Wow, 11th Crow Wing Lake #5 on list of MN’s cleanest lakes
What are the cleanest & clearest lakes in Minnesota? We analyzed ALL the data....
Restorative Retreat for CareGivers
Weekend Restorative Retreat Crow Wing Crest Lodge September 26 - 28, 2025 To Register, click here Questions? contact facilitator Molly: (612) 562-8007 Sign up soon - there are still a few spaces left! Join Molly, Shelly, and Lisa Johnson Taylor to Restore, replenish, reconnect with your inner strength Caretakers come in many forms – healthcare worker, therapist, teacher, parent Continue Reading...
Aromatherapy Spotlight – Cedarwood essential oil
"Japanese researchers have studied 'forest bathing' — a poetic name for walking in the woods. They suspect aerosols from the forests, inhaled during a walk, are behind elevated levels of Natural Killer or NK cells in the immune system, which fight tumors and infections. A subsequent study, in which essential oils from cedars were emitted in a hotel room where Continue Reading...
Lemon tree
(This was a fun write for writing class. And true, of course. 🙂 - Kim, CWC) "Lemon tree, very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet. but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat." – Peter, Paul & Mary I sing when I clean cabins. Any tune that has a good hook. My son-in-law recently Continue Reading...
Research concludes NATURE heals
From a Yale School of Environment article published January 9, 2020: ". . . studies have shown that time in nature — as long as people feel safe — is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and Continue Reading...
Force of Nature – EPA approved for Covid
Green cleaning (using non-toxic solutions) is a big deal here at Crow Wing Crest Lodge, and has been since day one of our ownership, over 20 years ago. When Covid-19 struck in March 2020, like most of us, I felt confused, anxious, afraid (not only for our personal health and for those we knew and loved, but for the viability Continue Reading...
Extreme protection outdoors
May 3, 2020. Apparently, my family had to let off a little steam yesterday. This is what happens when I don't keep track of 'em. (This was my son-in-law Ryan's project. With a little help from his wife, my step-daughter, Emily. Ava, the subject in clip, is our 15-year-old granddaughter.) I haven't refound my own sense of humor yet. Hopefully Continue Reading...
2020 Newsletter
Oh my gosh, this will be our 20th season at CWC – where does the time go? It seems like yesterday we were touring the resort in the muffled silence of February 2001, not even able to get into some of the cabins because of drifts. This magical place immediately welcomed us and felt like “home.” We hope you’ve felt Continue Reading...2021 CWC Newsletter
Greetings from Big John & Kim As I type this, it was -37 below zero early this morning. I feel most appreciative to have a warm house in which to sleep, plenty to eat, and a companion with whom to share it. “Brr! It’s so cold, we can’t even create a heated argument.” (In truth, if we only bicker once Continue Reading...
Emptiness – goodbye to old Cabin #4
(Written as a daily write for a writing class February 2020. Kim, CWC) I thought it would seem bigger when it was empty. It didn't. It felt small and crooked and way past its expiration date. We shut down reservations on old Cabin #4 last Labor Day weekend and moved furniture out. Then 'Lil Chris (one of our maintenance workers) Continue Reading...
Not just a steward of trees
(The daily prompt for the write one day was, "formal house." A had some fun with words - writing class has been very enjoyable. 🙂 - Kim, CWC) A formal house is not for me, Its "Don't touch!" symmetry Can intimidate fears exacerbate Then how approachable would I be? A job like mine is to welcome and woo The uptight, Continue Reading...
No matter the season, resort life is good
I have nothing pithy to say today for writing class. No funny or interesting stories are knocking on my brain wanting to be relayed on the page, skewed through my point of view. I have the time. I have the energy. I haven't the creative push this afternoon. I sit in a recliner, staring at a Kindle Fire screen, feet Continue Reading...
Ice on the Lake
(From a daily prompt in a writing class, the below was based on the prompt, "ice." The hope is to someday gather resort anecdotes into a book. -- Kim, CWC) "Phooom!" "Crik, crick . . . booum!" The ice thunders and cracks as it shifts with the temperature on the lake. Before moving up north to live in a cabin Continue Reading...
Writing Retreat at CWC
Second Annual Spring Life Writing Retreat at Crow Wing Crest Lodge Saturday. May 20, 2023 9 AM-5 PM Ready to kick your project into high-test-writing gear? Don’t have any idea what you’re project is, but you have some ideas you want to explore? Bring your writing project to the next level during this Saturday intensive with award-winning author Susan Continue Reading...
Autumnal Equinox at CWC – celebrate light & dark
Fall (Autumnal) Equinox CST in northern hemisphere: Monday, September 23 at 2:50 a.m. 2019 Celebrate with us at Crow Wing Crest Lodge Fall Relaxation Retreat on 11th Crow Wing Lake The word equinox is derived from Latin, meaning “equal night.” On each equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are said to Continue Reading...
