Our Roots: A Brief History of Cedar Bay
The Cedar Bay Recreation Complex began in the 1970s as the vision of town recreation director Howard Lockhart , who chose the shoreline of Pelican Lake to create a wilderness retreat within walking distance of town. Local log builder Tom Belmore led a crew of young men to construct the main lodge using traditional, machinery-free techniques. Following the lodge's completion, smaller structures like the Kozy and Hoey cabins were built by locals Ron Capar, Kai Koivukoski, and Larry Hoey. Maintained by the "Friends of Cedar Bay" since 2002 , these historic cabins continue to serve the community today as a vibrant hub for water festivals, Saturday winter warm-ups, and scenic trail walking
Work Crew. Left to right back row: David McKay, Tom Terry, Ian Montgomery, R. Otto, Tom
Maxwhinney. Front Row: Leo Rivers, Ron Capar, Tom Belmore (Photo courtesy of Ron
Capar)
Access & Hours
Activities
Beach & Shore
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Sand beach for wading and swimming (unsupervised).
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Picnic and relax near the cabins and play field.
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Winter Cozy Cabin Saturdays (seasonal, weather‑dependent).
Nature & Trails
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Seasonal guided walks (e.g., Wildflower Walks).
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Geocaching on the Cedar Bay Geocache Trail (stay on trails).
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Connect to the multi‑use network for hiking, running, or skiing in winter.
Safety & Stewardship
Water & Winter
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Beach is unsupervised — swim with care and keep children within arm’s reach.
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Winter lake ice conditions vary; travel only if you have local knowledge and proper safety gear.
Respect the Shore
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Pack out all garbage; use paths to prevent erosion and protect vegetation.
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Wildlife lives here — observe from a distance; do not feed animals.