Remote historical hotel accessible only by shuttle, offering antique-filled rooms & on-site dining.
Hours not specified
What clients say about Kettle Falls Hotel in Kabetogama (MN)
As a fellow bed and breakfast owner, I can’t help but admire what you’ve created at Kettle Falls Hotel. Nestled within the heart of Voyageurs National Park, this historic hotel offers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. Accessible only by water, it provides a peaceful retreat with cozy rooms, a welcoming dining area, and the renowned Tiltin’ Hilton bar. Guests appreciate the warm hospitality and the opportunity to disconnect in such a serene setting.
We loved Voyagers National Park and the Kettle Falls Hotel was so much fun to visit. We ate a delicious lunch, toured the interesting bar, enjoyed the dam waterfall overlook and just generally had a lovely time.
It’s over a hundred years old, and has been owned by locals father (Rick) and son (Sean) for 20 years. It can only be accessed by boat, and part of the fun is getting there. Rick picked us up at Ash River visitor center and took us to the hotel dock, about a 30 minute ride. Once docked, Rick loaded us into a golf cart and took us to check in. The hotel is a real throw back, with a large screened porch, a dining room with tables inside and out on the porch, and a communal room where guests can gather. Rooms are what you would expect from an old hotel, smallish, with a dresser, bed and nightstand. Bathrooms are shared. Our view looked down the dirt road to the lake. It was perfect. We spent the afternoon walking around the grounds and down to the dam. We rented kayaks and attempted to paddle for a few hours, but a storm was coming in and the wind kicked up. We were worried that we would have a difficult time getting back to the hotel between the wind and current from the dam, so we cut the paddle short. On the way back an eagle swooped down in front of us, and landed on a nearby rock. Magical! Kevin, the cook, made us an outstanding dinner (Walleye) and equally outstanding breakfast (loaded hash browns … my husband and I split this order and Kevin individually plated it for us). Treenie, our waitstaff was a delight. This place is lively during the day, with Sean portaging boats between lakes, anglers coming in for some outstanding food, and tour groups stopping by, in addition to the regular hotel guests. We met people visiting from many places, and one couple from Australia told us some people they had met at lunch the day before invited them out on their boat for the afternoon. It’s that kind of place! For a unique adventure full of peace, solitude and wonderful people, I recommend Kettle Falls hotel!
I LOVED this place! It was so peaceful and cozy and warm. If I just need to relax and escape, I would go back in a heartbeat. It felt like home. (I stayed in a single room in the lodge.)
The bartender could not care less about you trying to get his attention, but the place is super cool and nostalgic. Definitely worth your time to visit of you're nearby.
We did not stay at the hotel we just drove our boat over for a tour of the area. Great docks allow you to spend time walking the trails, seeing the hotel and the dam overlook. The restaurant looked very nice and clean but we did not eat there (not enough time). The bar is very interesting with the slanted floor! The walking paths are nice and the dam overlook is really cool. Wish we would have stayed a couple nights at this place!
Where to start? We did not stay in the hotel. Stayed in the villas. Make no mistake, these are not fancy by any means. Think typical fishing cabin. But they are air conditioned and comfortable enough. And clean as you would expect for a fishing cabin. This place is remote and that's the appeal. The hotel restaurant is small but adequate with good food and decent prices for the location. Service was excellent every where we went. Restaurant, bar, docks, everywhere! The tilton hilton is what the call the bar. Do not miss seeing it! Good prices on cold drinks and friendly bar tenders. I have seen some negative reviews of the bar tenders. Not sure why? Treat people with respect and kindness and it has been my experience you generally get it in return.
Such a great experience to stay at this historic hotel! Shawn and crew are the kindest nicest people I’ve ever met and can’t be thankful enough for the way they treated us.
What a truly amazing experience! The staff is hospitable, they are friendly, knowledgeable, and more than happy to cook up your fresh caught fish! Could not have has a better experience here. ?
