Rainy Lake got 30 seconds of fame Monday night when Bill O’Reilly mentioned the area as a favorite vacation spot during his popular show, The O’Reilly Factor.

At the end of each show, which airs on the Fox News Network, the television host lists a tip of the day. Monday, O’Reilly pointed out must-see vacation sites in each time zone.

Rainy Lake was highlighted as the go-to-spot for the Central zone and O’Reilly assured viewers the vacation destination was a great place to “catch a bunch of walleyes.”

“(The area) has great place and great folks,” O’Reilly said. “You’ll like it. It’s beautiful.”

Shawn Mason, International Falls director of economic and community development, said she was thrilled with the recognition and said that O’Reilly vacationed on Rainy Lake in 2006.

“My dad, Don Carey, and Bill Dougherty took Bill (O’Reilly) and his family fishing when they were here,” she said.

Mason said in 2004, she met E.D. Hill, another Fox News journalist, on the deck of Woody’s Pub. Mason said she stayed in touch with Hill and invited Hill to the Mason’s cabin on Rainy Lake.

“I remember her asking if Bill could come,” Mason said with a laugh. “I didn’t know who Bill was ... I eventually found out she was referring to Bill O’Reilly.”

Mason said the O’Reilly family was accommodated on a private, secluded home on Rainy Lake by a “generous member of the community.”

“He shared photos of his vacation with viewers,” Mason said. “When Bill left, also he told me he’d like to come back to the area and might be interested in going out on a houseboat.”

Following Monday’s segment of Rainy Lake, Mason said she contacted Dougherty at Rainy Lake Houseboats to hopefully bring the O’Reillys back to the community.

“It is important to take advantage of these opportunities,” Mason explained. “We need to take care of people who want to come up here — whether they’re regular tourists or have access to millions of viewers. We want to share the beauty of this lake. Who wouldn’t want to visit Rainy Lake?”

To see the clip, visit www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/index.html#/v/1762666973001/factor-tip-vacation-suggestions/?playlist_id=1740294866001.