Disabled Veterans Recreation, Inc. was founded on March 17, 1982. The first day of operation was May 13, 1983, with a grand opening celebration and the 1983 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener.
That year the resort was host to its first large group of veterans from the St. Cloud VA Medical Center. Since then, veterans and their guest form 34 states have enjoyed the resort including groups from the Minnesota State Veterans Homes in Minneapolis, Hasting and Fergus Falls and the VA Medical centers from both St. Cloud MN and Iowa City, IA. Also included is the Duluth Vets Clinic from Duluth MN.
In May of 2005, the Secretary of State gave official notification of the name change for the resort; the organization would from then on be known as Veterans on the Lake Resort. In 2005, the user population represented: 81% Disabled Veterans, 1% Disabled General Public, @% Active Duty Military, &% Able-Bodied Veterans, 8% Group Use and 1% Walk-Ins. Also during this year, cabins were made available for winter use, allowing the resort to be a year-round facility for the first time.
Veterans on the Lake Resort (VOTLR) is located on the wooded shores of Fall Lake, three miles east of Ely, on HWY 169, (Fernberg Road, commonly referred to as “The end of the road”). The resort has 2,700 feet of beautiful shore line on 24.99 acres situated on superior National Forest land. VOTLR is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides barrier-free recreational opportunities to disabled military veterans and their families.