Property Description

Northern Lights Resort, located on Dead Lake, was established in 1946 as a 3-cabin fishing resort. Prior to 1995, the resort was called Pleasant View. The resort is a well-known fishing resort and is located in Otter Tail County, just 4 miles west of Richville on County Road 14, and 13 miles southwest of Perham on State Highway 10. Otter Tail Lakes Country is located in West Central Minnesota. Just 2.5 hours from Minneapolis, MN and 45 minutes from Fargo, ND, the area has wooded hills and crystal clear lakes.
The resort is located in a 400-acre bay on the southeast corner of Dead Lake, a 7900 acre lake with 36 miles of shoreline. Northern Lights Resort features 14.5 acres of land and 1,592 feet of shoreline.

The resort has now grown to 10 modern cabins, 8 transient campsites and 11 seasonal sites. This variety of options has been a good fit for the resort. The cabins consist of one 4-bedroom, one 3-bedroom and eight 2-bedrooms. Some of the bedrooms have the option to have either a king bed or 2 XL twin beds. This gives a good variety to meet the guest’s needs.

Each cabin has been remodeled to have an “up north” feel. All floors are vinyl plank or ceramic for easy clean up, with carpeting in the bedrooms. Each cabin also has a log futon with an innerspring mattress. The kitchens are fully equipped with cookware and bakeware, along with a crock pot and electric hand mixer. Each cabin has a wall air conditioner for the hot days of the summer and electric heat for the cool days of fall and spring. In 2019, all cabins were equipped with 22” satellite TV’s. Either a dock space or a 14’ boat is included in the rental of the cabin. All linens are sent out to be cleaned and pressed.

Of the 8 transient camp sites, 4 are located lakeside and 4 have a lake view. Each site has water and 30-amp service. A dump station is available. There is a shower house with separate toilet, sinks and showers for male and female. Each site has its own fire ring and picnic table. The sites have level pee rock base. A dock space is included in the rent of a site along with one bundle of firewood. Additional bundles are sold for $5.00.

Eleven seasonal sites were added in 2016. Five of the sites are on the upper level which has a path to the seasonal dock space. Five dock spaces are available to rent for the season. The dock system is a floating system which was new in 2016. Six sites are on the lower level. Each site is 2400 sq. ft., and has trees and surrounding shade. Each site can have a deck and storage shed per county regulations. Firewood is available for $5 per bundle. Water, sewer, garbage, recycling, lawn cutting, plus free use of all the resort amenities are included. Electricity is based on the individual’s usage and billed monthly. The guest is responsible to weed whip their site and maintain it.

Each site has its own picnic table and fire ring. Firewood is available to the cabins.

The resort includes an owner’s home which was built in 1995. It is a two bedroom upper level home with 2 full bathrooms. One bath includes a whirlpool and laundry. All of the appliances have been replaced since 2012. The owner’s home is located above the store and office. The lower level consists of a store, office, laundry, storage and ½ bath. One room in the lower level could be made into an additional bedroom or used for storage.

The store offers ice, candy, ice cream, sweatshirts, hats, T-shirts, pizzas, tackle, pop, gifts, and small essential groceries.

The game room features many board games and puzzles. The pool table and video games are available at a small cost. To round out the game room there is a TV, and couches and chairs to relax in. Coined washer and dryer are available for the convenience of the guest.

A boat launch is on the resort property. Gas is also available. Thirteen docks have electricity to it or near it. Boat/pontoon rentals include:

• 2019 Qwest 22’ pontoon with 60 hp motor
• 24’ Party Barge pontoon with 50 hp motor
• 20’ Funfish pontoon with 40 hp motor.
• 2017 Alumacraft 16’ boat with 50 hp motor & front mount trolling motor
• 2000 Lund Rebel 16’ boat with 20hp motor
• 4 - 16’ standard boats with 15 hp 4 stroke motors

Dead Lake has many varieties of fish, including walleye, northern, bass, crappie, sunfish, bluegill and perch. The resort has live bait on hand that includes crappie, fathead, sucker and shiner minnows along with leeches, night crawlers and wax worms. It also has a fish cleaning building with water and electricity.

The resort has a large sandy beach area. Each guest has access to our water toys, which include:

• Canoe
• 3 kayaks
• A 2-person kayak
• 2 stand up paddleboards
• 2 paddleboats
• A Rave Aqua Jump with aqua log
• Maui floating mat

The resort common areas include the following complimentary features:

• Volleyball
• Horseshoe
• Bean bag toss
• Bocce ball
• Basketball
• Playground set
• Misc. yard games

The resort is open year-round with one cabin available. Our 4-bedroom cabin is open during the winter which can be rented out as a 2,3 or 4 bedroom for ice fishing, quilting/crafting, snowmobiling with other winter activities in the area.

Northern Lights Resort is marketed through Facebook, Google, local chambers, northernlightsresort.com, Minnesota-resorts.com, Minnesotaresorts.com, Explore Minnesota, Otter Tail Country, and other publications.

Perham was selected by Smithsonian’s Best town to Visit in 2018.

The local Otter Tail County area features:

• 27 hole golf course
• Two 18-hole golf courses within 20 minutes
• Tennis courts
• 2 disc golf courses
• Foot golf
• Turtle races
• Perham Area Community Center
• Numerous gift, antique, and quilt/crafting shops
• Museums
• State parks
• Fine dining to local bar/grill, brewery
• Many other attractions

Northern Lights Resort is run by the two owners. On Saturdays they bring in help to clean cabins and do yard work as required.