Lake Area Docks & Lifts

Lake Area Docks & Lifts is owned operated by Donavan and Renae Rasmusson and two employee-owners, Jim Gjere and Tim Hoglin. The Lake Area Docks & Lifts Brand grew from humble beginnings, to be recognized as one of the best and most experienced Waterfront Equipment dealerships in the industry. With five locations throughout the heart of Minnesota's lakes country, and a dedicated, hardworking, and highly experienced team, Lake Area Docks & Lifts is more than just your neighbors at the lake, we are the professionals your family can trust to be there for you at the lake. 

The Rasmusson Family

The Story of Lake Area Docks & Lifts
Donavan Rasmusson started working for ShoreMaster in Fergus Falls in 1985. Donavan’s job positions included starting as a welder, he was then promoted to plant manager, and then finally he took the opportunity to be ShoreMaster’s Southwest Regional Sales Manager from 1992-1994.
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During that time, Donavan and his wife, Renae lived in the Dallas, TX area. In 1993 their son, Jordan Rasmusson was born. Donavan and Renae sometimes traveled the southwest states together as Donavan pursued new business and dealer growth for ShoreMaster. 

ShoreMaster's First Local Dealership
When a position for the Midwest Regional Sales Manager opened up at ShoreMaster in 1994, Donavan was transferred back to the company headquarters in Fergus Falls, MN. At the time, ShoreMaster did not have a viable dealer in the local market, but needed some brand representation considering ShoreMaster was headquartered in the heart of Otter Tail County’s lakes area. Donavan was able to set up and train his brother, Jeff, to start Lake Area Docks & Lifts in order fill that local dealer need. The very first Lake Area Docks & Lifts establishment was located in a ditch along highway 59 near Pelican Rapids that belonged to their uncle. 
 
With ShoreMaster boat lifts and docks on display in the ditch along highway 59 near Pelican Rapids the ShoreMaster and Lake Area Docks & Lifts brands began to take shape and grow in the local market. Due to that growth, Donavan and Jeff invested in some land north of the Pelican Rapids city limits, and built the first Lake Area Docks & Lifts store in 1995.  

Both Donavan and Jeff worked at the store during the summer months, and then during the off-season they worked for ShoreMaster as Regional Sales Managers. Donavan’s wife, Renae, trained herself to do the accounting duties, as well as began setting up the systems to allow her to manage the administrative and management side of their new growing business. That same year, another new addition to the family was born, a baby girl, Brianna, arrived to Donavan and Renae.

LA Docks Aluminum Frame Dock System is Born  
As the Waterfront Equipment Industry began to grow, smaller manufacturer’s began to emerge to compete against the major industry manufacturers like ShoreMaster. To compete with these smaller dock manufacturers, that built a less expensive product, Donavan started welding docks in a shop on the home property after store hours in 1996. These docks are branded as LA Docks, and are sold to retail customers. 
 
In 1998, Donavan resigned from ShoreMaster in order to focus full-time on the business at Lake Area Docks & Lifts. His vision was to expand and grow the operation through strong sales of ShoreMaster Docks, Boat Lifts, and Accessories, and a focus on just docks and lifts.
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Battle Lake Store 
In 2000, Donavan and Renae opened the Lake Area Docks & Lifts store in Battle Lake, right off of Hwy 210 West. Dale Graff currently manages that store location and has extensive industry experience including 9 years in sales with ShoreMaster. 

Fergus Falls Store 
Donavan also hired Jim Gjere to help in the Fergus Falls Location and act as Operations Manager. Jim is an employee-owner of Lake Area Docks and Lifts and handles everything from sales and service calls to managing the operation and installs. 

Pelican Rapids Store 
In looking to spend more time in the Fergus Falls store, Donavan hired Kurt Welch to manage the original Lake Area Docks & Lifts store in Pelican Rapids. Kurt Welch spent 17 years in sales and marketing with ShoreMaster, managing and growing multiple brands including PolyDock, and Rhino Marine systems before joining the Rasmusson family at Lake Area Docks & Lifts. 

Brainerd and Cross Lake Stores 
Lake Area Docks & Lifts also operates two stores in the Brainerd and Cross Lakes Area. Tim Hoglin is an employee-owner and works as the Operations Manager while also handling sales and service calls, as well as managing installations. 

Cross Lake Store 
Jim Einarson is the store Manager at Lake Area Docks & Lifts Cross Lake. Jim has extensive sales and management experience after spending much of his career in management at Mills Fleet Farm. 

Brainerd Store 
Tim Hoglin is the store Manager at Lake Area Docks & Lifts Brainerd. Tim has extensive sales and management, and waterfront equipment knowledge and is an expert in waterfront equipment installation and product features. 

​Donavan Rasmusson has 28+ years of experience and knowledge in the waterfront equipment business that will benefit your needs. After growing up on a farm, Donavan values hard work, treating people fairly, and living out the meaning of being your neighbor at the lake. ​