LUTSEN, Minn. — There are still a lot of questions about the fire that burned down the Lutsen Resort Lodge last month.
The iconic structure in the North Shore was a popular spot for more than a 100 years. Now, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal (MSFM) is leading an investigation into the Feb. 6 fire. Investigators will be digging through the debris this week to confirm the origin of the blaze and determine what caused it.
Public access is still restricted, but visitors want to see what's left of the landmark overlooking Lake Superior.
"We’ve come here for years," said Jeri Saltzman, who drove from Iowa. "It’s the heart of Lutsen and just important to our family."
The lodge was built in the late 1800s and burned in 1949 and 1951. The fire in February was a total loss, but the general manager has said he hopes to rebuild.
"Lutsen Resort is a very special place and for me," said Clair Nalezny, the lodge's former hiring manager for 16 years. "I can close my eyes and still remember the hallways and secret compartments and back stairways that no one really got to."
She owns a vacation rental business and is now working with several homeowner’s associations that she says recently cut ties with the lodge. Its owner, Bryce Campbell, is also facing several civil cases that cabin owners filed last month for allegedly not paying them thousands of dollars in rental income as part of a management agreement.
The MSFM also released its report from July 6, 2023, detailing seven total violations, including issues with the sprinkler system, fire alarm system, fire exit signs and smoke alarms. Four of the seven violations had been repaired by the owners, according to state fire officials, but three were still documented as outstanding when the report was pulled in the hours after the fire.
"I’m very happy that it’s being taken seriously," said Saltzman about the investigation. "It could be completely innocent and I hope it turns out to be that way, but it’s still a very sad situation."
The scene is considered a safety risk due to the unstable fire debris and the MSFM says it won't be providing a timeline for how long the investigation might take. It also wouldn't answer any other of KARE 11's questions.
KARE 11 also reached out to Campbell and the general manager who didn't respond to our questions as of news time.
Campbell last posted on social media on February 11. He hit back against rumors saying the damage that has been done is going beyond a building. You can read what he wrote in its entirety here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: