Life of Riley Resort - 75 Years of Service!
In our fast-paced lifestyle, we often forget the difficulties of the
past. Folks traveled to Lake Vermilion in Model T's to stay in remote
cottages with outdoor plumbing and fish the secluded bays in
wooden boats without motors. How times have changed! Guests
now arrive in fancy cars, with cell phones and colored fish locators.
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In 1929 Riley and Dorothy Creigh began to build a spot for
friends and family to escape to. As a nephew of Goodwill, Riley
received Norwegian Bay. He was to log during the winter, but found
his summers spent with friends fishing. His bunkhouse held many
keen fishermen, but the idea soon grew into a nine cabin resort. It
was tough to build. He used a team of horses and a Model A or Model
T along with winches to build Cabin Three -- a feat a moderm
contractor would find taxing. Dorothy served family style meals in their
home and was well-known for always serving tasty walleye fillets
with each meal. Riley, being an accomplished mason, built four
stone fireplaces at the resort. The first fireplace in his home
(destroyed in the 1940s by fire) is now part of the gazebo where romance
continues to kindle at its hearth. The bunkhouse fireplace was
functional and still stands at the end of the lodge. Perhaps the most
spectacular fireplace is in the log house -- Homestead Cabin. It has
many beautiful stones in its arrangement. The fireplace most
difficult to build was Cabin Three, atop the bluff. It is so cozy to
watch the fire dance while enjoying the spectacular view from this cabin.
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Riley & Dorothy Creigh, 1929
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Stories and tales abound from Riley's day and the colorful guests
and events the resort has seen. The resort was mentioned in "Life"
magazine as the alleged hideout for Gill Davis, a hit man for Al
Capone. Rocky Haven served this need with its view down the bay
and of the road. Of course, there was a quick back exit to the
airstrip if the need arose. Riley supposedly was a little shady with the
running of rum from Canada during the prohibition years. Bringing
the rum into the United States with his sled dogs, Riley would
then wait at the resort listening for the departing whistle of Peggy, the
mail boat. Riley would then meet the steamboat at its wood stop in
Oak Narrows where they would transfer the illegal cargo onto the
boat for its trip down the lake to Tower and to be trucked to the
Chicago area.
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Liquor soon gave way to fur running after the end of prohibition.
With some imagination, a person could visualize the fur hideout
from the broken relics found behind Cabins Four and Five.
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Time marched on and Riley had to sell his dream to Al Barnett
to recover from a logging scam in the 1950s. The Creighs left by the
dark of night to head south. Al and Emma Barnett continued to expand
the resort buildings, adding Cabins 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 16 and
added sleeping rooms above the garage. The Barnetts used the
mobile home -- Cabin 13 -- to head south for the winters until it was
added to the resort. Al also developed the island located off the
swimming beach as a home for his wife. He built the dining hall
where Emma served three meals each day and used the old lodge
for bridge tournaments. A new luxury was added -- Water! Al was
a master of names and faces -- a true developer of the family vacation.
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Mike and Artie Wical, along with Charlie and Carol Bass, purchased
Life of Riley in 1960. They continued the tradition of fishing
and family atmosphere. The Wicals bought out the Basses'
interest in the resort in 1963. Donna came to help with Roger in 1961.
Together they enlarged and expanded the resort by adding more
sleeping rooms on the staff quarters and built Cabins 17 and 18, as
well as the existing lodge. Mike made numerous cabin improvements and
enlargements. The dining hail was again the place to enjoy delicious
baked goods. The idea of service was personified and hard work and
determination kept Riley's dream alive and growing. 1980 brought Chuck and
Paula Bloczynski to the resort. Plans of enlargement and outdoor
clean-up began. The pole barn, laundromat, gazebo and the foundations
for the adult area were built. Joined by Rock and Lee Gillson in 1980,
the operation was under way. Rock and Lee purchased the resort in 1985 and we
have seen the addition of Cabins 19, 13, Northwoods, Northern
Lights, along with Cabins 11, 12, 17, 18, 14 reset. We are on our
second round of new decks and docks. The usual updates of furniture,
bedding, carpets, windows, lighting, appliances, as well as
countless additional items that always need attention and replacement.
The addition of Josh, Caleb and Sara have brought our family
into Scouting (Boy and Girl). With their help, we are building Camp
Nooden, allowing many an opportunity to enjoy the pristine area
nestled between Lake Vermilion and the Vermilion River.
Yet, it all takes so much time and money. We are working at a
pace which allows us to have enough of both! Patience will see
us develop our goals to make stays at Life of Riley special. We
believe time-off for you is our time to buckle down and do all that we
can to make your trip great!.
Our staff is the key -- it seems like it would be impossible to find
another group that works together as well as our staff -- our young
people are special and work hard behind the scene to make it all happen!
As we look ahead, we continue to develop and expand the
resort family. The paths we cross each summer are blessed with
beautiful people and the experiences draw us closer to the relaxed
atmosphere Riley has come to be known for. Guests have helped
battle fires, administer first-aid, swing a hammer or help a fellow
friend. The good will is contagious and the friendships are everlasting.
We look forward to growing old with such an abundance of wonderful folks
and hope to share many terrific memories.
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