When we were planning for our time in Minnesota we quickly noticed that the boondocking was not as prevalent as we had experienced thus far in the west. I didn’t want this to stop us from entering the state however, as we had a long overdue visit with my childhood pen pal and this was the birth state of my paternal grandparents. Many of my grandfathers siblings families were still in the state and when Joyce and Jim messaged that we could moochdock at their house we jumped at the opportunity.

Joyce is my second cousin and we had connected through the magic that is Facebook. Fellow RVers, Joyce and Jim’s message stated that we could park at their house and that they were staying at their lake house just 90 seconds away. Not quite understanding what that meant we rolled up to their beautiful home and land on Solitude way. After showing us around and getting parked they said “Now get on your bathing suits and lets go for a swim at the lake house.”

Joyce and Jim hop in their Jeep and we follow behind in our little toad. We pull out of Solitude way and stop at the highway then watch as the blue Jeep crosses the two lane highway and into a driveway directly across the street from the road to their home. Hmm, they weren’t kidding when they said 90 seconds away. We pass a sign that read Pelican Sands and pull into a little neighborhood of trailer like homes each set on it’s own little plot with patios filled with planters of flowers and outdoor furniture.

We take a quick tour of the tiny home before weaving our way through the patios to the lake front. Here we find a private sandy beach, a boat dock with slips all filled with boats, and a vast lake ahead of us. We slip into the cool water of Pelican Lake washing away the dust and humid stickiness of the Minnesota summer. Afterwards we grab some drinks and then head back to the lake front to watch the sun set over the lake.

Neighbors walk by and stop for a quick chat, some pulling up chairs of their own and joining us for mother natures show. Everyone is friendly and relaxed and Joyce gives us the low down on who’s who. It was unlike any neighborhood I have ever been in. The tiny homes are in close quarters and everyone seems to know everyone else’s business but they respect each others privacy and seem to go out of their way to help each other out.

Jim explains to us that they have been coming to this spot for nearly 30 years and that it used to be an RV park. Fascinated by this close knit little community I get the scoop on it’s history by neighbors Brian and Ruthie who were quick to befriend us and share their little piece of the world. Brian’s folks also had a home at the Sands and had been long time vacationers here. They even did a write up on it’s history which was right up my alley.

I like to wonder about and discover why and how places like this come to be especially when they have such a feel good vibe as this place does. Ruthie went and pulled out the dusty picture boards made by her mother in law and shared the history of this unique little piece of heaven. Turns out that Pelican Sands has long been a vacation destination and a place of enjoyment for generations.

Now split into two separate plots this stretch of land was once called the Velvet Beach Resort. There were cabins and a lodge built by Mike Miller who owned the land in 1914. It was Marian and Marvin Hart, however, who bought the plot of land in 1950 for $25,000 with the idea of turning it into an RV Park. They begin to remove the cabins and plant some trees. They sell the southern portion of the tract and then open Hart’s RV Park on the remaining plot.
This well loved little campground had people returning year after year to enjoy it’s pristine beach and cool clear waters. The peoples love for this land made for a community. Familiar faces each summer, kids running from trailer to trailer, families gathering for barbecues. This was home away from home. So in 2003 when the Hart family decided it was time to sell a group of campers decided to make it their own.

The Pelican Sands Cooperative Association came together to keep their summer time community together. 10 couples pitched in to buy this piece of land and the community we see today was born. There were Fourth of July Parades and potluck dinners and the trailers gave way to more permanent yet still affordable tiny homes. Now 15 years later most of the original 10 are still here and the spirit that they created lives on.

It’s the places like Pelican Sands that we find on our journey that make our adventure special. We get to meet amazing people who want to share their little pieces of heaven with us. It is exactly what we wanted when we set out on the road. To met our fellow Americans from all walks of life and to find the good despite our differences. The people at Pelican Sands went a step beyond and welcomed us in with open arms. We swam and boated, ate amazing food, and shared life stories and when we left our hearts were full and our experience enriched by souls of truly good people.