The history of Eagle Lake Island Lodge
(Photo is of the original lodge which was destroyed by fire in 2012)
Family and friends continue the tradition of the annual Canadian Fishing trip, making memories at this special location. Many have been coming for decades…
It all began with a love of sunset country, Eagle Lake, and a very special island.
Eagle Lake Island Lodge has a rich and storied history. Our beginnings go back to the 1940’s when local entrepreneur Andy Desrocher built the original lodge and four guest cabins by hand. Two of the original guest cabins remain and have been painstakingly maintained and restored with modern additions added onto the building. The materials Andy used were brought across on the ice during the winters by horse and wagon. Ownership changed over the years and at different points in our history we were known as “Midway Musky Camp” and “Island View Lodge”. At some point, we became known as “Eagle Lake Island Lodge”. Ron and Dolly Buth owned Eagle Lake Island Lodge from 1979 – 2005. After thirty years of ownership and raising two sons on the island, the Buths sold the business in 2005.
The current ownership story began with a 2009 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin based father-son vacation to the island. In the years to come, one of the sons started working on the island in various capacities from 2009 – 2012. Fast forward to 2014 and Eagle Lake Island Lodge was for sale. We put together a group of twenty owners who pooled our resources and bought the island and the landing. Of the current twenty-two owners, six are from the original 2009 father-son trip (three sons and three dads).
The Original Father-Son Fishing Trip
It all began with a father-son fishing trip to Eagle Lake Island Lodge on famous Eagle Lake, Ontario. The Island has carried the slogan and motto over the years “Just can’t wait to get back to the Island…”
For these fathers and sons, they ensured they would always have a home at the Island.