Shoreland Restoration in front of the Lodge
We are so happy the lodge deck project finished! We were grateful to be able to use underlying joists/structure of old deck as it had been holding up just fine (the boards on top were what needed replacing.) While replacing deck boards, we decided we'd like the deck to be all one level (instead of stair-stepping down to lake.) Continue Reading...2019 Newsletter
It’ll be summer before ya know it. Really! We hope this note reminds you of fond ‘up north’ memories and creates an impetus to make more. Perhaps you’ll recall star gazing across the lake? Hot dogs over a campfire? Giggles over chipmunk begging? The scent of pine freshened air hiking with your niece, or maybe teasing dad over a fishing Continue Reading...
18 second clip of Lake in September . . .
Sparklin' waters here at the lake this week. Kids are back in school and retreats and couples are wandering up north to a quiet, peaceful stay in a cabin at CWC. We'd be delighted to host you, too. Couples Rate (or Private Individual) and Group Specials abound. Come relax with us!...2018 Newsletter
Hello from Kim & Big John! January 2018 We are all well & snug in our houses up north by the frozen (11th Crow Wing) lake. During these colder months, we hope this note both gives you something to look forward to (it’ll be summer soon!) and brings to mind fond memories of CWC campfires, sticky marshmallow fingers, silly games, Continue Reading...
Autumn at CWC – specials, peace and quiet
Guests often ask about Fall Specials and what they can expect if visiting after Labor Day. Thought a little golf cart tour might shed some light . . . 🙂 I often run around cabins with an Ipod, listening to folk and americana style music while waxing a floor or some other task. Bon Iver "Re: Stacks" (background tune) is Continue Reading...
New lyrics for “Goodnight Crow Wing . . . ” – ‘mo bettah now
FINALLY-- got those custom lyrics to "Goodnight Irene" re-written! It'll be a great way to end Sing-alongs on Thursday nights in summer now . . . lyrics by K.M. Bowen & D.G. Gurler (November 2016 - without the vodka this time) sung to melody from 'Goodnight Irene' Goodnight, Crow Wing . . . Crow Wing good night, Crow Continue Reading...
Kim & Big John honored as CMR Resorters of the Year
Published in the Minnesota Resorter, January 2017 Each year at our fall conference, the Community of Minnesota Resorts (CMR) presents the Resorter of the Year Award. This award is given to a resort owner or manager [who] exemplifies the spirit and goals of the CMR. Criteria center around the operation of a successful and progressive resort business, service to the Continue Reading...
PBS Special on MN Resorts – CWC showing a Mom & Pop side
I have been asked repeatedly to re-post link to PBS special on MN Resorts that aired in July 2016 (we were 1 of 10 resorts interviewed). It's 2 hours - whew! But, u can c me and da big guy at about 49:36 - 57:10 and a 'teaching moment from nature' story I relayed at 1:46:42 (then a couple of Continue Reading...
Flying squirrels at CWC
One of the joys of living in the northwoods: critter tales. I am starting to write down things that happen to us up here at CWC, both as a resort owner and simple lakeside-up north resident. Am thinking of gathering these anecdotes into a booklet for publishing someday as I continually get the impression from guests that stuff like Continue Reading...
Ex-Owners of CWC Swap Stories
On September 4, 2016, we hosted the 4th Annual CWC (Kris Krupp) Pizza Cookoff in the lodge. It just so happened that Terry Heller (guy in the yellow cap in pic above), Crow Wing Crest Lodge owner from 1987 - 2001 (when Big John and I bought it) stopped by to say "hi" and join us in some good food. Continue Reading...
New guest at CWC who really tried on the “relaxation hat” up north – yeah!
Link to photos and article on LillieNews.com, a St. Paul suburban news publication June 2, 2016. http://www.bulletin-news.com/articles/2016/06/02/rediscovering-joy-spontaneity...
Picking up litter along Highway 64 – doing a little somethin’ for community
What a crew this year to help us pick up the litter along Highway 64 last week. It went quicker than it ever has in fifteen years. What a relief! 13 bags -- a typical year for this two mile stretch. Mostly alcohol bottles/cans, cigarettes and fast food containers and yes, a few dirty diapers (icky-poo!) The young boys were Continue Reading...
Our famous local mayor – on NBC’s “Little Big Shots”
Longtime CWC guests may remember hometown favorite Em's Cafe in our tiny town of Akeley? (2001 - 2011?) Well, Emma is not only still around (and occasionally helping get YOUR CWC cabin cleaned for ya - esp. spring cleaned), but raising a couple of rather increasingly celebrated young gentlemen. Her eldest son, Robert, now age 6, (in photo with Big Continue Reading...
