62 |^ Log Home Living^ |^ AUGUST^2019
Attractions &
Adventure
1
Old Log Theatre
5185 Meadville St.,
Excelsior, MN 55331
952-474-5951
oldlog.com
Founded in 1940 and billed as
the Northwest’s “first profes-
sional theater,” the Old Log has a
storied histor y in the Twin Cities
region. The original stage was
housed in a log stable that still
stands on the property, and, in
its f irst season, showed 13 plays
in 13 weeks. A new theater was
built in the 1960s and has been
a key player in the area’s fine arts
scene ever since. If you’re plan-
ning to take in a show on your
Road Trip, make it a date night
with a stop at the Cast & Cru
restaurant located right on the
grounds.
2
Snake River
Fur Post
212551 Voyageur Lane,
Pine City, MN 55063
320-629-6356
mnhs.org/furpost
The fur trade was vital to the
state’s native Ojibwe tribes
long before European settlers
came on the scene and contin-
ued long after the French and
British arrived. The waterways
of Minnesota were prime trading
territory, and now you can get a
firsthand glance into American
history at the Snake River Fur
Post (formerly the North West
Company Fur Post). This recon-
structed log trading post and en-
campment also brings to life the
proud culture and daily life of the
Ojibwe people through costumed
interpreters and educational dis-
plays, but if you want to navigate
the river, it’s BYOC (bring your
own canoe), as watercraft are not
provided.3
Forest History
Center
2609 Co. Road 76,
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218-327-4482
mnhs.org/foresthistory
If you’ve ever wondered what
the life of a logger is like, here’s
your chance to find out. Start
your quest at the Forest History
Center, and make your first stop
the Visitor’s Center, where you’ll
learn the history of the profes-
sion. From there, a guided tour of
the 1900s-era logging camp will
show you the hard work required
to fell the region’s mighty white
pine. A short walk from camp
will bring you to a river “wani-
gan,” the f loating headquarters
that efficiently and economically
moved the logs down river. The
site also includes a 1930s for-
est ranger’s cabin, a fire tower
and self-guided nature trails.
The park is open January to
September; hours vary.Dine & Shop
4
The Old Log Cabin
Restaurant & Bar
9726 Scandia Trail N.,
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-433-5646
theoldlogcabin.com
A charming log setting and a hu-
morous menu are hallmarks of
this Forest Lake eatery. To start,
tr y the “fungus humongous,” or
“totchos” (tater-tot nachos) then
move on to a “log jammer” —
their take on a prime rib au jus —
or “grizzly chicken” sandwiches.
And no trip to the upper Midwest
is complete without an order of
battered, deep fried cheese curds.
The friendly staff will help quell
your appetite along your route.5
Log Cabin Coffee
Drive-Thru
1340 E Sheridan St.,
Ely, MN 55731,
218-235-40342
1
Photo by Dan Marshall/Charlie Vaughn, courtesy Minnesota Historical Society3
4
Photos courtesy of the companies listed unless otherwise noted.