The green Coteau des Prairies pasture in late spring...ready for grazing...and construction!

Joe Breker breaks first ground for Coteau des Prairies Lodge on June 10th, 2011.

Joe's trusty scraper. Handy for moving dirt, plus just really cool.

Joe spent many hours scraping dirt off the top of the hill, preparing the site for excavation.

Preparing the excavation site.

Joe, Olivia & Maria Breker making plans at the construction site.

Calvin Jacobson dug out the boulders Joe couldn't budge with his loader tractor.

Joe Breker removing dirt from the shoulder of the driveway to use in the parking lot.

'Papa' Joe picked up his grandkids for a ride in the scraper.

Joe used the scraper to make a massive, nearly level parking lot on the south hill slope of the lodge site.

Aerial view from the south. Great view of the main construction site including the lodge site, parking lot and driveway.

Aerial view from the southwest. Notice the prairie on the horizon peaking over the hilltop.

Aerial view from the southeast. Great view of the vast 'prairiescape' of southern Sargent County.

Aerial view from the east. Don't you love this angle? Stunning view along the north facing slopes and coulees of the coteau.

Aerial view from the north. Approximately 2 miles south of the lodge site the Coteau des Prairies continues its rise into South Dakota.

Calvin Jacobson used his digger to dig out the basement of the lodge.

Digging the basement took 2 good days with Calvin and his crew.

What a view our guests will have from the basement suite which includes a walk-out patio to the rugged slope of the coteau.

Time to celebrate! The basement is dug out and ready for the next phase of construction.

A giant hole on a hill. Soon the cement crew will begin pouring footings, walls and basement floor.

"Well Joe, there is your hole...is that where you wanted it?" -Calvin