History of Harris Hill Resort on Lake of the Woods, Ontario Canada

Harris Hill Resort on Lake of the Woods: previously Windy Bay Lodge

The complete History of Harris Hill Resort coming soon...

We welcome you to Harris Hill Resort, our lodge, our camp as well as our home. There's a cottage and some great memories waiting for you.

We, Cheryl & Gary Gauthier, purchased Harris Hill Resort in May of 2002, moving from peace and solitude on countryside property. We lived only 2 1/2 hours from where we are now, in the neighbouring province of Manitoba, west of Ontario.

There too nature called out to us and enthused our love of nature and the great outdoors with it’s many adventures and activities that go along with it. We enjoyed the peace and solitude of our property along with all the outdoor activities, including hunting and bird watching. The only thing missing was the lifestyle only offered by living at the lake. Now we wouldn't have to trailer an hour or two to go fishing, which we also love doing.

The love of nature and the love of people brought us here to enjoy the infamous beauty of Lake of the Woods. With its astounding display of sunsets, bountiful birds and wildlife, excellent fishing, and fine sand beaches on private islands, this region is a nature lovers paradise. There are many photography opportunities here. I am sure you will love it here as much as we do.

Harris Hill Resort only became known by this name in 2002, when Cheryl & Gary purchased this resort property. It was named after the area "Harris Hill", which has its own history. Apparently this unorganized Spohn Township needed a name in order to have a Post Office here. The people that ran the post office were originally from Harris Hill, Scotland, thus the name for our area, which it is still known as.

Prior to May of 2002, this resort was known as Windy Bay Lodge as it is off of Windy Bay and Windy Point, renowned for bird watching. This is on Lake of the Woods, there is also a Windy Bay and Windy Point on Rainy Lake, Ontario.

Windy Bay Lodge has had 3 previous owners. Emmett & Bernice Conrad were Americans from Des Moines, IOWA, then Tony & Lynn Beyak who were originally from Rainy River, Ontario, then Ed & Marjory Richard along with their daughter Gail Wood, who were Americans also. Ed & Marj were originally from Florida, but reside in West Virginia now. Gail was from Maine.

Bernice & Emmitt Conrad from Des Moines Iowa, USA started the resort business here.

Emmitt Conrad building the lodge Aug 1965

Emmitt Conrad finished building the lodge for the resort, with their bedroom in the back.

Emmett & Bernice Conrad had built the lodge and cabins and started Windy Bay Lodge here in approx 1960.

Cabin 5 used to be Cabin 1 - This is what it looked like when Conrad's purchased the property.

There was only one cabin here when they bought the place. It was named Cabin #1, but the last owners changed it to Cabin #5 as it still is now.

This is Cabin #1 when it was just built. This view is from the lodge.

Cabins 1, 2, 3, & 4 on top of the hill towards Lake of the Woods.

View from the lodge. Picture taken May 1972.

Cabins 1, 2 & 3 Emmitt built. Cabin 4 was moved in.

The Conrad's had alot of fishermen coming in, and that was their main business.

Dredging & Building the Dock 1967

Look how there was no water in the Bay then.

Completed Dock 1970.

Look how REALLY HIGH the water is here!

Emmett Conrad had passed away in 1986 and Bernice has passed away in 2005. After they sold the Lodge, they stayed and lived in this nearby area for awhile. It's always hard to leave a place that you love. They left behind many friends here that they always kept in touch with.

Lynn & Tony Beyak celebrating Tony's Birthday Mar 31, 2002. Tony passed away 8 days later.

Tony & Lynn Beyak, with their 2 sons Jason & Nick, dearly loved this place.

Lodge Interior Oct 1978 year Beyak's purchased WBL

This hallway was closed off and became part of the kitchen, with a new doorway to the right.

They purchased the Lodge in 1977.

Tony & Lynn added non-resident Black Bear Hunts as well as Resident Whitetail Deer Hunts. They continued having success with fishermen also, and made this resort prosper.

They had to sell in 1990 because the school semesters were conflicting with the operating seasons here, which would mean that the boys would not be able to be with Tony & Lynn for long stretches of time in the spring then again in the fall as they went on to the higher grades of school.

Tony had grown up in Rainy River and had wanted to retire here. He thought about buying it back when it had come up for sale again. Unfortunately,Tony passed away in April, just prior to Cheryl & Gary purchasing their new property in 2002. Lynn visits here quite often, as Tony is buried at McInnes Creek Chapel/Church, approx 7 miles from here.

Gravestone for Tony (& Lynn) Beyak at McInnes Creek Chapel/Church.

This picture portrays the view of the back side.

Tony & Lynn so loved this place and this area that a picture of Windy Bay Lodge is etched on the back of Tony's tomb stone.

