When Alexandria’s Geneva Beach resort, a community mainstay since 1883, was put up for sale a year ago, you have to wonder if local folks felt some angst for the future of their iconic landmark. What was going to happen to one of Minnesota’s oldest resorts? Would its future go the way of other lakeside properties, to be purchased and divided up into private dwellings?
When Cami and Craig Calhoun heard the news, they were also concerned. For years they vacationed there, traveling north from their Iowa home to relax, unwind and enjoy the lakeside life. So they decided to do something about it.
They bought it.
“A lot of people were excited for us, but thought we were crazy,” Cami smiles over coffee, overlooking frozen Geneva Lake from Sugarbush Lodge. “I think we would have regretted not buying it. You only live once.”
Craig agrees. “You aren’t in this business for a paycheck. It’s a big investment for our family and, frankly, we are investing in our investment, to improve and always strive to make things better for our guests.” They say they are determined to offer the Geneva Beach resort experience they remember for future generations.
The Iowa Calhouns spent summer vacations in Alexandria, including Geneva Beach, for more than 15 years. Prior to that, Cami remembers three decades of “up north” vacations from her Twin Cities home. “Life is so busy,” Cami said. “We cherished that week away with our family.” Vacations helped connect them to the outdoors, to recreation, fishing and lakeside family gatherings. Craig, who grew up in Iowa, fell in love not only with Cami but the idea of a climate north of his home state.
So while running a full service resort for the very first time – especially taking over ownership at the start of the 2019 summer season – was new for the Calhouns, they found plenty of community support.
“When Alexandria was named a ‘best city’ in 2019, that didn’t surprise us at all,” Craig said. “This community has so much to offer, the lakes, shopping, music, the YMCA, quality restaurants, arts, an awesome trail system. And as educators, it was important to us to have great schools.”
Cami gives a sample of neighborliness soon after moving in. “A neighbor came over who knew we had small kids and told us the best places to take them trick or treating. That’s amazing.
“I was just telling Craig the other day how quickly a place can feel like home,” Cami continued. “And people here embrace winter,” Craig smiles. “In Iowa, people just hunker down!
“Buying this resort was the best decision we ever made for a lot of reasons,” Craig says. Their stressful jobs in Iowa didn’t allow family time, he said, and “we felt we weren’t seeing our family often enough.” Now they involve their children, Carter and Brynlee, in the family business.
So Geneva Beach is one lakeside business that will continue to operate as a resort. It’s particularly refreshing in an age when resorts seem to be disappearing, purchased and parceled out.
“There’s just something about being at a resort,” Cami said. “And I have news for you.
“The resort business is alive and well in Minnesota.”
