Lake Chippewa Flowage Vacation

Pictured is Billy DeBrot’s first of three resorts that he owned and operated… this one, more than a century ago. Likely built during the Teens and situated up on a high ridge of land which the West Fork of the Chippewa River bent around, DeBrot’s Pahquahwong Camp, as it was called, was located about a half mile northeast of the Trading Post (or Old Post as we refer to it today). Coming in via the railroad, Billy’s guests would be picked up by wagon and brought to the Trading Post. From there, they would have to take a short boat ride across the river to reach their accommodations. DeBrot’s sturdy, spacious log cabins even had roomy screened in porches and they ended up attracting a number of notable guests to try their hand at fishing.

Once the Flowage was formed in 1923, DeBrot’s Camp was left isolated on the high ground of what became a large island. Because he felt the $500 that he was offered for being flooded out was not satisfactory, Billy asked the BIA to help get him a better deal but they refused to help. However, one of Billy’s former regular guests of his resort, an attorney, helped him out and was able to get him much better compensation. Billy went on to built two more resorts on the new Chippewa Flowage.

Special photo credit goes to the late Phyllis DeBrot.