Lynn now lives in Dryden, as does Nick, an they still own the GMC car dealership in Dryden that Tony ran. Nick and his wife Claire have a little girl named Emily and baby Anthony born in Nov 2007. Jason lives is in eastern Ontario with his wife Wendy and little daughter Avery.

Marge & Ed Richard in the lodge 1996

Ed & Marjory Richard and their daughter Gail Wood also loved it here. They purchased the Lodge in 1990.

Jim & Gail at the lodge

These stools are still here. We have purchased Diamond Willow Stools to replace them.

This is where Gail met Jim, the love of her life and her companion.

Ed, Marge and Gail almost exclusively ran the Lodge as a non-resident Black Bear Hunting Camp.

After Gail became sick, and the spring bear hunt was cancelled, Ed & Marj reluctantly had to sell.

Ed & Marge now live in West Virginia and are still enjoying life to the fullest with gardening, fishing and hunting, the things they love the most. Gail has passed away in 2003.

Cheryl & Gary were fortunate to have met Ed & Gail when we first came up here in October of 2000.

Ed & Marge Richard, Gail Wood, Jim K, Carol Ann & Joe Mott in the Lodge 1996

Captain Joe & Carol Ann Mott started coming to WBL while Tony & Lynn Beyak still owned the lodge.

They later purchased the cottage across the road when Mrs Lillian Wood put it up for sale.

First Neighbourhood Get Together 2002

Joe & Carol Ann Mott, 2002, in the lodge of Harris Hill Resort - Lake of the Woods

We were also fortunate to meet Carol Ann & Joe Mott, who owned the cabin across the road from our cabins. They have become dear friends, even though they were only out for a few months each summer, missing 2004 because of the hurricanes they were having in Florida where they lived. As Joe had progressive Parkinson's Disease, they also reluctantly had to sell their cottage here. Joe has since passed away in Feb 2008.

Dean, Billie & Scott July 2007 fishing trip and vacation

Dean & Billie Black purchased the Mott's property in 2005. They are also becoming good friends.

Jake Northern Pike fishing 2006

Dean & Billie have two boys Jake & Scott, and are from Crown Point Indiana. They have a nice long 12 hour drive to get here.

Dean loved it here right from the beginning, and Dean and Scott would move up here if they could. Billie is not fond of the cold, so would not do too well in our winters here.

They all love fishing. Dean even came up for winter ice fishing in 2006 for the first time.

They also raise and show St Bernard Dogs.

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We first viewed Windy Bay Lodge in October of 2000, but it didn't work out that we purchased it until May of 2002. The resort was vacant for two years before we bought it, so we did not actually purchase it from Ed & Marge as we had hoped to. When Gary viewed the property, all he saw was work. Cheryl fell in love with it and knew we were supposed to be here. It needed alot of work and tender loving care though.

As this lodge had only been occupied from spring to fall, we had no idea what we were in store for. The first year our in-coming water, our drains and our sewer froze up. We had no water from January 6th to April 29th. We had to do our laundry in Rainy River, and got to know our neighbours well as we needed drinking water and showers. We are very thankful that we do have nice neighbours. Special thanks to Robert & Carolyn Kreger and Bill Buchner for that.

In fall of 2003 we, actually Miller Contracting from Morson, dug the new water line from the well to the lodge, some 250' of pipe. We run a heater under the crawl space where the water line comes in, just to make sure it doesn't freeze again! If there is plenty of snow in early winter our drains do not freeze, so that's good.

Every year we do improvements, and every penny goes back into this place. We still love Harris Hill Resort and hopefully this story continues to get better and better.

Harris Hill Resort Annual Neighbourhod Christmas Party: Starting in 2002 when we moved here, all the neighbours (16-20 at a time) come and enjoy a pot-luck supper, exchange wrapped unmarked gifts, sing carols, and enjoy each other's company. Harris Hill Resort has a decorated Christmas tree and every guest receives a Christmas Card and a present from Harris Hill Resort.

Our highlight for the camp is our Whitetail Deer Hunting Season. Our Children's Playground with newly added Trampoline, our Island Beaches, our Tubing & Water Skiing, and our friendly service make Harris Hill Resort a memorable place to visit and vacation at, year after year, after year...

Cheryl & Gary Gauthier ... the story continues ... More later

To request more information or to book your holiday or vacation adventure:

please phone us at 1 - 807- 488-1116

or e-mail us through our "contact us" section of this web site.

At Harris Hill Resort we offer quality services, great hospitality, affordable rates, comfortable accomodations and a relaxing atmosphere.

Please Contact us Now and Come Visit us Soon

A minimum 25% deposit is required to reserve your holiday for the dates you would like.

Harris Hill Resort - Lake of the Woods

Sunset Country, Northwestern Ontario, Canada

ONLY 18 miles from Rainy River Ontario Canada & Baudette Minnesota USA

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History of Harris Hill Resort on Lake of the Woods, Ontario Canada