History

The lodge was built in 1933 by Dr. Farnsworth, then-president of the University of Nebraska. The builder was Charlie Boostrom, who is legendary for his log building construction of resorts and cabins along the Gunflint Trail. All of the logs are hand scribed.

The property was acquired by Earle Brown, a well known Minnesota philanthropist. Over the years, his guests included Gov. Floyd B. Olson, Gov. Luther Youngdahl, Harold Stassen, and other prominent Minnesotans.

In 1966, Hal Greenwood purchased the property, which he used as a corporate retreat. His guests included many Minnesota celebrities, including many members of the Viking football team and Twins baseball team, as well as Gopher greats Herb Brooks and Biernie Bierman. Other guests included David Rockefeller, Henry Kissinger, Tip O’Neill, and Hubert Humphrey. Honeywell, General Mills, and 3M used the facility for executive retreats.