Stout’s Island Lodge is a historic masterpiece modeled after the Great Camps of the Adirondacks. Built in 1903 by lumber baron Frank D. Stout, the lodge was once the most expensive private residence in Wisconsin, featuring 4-inch thick plank floors and carved beams imported from Germany’s Black Forest. Today, it serves as a premier "Island of Happy Days," where guests can step back in time to an era of unhurried leisure. The lodge is famous for its "all that's mine is yours" hospitality and its preserved 20th-century architecture, including massive stone fireplaces and cedar-log construction. It is a quintessential Midwest retreat where the car is left on the mainland, and life is measured by the rhythm of the ferry.
Accommodations & Design The property features 43 guest rooms distributed across 11 cabins and the original Main Lodge, each maintaining its historic character.
The Main Lodge: Contains the original family quarters, including "Mrs. Stout’s Room" (the master bedroom) and the Great Room. Rooms are connected by screened passageways.
Cabins: Range from the newly constructed Shore Lodge (modern elegance) to historic units like Douglas' Cabin and Harry’s Cabin, which offer a more rustic, woodland feel.
Design: High-end Adirondack style, featuring IDAHO cedar logs, California redwood timbers, and pink quarry rock fireplaces. Most rooms include private baths, and many feature wood-burning or gas fireplaces.
Amenities & Inclusions The resort offers an extensive list of traditional Northwoods activities:
Gastronomy: An on-site restaurant serving "Midwest Regional Cuisine" with ingredients sourced from local farms and gardens. Continental breakfast is included with all lodging.
Lawn & Land Games: A world-class croquet court, tennis, bocce ball, ladder golf, lawn Jenga, and a meditation labyrinth.
Water Sports: Complimentary use of canoes, kayaks, hydro-bikes, and stand-up paddleboards. (Motorized boats can be rented nearby).
Tradition: Nightly bonfires with s'mores and a private swim dock with a raft. Guests also have ferry access to the nearby Tagalong Golf Course (modeled after St. Andrews).
How Private Is This Island? Privacy at Stout’s Island is a matter of historic exclusion. As a private resort, only registered guests and diners are permitted on the 18-acre estate. There is no public vehicle access, and the only way on or off the island is via the lodge’s private ferry system. For those seeking absolute seclusion, an Exclusive Private "All-Island" Buyout is available, which locks down all 43 rooms and 18 acres for your party alone. This is the preferred choice for high-profile weddings and corporate retreats, creating a secure, self-contained environment where the only visitors are the local eagles and the occasional white-tailed deer.
