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CHIK-WAUK MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER
CHIK-WAUK LODGE HISTORY
GUNFLINT TRAIL HISTORY
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201 South Gunflint Lake
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-0876
info@gunflinttrailhistoricalsociety.org
Chik-Wauk Lodge History
In the early 1930's Russell Blankenburg and Ed Nunstedt built a private road to Saganaga Lake because both men had land on the lake that they wanted to develop. Once the road was completed, Ed built Chik-Wauk Lodge in 1931. In 1933 they completed a new main lodge building. Before the first guest entered the lodge, a dog knocked over a kerosene lamp and started a fire that burned the entire lodge to the ground.Ed was determined that this was not going to happen again so he built a rock building. In April of 1934, the Cook County News Herald announced that the new lodge was almost ready for guests, "The main lodge at Chick-Wauk on Lake Saganaga which burned down last fall is being speedily replaced with a new structure which will be ready for occupancy on Decoration Day. The new lodge will be built entirely of granite in the same location as the other and will be 50 feet long and 40 feet wide. A feature of the new lodge will be a huge double fireplace in the center of the room, built entirely of stone. A kitchen and combination store and office will be in the rear." That building was used until the U. S. Forest Service bought out Chik-Wauk as part of the 1978 Boundary Waters legislation. Ralph and Bea Griffis, the last owners, summered there until the late 1990's.
This beautiful rock building remains standing today. Progress has been made in the renovation of the building. The old carpeting and non-structural walls have been removed. The windows have been re-glazed and painted. A thorough cleaning is complete.
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society will house a museum in the building, to open in 2010. The Chik-Wauk Museum will tell the story of the people of the Gunflint Trail. On the grounds surrounding the museum, there will be interpretive trails, wildflower displays and bird watching opportunities.
Chik-Wauk means "Jack of the Pines" in Ojibwe.
