In its 82-year history on the Gunflint Trail, Tuscarora has evolved from boat-in cabins on Tuscarora Lake to the Boundary Waters canoe outfitters with lakeside cabins on Round Lake that it is today.

Much of what you see when you drive into Tuscarora – right down to that distinctive “Tuskie Tan” paint color – is compliments of the Leeds family, who owned and operated the Lodge from the late 1970s until the early 2000s. The dining hall, outfitting/office building, and a couple of the year-round cabins were constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s and while it’s hard for us to imagine the property without these buildings, many long-time cabin guests distinctly remember what the property looked before. 

It’s always fascinating to talk with these guests to try to draw up a mental picture of what Tuscarora must have looked like “back when.” 

Members of the Hans Anderson family have been cabin guests at Tuscarora for decades and a month ago, Hans’ daughter, Mary, sent several photos her dad took during their annual Tuscarora vacations between 1977 – 1981 and finally we were able to visualize retro Tuscarora. 

This log cabin was located where Cabin 3 sits today. 

The sandy beach down from Cabin 5&6. 

Laundry day in front of Cabin 6. 

Before the dining hall was constructed in the late 1980s, guests ate their French toast breakfast in the Lodge, which is now a rental cabin. 

Do you remember when Tuscarora looked like this? If you have any old photos to share from your Tuscarora vacations, we’d love to see them!