Wanda lived
and worked at the resort, and lived in cabin 6 in the winter.
 1950’s A central bathhouse was constructed with one side for
men and one side for women. Each had a shower, toilet, and sink on a concrete
floor. The building stood where the small red shed is now across from cabin 3,
which is actually a remnant of the bathhouse. Refrigerators replaced the
iceboxes in the cabins. The icehouse became a storage barn and garage. There was
still wood to haul for the heaters in the cabins and wooden boats to clean and
repair. Four “Overnighters” were built near the road for overnight guests. They
had a double bed, electricity, hot plate and wash basin.
1952 John and Genevieve McGraw sold Shing Wako Resort to
Darrell and Dorothy David. A baseball field was constructed across the
road from the resort many games were played there. The “home” team was called
the “Center Cats” (Center Township).
1960 Darrell and Dorothy David sold Shing Wako Resort to Anfin
and Sonja Blakstvedt.
1961 Anfin and Sonja Blakstvedt sold Shing Wako Resort to
Raymond and Inga Holmstrom. Walter and Frances Merkel were the managers.
Saturday night dances were still the rage at the Shing Wako Lodge and were
advertised in the Brainerd Daily dispatch every Friday throughout the summer.
1966 Shing Wako Lodge burns down - the end of an era. An
owner’s residence is built in its place with the resort office included.
1970’s Indoor bathrooms (toilet only) were built-in to cabins 1
– 6 in the small front porch area.
Resort was sold several times:
1974
— Raymond and Inga Holmstrom sold to Richard and Helene Letsch.
1977
— Richard and Helene Letsch sold to Gordon and Margaret Lehrke.
1979
— Gordon and Margaret Lehrke sold to Roger and Lois Carson and Jon and Marlene
Wordelman.
1980 Roger and Lois Carlson, owners, develop four seasonal
campsites and removed five of the day use campsites.
Shing Wako Resort now has seven cabins, fourteen recreational campsites and four
seasonal sites.
1981 Roger and Lois Carson and Jon and Marlene Wordelman sold
Shing Wako Resort to Gerald and Anna Straub.
1990 Address of the road outside the resort (now County Road 3)
changed from Star Route to HC 87.
Start of a New Era at Shing Wako Resort!
1991 Gerald and Anna Straub sold Shing Wako Resort to Marty
Paradeis. Resort included: seven two-bedroom cabins, some tent camping, thirteen
water and electric campsites and eight seasonal campsites. The bath and shower
houses were still “on top” near cabin 3.
1990’s A modern new shower house with restrooms is constructed at lake
level where cabin 14 is now. Front and back decks are added to cabins 1- 7
along with Cable TV, televison sets and updated electrical. Updates are also
done to the beach and dock to include boat lifts. Seasonal campsites now number
thirteen. Road name changes from HC 87 to County Road 3. Sue joins the resort
business.
2001 Built five new cabins (#s 8 – 12), with #8 being
handicap-accessible, and an asphalt basketball court. Overnight camping is discontinued
and the first website was launched.
2002 Built another cabin, #14 and added an 18’ deluxe fishing
boat to our rental fleet of 14’ boats.
2003 The existing resort house and office was sold and moved to
rural Pine River. A new resort house and office was built in its place, with the
addition of a public laundry facility, restroom and a storm shelter. Two new 20’
pontoons and two double kayaks were added to the resort and paddleboat and
kayaks begin to be included in cabin rental. Charcoal grills were also purchased
for all the cabins.
2004 Cabins are now smoke-free and this was the last summer of
seasonal camping. An additional 2 ˝ acres of vacant land, adjoining the
 south
side of the resort was purchased. The last “Overnighter” and the two outhouses
near Co Rd 3 come down.
2005 Cabin #6 is sold and moved to Pequot Lakes (near the
American Legion) and six new reunion condos (#s 15 – 20) are built on much of
the new property. A resort workshop/storage building is also built near the
office. A newly designed website is re-launched, shingwako.com, with added
online availability search.
2006 Embarked on the “mini vacation” reservation concept and
the ice house/storage barn/garage is taken down.
2007 Began providing resort-wide, high-speed wireless internet.
2008 Air conditioning is added to cabins #8 – 14. Green
practices are initiated (environmentally-friendly cleaning products) and on-site
massage is now available to resort guests.
2009 County Road 3 (the road in front of the resort) was
widened with 10’ shoulders and turning lanes added. This proved to be a great
improvement for driving, walking, running and biking. The Shing Wako Resort sign
was moved from north of the resort driveway to the south.
2010 A swimming ladder is installed at the end of the dock and
an accessible path is added to the beach area. Wireless internet service
continues to be upgraded for the guests.
2011 White beach loungers with side tables and two single
kayaks are added to the beach area; to the playground, a new sand digger. One of
the large White Pines (or Shing Wak’s) by the office comes down.
2012 Launched electronic newsletters for guest (sign up at
shingwako.com) to keep everyone informed on resort changes and other happenings
in the Brainerd Lakes.
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