SPICER — Bob Dickerson was in his car, trying to come up with a logo for the family business to be printed in a Chamber of Commerce book, when it all came together. “Somehow it came to me what we do here,” said Dickerson. “We build sand castles and memories.
” That’s been the mission for 100 years now, as Dickerson’s Resort on Lake Florida marks the milestone this season as a family resort. Bob Dickerson’s great-grandfather, Jens, and Bob’s father, Arlo, then only 10 years old, were on a fishing trip to Kandiyohi County in 1924 when a cow pasture with a beautiful, sandy beach, a captivating due-west view of the setting sun, and a lake loaded with fish led Jens to decide: “This is it.” Jens and Emma launched the resort as Shady Rest Beach, a simple seven-cabin fishing camp.
Arlo came home from World War II and purchased the resort from his mother in 1946 and, with his bride, Ardella, continued this important mission. They changed the name to Lake Florida Resort in the 1950s. Bob began buying stakes in the resort in 1976.
With his marriage in 1981 to Connie, the resort has been in the hands of this fourth-generation partnership ever since. Providing a top-notch experience for the many guests who enjoy its 13 cabins during the summer season takes long hours and hard work. For many years, Bob and Connie juggled their resort duties with outside employment.
Bob worked as a rural mail carrier and Connie as a helper at the Green Lake Bible Camp and a supper club .
