Welcoming Tourists
Chapter three

“If you build it, they will come”.

This classic line from the movie Field of Dreams captures the thinking behind the Tourist Camp at Chippewa Park.

Tourism was a growing sector of the economy in the 1920’s. Automobiles had become commonplace, highway networks were expanding, and people could travel greater distances for vacations.

Fort William City Council was quick to recognize the potential. In 1927, it established a Tourist and Convention Bureau and supplied the Parks Board with an initial $5000 to begin the construction of a tourist facility at Chippewa. A central building was constructed that included a camp kitchen, hot and cold showers, and modern toilet facilities. By1932, 18 log cabins had been built that were used by tourists for the next 75 years. Tent and trailer sites were also added.

Large signs pointing the way to Chippewa Park were installed along the Trans-Canada highway to attract customers. These, along with a multitude of directional arrows, produced amazing results. The Tourist Camp became popular because it offered not only accommodation, but an entire park full of recreational opportunities.

Construction of a bridge over the Pigeon River in 1917 opened the door for American tourists to visit our region. By the end of the Twenties, signs promoting Chippewa were posted all along Highway 61. A membership in the Minnesota Arrowhead Association was taken out to partner with tourist facilities on the American side. These efforts combined to make Chippewa’s Tourist Camp a destination point for tourists from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.

The Depression in the 1930’s and the War in the 1940’s slowed the growth of tourism, but it regained its momentum once the war was over. The baby boom ushered in the Tourist Camp’s peak years of operation.

In the 1950’s, the camp still retained its small and intimate pre-war character. Families came and spent their entire holiday at Chippewa. Life-long friendships developed between staff and those who returned each year from places such as Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and the Ozarks in Missouri.

The 1960’s saw an expansion of both tourist traffic and the Tourist Camp’s facilities. In 1960, the Trans-Canada Highway around Lake Superior was completed, making the Circle Route a popular itinerary for growing American families. Because of Chippewa’s many amenities, the Tourist Camp became one of the most popular stopover points along the route. 

The Tourist Camp expanded in the early 1960’s to meet the growing demand. A new office, camp kitchen, washrooms, a separate trailer park were added, along with many new tenting sites. Upwards of 100 parties registered each night during the busiest months. The overflow field was kept busy. This pattern continued into the 1970’s.

By the 1980’s, the tourist traffic from the US began to decline. The baby boom generation had grown up, and American families were no longer traveling to the same extent.  Local residents began to replace tourists as the main clientele for the campground and cabins.

The following decades saw a gradual reduction in the amenities that would attract people to the park. The beach was closed due to contamination. The roller coaster was removed. Food services in the pavilion were reduced. The wildlife exhibit closed. The log cabins that had accommodated tourists for over 70 years were taken out of service and finally removed. The park’s maintenance budgets were cut back.

In 2001, The Friends of Chippewa Park was formed by local citizens and stepped in to fill the gap. They secured millions in federal, provincial & private sector funding to upgrade the park’s facilities, including 7 new, wheelchair accessible log cabins at the Tourist Camp and a visitor reception centre that included a manager’s residence and a gift shop.

The Tourist Camp is ready for the next generation of travelers and customers.

Next Week: The Carousel Era (Part One)