If there’s a hidden gem in northern Wisconsin, it might be Minnesuing Acres.

At its heart, the property on Lake Minnesuing is a family lodge.

“As Curt’s businesses grew, he decided to build this as a birthday present for his wife, Arleen. He surprised her in 1961,” General Manager Todd Campbell said.

175 acres is quite the birthday gift. But Campbell says Carlson was a businessman ahead of his time.

“He borrowed $55 from a neighbor, and he turned that $55 into Gold Bond Stamp Company,” Campbell said.

The empire grew to include the Radisson hotel chain, Country Inn and Suites, Country Kitchen, TGI Fridays, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and more. A tunnel between the main lodge and the guest house at Minnesuing is lined with dozens of photos from Carlson’s life, including some of the high-profile guests who have stayed with the family there.

“The king and queen of Sweden has stayed here with the Carlson families, and that was back in the late ’80s,” Campbell said.

Curt and Arleen have since passed. But the Carlson family continues to come to Minnesuing Acres on major holidays. But when they’re not using it, it’s open for rent.

“Our big thing is we only host one group at a time,” Campbell said. “So when somebody’s here, they don’t have to share it with anyone else.”

There are 35 rooms, so they can be awfully big groups. But Campbell can’t explain why that model works so well there.

“Honestly, I’ve been in hospitality for almost 35 years, and I don’t know how it works,” he said. “But it works great. I think it was kind of the brainchild of Curt Carlson. He was an entrepreneur way in front of his time.”

Groups can be as small as 15 or as big as 80. Companies often rent it, or people book it for weddings, family reunions, and retirement celebrations.

“We call it the magic of Minnesuing,” Campbell said. “And it works. I’ve never seen a property that brings people – you know, immediately puts them at ease and allows them to communicate and just do whatever the task that they want to do while they’re here, hit that plus some.”

On the 180 acres is a 9-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a bowling lane, an archery range, sporting clay range, driving range, trout pond, and hiking and biking trails. And then there’s the activities on Lake Minnesuing. People can jump in off a 15-foot diving board or take the Mastercraft boat out for skiing, tubing, and knee boarding.

“We also have two fishing boats, three pontoon boats, kayaks, paddle boards, canoes,” Campbell said.

Asked if there’s anything they don’t have?

“No,” Campbell said. “We have a 5,000-foot paved airstrip.”

There’s even a private island in case a group fills all of the lodge’s 35 rooms. And chefs prepare three meals a day, which are included.

“If there’s something we’re missing, I don’t know what it is. It’s kind of insane, honestly,” Campbell said.

Many groups book 1-2 years ahead of time, but there is still availability between November of this year and March of 2025. The cost is per person and generally between $415-615 per day.