Meet the Staff
Beth & Dan Schupp
- Current 4th Generation Owners and Operators
Some Fair Hills love stories start young, and Beth and Dan's goes way back! Beth grew up at Fair Hills as part of the Kaldahl family, while Dan spent his childhood summers vacationing here with his large family from Des Moines, Iowa. He was just eight years old on his first visit, and little did he know he'd eventually marry the resort owner's daughter! After graduating from Concordia College and spending time living in Duluth, Minneapolis, and Mason City, Iowa, Beth found her way back to Pelican Lake. Today, she and Dan are the owners and operators of Fair Hills, carrying on the family tradition of hospitality, fun, and just a little bit of organized chaos!
If there's something happening at Fair Hills, chances are Beth is right in the middle of it! Whether she's playing trombone in the marching band, singing her heart out at the Hootenanny, whipping up lattes, or making a splash in the annual staff belly flop contest, Beth is always game for a good time. She's never been one to sit on the sidelines, and her enthusiasm for all things Fair Hills is contagious!
Dan, on the other hand, is often found behind the scenes, tackling the never-ending list of projects that come with running a century-old resort. A retired radiologist, he's traded reading X-rays for troubleshooting plumbing, construction projects, and whatever else needs fixing—usually with his trusty sidekick, Millie, supervising. When he's not keeping things running at Fair Hills, Dan is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys biking above most else.
Together, Beth and Dan split their time between the famous Blue House at Fair Hills in the summer and Five Lakes Resort in the winter. From childhood playmates to resort owners, they've spent a lifetime making memories on the shores of Pelican Lake—and helping generations of families make their own. Around here, Fair Hills isn't just the family business. It's the family story!
The Schupp Family
For the Schupp family, Fair Hills has always been more than a resort—it's home! Beth and Dan raised six children—Emily, Charles (Charlie), Margaret, Marianna (Nan), Carolyn (Care), and Andrew (Andy)—who grew up surrounded by the people, traditions, and summer magic that make Fair Hills so special.
Today, the six have followed different paths, but Fair Hills remains a special part of their family story. The next generation is growing too, with 15 grandchildren carrying on the family tradition of summers at the lake. And, of course, there's Millie, the family's beloved Springer Spaniel!
Emily
Emily has made Fair Hills a big part of both her personal and professional life. As Fair Hills' Creative Director and General Manager of Wildflower Golf Course, she helps carry the family business into the next generation. Her husband, Patrick, is another familiar Fair Hills face! A former longtime employee, Pat can still be found playing drums at the Tuesday night Hootenanny or lending a hand when the Big Pelican goes in & out of the water. When he's not at Fair Hills, Pat farms with his family. Emily and Pat have three children, Willa, Ingrid, and Hugh.
Music is Emily's Fair Hills love language! Whether she's singing along at the Hootenanny, belting out a tune at Friday night dinner, grabbing the mic at karaoke, or enjoying the music at cocktail hour, she's happiest when there's a song to sing!
Charlie
Charlie spent many summers working at Fair Hills before pursuing a career as an entrepreneur in different ventures. Today, he lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Anna, a psychologist, and their five children: Winston, Eve, Harrison, Elle, and Soren. Although his career has taken him beyond the resort, Fair Hills remains an important part of his family's story and summer traditions.
Who remembers taking water ski lessons from Charlie and his cousin Ian? These two spent many summers teaching guests the ropes (literally!) on Pelican Lake. If you learned to ski at Fair Hills years ago, there's a good chance Charlie and Ian helped you get up on those skis!
Margaret
Margaret has taken her adventures west and now lives and works in California! While her day-to-day life is a long way from Pelican Lake, she'll always be part of the Fair Hills family.
For many summers, Margaret was Fair Hills' resident massage therapist, putting her talents to work helping guests achieve the ultimate vacation relaxation. After all, what's better than a little extra pampering during a week at the lake?
