TBLH Policies

Master Privacy Policy

Operating a premier outfitter and resort on the edge of the Boundary Waters requires a profound level of trust. Just as you trust us to equip you with a reliable 52-foot houseboat or a warm, solid cabin, you need to trust us with your personal information. This Master Privacy Policy outlines exactly how we collect, protect, and utilize your data across the entire Timber Bay Lodge & Houseboats digital ecosystem. We believe in transparency, security, and keeping things as straightforward as a well-marked trail.

Booking Engine (Powered by ResNexus)

When you reserve a cabin or houseboat, we need the precise logistics of your expedition to ensure everything is ready upon your arrival in Babbitt.

What We Collect
We collect your name, contact information, travel dates, party size, and payment details. Because we operate a marina and equip families for the water, we may also collect the ages of minors in your party to ensure proper life jacket sizing and compliance with Coast Guard regulations.
How We Protect It
We utilize ResNexus as our property management system and booking engine. ResNexus is a highly secure, PCI-compliant platform engineered specifically for the hospitality industry. Your credit card information is encrypted and vaulted within their system. We do not store your financial data on local lodge computers or write it down on sticky notes in the Trading Post.

Digital Waivers & Fleet Rentals

Whether you are captaining a houseboat through the Birch River Narrows, renting a pontoon, or staging an ATV run on the Stony Spur trail, the wilderness demands accountability.

What We Collect
Prior to your arrival or at the dock, we collect digital signatures, driver’s license information, emergency contacts, and liability waivers.
How We Protect It
These legally binding documents are stored in our secure digital vault. We only collect this information to comply with our commercial insurance requirements and to ensure we have a verified manifest of who is out exploring the Superior National Forest. This data is strictly for operational safety and legal compliance; it is never used for marketing.

Lead Generation & Inquiries

If you are planning a massive family reunion at the Bear Trap, coordinating a corporate retreat, or simply signing up for our email dispatches, you are interacting with our lead generation forms.

What We Collect: We capture your name, email address, phone number, and specific event details through the inquiry forms on our main website.
How We Protect It: We follow the "Secret Fishing Spot" rule: we will never sell, rent, or trade your contact information to third-party list brokers. We use this data solely to communicate directly with you about your event or, if you have opted in, to send you occasional updates about lodge operations, trail conditions, or new gear at the Trading Post.

Global Analytics

To keep our digital operations running as smoothly as a morning paddle, we need to understand how folks are navigating our website.

What We Collect
We use cookies, tracking pixels, and standard web analytics across our primary domain. These digital trail markers show us aggregated data—like which cabin pages are getting the most traffic, how long visitors linger on the houseboat floorplans, or what geographic regions our guests are traveling from (like Minneapolis or Chicago).
How We Protect It
This data is anonymized and used exclusively to improve the user experience on our website and to measure the effectiveness of our marketing. We do not track your individual browsing history across the wider internet. You can easily adjust your browser settings to clear or decline these cookies if you prefer to travel without leaving a digital footprint.

If you ever need to review, update, or request the deletion of your personal data from our systems, simply reach out to our team at info@timberbay.com.

Booking & Basecamp Policies

Securing your cabin or houseboat on Birch Lake means reserving a dedicated piece of the Superior National Forest for your crew. Because we operate a remote, independent outfitter and resort, our inventory is limited and our logistics are tightly orchestrated. We have established these policies to ensure every guest gets the "Timber Bay Tough" and "Northwoods Hygge" experience they expect, while protecting the operational bandwidth of our team.

By securing a reservation with us, you agree to the following rules of the woods.

Booking & The "Locked-In" Rate Rule

When you reserve your dates and place your deposit, you are locking in your basecamp and your rate.

Final Price Guarantee
The price at the time of your purchase is your final price. Because our rates and availability fluctuate based on seasonality and capacity, we do not retroactively apply later discounts, promo codes, or special offers to existing reservations.
Re-Booking
If a new promotion launches and you wish to take advantage of it, you must officially cancel your current reservation (which will be subject to our standard cancellation penalties) and re-book the dates under the new promotional terms.

Deposits & Payments

To hold your reservation, a deposit is required at the time of booking. Because our units vary from intimate 1-bedroom cabins to our massive 21-sleeper Bear Trap and 52-foot houseboats, deposits scale with the size of your reservation value at 30%. The remaining balance of your reservation is due prior to or upon arrival at the lodge, depending on the specific unit and season.

Cancellations & Modifications (The 60-Day Horizon)

Out here on the Iron Range, an empty cabin or docked houseboat is a missed opportunity for another family. Because we have a short, intense primary booking season, last-minute cancellations severely impact our operations.

60+ Days Out: Cancellations made 60 days or more prior to your arrival date will receive a full refundl less your deposit and processing fee.
Under 60 Days: Cancellations made within 60 days of arrival forfeit the full deposit. If you shorten your stay or depart early due to weather, fishing conditions, or sudden changes in plans, you are still financially responsible for the entire length of your original reservation.

