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Spring 2010: Minnesota Meeting & Events Magazine
Profile: A Dream Come True
Chris Holland-Mehlhaff &
Scott Mehlhaff
Photo by Dan Koeck.
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Chris Holland-Mehlhaff can easily tell you how long it took her dream to come true: 15 years. That's the time it took her and husband Scott Mehlhaff to plan, acquire land and build their ideal resort, The Lodge on Lake Detroit in Detroit Lakes. Of course, nothing about the project went exactly as planned-especially when the reconstruction of Highway 10 meant the state had to acquire some of their property-but today the Mehlhaffs are the proud owners of a 55-room eco-friendly, lakefront dream resort.
Q: Was it hard to make your dream lodge a reality?
A: Time really flies, and it didn't seem that long! At one point- I remember we were on a pontoon ride around Detroit Lake-it really did hit us that we better just go for it.
Q: What are you most proud of about your resort?
A: The rain garden. Back when we started it, rain gardens were a novelty. We hired a firm out of Minneapolis to do rain gardens instead of a settling pond, and we've added 10,000 native plants over the past three years. We restored native vegetation so we don't have grass right up to the edge of the lake.
Q: Was an emphasis on being green always pat of the dream for your lodge?
A: It really is something that's always been important from the very beginning. We understand the importance of being stewards of the land. One of the things I take the most pleasure in hearing is the feedback from guests about trying a local wine, or seeing our rain gardens.
About Holland Lodging
The Lodge on Lake Detroit is independently owned & operated by Holland Motel, Inc., now in its third generation of providing excellence in hospitality. Husband and wife owners Scott Mehlhaff & Chris Holland-Mehlhaff also own & operate Best Western Plus Holland House in Detroit Lakes, MN and Best Western Superior Inn & Suites in Grand Marais, MN.
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