50 Years, 50 Legacies: Mel and Violet Drew
Mel, Violet, and dog Lucky
#30: Mel and Violet Drew
History and Story of Namakan Narrows Lodge
Written by Nyle Zikmund
In the mid-1940s, Victor Kaliin, a civil engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers, joined his friend Gary Moss on a scouting trip to Sand Point Lake and the surrounding area. When land on Namakan Narrows came up for sale shortly after, Victor located the property, and the initial purchase was funded by Mel’s father, Ernest Drew, for $1,000 in 1945-46. This laid the foundation for what would later become the Namakan Narrows Lodge.
After returning from service in World War II, Victor’s brother-in-law, Mel Drew, and his wife Violet joined the effort. Construction began with the foundation and dining room, followed by the first two cabins the next year. Early work was done under rugged conditions, living out of tents and an old houseboat that doubled as their supply barge, hauling lumber from Orr’s Erickson Lumber Company. The group soon realized the resort could only sustain one family, so Mel and Violet bought out the remaining partners.
By 1948, many more family members and friends aided in the endeavor. Cabins four through six and a central bathhouse had been added, with the store and Trading Post built near the center of the property soon after. Life at the resort was lively and hard-working. Violet cooked for guests until a full-time cook was hired, and days often began before sunrise as fishing parties set out across the lake.
Dining room construction
Trading post and store
Violet in Willys Jeep
The Drew family spent the resort “off-season” living together in Chisholm. During the school-year months of May and September, Mel and Violet’s daughter Virginia stayed with her grandmother in Chisholm, but the rest of the year (October-April) the family was together at home. Virginia would catch rides north to Crane Lake, sometimes even on floatplanes, to spend summers at the resort.
Later on in life, grandsons Drew and Jason joined for summer visits as well, always required to wear life vests, which came in handy numerous times when they slipped on the hill or dock and had to be “fished” out of the water.
The lodge operated on a diesel generator, and the family used an old Willys Jeep to haul supplies. The pride of the dock was a beautiful wooden Chris Craft Launch, which Mel used to ferry guests arriving at Crane Lake.
Tragedy struck in 1969 when Mel lost his life in a boating accident on a snowy afternoon. Despite the loss, Violet carried on operating the resort with tremendous help from family and staff, including her son-in-law Richard, who ran his own business in Chisholm during the week and traveled north to work at the resort on weekends. His support, hard work, and dedication were an essential part of the resort’s operations for many years, even long before Mel’s passing. Violet eventually sold the property to Voyageurs National Park and moved to Hibbing to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. The cabins were later moved across the ice to Berger’s Resort near the mouth of the Namakan River, where they still stand today as part of Scott’s Resort on Crane Lake.
Namakan Narrows Lodge advertisement
Namakan Narrows Lodge was arguably located on one of the most scenic parts of the entire watershed and was the furthest from any entry point, making it a true remote getaway. It helped define the northwoods fishing experience, introducing thousands to the majesty of the Canadian Shield’s lakes and wild landscapes. The lodge itself was breathtaking, built entirely of pine and adorned with an impressive taxidermy display of local fish and game.
In 2024, Violet’s daughter Virginia and grandsons Drew and Jason returned to the site for the first time in more than forty years. Joined by their families, they shared stories, laughter, and memories of a place that shaped their lives – a family legacy forever tied to the history of Voyageurs National Park.
Check out the full list of our 50 legacies!
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy. Years, 50 Legacies is a yearlong storytelling series highlighting individuals whose lives are woven into the fabric of the park – whether through conservation work, cultural traditions, recreation, research, or personal connection.
Raise a canteen and celebrate this historic milestone with us at our 50th anniversary website. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories and updates!