Nan
Marianna, better known as Nan, has deep Fair Hills roots of her own. Her husband, Jordan, comes from a family that has vacationed at Fair Hills for more than 30 years! A graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Nan previously lived in Chicago with her family before returning to Detroit Lakes. Now, Nan, Jordan, and their four children—James, Eli, Madeline, and Riley—can enjoy the shores of Pelican Lake much more often. Nan is also happy to pitch in around the resort whenever an extra set of hands is needed!
During her college summers, Nan was a familiar face behind the counter as one of our beloved "storegirls" (back when we could call them that!). Years of serving up ice cream and sweet treats taught her a thing or two, and she can still make a mean malt!
Care
Carolyn, known to family and friends as Care, has stayed close to her Detroit Lakes roots! A graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Care practices dentistry in nearby Perham. She and her husband, Max, a local dermatologist, live in Detroit Lakes with their three children—Mae, Etta, and David. The family visits Fair Hills often, and Care is always willing to jump in and help with the many odds and ends that come with running a family resort!
Like her sister Nan, Care spent many college summers as a Fair Hills "storegirl," keeping guests happy with ice cream, malts, and plenty of smiles. Don't let the dental career fool you—she still knows her way around a malt machine!
Andy
Andy has followed a path that combines his interest in healthcare with a love of music. After completing his physician assistant education in Duluth in 2024, he began his career as a PA in the Twin Cities. Andy married his longtime girlfriend, Cassidy, at Fair Hills on June 13, 2026. The two live in the Twin Cities with their dog, Como. Outside of work, Andy is an active musician who enjoys performing with his band.
Andy holds a very important piece of Fair Hills history: the ring toss record! In the summer of 2012, he and his pal Cody Jordan landed an impressive 211 consecutive ring tosses. A legendary accomplishment that has earned him a permanent place in Fair Hills bragging-rights history!
Millie
No Schupp family introduction would be complete without Mildred—better known as Millie! This friendly Springer Spaniel takes her resort responsibilities very seriously: Dan’s assistant in all tasks and goose chaser. If you see her around Fair Hills, she's always happy to say hello and get a belly rub!
Emily Schupp Meyers
- Creative Director
As the eldest of Beth and Dan's six kids, Emily has Fair Hills in her blood! Like all her siblings, she grew up spending summers at the resort, but after graduating from the University of St. Thomas and spending several years in the Twin Cities, she found her way back to Pelican Lake. These days, Emily wears a few hats as Fair Hills' Creative Director and Wildflower Golf Course's General Manager. From marketing and advertising to social media and all things golf, she helps keep the family businesses humming. If you follow Fair Hills online (and you should!), you've probably seen her handiwork!
Fair Hills is also where Emily met her husband, Patrick Meyers, a former staff member and longtime Pelican Lake local. The two married at Fair Hills in 2012 and now have three children—Willa, Ingrid, and Hugh—who are growing up with the same Fair Hills traditions Emily enjoyed. You'll often spot the kids at the Hootenanny, playing a round on one of the golf courses, or having fun around the resort.
If there's music playing somewhere at Fair Hills, chances are Emily isn't far away! She's never been one to pass up a good sing-along, whether it's a Friday night dinner classic, a Hootenanny favorite, or an enthusiastic round of karaoke. And while her days might be filled with marketing plans, golf course operations, and the occasional resort curveball, there's always time for a little singing. After all, what's a summer at Fair Hills without a soundtrack?
Lisa Kaldahl
- Project Overseer
If Fair Hills had a "knows how to do just about everything" award, Lisa would be a serious contender! The third child of Dave and Barb, Lisa grew up at the resort and knows its ins, outs, quirks, and inner workings better than just about anyone. Need someone to drive the Bobcat? Captain the Big Pelican? Haul out docks and boat lifts in the fall? Lisa's your gal! She's one of those invaluable behind-the-scenes people who knows where things are, how things work, and, most importantly, how to get the job done right. These days, you'll find her putting that same know-how and dedication to work in the kitchen as part of our fantastic culinary team. Fair Hills wouldn't be quite the same without her!
