Stout's Island Lodge-A Private Island Getaway in Northern Wisconsin
- Krista
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
When you think about a private island getaway, chances are you don't think about it being in Wisconsin. But there is a very unique resort located in Northwestern Wisconsin near the small town of Birchwood. It's called Stout's Island Lodge, and George and I had the opportunity to stay there for a few days.
The island is steeped in history. The main lodge was built in 1906. The main lodge includes several guest rooms, a great room, and a dining room. It's really easy to imagine what it was like when it was first constructed. The huge timber framing, original glass windows, and ornate woodwork whisk visitor back in time. Our room was partially original, with a newer added to it. The entire main lodge is heated with wood, and our room was no exception. It was cold and rainy the few days we were there, so there was always a fire going in the fireplace.
Our trip started by hopping on a ferry to get to the main lodge. We parked our car in the resort's parking lot, got on the ferry, and shuttled over to the island. The first view of the lodge is at the boat house. This is another original building dating back to the early 1900s. Our boat arrived, and our bags were whisked away to our room. We were given a quick tour of the main lodge, and various points of the island worth exploring. Then we were left to our own devises.
There are a lot of outdoor activities on the island. We hiked to the east point, a winding trail deep in the woods. Yard games and Adirondack chairs are available on the south lawn for guest to use. I had no problem imaging the Stout family entertaining on a warm summer day with adults relaxing on the lawn with parasols while children ran on the manicured grass playing games. A labyrinth, oversized chess board, tennis courts, and fire pits are also scattered throughout the island for guests to use. There is also a plethora of water activities available at the resort. Kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, swimming, and fishing. We were really looking forward to enjoying these activities. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. With a high of 45 degrees, strong winds, and rain, water sports were not happening. Fortunately, they have a game room with ping pong and billiards so we spent a few hours enjoying those activities.
Stout's Island strives to help people unwind and live in a simpler time. Be warned--there is no TV or internet in the lodge. Our room was in the main lodge and featured original woodwork and a beautiful fireplace. The bedroom was in a newer addition that overlooked the forest. It was absolutely stunning. Keeping with the desire to help people live like it's 1906, we mainly heated our room with wood. However, the room did have a nice kitchen, and an electric heater. We simply chose to mainly utilize wood. The weather was perfect for curling up to the fire with a good book.
One of the unique things about the lodge is the dining experience. Since the goal is to transport people back in time, there is a dress code for dinner. Think about all the movies and tv shows you have seen about affluent people in the early 1900s. They did get gussied up for dinner. Likewise, Stout's island requests that guests adhere to the dinner dress code. I choose to wear dresses each night, while George work nice slacks and a button up shirt. This really added to the experience. Reservations are also required, but these are simple enough to make either ahead of time, or on site. And the actual food--simply amazing. Both dinners were delicious and locally sourced which again, adds to the feeling of being transported back to 1906.
Overall, it was a nice experience. We happened to be there on their opening day so the resort had a few kinks to iron out. And the weather did not cooperate at all. So this blog might have had an entirely different feel if we had been able to do all the outdoor activities. But, the staff were all amazing. It was a great opportunity to truly unwind from the stressors of every day, kick back, and relax. It was also pretty amazing to stay in the original lodge. At times, it truly felt that we were living in 1906. If you have the opportunity, it's worth checking out. And if you're not interested in staying for a few days, there is the option to go to the island just for dinner. (https://www.stoutsislandlodge.com/dining)
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