Family-owned resort is located south of Vergas

By Greta Hentges

West Central Initiative

East Silent Lake Resort in Otter Tail County has been welcoming families to the water for more than a century. Founded in 1915, the resort has long been part of Minnesota’s classic lakes culture. For Andy Leonard and his family, it is also the continuation of a tradition that shaped their own childhood—and one they are now passing on to the next generation. 

“We grew up in northeast Iowa, where you don’t have the same access to lakes that you do in Minnesota,” said Andy. “As a family, we started coming up to Otter Tail County to vacation at resorts, and we really fell in love with that experience.” 

Those family trips planted a seed. About 20 years ago, Andy, his brother Nick, and their parents began looking for a resort of their own. They wanted a place they could grow into, while honoring the history and character that make Minnesota resorts special. When East Silent Lake Resort became available, they knew they had found it. 

Today, Andy and Nick run the resort with their families. Their parents still return each summer to lend a hand. Together, they manage 18 units, split between traditional cabins and newer vacation homes. 

“Unfortunately, the resort industry has really declined over the last several decades,” said Andy. “Every year, we lose more of these traditional family resorts, and that made it even more important for us to keep this one going.” 

For many guests, East Silent Lake Resort offers something rare: a true family-run experience. Some families have been returning for generations. 

“We have guests who are four or five generations deep, coming back year after year,” said Andy. “Being part of those family traditions means a lot to us.” 

The resort blends classic charm with modern amenities, offering everything from arts and crafts and pontoon rides to kayaks, paddleboards, and ice cream socials. The goal is simple: give families a place to slow down, connect, and experience lake life—whether it’s their first visit or their fiftieth. 

As the Leonards looked ahead, they faced an important decision about how to modernize the resort while preserving its history. Several of the traditional cabins date back to the 1950s, complete with aging electrical systems and infrastructure. 

“From a financial standpoint, it probably would have been easier to tear some of them down,” said Andy. “But we didn’t want to lose that history. That classic resort feel is what people come here for.” 

With support from West Central Initiative, the Leonards advanced a project that aligned with their values. West Central Initiative’s loan program made it possible to relocate and renovate five traditional cabins while upgrading infrastructure and preserving their historic character.  

“That funding made all the difference,” said Andy. “Without it, this project would have been hard to do the way we wanted. It allowed us to keep the knotty pine interiors and the historic charm while bringing everything up to code.” 

For Andy, working with West Central Initiative was about partnership. 

“The most impressive thing was knowing the opportunity even existed,” he said. “Here was an organization willing to work with us in a way that actually made this project possible.” 

He added that West Central Initiative’s lending team stayed engaged throughout the process. 

“They asked good questions, helped guide us, and genuinely wanted us to succeed. We never felt like we were on our own,” said Andy. 

Looking ahead, the Leonards hope to continue upgrading remaining cabins, thoughtfully expand the resort, and keep creating space for new and returning families to build traditions of their own. 

“Our kids are growing up in this now,” said Andy. “That’s really special. We just want to keep providing that opportunity—for our family, and for all the families who come here to experience Otter Tail County.” 

For more information about West Central Initiative’s loan program, visit www.wcif.org.

To learn more about East Silent Lake Resort, nine miles south of Vergas visit www.eastsilentresort.com/. 

About West 

Central Initiative 

West Central Initiative is a place-based nonprofit, community foundation, and regional development organization dedicated to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable future for White Earth Nation and Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties. Since its founding in 1986, West Central Initiative has provided funding, technical assistance, planning resources, and philanthropic services to strengthen the economic and social fabric of the region. The organization has provided more than $62 million in loans and approximately $93 million in grants to businesses and organizations. 

Learn more at www.wcif.org.