Here at Handberg’s, we are pleased to offer you products and services that go back in our family four generations and date back to 1926. In fact, generation number five is in the early training years. Since the 1920s we have been serving fishermen, vacationers, visitors, and residents of the Crane Lake area.

In about 1913, my great grandfather, John G. “Jack” Handberg (Ruby), came to Crane Lake in the employ of the United States Forest Service as a ranger. He was stationed here for about 10 years until parting company with them around 1923. He then started Handberg’s Northwoods Lodge. In 1926 he became a dealer for Johnson Outboard Motors, mainly to have motors for the lodge. His son, John G. “Gil” Handberg (Edna), carried on and got more into boat and motor sales and service. In 1969 Gil and Edna’s daughter, Shirley, and husband Jim Sanborn took over and started building the marina along with some of the storage operations you see today.