Some contenders for CWC Photo Contest 2016
We are considering some of the following awesome photos entered by CWC guests this last year for the annual photo contest. These are not the entire list, just a sampling. We welcome more entries --- no time limit. 🙂 ...
CWC Bumper Sticker Contest Winner
It's hard to get further away than China. Congratulations Larew family for winning the CWC Bumper Sticker Contest. They slapped the sticker onto a vehicle and entered a pic with a destination furthest away from their last vacation up north at Crow Wing Crest Lodge. Voila, Shanghai. Hey, when you get job transferred, you get job transferred. We look forward Continue Reading...
Henry Schoolcraft camped at CWC in 1832?
Below is an e-mail conversation with a neighbor who graciously shared some historic data with us, including a map from 1832 of a Henry Schoolcraft expedition - one of many to determine the origins of the Mississippi River - eventually deciding upon what is now Lake Itasca Park, a 35-minute drive from our resort. Our neighbor's claim is that the Continue Reading...
CWC in the past: one owner to another
Letter from Edna Richmond (owner of CWC from 1946 - 1969) on January 10, 1994, to Connie Converse (owner of CWC from 1987 -2001) " We bought CWC in 1946 from 2 couples who kept it 1 season. Prior to that, it was closed during the war for several years. Before that it had been a girl's summer camp. There Continue Reading...
Albino Chipmunk at CWC- summer of 2015
I spied a wonderful article by the DNR Minnesota Conservation Volunteer about the science behind albinism. Son-in-law, Ryan, also researched the chances of birthing an albino chipmunk - 1 in 200,000. And we had one here at CWC! For a completely unscientific article about the totem energy of chipmunk (for those of you who had personal contact Continue Reading...
History of Minnesota Resorts
(submitted by Kim Bowen to CMR Resorter Reporter, a state-wide resort magazine published spring 2016) I've been doing a little research this year on Minnesota's resorts. I wondered "When was the 'hey-day' of Mom & Pop family/fishing vacation resorts in our state of 10,000 lakes?" Was it 1946, just after World War II, when suburbs of cities really started developing Continue Reading...
Wild turkey chase at cabin #19
(Video attached) Ryan having fun watching wild turkeys run round and round for no discernible reason. The fun never ends at CWC . . ....2016 Newsletter
OLE & LENA JOKE of the day: Ole wore both of his winter jackets when he painted his house last July. The directions on the can said "put on two coats." 2016 is off and running for us at the resort up north. We hope this note finds you healthy and happy wherever you are. 🙂 As for resort news Continue Reading...2017 Newsletter
Northwoods Joke: The Roof (Am certain Bubba Kris did not follow the below example when constructing those new deck roofs on #14 or #16 last year. Or if he did, I didn't notice.) Sven and Ole are up fixing the roof. Sven picks up a nail, looks at it, and throws it away. He picks up the next one, looks Continue Reading...
Big John Bowen likes to catch fish.
Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, May/June 2015 Cast Into the Past Tucked into the woods, this little fishing lake is a nearly untouched hideaway. by John Myers It seems almost everything about Big John Bowen is big. He stands 6 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 320 pounds. He has a big voice and big hands and a gentle but definitely big Continue Reading...2015 Newsletter – January
We hope this greeting from the northwoods finds you healthy and happy . . . Are you succeeding at your New Year's resolutions for 2015? I am amazed to report that Big John and I have been doing rather well at a purification diet. We've gone totally organic for the moment (who knew quinoa and kale could be palatable on Continue Reading...
CWC originally a lumber camp – what must it have been like?
Posted by Akeley, MN, resident ELODEE JOHNSON 11/15/2008 "We know that lumbering in Minnesota reached its peak in about 1905. The federal census was seven times more than at the close of the Civil War, (1865). Yet in Minnesota, flour and milling were still half of the invested industrial capital. Railroads had been built in nearly every direction from the Continue Reading...
No wonder why you have so many repeat visitors!
Hi Kim & crew, THANK YOU so much for a wonderful stay at your resort over the weekend! We thoroughly enjoyed our time at your peaceful resort and the lake was perfectly serene. Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that I discovered your resort through TripAdvisor reviews (perfect 5 stars can’t be wrong!)– a very Continue Reading...2014 Newsletter
Hello from Kim & Big John! We hope this update from the northwoods finds you healthy and happy . . . 2014 will mark our 14th year here at CWC, and despite copious gray hairs and maturing wrinkles through the seasons, we are gladdened and grateful to still be here and going strong. We thank you for visiting briefly or Continue Reading...
