The best way to describe the Lodge is to have some of the grandchildren of Grandpa and Grandma Elsen describe it in their words. Here are several of their recollections:

I remember going to watch the Ski Show. I remember rainy days, sitting inside, curled up in a chair reading.

I remember one night Mom let me stay up and play cards with the older cousins on the condition that I come to bed when she called. I kept waiting for her to call but she never did. Finally, around midnight they all decided to go to bed and so I went into our room and there was Mom fast asleep.

I remember so many things about the Lodge. The excitement of turning into the long driveway, the rush of memories that I get as we drive down it.
I’ll always love the Lodge; the sunsets, the lights shining across the lake, the Big Rock, the swamp, the boat, the games, but most of all I love the Lodge because of the people there.