Steve Kaldahl
- Retired, Former Lawn Maintenance Manager
As the oldest of the Kaldahl kids, Steve has been part of Fair Hills since day one! He started "working" at the resort as a kid (though we're not sure how much actual work got done in those early years!) and over the decades has done just about everything imaginable. From pony rides and cooking (he even went to culinary school!) to operating equipment, maintaining the grounds, and keeping the resort looking its best, there's not much Steve hasn't tackled. Never one to shy away from an adventure, Steve was also Fair Hills' resident thrill-seeker, with a love for skiing and just about anything that got his adrenaline pumping. Now officially retired, Steve and his wife, Marilyn, live just a few miles from the resort. And if you're lucky enough to catch him reminiscing, you're in for a treat! Steve has a treasure trove of stories from Fair Hills in the 1970s and '80s, when the adventures were plentiful and the stories were just as good. After a lifetime of helping make Fair Hills what it is today, he's certainly earned his retirement!
Dave & Barb Kaldahl - In Memoriam
- 3rd Generation Owners
Dave spent his entire life at Fair Hills and saw thousands of staff members and guests come and go! His grandpa Ed bought Fair Hills in 1926. Chester, Dave’s father, ran the resort until Dave took it over. Dave loved music, especially singing. He was the “main guy” for all the Barbershop Quartets at the resort and could sing all four parts of all the songs! He could also play any of the saxophone parts in the band or sometimes the bass drum. Dave remembered cutting ice out of the lake in the winter to keep the food cold all summer and when the resort had its own ice cream factory and electric generator. Dave passed away in November 2020.
Barb was at Fair Hills for 65 years. She, like Dave, was a Concordia Cobber. She did almost every job at the resort, including recreation, but is now famous for the 7:00 a.m. walk and “Bobbin’ with Barb” water aerobics. She was best critic of the Hoots (because she had seen so many) and was at almost every talent show cheering everyone on. Barb passed away in June 2019.
Dave & Barb had four children; Steve, Beth, Lisa and Dan.
Sharal Bradbury
- Head Chef
If you've enjoyed a delicious meal recently at Fair Hills, chances are Sharal has had a hand in making it happen! A longtime member of our culinary crew, Sharal first joined the Fair Hills family in 2015 in the bakery before returning as our Head Chef. These days, she's a familiar face in the kitchen each summer, helping keep our guests well-fed and our culinary team running smoothly. When she's not cooking up something wonderful at Fair Hills, Sharal enjoys life in nearby Vergas, where she and her husband live on his family's homestead. Fun fact: the family roots run so deep that even the lake bears their name—Bradbury Lake! Sharal has two sons, one of whom has also spent a summer working at Fair Hills. Around here, keeping things in the family is practically a tradition!
Caitlin Norby
- General Manager
Some people come to Fair Hills for a vacation and never quite leave. Caitlin is one of them! A Fair Hills guest since 1986, she traded her vacation days for a storegirl uniform in 2004 and has been part of the team ever since. Originally from Mt. Prospect, Illinois, Caitlin graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in finance, but it turns out her true calling was back on the shores of Pelican Lake! Over the years, she's worn plenty of hats around the resort and now serves as Fair Hills' General Manager, keeping the front office, reservations, and all the moving pieces of resort life running smoothly (or at least as smoothly as a busy summer allows!).
Fair Hills is also where Caitlin met her wife, Gretchen, and the two married at the resort in 2013. Today, they're raising two sets of twins—Jack and Miles, and Rory and Finn—along with their two dogs at their home on nearby Hook Lake. From childhood vacations to summer jobs, a Fair Hills wedding, and now raising the next generation of lake-loving kids, Caitlin's story has come full circle. And she wouldn't have it any other way!
