Our Story

Swan Lake Resort & Campground has a rich history spanning over 70 years with 6 generations of passionate owners each adding to the property & community. Starting in the 1940s, local residents would use the flat land surrounding the original farm house to launch their boats and pitch camp for a few gorgeous summer nights.

It was John and Verna Olson who, in 1949, decided to formally open their doors to visitors thirsting for Minnesota lake life. By the 1980s several seasonal cabins were built, utilities were routed underground for RVs, and pontoon rentals were readily available - it had become a full-fledged operation. This is a familiar story for many Ma & Pa resorts. These beautiful corners of the world aren't built in a day or even a single lifetime. It simply takes too much sweat and love that the torch must pass from set of calloused hands to another.

The ever-changing energy is what make these spaces so alluring. They develop organically in response to the desires of guests, the visions of the current owner, and the financial & time constraints of reality. Each unique combination leads somewhere new. That explains why the garage was converted into a game room, why a grain bin was hauled on-site for the fish cleaning shack, why the camping sites were upgraded to 50amps, why there used to be horseshoe tournaments, and why saplings were planted that offer shade not today but tomorrow. Over the years and with immense care, it grew into a Minnesota lakeside oasis. Although the resort has changed hands several times, it remains a beautiful haven for travelers passing through and the local community.

Today, the resort & campground is the only commercial operation on recreational Swan Lake in Otter Tail County and is located a few miles south of Fergus Falls, MN. It occupies roughly 17 acres of land, 6 of which are natural woodlands, and has over 780ft of lakeshore frontage that includes a sandy swimming beach. On site there there is the original farm house, a camp store, cabins, RV sites, tent camping sites, and lots of open grassy areas for everyone to enjoy. There is a shared bath house with hot showers and flush toilets, a coin operated laundry, a work shed, a game room, a fish cleaning shed, and a boat house. The camp store offers fishing bait & tackle, groceries, camping gear, ice, firewood, and souvenirs.