The end of an era: Thomsonite Beach Inn changes hands

Lee and Scott Bergstrom have been the owners of Thomsonite Beach Inn and Suites for more than two decades. Their time at the historic lakeside Inn ended almost exactly 22 years after they purchased it on November 9, 1999.

The couple purchased the Inn from Matt and Vicki Geretschlaeger. The Geretschlaegers owned the resort for a short time before Bergstroms bought it. When they bought the Inn, they worked to keep the history of the resort alive, fulfilling the legacy of the family that built Thomsonite Beach in 1962, Maurice and Tania Feigal. The Feigals had a long history of returning guests.

And, they operated a jewelry-making business there. The desire of visitors to purchase jewelry made from the beautiful Thomsonites found on the Lake Superior beach at the Inn was something a bit unexpected, Lee Bergstrom told WTIP. But she found local jewelers who could carry on that tradition. And she learned a great deal about the unique stones herself.

There is a lot of tradition on the lakeshore and at the Inn. Lee and Scott’s children, Anna Britt and David grew up at Thomsonite Beach. They were five and nine when the family purchased the Inn. Lee fondly recalls that also moving in with the family was Raven, the black lab. She said black labs have been part of the resort throughout their time there.

When Bergstroms purchased the Inn, there was another special connection. Lee’s grandfather, Isak Hansen, her father, Irving Hansen and her uncle Harvey, were the men who built the Inn’s foundation.

Asked who is taking on the Inn now, Lee said Joe Swanson, co-owner of Bluefin Bay Resorts is the new owner. Asked if she feels they are leaving the Inn with a solid foundation. She said Swanson is a Silver Bay native and she believes he cares deeply about the North Shore.

The Bergstroms are not leaving the community – they have just moved up the shore a bit, to a family condominium at Terrace Point. Lee will continue working at North Shore Health as a physical therapist part-time and Scott is considering his options. He is a chef by trade, having worked at Naniboujou and up the Gunflint Trail at Bearskin Lodge.

For now, Lee said she appreciates Scott’s cooking skills at home and they are taking some time to decide what to do next. However, she stresses they will not be leaving the North Shore—other than to visit far-flung family.

We talked to Lee Bergstrom about the sale of Thomsonite Beach, asking her if she wanted to say anything to the public. She took the opportunity to thank everyone for their support, especially the frequent returnees to the Inn who became family.

Here’s WTIP’s Rhonda Silence speaking with former Thomsonite Beach co-owner Lee Bergstrom.