Gladys Hovland
- Reservations and Piano Teacher
If there's a piano playing at Fair Hills, chances are Gladys is behind the keys! A beloved member of our team for over two decades, Gladys wears many hats around the resort. While you'll most often find her helping guests with reservations, she's always happy to jump in wherever an extra hand is needed. A retired music teacher from Pelican Rapids High School, Gladys puts her musical talents to good use as our resident accompanist. From helping budding musicians find their rhythm to tickling the ivories for the weekly Hootenanny, she does it all with a smile! Fair Hills is a family affair for Gladys as well—her son, Nick, taught water skiing, and her daughter, Ali, spent many summers working at the resort. These days, Gladys calls the Wildflower Golf Course neighborhood home and loves spending time with her four grandchildren, Zoe, Addyson, Jaxon, and Winnie. We're lucky to have her keeping both our reservations and our musical traditions in tune!
Liz Poppenhagen
- Groups Director, Lobby Manager & Big Pelican Coordinator
Talk about jumping in with both feet! Liz first joined the Fair Hills family as a Front Desk intern in 2019 and returned as a full-time team member in the spring of 2020—just in time for the world to turn upside down! Thankfully, a global pandemic didn't scare her away, and she's been helping keep Fair Hills running smoothly ever since. Originally from Sunburg, Minnesota, Liz graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stout with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management. These days, she wears plenty of hats, from coordinating groups and special events to managing our bustling lobby and keeping the Big Pelican cruising. Whether you're planning a gathering or just stopping by the front desk, Liz is one of the friendly faces making sure everything comes together. And when she's not juggling the many moving pieces of resort life, you might find her showing off her musical side at the Hootenanny! Liz married Evan in 2025, adding another happy milestone to her Fair Hills years. With a knack for organizing, a love of music, and a willingness to tackle just about anything, Liz is an important part of what makes Fair Hills tick!
Amber Wright
- Events Director
Sometimes trying something new leads you somewhere pretty special—just ask Amber! Originally from North Branch, Minnesota, Amber found her way to Fair Hills as an events intern in the summer of 2026, and we liked her so much we convinced her to stay! A graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Horticulture (she really loves her flowers!), Amber brings a fresh perspective and a calm, confident presence to everything she does. These days, she's our Events Director, working alongside Liz to bring weddings, celebrations, and gatherings of all kinds to life. With a knack for keeping her cool when things get hectic, Amber is just the kind of person you want behind the scenes when a big event is coming together. But don't let her quiet demeanor fool you—she's just as comfortable stepping onto the Hootenanny stage as she is coordinating an event! Whether she's managing the details, entertaining a crowd, or admiring a beautiful floral arrangement, Amber is a wonderful addition to the Fair Hills family!
Tanner McBain
- Human Resources Director & Bar Manager
Is there anything Tanner hasn't done at Fair Hills? We're still trying to figure that out! After spending the summers of 2018, 2019 & 2020 working at the resort, Tanner returned in 2021 as our Human Resources Director and Bar Manager, and he's been wearing just about every hat imaginable ever since. Originally from Moorhead, Minnesota, and a graduate of Concordia College, Tanner now spends his days recruiting staff from around the world, keeping The Perch and our event bars running smoothly, and tackling whatever else the resort throws his way. Need someone to captain the Big Pelican? Tanner's your guy. Pick up a vanload of international staff at the airport, trailer in tow? He's got it covered. And if you catch him at the Hootenanny, you might even hear him belt out a solo—though he'll probably need a little convincing first! From behind the bar to behind the wheel (and occasionally behind a microphone), Tanner is one of those people who helps keep the Fair Hills magic happening, one adventure at a time!
