Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: It is with a very heavy heart I write about two passings this week Yesterday we tragically lost Buck Cass. Buck was married to Dawn who long time resort folks will remember watched us kids in the late 70's and early 80's. Dawn and Buck married just before Troy and I. They settled in Hortonville with their 4 boys... Read more

Excerpt: Happy New Year from the Cliff. New Years morning bright and shinny We had a busy week with guests in the cabins. Sorry not a lot of pics as we (me) had a virus this week that kept me down and out on the couch. Not a lot of pictures got taken. The 2022 summer letters were about the... Read more

Excerpt: We have new friends at the resort. Nattie and Jake are from the WINGS program at our high school. They and others are learning skills to transition them into the working world. The WINGS program has a store close to Arby's in town where they sell coffee and other crafts. The students in WINGS are high school students up... Read more

Excerpt: We had 10 inches of wonderful snow blanket the northwoods. It is so pretty in the pines! Steve was quick to get everything plowed out while Troy and I got shoveling duty. I got a new plug in power shovel that is light, kind of a like a small snowblower I can do one handed Folks ask how I... Read more

Excerpt: Deer Camp week is always fun but requires protective wear. About 1/2 of our cabins fill up with hunters who have made the resort part of their hunting tradition. Whether they hunt our private land or public lands in the area they all come back to the cabin with their stories and a few deer The Walstad crew who... Read more

Excerpt: We were gone for a few days and Steve took some pics of the first snows Enjoy.... or close your eyes and imagine summer Last boats and a few docks need to get out of the water and the beach front will be ready for winter We have Birchwood, Restawhile, Wildflower and Red Pine open this weekend. Thanksgiving we... Read more

Excerpt: Birchwood roof project moved right along the last few days Chris helping Steve and Troy pounding nails on the new rafters Slowly the rafters went up Plywood was the next challenge Definitely giving the old cabin a new look This new roof should be easier to keep clean of debris and shed ice and snow better. No more ice... Read more

Excerpt: The lake mists were out and had to jump in a boat and see them up close. Yes the metal seat was cold! Steve has the measuring tape out on Birchwood's roof. He has a plan... he has materials... and he has a work crew next week. What could be happening........ Read more

Excerpt: Our first snows have arrived. Not much yet but more is on the way sooner than later The resort has gotten quieter. The next couple of weekends we have openings. As deer hunting and Thanksgiving approach the availability is getting less and less. If you are thinking of the woods for the holidays give a call. We do have... Read more

Excerpt: Lake mists have been beautiful in the mornings Loon in its dull gray winter plumage fishing. They should be leaving soon. This one was happily fishing Family time at a campfire with a good drink is the way to enjoy a weekend! Or dancing around on a roof with a heavy leaf blower..... your choice. Steve likes the views... Read more

Excerpt: It was a beautiful weekend in the Northwoods. We have extended Eagles Nest being open through October 22nd weekend. We may keep it open through Halloween if the warmer weather holds. It is open starting October 19th Over three days we had hundreds of people through the resort to see the sock shop for the Northwoods Art Tour. It... Read more

Excerpt: My sister Katie out enjoying fat tire biking on our mountain biking trails in the area. This time she was on the zipline trail 10 min from the resort. Fat tire bikes are amazing to do trails with year round. She loves her bike Back at the resort it was a misty morning at the lake Back up the... Read more

Excerpt: John and his dog Sammy up enjoying the fall colors. Sammy almost blends in with the colors. The colors have been amazing this fall Woods by Bear Den bonfire with yellows Troy and Steve busy at the office taking out a few more boats. Troy gets tired of keeping the paddle boats clean of falling acorns and debris. They... Read more

Excerpt: The tale of bluegill fishing. You always hear the story about the big one that was hooked while bluegill fishing but got away. Always a big tale and do you believe it when they say it was a big fish..... People ask me where are the muskies. My response is always look for the bluegills and the muskies are... Read more

Excerpt: Troy and I had to pick up Grant in California to get him back to school. We debated all summer how to get him back. We finally decided to just do it and leave for 6 days to drive to California and back. We had coverage for the resort with Jake and Steve, packed up the car and off... Read more

Excerpt: Sunday mornings in the summer are always full of happy faces ready for a fun week with the family. Lots of happy smiles with grandma! Brian and his son Asher talking about all the wildlife they might see on vacation. Shortly after this picture little Asher showed up with a small grass snake he had found in the woods... Read more

Excerpt: My kids grew up fishing with Troy's dad so I can appreciate a grandpa on the dock with 2 kids casting, and taking off worms and fish off hooks. Grandpa Walsh with a smile on his face every year creating memories with the grandkids is what it is all about. Hopefully with no hooks in anyones head or fingers... Read more

Excerpt: Time to kick off your shoes and jump in the lake Lots of that going on, on the water tramp this week The raft is a little quieter but lots of jumping there too Definitely a pier week. Lots of sunning and chatting Steve and Jake are working on a few projects around the resort. First up was this... Read more

Excerpt: We have had a lot to celebrate this last week or so. Big event was Howard Berchtold's 90th birthday at the resort. There was a lot of singing, toasts with matching cups, matching shirts, egg toss and a three legged race. Howard was happier to celebrate also his 65 years with Jean and 45th summer up north. He knows... Read more

Excerpt: Beautiful warm days of summer at the resort. Took the red boat out for a spin around the lake for fun Our beach getting busy with everyone in their spots, warm temps and happy kids jumping in David and Leanne getting their feet wet while Bryce was wasting no time in enjoying the water Mark Tempel having fun enjoying... Read more