Land O' Lakes Wisconsin History

From the turn of the century, while timber and its regeneration and harvesting remained a strong influence, tourism began to make its presence felt. The tourism industry was not completely new to the area however. In addition to the 1884 Thomas Resort on Lac Vieux Desert, Bent's Camp began functioning as a tourist camp in 1896, eventually becoming one of the first resorts on the Cisco Chain.
Recognizing the need for a central edifice,the Community Building, now known as the Land 0' Lakes Town Hall was built in 1927 on land donated by the Ferry-Surpless Families. The Land 0' Lakes Community Association was formed July 26, 1927. All four of the Land 0'Lakes current churches had their beginnings in the Land 0' Lakes Town Hall, known then as “The Community Building". Ely Memorial Church, St. Albert Catholic Church, Hope Lutheran Church, and the Land 0' Lakes Bible Church all held services in the Town Hall until the individual congregations raised enough money to build separate churches. Ely Memorial Church was built in 1939, St. Albert Catholic Church in 1949, Hope Lutheran Church in 1959, and the Land 0' Lakes Bible Church in 1969-70.
The King's Gateway Inn, the King's Gateway Hotel, the Gateway Golf Course, the Gateway Airport, Ski Chalet, and Riding Stables came into existence in the late 1930s. Built by Detroit theater magnate, J. H. King, and designed by Milwaukee architect, Henry Messmer, the Gateway Complex was built from 1937 to 1939, and accelerated the development of the present day business district of Land 0' Lakes.

History of Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin
Bent's Camp (for more historic pictures, visit www.landolakeshistory.org)
From the turn of the century, while timber and its regeneration and harvesting remained a strong influence, tourism began to make its presence felt. The tourism industry was not completely new to the area however. In addition to the 1884 Thomas Resort on Lac Vieux Desert, Bent's Camp began functioning as a tourist camp in 1896, eventually becoming one of the first resorts on the Cisco Chain. Recognizing the need for a central edifice,the Community Building, now known as the Land 0' Lakes Town Hall was built in 1927 on land donated by the Ferry-Surpless Families. The Land 0' Lakes Community Association was formed July 26, 1927. All four of the Land 0'Lakes current churches had their beginnings in the Land 0' Lakes Town Hall, known then as “The Community Building". Ely Memorial Church, St. Albert Catholic Church, Hope Lutheran Church, and the Land 0' Lakes Bible Church all held services in the Town Hall until the individual congregations raised enough money to build separate churches. Ely Memorial Church was built in 1939, St. Albert Catholic Church in 1949, Hope Lutheran Church in 1959, and the Land 0' Lakes Bible Church in 1969-70. The King's Gateway Inn, the King's Gateway Hotel, the Gateway Golf Course, the Gateway Airport, Ski Chalet, and Riding Stables came into existence in the late 1930s. Built by Detroit theater magnate, J. H. King, and designed by Milwaukee architect, Henry Messmer, the Gateway Complex was built from 1937 to 1939, and accelerated the development of the present day business district of Land 0' Lakes.	The Gateway Inn, located on the corners of Hwy 45& B was the first of the Gateway buildings to be erected. It was actually pre-dated by a small gas station owned by Dale Hunter, who sold out to Gus Conradson. Conradson, in addition to selling gas, ran a small restaurant, selling hamburgers, and soda and other sundries. Conradson sold to a Mr. Harrington, who, in turn, in 1937 sold to John King, who began building the Gateway Inn . Builders were Carper-Turnquist Builders, a local firm. This was followed soon after by the hotel itself on the southwest corner of Highways B & 45. Shortly thereafter, the Gateway airport was built. The airport was eventually turned over to the town of Land O’Lakes by King's widow, "Sug" (short for "Sugar"), King under the auspices of the King's Gateway Corp. The original airport building was then moved north, across Highway B, to become the King's Gateway Golf clubhouse. A new Airport building was erected. During the same period of time, The Gateway Ski Chalet, at the Gateway Ski Hill, was built about 3 miles south of Land 0' Lakes just off of Hwy 45. Mr. King died January 2, 1952, and Mrs. King continued to operate the complex until Feb. 17, 1961. The property was then sold to Mr. Walter Williamson, owner of the Wagon Wheel in Rockton, Illinois, who remodeled and added a second story to the Gateway.
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