Lincoln, Neb.(Oct. 10, 2025) — The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) presented its prestigious Golden Glow Organization Award to River Bend Resort and owners Paul and Brandi Johnson. The honor recognizes diverse and wide-reaching accomplishments in the field of outdoor communication.
The ceremony was part of the AGLOW annual conference, staged this year at the Metropolis Resort in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The Johnsons have a deep history and commitment to hospitality. Paul’s family owned and operated Johnson’s Lakeview Resort on Rush Lake between Perham and Ottertail, Minnesota, planting the seeds for customer service and knowledge of the hospitality industry. In 2000, Paul and Brandi married and by 2006, the pair were managing Whispering Pines Resort on Big Pine Lake. By 2010, they made their move to Lake of the Woods in far northern Minnesota, taking over management of Rainy River Resort. The life and business partner pair moved into ownership in 2012, realizing their dream of being owner-operators of River Bend Resort. A year later, they added the Walleye Inn hotel in Baudette, MN to their list of owned and managed properties.
Hospitality still means everything to the Johnsons. Their sons are now helping with the family business, and their famous Miles Lab Bar & Grill is lovingly named after their Labrador retriever, who passed away in 2021 and was a guest favorite.
Paul and Brandi’s enthusiasm for sharing wonderful experiences with visitors is seen and felt by guests. With the world-class fishing and hunting of Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River literally out their front door, this is the perfect environment for the Johnsons to make these experiences come true.
“The experience is important,” explains Paul Johnson. “We want people to have clean cabins, we want people to be greeted with a smile like they are family. They’re not just a number; they are our family. We want to know people by name, and we do remember our returning guests. You’re going to be comfortable, you’re going to be treated well, you’re going to eat delicious food, you’re going to have great drinks at the bar, you’ll see smiles on staff faces, and you’re going to spend time with the people you hold dear. Trips to Lake of the Woods are about making memories that last generations. It’s about living out those stories to pass down, creating the tradition of the trip, and having something to carry on through the years.”
Trent Marsh, AGLOW chairman of the board, presented the award to the couple. “From the moment that the Johnsons were a part of AGLOW,” Marsh said, “they have opened River Bend Resort and their hearts to our members. They have showcased a true ‘golden glow’ of hospitality to everyone who steps through their doors. In welcoming other hospitality and tourism members to AGLOW, hosting cast and blast media events at their beautiful location, and supporting media, conservation, tourism, and corporate members, they have crafted a legacy of exceptional service while building unforgettable memories.”
“Receiving the Golden Glow award is an honor for River Bend Resort,” Paul Johnson explained after accepting the award. “This recognition reflects our unwavering dedication to the AGLOW organization and our team’s hard work in crafting unforgettable experiences for our guests at Lake of the Woods, their home away from home.”
For more information about AGLOW and its many opportunities, visit http://aglowoutdoors.com/.
About AGLOW:
Founded in 1956, the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) is a dynamic organization of writers, editors, publishers, broadcasters, authors, lecturers, photographers, artists, electronic media specialists, outdoor industry representatives, and tourism professionals, working together to promote the conservation and responsible use of our outdoor resources. As individual outdoor communicators, we educate and inform the public through the written and spoken word. As an organization, we foster an unmatched fellowship among our members and provide amazing networking, educational and craft improvement opportunities.
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