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Earl & Marie Vinyard and their son Don lived in Springfield Ohio. Before
their son left for the war, they all sat down and decided that if Don
returned from the war, they would sell everything and move to northern
Minnesota and build a resort. When Don returned, they kept their
promise and moved to Grand Rapids.
They cleared the land with a two-man saw and had the logs hauled to Grand
Rapids to be milled. The cabins were built from the logs, including
the knotty pine interiors. Their son married Irene Hawkinson and the
four of them built the first four cabins.
One evening Marie and Irene went to a movie called "Leave Her to Heaven"
staring Cornel Wild. Cornel was the author that had a hideaway where
he goes to do his writing. He called his hideaway "Back o' the Moon".
The movie took place on Bass Lake in Deer Lake, Maine. That evening
when Marie and Irene returned home they all decided that the resort
should be called "Back o' the Moon Resort".
In June 1946, according to one of our customers who was with his parents
at the time, the first cabin was completed and a second was half done.
In 1952 the resort was sold to Ed Jones from Illinois, with four cabins.
In 1954 the resort was sold again to Bob and Goldie Shideler from
Norton, Kansas. During their 35+ years of ownership, Bob and Goldie
raised their two children, Bob and Mary, who still live in the Grand
Rapids area. They also added two more cabins and made major improvements
like winterizing the water system.
Ron and Shirley Mickelson purchased the resort in the Spring of 1990. They moved to the resort
from Grand Meadow, Minnesota where Shirley drove school bus and Ron worked at IBM in Rochester.
Their oldest daughter Robin and son Rodney stayed behind to raise their families. Kristie,
their youngest daughter, moved here with them. Ron and Shirley retired in
the Spring of 2003, selling the resort to Steve and Kim Tomberlin.
We have two daughters, Melissa and Stephanie. Melissa is currently
a Licensed Practical Nurse, working at a Nursing Home in Grand Rapids, while continuing her
education. Stephanie is a Junior in High School and will be helping out
at the resort. We were both born and raised in this area of Minnesota and
look forward to sharing it with you.
Through the years, the resort name has brought many interesting people. They
have traveled from Australia, Holland, and Japan. In 1997 a screen
play writer here wrote a play called "Back o' the Moon". He said
that in 1996 it was on Ron Howard's desk and it was presently on Kevin
Costner's desk. We are looking forward to continuing the traditions of the
resort, as well as starting new ones of our own.
Steve and Kim Tomberlin |
