Solbakken Resort on Superior is all decked out for Christmas. The main lodge is filled with Christmas lights, trees, greens, and figurines thanks to Deb McLean and Dawn Leckenby. New owners David and Shawn Howe invite the public to come in and take a look. The decorations will be up well into January.
What is it like to go from the routine of getting up at 3 a.m. to milk 550 dairy cows to accommodating the diverse needs of vacationers— shuttling guests to Lutsen Mountains, loaning out cross country skis, getting people set up on snowshoes, arranging dog sled rides and grooming snowmobile trails? David and Shawn Howe bought Solbakken Resort on Superior last June, and according to Shawn, “Dave still has a hard time not getting up at 3 in the morning.”
David bought his first dairy farm from his aunt and uncle in Woodstock, Ontario when he was 16 years old. He and Shawn, both natives of Canada, eventually sold the farm and bought two more on the eastern edge of South Dakota. They stayed at Solbakken in the fall of 2012 while on a trip to see the colors and check out Lutsen Mountains. Half a year later, they bought the resort. “Solbakken is just such a special place,” said David. “It clicked with us right away.”
David and Shawn also clicked right away with Dale Jackson, the resort’s maintenance manager, and they became partners in the business, with Jackson helping them learn the ropes. David sold the cows and the property in South Dakota while Shawn helped their daughter Nicole get settled into her first year at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota and their sons Christopher (a junior) and Gregory (in eighth grade) get settled into Cook County High School and Middle School.
David and Shawn Howe pose here with their son Christopher in the main lodge of Solbakken Resort on Superior, which they purchased along with partner Dale Jackson last June. They gave up dairy farming to enter the hospitality industry after falling in love with the North Shore a year ago.
How do they like Cook County? “We love it,” said Shawn.
In addition to the log lodge, motel units, and Jonas House overlooking Lake Superior on the Solbakken property, the Howes have bought a guesthouse overlooking Caribou Lake and Spruce Creek Cabins.
Shawn and David offer summertime activities as well, including barbecues, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing charters, guided hikes and shuttle services. Last summer, their mini pontoon boats became an instant hit. “The North Shore has so much to offer,” said David, “and we want to present that to our guests.”
“It’s very neat for us to share in people’s vacations,” David said. He and Shawn appreciate the fact that many special memories have been created at Solbakken for families who return year after year.
Adjustments and changes
Christopher and Gregory have adapted well to their new life. “Our kids grew up working hard on the dairy, so they were keen on a change,” said David. “They thought it would be easier here, but I still make them work!” Along with David, they have been able to find time to downhill ski, one of their passions. The move was a little hard on Gregory, however, because if he were still in South Dakota, he would have been able to get his driver’s license when he turned 14.
Shawn and David have been getting involved in community activities and have felt warmly welcomed by the local community wherever they have gone. Shawn prefers warmer weather and lost no time joining the West End Garden Club.
Since they arrived, David and Shawn have been celebrating holidays with Dale and his partner, Deb McLean. Deb and Head Housekeeper Dawn Leckenby have made Solbakken especially beautiful this Christmas by lavishly decorating the lodge building. Shawn said Deb brought most of the decorations from her house in Thunder Bay but also found thrift shop treasures. They hope the local community will come and enjoy them as well and will keep them up well into January. “Everybody’s welcome,” Shawn said. “This shouldn’t be wasted.”
The Howes value their nine employees and want to keep them employed full-time. “We’re really thankful for our staff,” David said. “We have a lot to learn.
“It’s all family,” said Shawn.
Personal touch
David and Shawn want to maintain the resort’s classic, rustic feel while offering comfortable, modern amenities – flat screen TVs, newer mattresses, linens and towels, and when it is available, broadband Internet access. David and Dale plan to use the slower months to create pine furniture they will build from trees they plan to cull from the forest.
Guests can rest assured that they— and even their dogs—will be treated with a personal touch at Solbakken. The resort and nearby trails are dog friendly, an easy choice for a family that loves animals. Few lodge owners can say as Shawn can that they had names for every single one of the 1,200 cows they used to own. She did admit, “I do miss the cows.”
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