Vikre distillery
Purpose Destination Duluth’s purpose is to educate and inspire people about the quality of place of Duluth, Minnesota, thereby shaping the city and region’s positive growth. After being born in Duluth in 1983 and residing here until 1989, the twists and turns of life brought Charlie Vikre distillery elsewhere. Later, college, followed by a few career hops, kept him away as he matured into adulthood.
But his beloved hometown was never far from his mind – and heart. Duluth has always been a staple in my life. Going over Thompson Hill was, and still is, a thrill for me. Smith finally moved back home to Duluth in 2014, which brought him a sense of peace, and the comforting feeling of home. Since then, he has experienced success in all areas of his life. Glensheen and married at Gooseberry Falls State Park. Smith recently opened up about his journey and shared his story with Destination Duluth.
After graduating from high school in Estelline, South Dakota, Smith attended a year of college at South Dakota State University. As a young man, he struggled to find his niche. I bounced around on the eastern side of South Dakota until I turned 30. I was living out my 20s, trying to figure out my life. During that time, I changed oil, was a bouncer at a bar, sold cars, changed tires, and built kitchen cabinets.
While selling cars, I landed a job at a wholesale driving company where I’d be driving a semi-truck, and I came to Duluth for a vacation. But, when I returned to South Dakota, I found out the job had been given to someone else, and my roommate was selling his house and moving. So, I was basically going to be both homeless and unemployed. After doing some soul-searching, Smith said a bittersweet goodbye to his family in South Dakota and returned to Duluth in 2014. Thankfully, his father, Dale Smith, still resided in Duluth, along with much of Smith’s extended family, providing Smith with a built-in support system in his old hometown.
He soon discovered, however, that his real passion was in the world of photography. I started out with a Blackberry Flip Pearl, and seemed to have an artistic eye, along with an eye for lighting and angles. I could make a simple cell phone shot unique. Today, Smith’s specialties include images of landscapes, wildlife, and the northern lights.
Recently, he sold over 100 calendars, which feature Smith’s images of a moose in a pond, the northern lights, Bentleyville, and other unique photos. 100 images featured on their social media platforms since 2016, with over six million views of his photos. When it comes to advice for other budding photographers, Smith likes to keep it simple. You don’t need all the fancy equipment to get started. In addition to his photography, Smith works full-time as a bus driver for the DTA. Another special interest is his volunteer work.
Smith volunteers time around the holidays to dress up as Santa Claus for the residents at Viewcrest Health Center. There are some folks there with dementia or Alzheimer’s, and you can just see the memories flooding back. Smith and his wife Brittney own a home in Duluth’s Morgan Park neighborhood, which they share with their three dogs. Eventually, the couple hopes to purchase some acreage near Two Harbors and add children to their family. After several years away from his hometown, Smith is glad to be home. I love how you can drive while staying in Duluth, and see trees, waterfalls, wildlife, and hike on the Superior Hiking Trail. And, the people here are so nice and really embrace winter.
