Craig Black 1944 - 2024

As many of you may have heard, our family recently suffered a huge loss.. Our father, Craig Black passed away on Saturday, March 30 surrounded by family and friends. Many of you knew him well, and are grieving along with us.

It is an understatement to say that Craig was a huge part of the history of Black’s Cliff Resort. He was born in Elmhurst, Illinois. His parents Millie and Maynard Black bought the resort in fall of 1946, with the summer of 1947 was their first year operating the resort. Craig spent just his summers at the resort until 1958, when Maynard retired from teaching and moved his family permanently to the resort.

Craig and his brother Dave helped their parents run the resort doing chores. After graduating high school in 1962, Craig went to college and got his degree from Carroll College, and then got his masters at the University of Arizona . He taught at UW GreenBay for a couple years, but in 1971 returned to Hazelhurst to help his parents run the resort.

The following year, his parents retired and moved into a house just down the road, still on Lower Kaubashine Lake. He and his wife Trudy started their tenure as owners of the resort.

Craig’s true passion in life was building. He spent the next 40 years remodeling and rebuilding all the cabins. When other resorts were folding or becoming condos, he was expanding and improving.

Craig used to joke that Maynard held everything together with chicken wire. Even though he would often just work out plans on notepads, or bar napkins, Craig proved to be a much better builder than Maynard.

He was always looking for ways to make Black’s Cliff better, and was great at finding deals and stockpiling supplies for the next big project. With the help of friends and very special guests, he added many of the improvements guests enjoy today. Whether it was boardwalks, new docks, the sauna, the tree house, perches,or the swimming wall and raft, we are reminded of him everywhere we look.

In 1996, he married Lynette, and retired shortly after that, handing off the reins to the next generation.

His tireless work ethic, humorous yet easy going personality helped make Black's Cliff the place it is today. So we will honor his legacy by continuing to make improvements, and keep Black’s Cliff Resort a place families love and where he will be remembered fondly in everything we see at Black’s Cliff.

If anyone would like to come celebrate Craig’s life, we are having a party at the Watering Hole, from 5pm-8pm, on May 18th. Donations can be done in memory of Craig can be sent to the Hazelhurst Fire Department.