History

Jackson's Lakeside Cottages was originally started by Frank Carley in 1903. Carley started with four cottages and also had 79 acres of farmland. It was the first resort on Little St. Germain Lake.

George H. Jackson bought the property from Carley in the fall of 1920 after selling Red Oak Resort to Walter DeHaas. George H. died only two years later and ownership went to his wife Catherine. After her death in 1929, Art and Anna Jackson ran the resort. It was during this period that Jackson’s Lakeside Cottages grew to be one of the most well known resorts in the area.

George H and Catherine Jackson

Most of the older cottages were replaced in the late 1930’s and 1940’s under Art and Anna's stewardship.  Some of  those units are still in use today. Art built the main lodge in the spring of 1935 and it is one of the last remaining Northwoods classics left from that era.

Art Jackson guided the guests and ran the resort with the help of his two daughters and their families during the 1940's. Lillian and Spike Lantz, and Helen and Sig Kaminski. Once world war 2 was over, their son, George A. Jackson returned from the battlefields of Europe to help.

 Guests in the tap room in the late 40's - Anna & Art on right.

                                       The Lodge as it appeared in 1939 and 1940

A young Lieutenant George Jackson home on leave in 1943 with his mother Anna. George spent the next two years in Europe before returning home to raise a family and run the resort for the next 43 years. 

Art passed away in the spring of 1953. Anna ran the business with the help of her son George and his new wife Janet.

During the 1940’s and 50’s, Jackson’s enjoyed great notoriety and success as Little St. Germain lake gained publicity with its ability to produce fish. It has always been a great place for fishing, but by the early 60's, people were discovering that this was also a great family destination. The clientele began to change and the resort was becoming a place where kids and families would escape the hustle and bustle of the city.   

George A Jackson and his wife Janet took over ownership of Lakeside Cottages in the summer of 1969 after Anna’s passing. They undertook the task of updating the cottages to the more modern style of rental unit that the vacationer was looking for. Updated kitchens and remodeled bathrooms were the main projects that kept them busy.

Today, Janet Jackson oversees the resort operation and has so since the passing of George in the fall of 1989. Sons Tom and Ken help with the day to day operation of the resort, but Janet remains very involved and fields most of the phone calls and inquiries through the mail. 

Several major projects have been undertaken during her tenure, including a structural overhaul on the main lodge in 1999, construction of a 2 bedroom 4 season unit (Whitetail - #1) in 1992, the addition of a 5 bedroom, year-round vacation home, the Grand View - #9 in 2003, and the new construction of the Hammond, completed in the spring of 2007.

                                                                                                                                                     George A and Janet Jackson

The Jackson family remains committed to providing sportsmen and families a great place to spend time in the woods and enjoy the lake. Whatever season you prefer, there is a special place for you to stay in St. Germain. Give us a call.