Depressions still mark the foundations of some buildings. The largest building of the town, the Summit Hotel -- where J.W.Speelman maintained that the rainwater from one side of his roof flowed down to the Mississippi and the water from the other side ran into Hudson Bay -- has been gone for over half a century. Main Street with its dirt and ruts is now Beltrami 15, paved with a dividing stripe down the middle. Drivers hurry by not knowing, perhaps not caring, about the memories the townsite holds.
Lake Julia and Little Turtle Lake are now residential lakes with both year-round and seasonal residents. Lake Julia, with its state water access, still attracts fishermen, but everyone except the inveterate boosters knows the fishing is not as good as it was thirty years ago. It is still one of the beautiful lakes of the area, very deep and cold. In the spring, when the water is like crystal, if you are near the old saw mill, you can look down and see logs that sank a hundred years ago. In the winter you can snowshoe along the trails and out onto the lakes, onto ice deep enough to hold a locomotive. It can be so quiet that in the frozen woods you can almost believe that time has frozen too.
Over the century, Buena Vista has changed. There is still activity, though of a different kind from that of the old days. Instead of the Summit Hotel, the dominating feature of modern Buena Vista is the Ski Hill, and clustered below are the Chalet, the Lumberjack Hall of Fame, and the little town put up by Earle Dickinson with its church and other buildings. Attractive homes, built to withstand the winter, line the shores of the lake. There is still a lot going on at Buena Vista and in the surrounding area.
The Minnesota Horse Council Pioneer Horseman award honors those individuals from past years whose expertise and contributions made long-standing positive changes in the equine industry. The seventh award recipient (2007)is Earle Dickinson of Bemidji, Minnesota.
Dickinson was involved in the horse industry from early childhood. His parents, former Senator and Representative Leonard and Agnes Jacobson Dickinson, owned the Buena Vista Ranch just north of Bemidji. They raised draft horses, Quarter Horses, and Columbia sheep. Dickinson wanted to be a cowboy. His father bought him a horse named Dixie, a pair of boots and chaps, and a guitar. His life was filled with song. He pursued his education at various colleges including his studies in Agriculture at the University of Minnesota. While there he sang in the men's choir. Dickinson showed horses and sheep locally and at the Minnesota State Fair. At the county fair, he would have his team and wagon to give rides and share stories about the older way of life. He also won many ribbons!
Dickinson and his father enjoyed horse trading and all the other aspects of the horse industry. Dickinson was a strong supporter of 4-H throughout his life, attending many shows in which his children and grandchildren participated. He was president of the Beltrami County Fair Board in the 1980's. During his tenure there, the 4-H and Open horse programs were strengthened and expanded. Later he sponsored many Natural Horsemanship Clinics at his ranch to let others learn more humane and safe ways of handling their horses.
He expanded the Buena Vista Ski Area, alongside the Buena Vista Ranch, and added a Logging Village. He recreated an old logging town, which became the site for wagon trains, trail rides, Logging Days and other community events. Along with his father and friend Benhart Rajala, he created the Annual Buena Vista Logging Days Festival. It is an event where live-action logging demonstrations are tied in with old time stories, an induction of real lumberjacks into the Hall of Fame and the combining of talents of local individuals.
Dickinson drove a covered wagon pulled by his Belgians, King and Jack, in the June, 1991 Itasca State Park Centennial Wagon Train. He drove the Little Falls to Itasca State Park leg and his wife actually walked alongside the wagon for the exercise! He sponsored many trail rides where he would share stories of cowboys and loggers and share songs of the West. According to Joe Waslaski of Gold Mine Ranch, Dickinson was "a horseman, a woodsman, a logging historian . . . [who] was loved for his genuine smile, engaging personality, his kindness, his diverse talents and his strong character. He was the archetype of a Minnesota . . . entrpreneur and a rugged individualist."
His legacy lives on in all of those whose lives were touched by his knowledge and kindness and his love of the equine world.
