Welcome Back To The Land Of Woods And Water
10 Days of Vintage boating in Minnesota!

The Land-O-Lakes Classic Boat Club chapter of ACBS is proud to extend our most heartfelt welcome. We've planned an action-packed opportunity to experience the best vintage boating and the best of Minnesota. 

Woods and Water II is hosted by the Land-O-Lakes Classic Boat Club, one of the premier chapters of the Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS), the international organization supporting the 54 individual chapters around the world. Each year, ACBS produces “Vintage Boat Week,” in a unique boating location. Past events have taken place in vintage boating havens such as Lake Tahoe, Thousand Islands NY, Port Huron, MI, Bay Harbor, MI, and, in 2015, Gull Lake, MN. People enjoyed the Minnesota hospitality, events, and venues so much, we had to do it again!
 
The ACBS International Boat Show consistently draws some of the top vintage boats in the world. The opportunity to see over 100 of the finest boats on the planet assembled in one place will make this an extraordinary show!  We look forward to seeing you on the docks this September!

Things Get rolling in the Twin cities
Real Runabouts Rendezvous - September 6-7

The fun starts with our annual Real Runabouts Rendezvous on Lake Minnetonka, located approximately 30 minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. Minnetonka is a large, storied lake at the center of the evolution of recreational boats and boating since the mid-1800’s. There’s plenty to see, including historic homes and boathouses. 

On Friday September 6, 2024, owners Jay and Jenna Soule welcome us aboard one of their fleet of Al & Alma’s excursion yachts for a cruise on Lake Minnetonka from 11 am to 2 pm, including a presentation by Melinda Nelson, the author of “The Boathouses of Lake Minnetonka” book, as we cruise by many of the historic boathouses.

Friday evening, we’ll gather at Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge (also the location of the boat show the next day) for a Captain’s Dinner, featuring their famous walleye. The boat show takes place in the protected harbor at Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, September 7. If you wish to launch your boat Friday, you will be able to dock it overnight at Lord Fletcher’s.

After the show on Saturday, we’ll load boats for the trip to the Gull Lake, MN area, approximately 2 ½ hours north of Minneapolis/St Paul. We have reserved Sunday, September 8 as a travel day, providing the option of departing for Gull Lake Saturday evening after the Lake Minnetonka show, or for making a leisurely trip to Gull Lake the following day.

Woods & Water II Pre-Events
September 9-12

The Gull Lake area events begin Sunday evening with a pre-events Welcome Reception at the Bar Harbor Supper Club, which is the hub of the 2024 Vintage Boat Week activities and waterfront location of the International Boat Show. You’ll be able to make your own individual Sunday evening dinner reservations at Bar Harbor by contacting them directly, more information to follow. 

​Monday morning, September 9, 2024, we will travel to the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, half an hour north of Gull Lake, for the pre-events. We’ll launch at the MarineMax dealership in Crosslake, MN and trailer parking will be available on site. Our host venue, Moonlite Bay Restaurant & Bar on Cross Lake is just a short boat ride from the launch, and will be our host for the pre-event activities, where we will dock the boats Monday, overnight Monday, and Tuesday. Once you launch Monday morning, your boat can stay in the water for the duration of the pre-event activities, through their completion Tuesday afternoon. We’ll follow different cruise routes on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes morning and afternoon, meeting back at Moonlite Bay for lunch both days. Cruises will depart Moonlite Bay at 10 am and 1 pm, returning to Moonlite Bay at 3 pm.

Later Tuesday afternoon September 10, 2024, we’ll load up at Whitefish and head back to Gull Lake, where we can launch at the boat landing just down the road from Bar Harbor Supper Club, navigate the short distance to Bar Harbor, and tie up at Bar Harbor’s docks for the duration of Vintage Boat Week 2024. Alternatively, you’ll be welcome to wait until Wednesday morning to launch at that same Bar Harbor-adjacent landing. Trailer parking for the duration of the International Show is nearby, and we’ll have friendly, helpful Land-O-Lakes Chapter members at the landings and parking to assist. Tuesday evening, Zorbaz On The Lake, just down the road from Bar Harbor, will host us for a casual dinner buffet, featuring their gourmet pizza and Mexican food specialties and a cash bar.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024, we’ll have morning and afternoon boat cruises departing from Bar Harbor Supper Club, as well as a slate of interesting seminars. Wednesday evening from 5 pm to 9 pm, John and Becky Allen welcome us to Fort Mahogany, the campus right down the road from Bar Harbor Supper Club, where we’ll enjoy a Minnesota barbeque among the Allen family’s extensive boat and automobile collection. Bus transportation from Madden’s Resort on Gull Lake and other locations will be provided. Don’t miss this event!

​Also on Wednesday: There will also be an off-site excursion to Legacy of the Lakes Museum in Alexandria, MN. Buses will leave Madden’s Resort at 9:30 am for the hour and a half trip to Alexandria, where we’ll see the wonderful collections of boat and lake life memorabilia at the museum. Noted vintage boat historian Lee Wangstad will present the history of the Larson (Falls-Flyer) Boat Company, and lunch will be served. The buses will return us to Madden’s Resort by 4 pm

On Thursday, September 12, 2024, ACBS Chapter Roundtable meetings take place 8 am to 9:30 am, as well as the annual ACBS Meeting from 10 am to 2 pm at Madden’s Resort.

The Brainerd Ski Loons water ski show starts at 5:30 pm on the Madden’s Resort waterfront. This entertaining performance will include heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, and you’ll be able to watch the precision skiing and stunts from the beach, or the comfort of the deck of the Wilson Bay Lodge overlooking the beach.

ACBS International Boat Show
​September 13-14

he International Boat Show begins on Friday! Walk the docks at Bar Harbor Supper Club from 9am to 4pm, (respectfully) watch the judges do their work, enjoy lunch on the patio overlooking the docks, and stroll the vendor displays. Friday evening 6 pm to 10 pm, the annual ACBS Fundraising event will take place at Lee and Penny Anderson’s Classic Boat Museum adjacent to their estate on nearby Lake Nisswa. Like the Louvre or Versailles, their collection cannot be described or explained, it must be experienced! Food and beverage are included. This is an event not to be missed, and the entire ticket price directly benefits ACBS fundraising. Roundtrip bus transport to the Anderson estate from Madden’s and other locations will be provided.

Saturday, September 14, 2024, the Awards Breakfast will take place at Madden’s, while the boat show continues 9 am to 3 pm at Bar Harbor Supper Club. Boat owners are invited to leave their boats at the docks overnight until Sunday, to alleviate boat ramp bottlenecks Saturday. The Awards Banquet reception at Madden’s begins at 5 pm, and dinner will be served 6 pm to 9 pm Saturday evening.

We’re looking forward to seeing you here in Minnesota!