Fair Hills Resort, Detroit Lakes

I've been at Fair Hills in 2006 and 2007. These times were the times i can never forget in my life. Great people, great ambiance, everything is great. Everything is spectecular!!!

I have been going to Fairhills my whole life. I countdown the days to Fairhills all year. It is absolutely an amazing place with amazing people. The times i have had at Fairhills are the ones that will stay with me my whole life. Some of my best times have been at Fairhills. Coming back to Fairhills every year is like a family reunion. The guests and staff are amazing people that i cannot wait to see every year. There is always something going on at Fairhills. There is never a dull moment! I cant wait to go back this year! only 13 days! :)

I have been going to Fair Hills my whole life. I look forward to going back more than anything. The people who work there are amazing. Most of them play a musical instrument and perform in the talent show, hootenanny, and parade. The activities are a blast. Some of my favorites are the waterslide they set up on the golf course, the torpedo ride, the hootenanny, and the dance. Some of the little kid activities include pony rides, treasure hunts, fishing, boat ride. Then there are activities for the older kids/teens that include capture the flag, tubing, rafting, softball. The food is absolutely amazing. I remember as a kid the chef would make our pancakes in whatever shape we wanted but I'm not sure if they still do that. I could really go on forever about Fair Hills. It's amazing and I can't wait to go back.

What's not to like about a place, next to a big beautiful lake, simple in service but profound in effect, that allows you for a week or two a year to check out of the rat race of modern living and check into a sunny, warm world of fun and near complete relaxation? I say "near complete relaxation" because you still have to select your entrees from the thrice daily menus. My daughter (who is now 13) and I stumbled upon Fair Hills by chance almost ten years ago. It took a couple years to get a real feel for the place. And once that happened, we were hooked. Absolutely, gratefully hooked. It's a tossup as to which one of us is most anxious to return every summer. The currency of the realm is a wave, a smile, a "glad you're back" to the reassuringly familiar faces. Don't dress up too much or too fancily. You'll feel out of place in this place permeated with Midwestern sensibilities. And take it easy on the cell phone chats poolside or on the beach. You'll be disturbing some very serious R & R and general basking in the sun. Try if at all possible to leave the laptop at home. You'll understand why once you're here. But don't forget the fishing pole, golf clubs, tennis racket, fins, goggles, etc. Thankfully, I learned, there's no bar. You simply have to bring your own. It took me a couple years to realize how not having a bar makes this summer place so family and kid friendly. But not prudish. This place is as much about what it isn't as what it is. This is not a particularly detailed review. It's because our annual week at Fair Hills is as much a retreat as a vacation. It's hard to quantify peace of mind. As much as I want to see the Kaldahl and Schupp families, who run this wonderful resort, keep the place full, there's a part of me that likes things just the way they are: simple, fun, wholesome. Yes, I said wholesome. Some things never go out of style. My family is very grateful for that. So am I. Ah, did I mention the hootenanny? Larry S. St. Paul, MN

The family that I am now a part of has been to fair hills for about 29 years now! The first time I went I thought the same, no a/c, no tv...what am I going to do?! Well the answer to that is keep going back! The place reminds me of the movie dirty dancing...the lobby, the dining room, the cabins....the place is so kid & adult friendly! The location is the only down fall, takes 10 long hours to get there & the excitement of getting there is outragous! I would recomend this place to EVERYONE & ANYONE who has kids, enjoys the outdoors, & loves being part of a huge family of friends!

Fair Hills has been a family tradition for me since I was a baby (I've visited every summer since 1970). I remember riding the ponies when I was young, and now can watch my kids ride. Our 3-year-old already knows how much fun it is to go out on the golf course! The overriding feeling at Fair Hills is that or relaxation. You park your car, unpack, and settle in; truly a home-away-from-home. The staff is always friendly, and is genuinely happy to help. Some people are concerned about not having TV, but you honestly get to the point of not even realizing you don't have it! I could write a lot on how good the food is or how much fun the Hootenany is. But the real enjoyment comes from spending the time with family and friends. So many of the same families visit each year, I refer to this as "my family reunion of people I'm not related to". Every year, when I get my new calendar at work, the first thing I do is get the red marker out and block off the first week in August: Vacation - Fair Hills!

