Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort is located in Deerwood, Minnesota and has been since 1898. It’s about 2 hours north of the Twin Cities, making it a perfect weekend getaway!
My husband and I stayed at the end of June with our 2 month old daughter and had such a great time! It’s a family-focused resort which made us feel comfortable the entire time.
This post is sponsored by Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort, but all opinions are my own.
14 Reasons to stay at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort
Lakefront Beach
There are 2 different beaches at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort, both with great sand and lake access! The main beach is located right next to the main lodge, pool, and restaurants, and is a gorgeous spot to drink your morning coffee, play on the water trampoline, or watch the sunset.
Boat rentals
You can dock your own boat at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort, but you can rent a pontoon, too. Rent one for a few hours, a half day, or the entire day. We rented a pontoon for the whole day and loved having it during the day and also for a sunset cruise! They also offer wave runner rentals which we would have done if it wasn’t for baby!
Water sports
Kayak, paddleboard, water bike, and more! We didn’t have time to try the water sports, but it was so fun to see everyone out enjoying the water. The perfect opportunity to give something new a try!
Swimming pools
No matter what time of year you choose to visit Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort, there is a pool for you! Check out the indoor pool and hot tub, or look out over the lake and swim in the outdoor pool in the summer! Major upgrades are coming next year to the pools – more to come on that later!
Ruby’s Dining Room
Ruby’s Dining Room was our favorite on-site restaurant! Located in the historic lodge, plan at least one breakfast here (get the buffet – so much to choose from and so yummy!) and definitely go for dinner as well! One of the best up north meals we’ve had. We ordered the walleye and risotto. YUMMM.
More restaurants
There are 3 restaurants on site at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort. Ruby’s (which I mentioned above) was our favorite but the most fancy. Bear Pine is a bar and grill that overlooks the lake with a great patio, and White Oak Grill which is located in the clubhouse at the on-site golf course. More on that below!
Coffee and ice cream
In addition to 3 restaurants, Auntie M’s is a cute little spot that offers coffee, baked goods, and ice cream! A great mid-day pick-me-up!
Shopping on site
We loved spending time walking around the resort grounds and stopping at the shops on-site. Find boutiques, a resort-wear store, and even a salon! My favorite was The Garage where we got some shirts and resort souvenirs!
Jack’s 18 golf course
Ruttger’s Jack’s 18 Golf Course is located right on site and is GORGEOUS! Golf among the pine trees and Bay Lake. We golfed 9 holes with a golf cart and then cooled off afterwards at White Oak Grill with drinks and apps.
Variety of rooms
Whether you’re staying with extended family or a small family, there’s a variety of rooms to stay in at Ruttger’s. We stayed in the Bay Lake Villas and loved them! They are newer with a little kitchenette. See their site for all options, and read more about the improvements being made below.
Historic Lodge
Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort was built in 1898 and is still here today! Make sure to walk around the inside to see some historic photos on the wall, and admire the interior. So pretty!
Fun activities
In the summer, there’s fun activities to take part in. We stopped by the live music overlooking the lake on our first night and it was so relaxing! There’s also shuffleboard, tennis, pickle ball, and basketball courts!
Resort-wide wifi
Wifi is a big deal for us when traveling, and Ruttger’s had wifi all thought the resort! My husband worked the whole week while there and had great connections both in our room and elsewhere. Great for video calls too!
Renovations coming 2022
Starting October 2021, Ruttger’s is making some major upgrades to their resort. The main lodge is staying, but getting some additions and re-structuring. The main change is the little water-front cabins which are being replaced by more modern, larger cabins, great for extended families! The pool and restaurant are also getting a makeover!
Thanks to Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort for a great stay! Visit their website here.
Wow, they seriously have EVERYTHING! I definitely need to check this place out!
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Amazing clicks of pictures! we have done to the same place and it looks like heaven on earth, and we enjoyed our trip. Before visiting this place, we consulted with Boundary Waters Catalog about the place and bought some tools from them. We got some information from some blogs and our trip was amazing.