There are places you visit… and there are places that stay with you. For well over a century now, Clearwater Historic Lodge has been one of those rare places.

This summer marks the 100-year anniversary of the completion of the lodge itself in 1926—a milestone that invites us to look back, not just at a building of hand-hewn logs and stone, but at the enduring spirit that has made Clearwater an icon on the Gunflint Trail.

The story begins with two people and a vision

In the early 1900s, Charlie and Petra Boostrom found themselves drawn to the remote beauty of northern Minnesota. Charlie, a guide and woodsman, quite literally “lost his heart in the Northwoods,” building a life along the Gunflint Trail and learning from the land itself.

When a Dream Took Root

By 1915, the couple had opened Clearwater Lake Lodge—welcoming early adventurers with little more than tents, home-cooked meals, and unmatched hospitality.

But their vision didn’t stop there.

In 1922, Charlie began gathering logs—each one a piece of a bigger dream. Four years later, in 1926, that dream stood complete: a grand lodge with a stone hearth, handcrafted furniture, and a warm gathering place for travelers seeking the wild beauty of the Boundary Waters.

Clearwater lodge was never just constructed—it was crafted.

Every beam, every chair, every detail carried Charlie’s mark. During long Northwoods winters, he built the very furniture that guests still use today.

Built by Hand – Built to Last

Together, they created something rare: not just a destination, but an experience rooted in authenticity, simplicity, and connection.

Over the past century, Clearwater has quietly witnessed the evolution of the Gunflint Trail itself. What began as a rugged route used by trappers, Indigenous travelers, and early explorers slowly transformed into a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—one of the most treasured wilderness areas in the country. Through it all, the lodge remained.

A Front Row Seat to History

Families came and went. Generations returned. Ownership changed hands, each steward adding their own chapter while preserving the soul of what the Boostroms began. And still, the view from the deck—the sweeping palisades rising above Clearwater Lake—remains exactly as it did when Charlie first shared it with Petra more than a century ago.

Today, Clearwater Historic Lodge stands as one of the most enduring and recognizable landmarks along the Gunflint Trail. Not because it is the largest. Not because it is the newest.

Because it is real.

It is a place where handcrafted log walls still hold stories. Where paddlers begin their journeys into the wilderness. Where mornings start quietly over the lake and evenings end by the fire. It is, in every sense, a living piece of Northwoods history. This centennial isn’t just about honoring a building completed in 1926.

It’s about celebrating the resilience of a place built by hand in the remote Northwoods. From the generations of guests who have made Clearwater part of their story to the lineage of owners and caretakers who have added their own fingerprints to this special place – all the while preserving its character and legacy and the timeless connection between people and wilderness.

For 100 years, Clearwater Lodge has offered something increasingly rare in today’s world: a sense of place that doesn’t change with trends, but deepens with time. As we celebrate this milestone, one thing is clear:

The Next Chapter Begins

Clearwater Historic Lodge isn’t just a relic of the past—it’s a bridge between generations.

Between those who built it…
Those who have cherished it…
And those who have yet to discover it.

Because long after the band stops playing and summer fades into fall, the lodge will remain—just as it always has—standing quietly on the shore, ready to welcome the next story.