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Welcome to a New, Old-Fashioned Family Getaway.
Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge is a completely different experience from the usual resort destination. Here, you and your family can experience a real, undiluted family vacation, far from the sprawling corporate developments that overtake many Minnesota lakeshores. Its natural sand beach and indoor pool building overlook its boathouse, marina and endless Lake Bemidji water recreation; a daily summer children’s program features treasure & scavenger hunts and much more. It’s the ideal host to the Bemidji area year-round, with golf, tennis, snowmobiling, ice fishing and hunting. You’ll find seasonal fine dining at one of Ruttger’s two lodge buildings, along with a variety of villas, cottages & lodge rooms - all courtesy of a fourth generation of Minnesota's oldest resort family.
Beach
The 1700 feet of natural sand beach on Lake Bemidji is a highlight at Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge, and a permanent fixture for anyone who has ever been here in the summer. It stretches directly in front of the main resort building, terrific for strolling, sunning or taking out a complimentary canoe or kayak.
Family
More than anything else, Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge is a place for family traditions. Owned by the Ruttger’s family - part of the oldest resort family in Minnesota - the resort features fine dining, ½ mile of beach, an indoor pool complex and a laid-back, non-corporate atmosphere that creates pure, old-fashioned family fun.
Fishing
Right from the dock at Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge you can catch some amazing fish - Lake Bemidji is known for its quality-sized northern pike, but it’s also highly rated by the Minnesota DNR for its walleye population. Or, let Ruttger’s set you up with a boat and motor right from its onsite boathouse and marina!
Golf
In the 1920s, oil millionaires would flock here from the South for the cool summers - and to try the new game of golf. So it’s no surprise that the 18-hole course at the Bemidji Town & Country Club is just a mile away, and the annual Birchmont International Golf Tournament - as it was back then - is still going strong.
Historical
Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge has been owned by the Ruttger’s family since 1937. And its history extends back to 1913, when it was simply a beach and Minnesota Northwoods. Originally built by lumberjacks as the Birchmont Beach Hotel, the lodge of today still bears strong witness to these priceless times and traditions.
Lake
Resting on 6420-acre Lake Bemidji, Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge maintains its own boathouse and marina with the area’s largest fleet of rental watercraft. Take your pick among the resort's fishing boats, pontoons, family inboards and Sunfish sailboats. Whatever your pursuit, Ruttger’s provides a classic family lake vacation!
Nature
Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge overlooks beautiful Lake Bemidji and is completely surrounded by Minnesota’s renowned lake & forest region. It’s very close to the start of the Mississippi River, in the fabled land of Paul Bunyan and Babe, his blue ox. Legend has it that many of these area lakes were made from Babe's footprints!
Vacation Rental
The variety of lodging at Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge will astound you, not least the economy to four-bedroom villas. Open year round, these cottage-style accommodations are rented on a “housekeeping plan” with daily rates available in some periods. They’re ideal for larger families or groups!
Cabins And Cottages
Twenty-two one-room to three-bedroom lakeview cottages at Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge embody the resort’s personality: ideal for families, updated with modern amenities, yet still beaming with history from when they were built in the early 1900s. These are some of the oldest Minnesota resort cottages still in service.
Lodges
Choose from two lodge buildings, each with its own flair: at the historic Main Lodge, moose and muskie are standard décor, with 31 rooms and suites and a seasonal dining room at the Garden Court Grill Restaurant and Pirate's Cove Lounge; the modern, year-round Cedar Lodge has kitchenettes with private decks and balconies.
Motels
Even if it’s just the two of you - or just you on a private getaway - Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge is for you, with comfortable motel-style rooms in either lodge. Choose from four modern, waterfront rooms in the Cedar Lodge, or the cozy and historic Lakefront or Parkside rooms on the upper floors of the seasonal Main Lodge.
Villas And Condos
Seven modern, year-round cottage-style villas are perfect for families, extended families or larger groups. Spread across the serene wooded grounds, these two- to four-bedroom villas provide space, privacy & all the services of the resort including a seasonal self-serve complimentary continental breakfast at the Main Lodge.
Activities
Antiquing
Arts and Crafts
ATVing / Four Wheeling
Basketball
Batting Cage
Beach Activities
Biking or Bicycling
Bingo
Birding
Boating and Watercraft
Bocce Ball
Bumper Boats and Cars
Canoeing and Paddling
Cross Country Skiing
Cultural Activities
Downhill Skiing
Fitness and Beauty
Fly Fishing
Freshwater Fishing
Gambling
Go Carts
Golfing
Gourmet Dining
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Hunting and Shooting
Ice Fishing
Ice Skating
Kayaking
Live Entertainment
Miniature Golf
Wildlife and Nature
Paintball
Raquetball
Sailing
SCUBA Diving
Shopping
Sightseeing
Snowboarding
Snowmobiling
Spa and Massage
Swimming Pool / Lake
Tennis
Volleyball
Wineries
Amenities
Air Conditioning
A/V Equipment
Banquet Rooms
Bar
Basketball Courts
Beach
Bicycles
Boats
Cable TV
Canoes
Coffee Maker
Continental Breakfast
Fishing Guides
Fitness Center
Game Room
Gift Shop
Health Club
Internet
Iron/Ironing Board
Jacuzzi
Kayaks
Kids Activities
Meeting Rooms
Microwave
Non-Smoking
Outdoor Playground
Sauna
Spa
Sundeck
Swimming Pool
Tennis Courts
VCR
Video Games
Volleyball Courts
Whirlpool
Wireless Internet
Conferences
Its two large, flexible event rooms and three smaller boardrooms make Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge perfect for small to mid-sized corporate meetings. Inquire now!
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Reunions
With seven villas ideal for families and groups, flexible banquet facilities for up to 200 and a world of activities, Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge is ideal for your reunion!
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Weddings
Specializing in wedding ceremonies for 50 to 220 guests, Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge offers stunning lakefront locales, gorgeous gardens and grand history for your big day!
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