Moose Jaw Resort & Campground ‘a gem’ of Price County

Chris Rugowski

Contributor

May 12, 2025

PARK FALLS – Nestled in the Chequamegon National Forest in Price County, Moose Jaw Resort & Campground (W770 Wind Song Lane) has been a favorite of visitors and locals for more than a hundred years.

Founded in 1887, current Owners Jason Carlson and Angie Hugdahl said its family friendly atmosphere, charmingly rustic accommodations, fresh home-cooked meals and location central to area attractions and activities make it an ideal getaway for anyone looking for a quiet escape from the daily grind.

The decision to buy

Though real estate investors in the Duluth-Superior area, Carlson and Hugdahl said they had thought about buying a campground previously, they were unsure about taking the leap while Hugdahl’s daughter was still in school.

“We went just to look at it and compare it to places we wanted to buy,” Hugdahl said. “But we got down here, and it was such a beautiful place and a great location, we decided to buy it.”

Describing the resort and campground as “a gem,” both Carlson and Hugdahl said it wasn’t an opportunity they could pass up.

Hugdahl said she compares the decision to purchase Moose Jaw to that of going to the pound to just look at puppies, and coming home with one.

From the cabins with in-floor heating, to a 12-stall storage unit, to 667 feet of waterfront with many dock spots, to a beautiful lodge – the duo said the property was in great shape.

Neither she nor Carlson had visited or even seen Moose Jaw in person prior to the “let’s check it out” trip, but Hugdahl said it came up in one of Carlson’s online searches for campgrounds and resorts to buy.

“Jason tends to come across things like this, as he does a lot of research online,” she said. “We had looked at a few other places, too, but none of them were what we wanted. We went from taking a nice Sunday drive (to check the place out) to its owners.”

Acknowledging they both had always wanted to move more into real estate, Hugdahl and Carlson said purchasing Moose Jaw seemed like a fitting match to the houses, duplexes and commercial buildings they had already invested in.

Hugdahl said one of the original commercial buildings they purchased in Hayward three years ago helped set their sights on bigger possibilities.

“Three years ago, we bought a commercial bar that had some land behind it where we were going to build a cabin and run the bar and liquor store,” she said. “But plans changed, and we looked at Moose Jaw and took a big leap on that instead.”

Hugdahl said the price of Moose Jaw had just been reduced, was in their risk range and the previous owners were ready to let it go, as they had been in it for about 10 years.

Since taking over ownership about two and a half years ago, Hugdahl and Carlson said they’ve both learned a lot.

A new life path

With just the two of them taking on the responsibilities of owning Moose Jaw – compared to the four-plus people running operations before they took ownership – Hugdahl and Carlson said they knew it would be a lot.

“In the last two years, we’ve learned so much and made a lot of changes to the structures and practices from the previous owners,” Hugdahl said. “For example, now we have a reservation system online I spent the last year creating. Building that website helped a lot.”

Carlson and Hugdahl said the resort’s previous owners and staff were a big help in showing them the ropes during the transition.

“Everyone was very patient in teaching and educating in the best ways to do things within the restaurant and at the resort,” Hugdahl said.

One of the biggest and most difficult challenges, Carlson said, has been his relocation, as he is on site at the resort most of the time.

Hugdahl said she was also used to being at the resort regularly, however, due to a life change, she now spends most of her time in the Duluth-Superior area, generally only getting to Moose Jaw on the weekends.

She said she is also still working a full-time job with the University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Steeped in history

According to its website (moosejawresort.com), the history of the campground and resort dates back to 1887, when the area served as a logging camp nestled on a chain of five lakes in the Chequamegon National Forest.

Loggers would use the lakes and rivers to send trees downriver.

As time passed, more cabins were constructed and the property held a variety of names, including Pine Forest Resort, The Homestead Resort, Boyd’s Mason Lake Resort and Ross and Sylvester’s Pike Lake Lodge.

Three original cabins still exist on the property, along with the lodge.

Five new cabins were constructed, for a total of eight, through 2017. 

Today, Hugdahl said the Moose Jaw Resort & Campground has eight one- to four-bedroom cabins, campsites – which are equipped to accommodate both RV and tent campers and include shower and laundry facilities – and the main level of the lodge houses Woods Edge Restaurant & Bar.

The resort, she said, also has three “primitive” (no electricity) tent sites.

In addition, Hugdahl said there are two other cabins on the property that are owned by the local condo association, which Moose Jaw manages and rents out.

All cabins, she said, feature fully equipped kitchens, dishes, utensils, coffee maker, toaster, showers and/or tub, charcoal grills, picnic tables and fire rings.

Four of the cabins, Hugdahl said, offer in-floor heat, and all cabins have air conditioning.

Furthermore, she said most cabins have screened-in porches, all are equipped with Smart TVs, free Wi-Fi and coin laundry is also available on the grounds.

For even greater convenience, Hugdahl said live bait is available on site, along with a fish cleaning station.

And for anyone needing ice, firewood or gas, Hugdahl said Moose Jaw has those, too.

A few tweaks, here and there

Hugdahl said they’ve done numerous upgrades to the campground so far, which include a new kitchen floor in the lodge.

The duo said they also refinished the wooden floors in the dining rooms and the bar, added a new roof to one of the cabins, laid down all new rock on the driveway and added more docks, as well as improved the ones already there.

Additionally, Hugdahl and Carlson said they refinished the siding on the bait shop and fish cleaning station.

Rental-wise, the duo said they went from one pontoon boat to three – all of which are rented out for most of the summer.

Activity-wise, Hugdahl said the resort – which is located halfway between Minocqua and Park Falls – has an eight-hole mini-golf course, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, horseshoes and a beach.

Moose Jaw, she said, is also located within minutes of hiking, biking, ATV, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails.

Fitting right in

The supportive community, Hugdahl said, is one of the reasons that made the decision to purchase the resort so much easier.

“When we came down a couple of different times (before buying Moose Jaw), we got to meet some people in the community,” she said. “The owner took us around and there was a community event going around and the people were so nice. When we officially took it over, a lot of the community offered a helping hand if needed. They were very receptive to us coming in and weren’t afraid of the change we were making.”

Hugdahl said what makes the resort so special is the people – many of which keep coming back – and what she calls a “million-dollar view that’s breathtaking.”

Though she acknowledges she might be a little biased, Hugdahl said the vacationers who keep showing up prove her point.

“They’re always in a good mood – that’s always nice,” she said. “People keep coming back, and that continues to make this place special year after year.”

Learn more about Moose Jaw Resort at moosejawresort.com.