History
Timber Bay Lodge was first founded by Wally and Dick Niss in 1947. They spent two years, cutting in roads, hauling in supplies and building the first cabins. The first guest stayed in 1949. At that time the resort was American Plan, providind most meals for the guests staying at the resort. John and Toots Rykken purchased the resort and houseboat operation from the Niss brothers in 1980. They expanded the number of both cabins and houseboat over the years. The resort still remains in the Rykken family, as second generation owners Ron and Beth Rykken purchased it in the year 2000. Many of the original cabins stand today, but of course with many remodels and upgrades you feel like you are at home.
Specialties
Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats is located on Birch Lake near Ely Minnesota and the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area (BWCA). We are a completely modern resort (with both cabins and houseboats!) located deep in the heart of the Superior National Forest in Minnesota among towering Norway pines, birch, and spruce trees, designed to satisfy the vacation dreams of your entire family or fishing group.