The "Camp Dog" Pet Policy

We believe dogs belong in the woods, and we welcome your four-legged explorers to Timber Bay Lodge. To maintain the peace of the resort and the quality of our "Northwoods Hygge" interiors, we require dog owners to adhere to a set of common sense rules:

The Leash Law: Your dog must be leashed and under your control at all times when outside your cabin or houseboat. We share this shoreline with wildlife, children, and other dogs.
The "Leave No Trace" Rule: You are 100% responsible for picking up after your dog immediately.
Cabin Etiquette: Dogs are not allowed on the furniture or the beds. We invest heavily in quality blankets and cozy interiors; please bring your dog's own bed for them to sleep on.
No Solo Howling: Dogs may not be left alone in cabins or houseboats unless they are securely crated and proven to be quiet. A barking dog ruins the profound silence of Birch Lake for everyone else.
Pet Fees: A standard, non-refundable pet fee applies per dog for the duration of your stay to cover the cleaning required to prep the unit for the next guest.

Note: If your dog causes damage or if we have to deploy the team for excessive cleaning (like removing wet dog smell from a mattress), an additional damage fee will be charged to your card on file.

Check-In & Check-Out

Check-In
3:00pm to 6:00pm for Private Lodges & Cabins
1:00pm to 3:00pm for Houseboats (peak season may require pre-selected times)
We use the mid-day hours for intense turnaround operations. Please do not arrive early expecting to access your cabin or boat, as our "Dock Boys" and cleaning crews need that time to ensure everything is spotless and fueled.
Check-Out
10:00 AM for Private Lodges & Cabins
9:00 AM for Houseboats (peak season may require pre-selected times)
Prompt departures are essential for us to prep the basecamp for the next incoming crew.

Store Policies

Store Returns

We stock the Trading Post with gear designed to withstand the elements of the Superior National Forest and the comfort standards of a Northwoods cabin. We stand behind the quality of our apparel and goods. However, out here in the woods, we also appreciate folks who know what they want.

If your gear isn't quite the right fit, we are happy to help you sort it out, provided it meets a few common-sense wilderness rules.

The 30-Day Window

You have 30 days from the date of purchase to request a return or exchange. Once 30 days have passed, your gear is officially considered part of your permanent basecamp, and we cannot offer a refund or exchange.

The "Fresh Out of the Box" Rule

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused, unwashed, and in the exact condition you received it. If it smells like a Birch Lake campfire, has been covered in dog hair, or features a walleye slime stain, it’s yours for life. Keep the original tags attached.

How to Initiate a Return

Email our team at info@timberbay.com with your order number and the reason for the return. We’ll provide you with the exact shipping instructions for our shipping headquarters.

Return Shipping (The Logistics)

Because we are a remote, independent lodge, you will be responsible for paying your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you are shipping an item over $75, we highly recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We cannot guarantee that the postal service will successfully navigate the Northwoods to deliver your returned item.

Non-Returnable Items

Clearance or Sale items (All sales final).
Worn or washed apparel.
Digital goods or gift cards.

Refund Processing

Once your return is received and inspected at the lodge, we will send you an email to notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If approved, a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment within 5-7 business days.

Store Terms of Service

General Conduct and Store Use

This store is built to equip you for the elements and the comforts of cabin life. We expect our online visitors to act with the same respect they would show around the campfire at our Northwoods headquarters. You agree not to use our site for any illegal or unauthorized purpose, nor to transmit any digital bugs, worms, or destructive code. Keep it clean, simple, and respectful.

Pricing, Inventory, and Accuracy

Running a remote, independent lodge means we occasionally deal with supply chain realities that are as unpredictable as a May snowstorm on the Iron Range.

Pricing Adjustments: We reserve the right to change prices for our products at any time without notice.
Inventory Limitations: We do our best to maintain accurate stock levels of our "Timber Bay Tough" gear. However, if a sudden run on Walleye Gold hoodies depletes our inventory, we reserve the right to limit the sales of our products to any person or geographic region, or cancel and refund an order if we simply cannot fulfill it.
Description Accuracy: We make every effort to display the true colors and textures of our goods, but we cannot guarantee your computer monitor will properly translate our Deep Water Navy or Iron Range Black.

Intellectual Property

The Timber Bay name, our badges, the "Timber Bay Tough" moniker, and all the photography and design on this site belong to Timber Bay Lodge & Houseboats.

No Bootlegging: You are welcome to wear the gear and share our links, but you may not reproduce, duplicate, copy, or resell any of our branding, designs, or site content to create your own merchandise without express written permission from our team.

Limitation of Liability

We source and sell durable, high-quality gear meant to withstand the demands of Birch Lake and the Boundary Waters edge, but we are not responsible for the unpredictability of your specific adventure. We do not warrant that our products will permanently withstand extreme misuse. If a product fails due to a genuine manufacturing defect, our Return Policy applies. If it fails because it was dragged behind a side-by-side on the Stony Spur trail, that is a great story for the Vermilion Club, but it is not a liability on our end.

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota. We reserve the right to update this policy at any time, and your continued use of the store constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

Store Privacy