Breezy Point Resort celebrating 100th anniversary Spizzos mark 40 years of ownership BY NANCY VOGT
Breezy Point Resort on Pelican Lake celebrates not one but two milestones this year - its 100th anniversary as a resort and the 40th year of ownership by the Bob and Kay Spizzo family. “The amazing thing is when I look at the size of the big pine trees in the parking lot. I planted them,” Bob Spizzo said while reminiscing in the resort’s coffee shop. Those 4-foot tall trees he planted now soar 40 feet into the sky. And that coffee shop is just one of countless amenities that weren’t even ideas when Spizzo first came to Breezy Point Resort. He arrived from Colorado in 1977, saying he’d stay for three years to turn around Whitebirch Inc, the parent company of Breezy Point Resort. “And here it’s 40 years later and I’m still here,” he said with a smile. Spizzo started with several partners who over “I think Captain Billy the years sold their shares would turn over in to his family. his grave if he saw Like most other area resorts, Breezy Point Resort all the changes over was once a seasonal resort the years.” that closed for the winter. Besides adding golf courses, Bob Spizzo, restaurants, a recreation Breezy Point Resort owner facility, the coffee shop and a spa, Spizzo said a big change came when the resort got into hockey. “It’s the only resort I know of with a hockey arena,” he said, noting that amenity helps fill up the resort’s housing units in the winter. During the summer, the resort is hopping with tourists, weddings, conventions and those who enjoy the resort’s three golf courses and Pelican Lake. Despite the resort’s success and growth over the years, Spizzo remains most proud of his staff’s hospitality. “We now have the third generation of employees whose grandparents worked for us,” he said. “That is a warm feeling when I see kids who are here now and their grandmother or grandfather worked for us.” Staff members are friendly and make people feel welcome. “We hire people that have a great attitude,” Spizzo said. “We can train them, but they have to have the right personality.” Breezy Point Resort also has managers who have been employed there for more than 30 years, including Dave Gravdahl, who started as a golf caddy more than 60 years ago and has been general manager for 40 years; and Joyce Bzoskie, president of Whitebirch Inc., the resort’s parent company that 24 | 2021 LOVE OF THE LAKES
