90 years of memories
2026 is the 90th season for Manninen’s Cabins. How the years and decades have flown by.
The cabins were originally built and opened by my fraternal grandparents, Ilmari (Elmer) and Flora Kangas Manninen. Their second youngest son (my dad), George, purchased the property in the late 1950s with my mom Ruth and they went on to run the resort for more than 55 years, retiring in 2012.
I am Christine, their younger daughter, and this is my eighth year as owner/proprietor of this place I love so much.
I share here just a handful of photographs and memories of our nine decades of welcoming guests to Otter Lake. We’ve crossed paths with so many wonderful people from all over the world who have spent time here, and some who have returned annually for more than 60 years!
Several other notable 90th anniversaries this year:
The legendary ocean liner Queen Mary is marking 90 years since she embarked on her maiden voyage. This ship redefined transatlantic travel with groundbreaking engineering, art deco design, and unmatched elegance. Today the Queen Mary is permanently docked in Long Beach, Calif., an active preservation site for this cultural and historical treasure.
Coincidentally, an old wood boat in the Manninen fleet was also affectionately dubbed the Queen Mary. Read more: The Queen Mary and her flotilla
Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright architectural masterpiece, was built 90 years ago in Mill Run, Pa. It’s a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its organic architecture that integrates the building with its natural surroundings.
The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club hosted its 90th playing for a green jacket April 9-12. Co-founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts in August, Ga., the course opened in 1932, with the first tournament hosted in 1934. Members began to wear and award the Green Jackets in 1936 so they could be more easily recognized by patrons.
Read more history from 1937: Another season begins