Ted Moody was young, impulsive, and fueled by his dreams. Ted met and employed Hank Smith, a local Native American craftsman, to oversee the building of his newly created Moody's Fishing Camp. Inspired by the Great Camps being built in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, the original building - now known as Spider Lake Lodge - was opened to the public for the first time in 1923.
THE GOLDEN AGE
Ted Moody wanted to create a place for all his friends from Elgin and Chicago to enjoy. The charismatic Moody, along with his wife Myrtle, Smith, and his crew, worked for two decades building log cabins and creating a luxurious Northwoods retreat for their guests.
What started as a rustic fishing camp for the men of the day, soon became an exclusive, full service, all-inclusive resort - complete with boating, tennis, music, fine dining, and nature hikes for the whole family.
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THE EXPANSION
By 1955, Ted Moody had grown tired of the resort business and turned the place over to a friend, and good customer, Dick Seitz. The Seitz family continued to build on the traditions that Moody had created. Word of the great fishing, wildlife, and the Northwoods experience brought even greater numbers of guests, including visitors from Milwaukee, Duluth, and the Twin Cities.
THE BED & BREAKFAST
In 1970, the Grossi family took the helm of the old resort. By 1983, all the cabins were sold to private families. However, in 1990, the Grossi family re-conceived the main lodge as the Spider Lake Lodge Bed & Breakfast. Jim Kerkow and Craig Mason took over the Lodge in 2000 and brought their expertise in interior design. Along with the last owner, Deborah Ingstad, these owners continued the focus on creating wonderful experiences for guests from around the world until it was sold in 2018.
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THE NEW BEGINNING
Spider Lake Lodge was purchases by Robert & Carolyn in 2018. The building, in need of major restoration of the original logs, roof, foundation, drafty windows, and mechanical systems, was fortunate enough to gain new owners who began a loving journey to preserve the historic elements of the Lodge.
After the extensive, six-month renovation project - carefully managed to preserve the integrity of the property, architecture, and history - the Lodge was awarded the distinction of being named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.
