The Historic Lutsen Lodge

First trip to the resort with children. Neither of the nightly activities we planned our evening around happened as the talent did not show up (no music on the beach or naturalist). Our room was a distance from the main loqde which proved really inconvenient as the connecting foot bridges are out due to structural damage. This is unfortunately due to natural disaster but was not mentioned to us upon booking. The exteriors of the condo building are overgrown by weeds and just look unkempt. The bar is closed and the our jacuzzi tub did not work. I can see the charm is there so perhaps it just needs a bit of attention.

Sadly, the Lutsen Lodge burned down this week. It was a lovely classic Northwoods resort. I don't know all details or the cause of the fire at this time, but I am certain there will be more information to follow in the coming weeks and months. 😔

It's easiest to just say the most recent negative reviews are spot on. We've been going to the resort for decades, we got engaged there. It WAS our favorite spot on the north shore. It used to be an awesome family resort, but the new owners have made it a pompous, overpriced, underdelivering joke. There's nothing to do there anymore, they took away a decent restaurant, the bar/pub, the game room, the outdoor activity center, the gift shop, the coffee and hot chocolate maker, I don't know what their plans are for the event center but it's currently closed. I'm not sure how the townhomes to the east access the lodge anymore as they don't seem to be in any hurry to replace the bridge that washed out, then again there's nothing for them at the lodge anyway... The only thing left is an overpriced pompous restaurant. We now go to Bluefin bay for a nice meal.

Lutsen lodge and its properties need to be updated and need new management. We’ve been celebrating Christmas there with our family of 10 for 15 years and this was the worst we’ve ever seen it. The pool area and locker rooms were disgusting. Mold had formed on the poolside tables and the locker rooms were filthy. Very disappointed in our stay. Would not recommend it.

Very charming traditional lodge on the lake. Beautiful views outside as well as inside. Restaurant was fabulous. We were talking about the food and presentation for days after. Loved the fire by the lake.

Once upon a time it was a great family resort, a historic gem of the north shore. After 30+ years of stays for us, that run has ended. Rooms have a mild facelift since new ownership took over, and there are a few nice touches added to the rooms. But they’re well-photographed, not in good condition (one of the accent walls may have been painted by a 4 yr old). They even removed the clothes hangers and coat rack from our lake view room - weird thing to do considering it has a formal dining room and nowhere to hang formal wear. They now charge a nightly "resort fee" now (c'mon, this isn't Vegas). Food establishments are notably few and far between on the north shore, yet new ownership closed the pub and aren't reopening it. So you can't enjoy a beer and casual meal after a day out on the trails or slopes. Rebranded the dining room to have a "wine bar". There is no bar, don't be misled. It's a really nice dining room that has great wine on the wall (and yes, the food is impeccable) but it serves $90 entrees for dinner and $20 bowls of quick oats for breakfast. Okay for a one-off special occasion, but unacceptable if you want to spend several days on the property and expect a breakfast and dinner option daily. Even the pool and sauna haven't been adequately cleaned or maintained in a decade. Lutsen Lodge will always be a beautiful location, and its lobby is truly the best place to lounge in all of the North Shore. But “elevating the experience” (charge more, offer less) has sent this property on an unfortunate trend.