History
1949
The story behind Pond View Lodge begins in 1920, when Edward and Agnes Ditlefsen were married and settled in Frederic, Wisconsin. They purchased six cows and 60 acres of wooded and rolling farmland. Eddie and Agnes raised their family on the farm as it grew from 60 to 160 acres. In 1949, using hardwood lumber off the land, the Ditlefsen’s and a community of helpers built the Scandinavian style barn that is now Pond View Lodge. In 1967 they sold their dairy operation to their son Harvey. He remained on the family farm and raised beef cattle and crops until 1994 when he moved into a nursing home.
2007
In 1996 Dave and Gale Paulsen, whose friendship with the family went back two generations, bought the farm. They spent more than a decade restoring the home, pole barns and other features of the property. In 2007 they decided to tackle the 4,500-square-foot barn, creating the comfortable and peaceful treasure it is today.
Looking to spend more time with family and grandchildren, Dave and Gale made the difficult decision to sell the farm. In September of 2014, they sold their farm and Pond View Lodge to the Jenny family. With their daughters off to college, it was time for Tom and Ann to fulfill their dream of moving to the country. They're enjoying life at Pond View Lodge as they greet the many annual guests, welcome new ones, and tend to the menagerie of acquired farm friends.
Present
Beautiful and rustic, the lodge features all the modern-day amenities which include a complete kitchen, large dining room, double-sided stone fireplace, comfortable great room, wi-fi, a quiet reading room, and two full bathrooms. The lodge comfortably sleeps thirteen. With all the modern amenities, the lodge still maintains the serenity of the peaceful, quiet countryside. The large windows provide views of farmyard friends, still waters of a pond, acres of woodland, rolling hills, and spectacular sunsets.