Cece Wallace
- Dining Room & Bar Manager
Some people are practically born into the Fair Hills family, and Cece is one of them! A proud fifth-generation guest, Cece has been spending summers at Fair Hills with her extended family since she was a toddler. In 2024, she traded her guest hat for a staff shirt, and there's been no looking back! From leading our youngest campers as the 4–8 Rec Director to learning the ropes of special events and managing The Perch, Cece has experienced Fair Hills from just about every angle. Originally from Eagan, Minnesota, Cece is a student at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, where she'll graduate in May 2027 with a degree in Hospitality Management. She's turning a lifetime of Fair Hills memories into a career as our Dining Room and Bar Manager, bringing a guest's perspective and a whole lot of enthusiasm to the job. And if you can't find her in the dining room or behind the bar, check the Hootenanny stage! Cece also helps coordinate and direct the show, proving that sometimes the kids who grow up watching the Fair Hills magic end up helping create it for the next generation!
James Anderson
- Construction Mastermind
Meet James, our resident construction mastermind and the man behind many of Fair Hills' beautiful cabin transformations! Although he's been part of our team since 2017, James has been a neighbor for much longer—he lives just down the road (you may even recognize his old business sign!). For years, Barb invited him to the Hootenanny, but would you believe it took until 2023 for him to finally attend? Talk about a lot of wasted invitations! Ironically, James is quite the musician himself. While we haven't convinced him to join the Hootenanny cast (yet!), he hosted weekly open mic nights in the summer of 2026, treating lucky audiences to a little guitar playing and crooning. When he's not making music or enjoying the great outdoors as an avid hunter, James is busy working his magic on our buildings. A phenomenal carpenter with an incredible eye for detail, he's transformed countless cabins into beautiful, functional updated spaces. Of course, renovating buildings that have been around for generations comes with a few surprises! Ask James about some of the things he's discovered—or hasn't discovered—behind the walls of Fair Hills. Let's just say he's got stories, and not all of them would make a building inspector smile!
Josh Oellien
- Construction Mastermind
Every construction mastermind needs a partner in crime, and for James, that's Josh! Although Josh officially joined the Fair Hills crew in 2023, these two were tackling projects together long before either one set foot on the resort payroll. A phenomenal carpenter in his own right, Josh is the yin to James' yang, and together there's not much they can't build, fix, remodel, or figure out. Seriously, we put that theory to the test on a regular basis! When he's not busy bringing new life to our cabins and buildings, Josh is an avid hunter, a member of the National Guard, and a Detroit Lakes resident. But perhaps his greatest Fair Hills passion? Cord management. Yes, really! If there's a loose cord dangling, tangled, or running somewhere it shouldn't, Josh is on a mission to get it neatly routed and tacked down. With more than a century of buildings and wiring to contend with, it's a labor of love that may never truly end. But year after year, he's making progress, one perfectly secured cord at a time!
Pete the Pelican and Friends
- Fair Hills Resort Official Pelican
Every resort needs a celebrity, and at Fair Hills, ours just happens to have feathers! While real pelican sightings on Pelican Lake are few and far between these days, our very own Pete the Pelican is a year-round legend. You might spot this famous flock making an appearance at the Ice Cream Social, showing off their moves at the Hootenanny, or surprising guests in the dining room. But Pete's favorite place to strut his stuff? The Fair Hills parade, of course, where he and his good friends are always crowd favorites! Wherever Pete goes, a swarm of excited kids is sure to follow, offering hugs, high-fives, and the occasional suspicious investigation into who's really under those feathers. And to those young detectives, we have just one thing to say: Pete is a REAL pelican, thank you very much! Any rumors about a staff member hiding inside are completely unfounded. Pete would like to put that matter to rest once and for all!
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- Fair Hills Resort Official Pelican
Even though the lake is called Pelican Lake, nowadays there aren’t too many pelicans that show up. On occasions there are some that fly through.The only resident pelicans we have are Pete the Pelican and his friends Penelope, Percy, Pepe and Pierre. They can be seen at the ice cream social, in the Hootenanny,and, on occasions, in the dining room. Most often you will see them in the Fair Hills parade with their friend, the dancing elephant. Pete is usually surrounded by a flock of hugging children who are trying to see which staff member might really be inside. (News to you kids: Pete is a REAL pelican and NO staff member is inside!!!) skjlsadjalskjalalaksljda aslkdasjdlasdsakdasl
