Over 70 Years on Manitoulin
Island
Dawson Resort was established in the mid
1930's. The first guests brought tents and enjoyed the unsettled area with the
attractive clear waters of Lake Kagawong. The biggest part of the adventure was
getting to the Manitoulin Island. Many guests tell how it took 3 days to drive
to Tobermory on gravel roads and the capacity of the ferry was six cars. People
described the rough waters of Lake Huron as the small ferry boat got tossed
around. The challenge of getting here was soon forgotten when the fishermen got
in their rowboats and headed for their favorite fishing hole.
As the tourist trade began to establish
itself, cottages were built and the resort offered American Plan
accommodations. The travel time was reduced as the highways were improved and
the ferry service included larger ships. People who started out camping were
now enjoying cottages with meals provided. Over time, the demand for family
accommodations and less scheduled vacations led to the conversion to
housekeeping cottages. By the early 1970's, the American Plan was a thing of
the past and family vacations in a cottage had taken over.
We are very fortunate to have generations
of family guests visit our resort. In recent years we have experienced many
family reunions, each family with stories to tell of their early visits. We are
proud to have guests travel from all over North America to join family members
and experience the tranquility of our setting, to watch the sunset over the
water like they have done so many times before. This important tradition is
carried on by families from far and wide.
We are proud to say Dawson Resort has
been operated by the Dawson Family since the beginning.
Marilyn Dawson
  
Send us
your pictures and comments from the past and we will add them to the site.
Manitou (137 ft. x 24 ft.) The Manitou sailed from 1903
to 1941, a close second to the shipping record of the Caribou. The Manitou,
Caribou and Manitoulin formed an impressive fleet of passenger and freight
trade, carrying most of the lake freight of the day and transporting hundreds
of passengers per year. After being sold, the Manitou was dismantled and the
hull was converted into a barge. The barge was broken up in 1945.
http://www.ontarioferries.com/chi/
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