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A true lodge experience
Shortly after establishment in 1936 as Northwoods Lodge, the property name evolved to Old Northwoods Lodge, then Big Bear Lodge. In 2022, Chris & Allison Short acquired the property and are proud owners of this incredible resort. In 2023 the Shorts renamed the property White Pine Lodge.
Located on the shores of Poplar Lake, on the historic Gunflint Trail in the Arrowhead Region of northeastern Minnesota, White Pine Lodge is one of five founding resorts on the Gunflint. The main lodge boasts 2 large Rumsford fireplaces, casual seating with lake views, a lakeside screened-in porch, a restaurant & bar, a kitchen, and a gift shop. Homemade, artisan pizza is available to order either fully baked or take n' bake. Plentiful craft brews and a generous assortment of wines are available at the bar.
White Pine Lodge maintains 6 lakeside cabins, 3 lodge rooms and 4 campsites available to rent year-round. If you've never rented a cabin on the Gunflint Trail, we offer a true Minnesota experience just west of Grand Marais! All cabins have modern amenities, including a full kitchen, and a 3/4 bath. Cabins and campsites are dog-friendly with a nightly pet fee. The 3 private lodge rooms in the main lodge have a 1-night minimum, perfect for before and after a Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) adventure! All lodge rooms have AC, a mini-fridge, microwave, and a private bath. All guests have access to bonfire pits, grills, and the main dock.
A handcrafted sauna rests lakeside for guests to enjoy. Poplar Lake has 3 BWCA entry points and we offer complimentary use of canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and snowshoes/poles. Firewood is also included. Add-ons include fishing boat rental and pontoon rental.
restaurant bar grand marais gunflint trail minnesota
YOUR PROPRIETORS:
CHRIS & ALLISON SHORT
Chris Short, a licensed general contractor, grew up in Burnsville, MN. He went to Coastal Carolina University to earn a degree in Business Marketing and a minor in Golf Management. He worked as the Head Golf Professional at the Wilds Golf Club (Prior Lake, MN) for 2 years before beginning his own construction company, White Pine Construction, in 2013. The name for the company was inspired by the majestic, white pines that he would see when visiting the North Shore. White Pine Construction was based out of Prior Lake, MN but also traveled north to renovate and build cabins on the Gunflint and Arrowhead Trails. Working up north inspired Chris to want to move there, and thus began the journey of owning White Pine Lodge!
Allison Short, a former middle school math teacher, also grew up in Burnsville, MN. She went to the University of Delaware to earn a Bachelors of Science in Education and a Masters in Educational Technology. She also set on the school’s Division I volleyball team. Allison taught and coached for 8 years in Cresskill, New Jersey before moving back to Minnesota. She taught and coached in Wayzata for 2 years and Prior Lake for 4 years. While she loved her students, athletes, and co-workers, Allison was ready to ‘shuffle the deck’ and move on to a new venture. Running White Pine Lodge alongside her husband sounded like a Hallmark movie, so she was in!