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Barney's Ball Lake Lodge

• Jan 1, 2010
• Posted By: By Ed Zaruk
• Tags: none

 Barney and Marion Lamm flew into Canada in June of 1946 on a flight that would see them eventually build and operate the most prestigious fly-in fishing lodge in Northwestern Ontario. Barney's Ball Lake Lodge&ampampampampampnbspbecame the destination for America's elite, from movie stars to Mafia bosses, and all manner of politicians and businessmen in between.

Situated on Ball Lake, some 50 miles north of Kenora, Ontario, it was accessible only by air. In 1952 Barney bought out Gordie Hollinsworth, one of the principles of Ontario Central Airlines. Soon a fleet of yellow Norseman aircraft were ferrying guests and supplies not only to Ball Lake but also to many of the other fly-in lodges that were springing up throughout the English River system. Later he would add two Grumman Gooses and a Canso to the fleet to bring guest directly from the States to Ball Lake.

 

Tiffany lamps and brand new Evinrude outboard engines set the standard both&ampampnbspMarion and Barney wanted for their guests. A well stocked bar in the main lodge served drinks that could be enjoyed in front of a huge stone fireplace after&nbspa day's fishing. Guides from the local Indian reservations made sure their clients never came home empty handed. At night, all the boats would be pulled up on shore and lined up to make a picture perfect row along the beach. One of Barney's rules was that if a guest got his guide drunk, then he was assigned to him the next day. For all the booze the lodge went through, air plane loads of it, there were very few problems.

 

It was not uncommon to see the dock filled with airplanes and some pulled up on the beach overnight to be at Barney's beck and call the next morning in setting out his guests at small fishing lakes throughout the district. Ball Lake Lodge offered all the comforts of the big city, without the ever-growing hassle. Electric power and flush toilets were in each cabin. When a new guest arrived, a bottle of Crown Royal was placed in each room. Before this, Marion would often walk through after the cleaning girls and rub a finger along the mantle or shelves to check for dust.

 

A guest had only to set his fishing gear outside the door before going to breakfast in the main dining room. He would find it in the boat, along with his guide at the start of the day's fishing. Trophy fish were sent to the taxidermist and any fish the guest wanted to keep were filleted and packed in dry ice before being flown toKenora and sent on by express to their destinations across the continent.

 

Barney helped others get started in the tourist industry and was responsible for much of the publicity that gave Kenora, Ontario the reputation of being a fisherman's paradise. As a result, the Second Street dock on Kenora's water front became one of the busiest float planes bases in Canada.

Comments

1. Andrea Worden (Zaruk) wrote:
   Apr 3, 2010 at 12:27 PM
   although I do not know Barney, his adventures brought back memories of living in Churchill with my father. He would take me out on the float plane on occasion, a great adventure for me. I would love seeing the polar bears gazing up at us as we flew by. I remember having to wear head netting to keep away the rather large and numerous mosquitoes as we headed to the plane. I must confess I was a bit saddened as I read about "the hunt." I could only think about the bear and the fear he must have experienced as he was heared to his place of doom. sigh....always for the critters I am. I am still so happy my sister found you cousin. Thanks for the writing tips too! perhaps I will attempt writing again one of these days. hugs from the beach