Most of the old resorts in Sawyer County are gone, sold and replaced with condos, lake homes and McMansions. Some have been replaced with businesses and restaurants. In the 50s and 60s there were over 30 mom-and-pop resorts on Round Lake.
Those that remain are few but precious. Kiefer’s Pine Grove Resort on Little Round Lake is one of those — unspoiled and beautifully preserved. In June they will celebrate 95 years of doing what they do best: being an original resort.
Gary Ketterer is the owner and operator today. His great-great grandmother Emma Haussen had the money to build and his great grandparents, Dr. Edward and Edith (Haussen) Meyer, built the cedar, full-log resort in 1929.
An excerpt from the July 1991 “Round the Lake” newsletter, published by the Round Lake Property Owners Association, told the story:
“Dr. Edward and Edith Meyer, their daughter Virginia and her future husband, Ernie Kiefer, traveled from Chicago to the Northwoods. After 22 hours in a Model T Ford, they arrived in Hayward. They spent their vacation at the home of Ed Wilkes, which is now the home of Bob and Connie Lassard. Ed and Edith were enchanted with the Round Lake area and decided to purchase a parcel of land from the Ashland Farm, which was located on Little Round Lake. Frank Hamblin, a neighbor and well-known carpenter, was hired to build their house and a couple of cabins.”
Fourth generation owner Gary Ketterer, who has been coming to the resort since he was born in 1957, told the Record it was a home first. His great-grandmother decided to open a country store in front of the house, along with a bar and gas station. Pine Grove Resort officially opened in 1930.
Ketterer said they sold paper products, candy, homemade potato salad and coleslaw. He recalls there was also a meat counter and a cheese counter.
“The main lodge and cabin 1 were built and officially opened in 1930, and cabin 4 was added, which was an ice house for the guests during the summer months,” he said. There was no running water, no indoor plumbing, and kerosene lamps were used for light.
“During the winter, Larry and Elmer Ahrenkiel cut ice out of the lake and stored it in the ice house for use in the summertime. Meals were served to the guests and lunches were packed for the fishermen.”
The store operated for 44 years, before closing in 1974.
Cabins 2 and 3 were built in the mid-1940s,” Ketterer said. At that time, Ketterer’s grandparents, Ernie and Virginia Kiefer operated the resort, changing its name to “Kiefer’s Pine Grove Resort.
Running water, indoor plumbing and electricity became available and were added.
In 1991 the third and fourth generation took over the resort — Gary and his parents, Raymond and Karen (Kiefer) Ketterer.
Gary Ketterer lost both his parents and his wife between December 2021 and November 2022. He moved from Woodridge, Illinois to Kiefer’s Pine Grove Resort in October 2023, making it his permanent residence on 725 feet of shoreline on Little Round Lake.
“This is a great opportunity to honor the resort,” he said. “My great-great-grandmother, great grandparents, grandparents and parents would be so proud. It is great to carry on the legacy of the resort. I am happy to be here in the great north woods of Hayward, Wisconsin.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0