Fair Hills is the place to be for families of all ages!! I will be turning 29 in June and then will visit FH Resort for my 29th summer the following week. My family has been vacationing with FH for 35 plus years and it's hard to imagine a summer without it. As children, my brother, sister and I would get so excited on the way each year that we could hardly contain ourselves. It was so great looking forward to a week of swimming, great activities, incredible food and just the freedom to run and play without constant supervision needed! Growing up I always thought I would work at FH, and I did. My first 3 years of my college life, my summers were spent as the 4-8 year old recreation director at Fair Hills. There isn't a better place to work as a college student, I've never enjoyed a job as much as I did this one!! An added bonus was meeting a special guy that was also working at FH. He lived in North Dakota, and I lived in Oklahoma, but each summer we came back to work together again and 2 years later...we were married. Fair Hills is such a special place. We now vacation there each summer with our two children (4 and 1) and my 4 year old still sings the songs she learned (especially Pelican Lake) and is already looking forward to our summer trip. I am so excited to see her making the same memories that I remember making as a child. Fair Hills is different. It's a place about family, friends and fun times together. No TV's, cell phones or busy schedules required. Just a great time away from everything making memories to last a lifetime. If this is something you might be looking for, you couldn't find a better place!

Fair Hills has hosted my family years and the Kahldals have provided nothing but top-notch service. Fair Hills is the place to get away with the world and spend time with the family. For those that just can't cut off, they have a computer and wireless internet in the lobby. The experience of waking up every morning right on the lake is incredible! There is always something to do for everyone. Acivities for kids, teens, and adults. The food is awsome! It is a completely care-free environment where you can get away and enjoy yourself. Can't wait untill next year!!! -Nick Mizaur

We have been coming to Fair Hills for over thirty years. We forego many other possible vacations in order to make this our "home away from home" for a week each summer. We love the small golf course that surrounds the resort. No, the cabins are not air conditioned. Can it get hot? Of course! But this is a resort, not a downtown hotel in a big city. That's why we love it! Everyone bends over backwards when you have a request, and special outings and activities are available for all who choose to take part. We love just being on our own and doing our own thing. We have been at Fair Hills when the temperature was in the 40's, and we have been there when it was over 100. Plan for it! But we have always had fun. We have compared the price of Fair Hills with a week on the road (gas, hotel, wear and tear on the car, entertainment, and food). Fair Hills still wins out! Of course, we choose to go when the rates are lower than they are in August. If you want every minute of your day planned, then Fair Hills is not for you. If you want comfortable accommodations, fantastic food, and loads of fun, we don't think you can beat it! Jane, Ed, and Laura Sibley--Sioux City, Iowa

I think the person who complained about lack of a/c and telephones missed the point of Fair Hills.....friends and family. Fair Hills is our summer vacation home--minus the cooking, cleaning and yardwork. We arrive on Saturday and somewhat ceremoniously remove the watch, turn off the cell phone and start relaxing. The biggest decision is whether to sail, swim, play tennis, golf or just sit and sip a gin & tonic. We don't even have to think about what time to eat because they ring the bell when let you know mealtime has arrived. Unlike the standard week at a cabin "up north" Mom does not spend the week cooking and cleaning up....three meals a day served in an airconditioned dining room. Kids go to "rec" activities twice daily giving Mom and Dad some time alone to do whatever. It takes years for them to realize that we are are off having fun while they are busy with pony rides, kickball or "fun in the sun." Older kids can safely hang around the resort, take a golf lesson, learn to waterski, sail and participate in a teen night with pizza across the lake. As far as mice--this is a lake cabin resort...there are fish in the lake water, loons floating around and a few mosquitos too.