as a birthday surprise, i was taken on an adventure friday evening. my destination was completely unknown to me. it was a long drive along quiet and curvy gravel roads. i wasn't in charge of navigating, as it was a surprise, so i took advantage of the picturesque views from my passenger window. it was a perfect late august evening when we reached our destination. the trestle inn, located amongst the forests, lakes, and wilderness just outside of finland, minnesota, is a gem. the rustic inn and saloon is built from the timbers of an abandoned railroad trestle that was last used in the 1920's. the douglas fir timbers are estimated to be 300 years old. susan butler and her family purchased the trestle inn in 2000. sue is just as much of a legend as the inn itself. she raised three children, on her own, far from most of the thrills and luxuries most of us are used to. sue has just recently added electricity within the last five years!
we had a memorable and entertaining experience. everything about the trestle inn has a bit of history to it. there is this amazing wood stove at the end of the bar, and an even more amazing loft area upstairs, filled with antiques and wooden furniture, that is used for special events. memories were abound from floor to ceiling. we were lucky enough to share some stoop time with sue the owner, and her wonderful waitress. they told us tales from the past, and shared with us their love of the land and the lives that they live. hardships are a plenty, but with their hilarious outlooks on life, things are going well. the funniest animal sighting that a guest has reported to sue in the past: a camel.
about the food....it was great! i couldn't resist the quirky 'minnesota burger', which had me thinking about my mother's tater-tot hot dish! it was a picture perfect burger topped with a giant, crisp tater tot, fried onions, and smothered in cream of mushroom soup! there's a variety of offerings on their menu. a great burger list, steaks, ribs, and walleye are all available, a hearty menu-not for the faint of heart- perfect after a long day fishing, paddling, or hiking. the saloon has draft rootbeer on tap, as well as a variety of brews.
if you are in need of an adventure off of the beaten path, take a meander to the trestle inn. there are several lakes and trails to explore in the area. every season has its own adventure there. for more history, stories, and information visit their website: www.trestleinn.com
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