Birchwood
Stout’s Island Lodge
Lumber baron Frank D. Stout's island retreat near Birchwood, its main lodge rebuilt in 1912 of Idaho cedar logs; guests arrive by ferry.
- Built
- 1912Main lodge first built c. 1903 and rebuilt in 1912 of Idaho cedar logs; cabins c. 1903-1927.
- Style
- Rustic (Adirondack style)
- Architect
- Arthur Heun (1912 rebuild of living and dining rooms)
- Type
- Lodge
- Credentials
- Inside a National Register historic district
The story
Lumber baron Frank D. Stout and Thomas Wilson Jr. bought the island in 1887, and Stout took sole ownership in 1903 and built an Adirondack-style family retreat. The main lodge seen today was built in 1912 from a trainload of Idaho cedar logs, with a steel bridge to the east island said to be a gift from Andrew Carnegie, and by 1915 Stout had spent more than $1.5 million on the island. The rustic estate, listed on the National Register in 1995 as the Island of Happy Days, is now a resort reached by ferry.
Good to know
- No pets
- Address: 2799 27th Street, Birchwood, WI
Sources (2)
Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.