In memory of Earle Dickinson, the Earle Dickinson Spririt Award was created. It will be given to individuals at Logging Days who have helped keep the spirit of Logging Days alive. A Ski run at the Buena Vista Ski Ranch has also been dedicated in Earle's name. "Remember the past while enjoying the present!"
Covered Wagon tours of the Divide and the old Buena Vista townsite can be arranged for parties who are interested. Tours start at the Lumberjack Hall of Fame, Buena Vista Ski Hill, 12 miles north of Bemidji on County Highway 15. Rides to the top of the ridge last about 45 minutes. For more information call 218-243-2231 or 243-2333. Enquire about the cost of tickets.
The front of the board has pictures of some of the early inhabitants. The back of the board has a few more pictures amd a directory of residents.
Anyone with early pictures of residents, their families and homes is urged to contact Madeline and Bill Sutherland who would like to come by and scan them for the board. No original photos are pinned on the board.
The board also has some notices or announcements of current interest.
*Positions are available for riders and observers, but the clinic is limited to 6 or 7 horses. Please, call early.
*The cost is $350 per rider (includes horse boarding -- riders must provide their own hay, feed, and buckets).
*Each rider receives one Free auditor pass.
*$150 deposit is required to reserve your spot. The balance is due one month prior to the clinic date.
Auditors: Observe the clinic and get hands-on experience for only $25 per day
Clinics have been hosted by Liz Letson 218-243-3230 and Suzanne Thomas of the Buena Vista Ski Ranch, telephone 218-243-2250. Call for dates, details, and prices.
The Trail and Horsehandling Clinic is an information packed three-day learning experience. The program includes round pen training, join up philosophy, beginning horse language 101, ground exercises, establishing respect, long lining, saddle fitting, obstacles, trail etiquette, safety tips, equipment, trail riding, and more. Any rider at any level can benefit from this clinic!
"All clinics are based on the partnership concept and designed to educate both horse and rider."
Once registered, each particpant fills out a profile sheet. Each clinic is then specifically designed around the needs of the participants.
Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Deposit: (Non-refundable unless a replacement is found)All participants sign a liability waiver. Helmets recommended
Clinic is limited to allow for an optimum learning environment.
2007 is the seventh year for the clinics at Buena Vista. All past clinics have been fully subscribed.
the Buena Vista Chalet will host
a Cross Country
Walk or Run, 5K and 10k
a Mountain Bike Tour 20k
a Kids' Fun Run and Bike Tour
Join the Fun.
Sleigh Rides in the Village
Blacksmithing and Saddle Care
Crosscut Saw and Peavey Throwing Demonstrations
Cross Haul and Jammer Log Loading Demonstrations
Chainsaw and Wood Carving
Paul Bunyan Magic Shows
Log Skidding with Horses
Lumberjack Ceremony
Crafts and Foods
Pony Rides and Roping Contest
Golden Horseshoe Hunt
New This Year
Square Dancing
Saddle Care and Repair
Basket Weaving and Crafts
Woodcarving
Coffee Shop
Pancake Meals..All you can eat: Served 8 am - 3 pm
Logging Days comes the first Saturday in February to make sure there is some snow because how can one log without snow?
People versed in the history of logging and of the area give talks and show slides and films. Last year there were talks with slides on the history of the town. Logging was a serious and dangerous business, and when the crowd sees a sled loaded with logs and pulled by a team of four horses, it can understand what hard work it was and how unforgiving a mistake could be.
Click here
for pictures from one of the past Logging Days.
A call to (218) 243-2231 will give you the date of Logging Days and the planned activities. There is an entrance fee. Sleigh rides and pancakes are additional.
Wagon rides from Spring through to Fall and Sleigh rides in the winter are available
regularly by calling (218) 243-2231 Visitors are taken for historic tours of the townsite
as well as for trips to the top of the Continental (Laurentian) Divide to view the lakes
and summer verdure, or the flaming maples of fall, or the snow-covered landscape and
frozen lakes in winter.
The Tubing Park was added a few years back and has proved very popular. All tubers must be at least 42 inches tall.
Residents of Bemidji as well as bus loads of skiers from around the area ski all day and into the night. There are some overnight accomodations for groups. Suzanne Thomas operates the facility. The ski hill is a good neighbor and furnishes fun and exercise for those who live in the area.
For reservations and information call 1-800-777-7958 or 1-218-243-2231.
The Buena Vista Ski Arrea website has full information plus a gallery of photos.
Movil Maze has 13.7 km with traditional trackset and skate ski through hilly terrain with pine and hardwoods. It is located off Lake Movil, also on County 22 and classed as Intermediate. . The Bemidji Chamber of Commerce usually has information on Three Island Park and the Movil Maze 1-800-458-2223 or 1-218-751-3541
Lake Bemidji State Park offers 20.8km of traditional trackset and 1.8 km of skate ski through pine. The route runs partly along the shore of Lake Bemidji. It is classed as Beginners, though there are some more difficult trails. State parks require an entrance fee or annual pass as well as the Minnesota Ski Pass. Lake Bemidji State Park's number is 1-218-755-3843; Minnesota Parks Overnight Reservation; 1-800-246-2267.
The Bemidji Chamber of Commerce distributes Cross Country Ski Trails with maps of different trails in the area. The map and ski guide are provided free by the Bemidji Area Cross-Country Ski Club.
For Information on local conditions call The Bemidji Area Chambe of Commerce: 1-800-458-2223 or 1-218-751-3541.
Information on snow depths and snow conditions throughout Minnesota is available from the Minnesota Travel Information Center 1-800-657-3700.
For information on the Greater Minnesota Ski Pass call 1-800-766-6000.
There are many possibilities for snowshoeing
along forest trails, over frozen lakes, and through Lake Bemidji State Park.
Fees, Daily or Annual, are charged at all Minnesota State Parks.
Snowmobiling is one of the popular winter sports. The state and the counties have laid out a network of trails that allow both long and short trips. There are numerous short and medium-length trips in the Bemidji area, and these connect to longer trails of from 37 to 110 miles.
In Bemidji, the North Country Snowmobile Club offers information and assistance: 7550 Cardinal Rd. NW, tel.1-218-755-9391.
For information and maps call or write the Bemidji Chamber of Commerce, Bemidji, MN 56601: 1-800-458=2223 or 1-218-751-3541.
In regulated areas, Snowmobilers and Cross Country Skiers are kept apart.
The Showy Lady-slipper
At Nebish along County 15, seven miles north of Buena Vista, the roadside is filled with clusters of the Showy Lady-Slipper, the pink and white orchid which is the Minnesota state flower. It is not endangered, but it is uncommon. Slow to develop, the time from germination to blooming is sixteen years. It needs moist soil to thrive.
The densest population of clusters and individual plants in the area is located a half mile north and south of Nebish, on County Highways 15 and 32, especially where 32 from the west joins Highway 15.
Clusters and individual plants, though fewer in number, are also found on the six-mile stretch of Highway 15 south of the junction as far as Highway 26 just north of Lake Julia.
A census by volunteers led by Barry Prichard found 2380 individual plants on Highways 15 and 32 between Highway 26 and a half mile west of the junction of Highways 15 and 32 west.The Wildflower Mile is the name Prichard has given the area along Highway 32 from where it joins Highway 15 to the Nebish Community Cemetery Road. A huge concentration of 1922 individual plants was counted in this single one-mile stretch of right-of-way.
Prichard made a report to the Beltrami County Commissioners on August 2, 2000. The commissioners directed the County Engineer to report back on the possibilities of marking the area and providing safe areas for parking. Now the mile has been marked at both ends.
The Showy Lady-slipper usually blooms from about mid-June to about mid-July.