The Early Days

In the Forties

Surrounded by one of the oldest and largest US National Forests, the area of Timber Bay and Superior National Forest were scraped to bear hard rock by North America’s last receding glaciers. This left a raw and wild nature experience across the areas 3.9 million acres that is still largely undisturbed.

Timber Bay was carved out of Minnesota’s North Woods by brothers Dick and Wally Niss in 1947.

The first guests, mainly fisherman, arrived in 1949 sharing three meals a day on the lodge porch served by Hazel, Wally’s wife. In these days, this was called The American Plan.

And Into the Mid-Fifties

Houseboats arrived at Timber Bay in the mid 1950’s, about the same time that the colorful outdoorsman Boyce Hardy joined the Timber Bay family. A fixture at the resort and a jack-of-all-trades, Boyce was a central part of the resort’s history until early 2000.

Onto the Early Eighties

John and Toots Rykken bought Timber Bay in 1980 ushering in a new era. With a broadened focus on outdoor family activities, they grew the resort’s offering to more than just a fishing destination. It evolved into a family oriented resort.

In the decades since, The Rykkens continually heard about all the wonderful memories built by so many families.

And Then, A New Century

Many of these same families are now bringing their third generation to experience all that Timber Bay offers. Ron (the Rykken’s oldest son) and his wife Beth, along with daughters Cortney and Bailey bought the resort in 2000, continuing the Rykken tradition for a full for 45 years.

Guests across generations and across the US travel to Timber Bay, where they continue to share that this resort has become the favorite vacation spot to re-unite, unwind and relax.

Today, a New Chapter

In early 2024, Ron and Beth began to consider what their next chapter might look like. They listed the resort quietly and positioned it for continuation of the family-focused purpose they had set in place.

Within days of listing, two families placed a joint offer and completed the sale of Timber Bay just within a few short months. Drew and Janet along with Jim and Molly are so fortunate to be meeting each of YOUR incredible families, your children and grandchildren….

It is an absolute honor to continue these traditions, recapture some older ones, and consider what might be next on the horizon… all with a keen eye toward what makes Timber Bay so special: Your families who join us every year.

Got some history to share?

We’d love to hear about it. Please share your stories, pictures, videos (you name it!) with us and let us know what you’ve cherished in your great Northwoods escapes.

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