Such a great experience staying at this lodge! You need to take a boat out to the property from the Ash River Visitor Center, and the boat ride out is part of the magic. The rooms are incredibly clean, as are the shared bathrooms (never a wait!). The staff couldn’t be more helpful (I didn’t go to the bar and sad that some reviewers are giving a one star review for one just staff member - the bartender). The people at the front desk and in the restaurant went out of their way for me. The expansive front porch - especially in an evening rain storm - is particularly charming. If you have the chance, stay here! :)
Did not stay….lol and after taking a tour of the upstairs I don’t think I’d like to stay. I can rough it but small rooms and shared bathrooms were left behind in college for me! We were house boating and stopped here as an adventure. We had small boats attached that took us down the American Channel to get there. We enjoyed hiking but didn’t see falls, just a dam….must have been the falls? Some of our group took their time because they were foraging mushrooms and found gold among the trails. We ate on the porch which is a beaut, our waitress was great and service fast but my salad was pretty sad and dismal. The bar was funny, the floor is a trip and don’t forget to lift the benches. The bartender wasn’t very friendly or helpful but did answer a question when a loud lady announced to us she WAS A LOCAL!!!! I had to ask him what being a local entailed because this all seems remote, he said it means she has a cabin so where on the ash river, she was very proud. I’d go again, glad we stopped to stretch our feet after being on houseboat in the rain for two days. Bring bug spray!!!!
This last visit was my 4th time there. Two visits ago I would have given this 5 stars, now they are lucky to get 3. THe food and service in the restaurant was just fine, however the bar was terrible. The bartender (tall guy who has been there forever) was a massive jerk to say the least. Every time we go we get the adult pink slushies and play pool and beersby. Beersby is gone, and the pool sticks and balls were removed from use. When we asked if we could get them so we could play, he told us no because it was too busy and he didn't want to deal with it. There was maybe 10 people in there. When I made a comment to one of the dock helpers, they told us he is a jerk and that we should have gotten the manager to give us the pool cues. The prices for a slushie went up more than 3x and had barely any alcohol in them. Why pay almost $10 a drink for lemonade?? I more than likely won't be back and that sucks because it was something we looked forward to every summer.
Most employees were lovely but the bartender was VERY Rude and Unpleasant. I assume he is a family member, otherwise he would be fired. My children were afraid to ask for a glass of water because he was “mean”. He refused to change the channel to the olympics because he was “watching this” despite being at work and spending every spare moment on his laptop at the bar. Ruined our trip ☹️
Vibes are so off at this spot, not just that’s it’s slanted! The falls area is nice, honestly won’t come back. Not a must see if you’re passing through. Could be so beautiful, heartfelt and welcoming but just isn’t there. Seems that most things that are in the menu are heated up from the freezer. For what seems like a heavily trafficked tourist spot you’d expect more.
If you want an amazing rare experience of being surrounded by thousands of acres of vast wilderness , in a historic 1913 setting,you will love Kettle Falls Hotel. To me the unique placement of this hotel is what makes it a one of a kind place!|Kevin’s Walleye Dinner is so tasty! | Rick, Craig,Shawn are amazing hosts and make you feel at home. |Some of the furnishings are well loved but very clean. |We loved sitting on the screen porch in the evening. |Ask about a (there is a charge) boat ride to see the scenery from the hotel, it was lovely!||DO NOT schedule a voyagers National Park boat tour while you are at the hotel, that leaves from Rainy Lake Visitor Center. The shuttle boat times will not correspond with the tour times. ||The boat shuttle ride is 30 minutes to get from the Ash River Visitor center(where you leave your car) to the Kettle Falls Hotel. ||Bring a good book, a deck of cards, and a fishing pole. ||We worried about the shared bathrooms but it was no problem, convenient to our room and one was always available. ||The Frozen pink lemonade and Voda is great. |Make the little walk to the trading post and the overlook. With bug spray on. |Relax and enjoy the scenery!|We can’t wait to return!!!!!
Nice little area enjoyed stopping in for a drink and food when I was visiting. Bartender had the personality of a wet dish rag. Not very friendly at all. Loved the history of the building. Was cool they left the bar on a slope.
Staying at this hotel affords you the ability to actually stay in Voyageurs NP without camping or renting a houseboat. Rooms are basic but comfortable, and the restaurant was surprisingly good. We especially enjoyed the bar. If you are on a short trip to Voyageurs, this is the place to stay, just be prepared for very basic accommodations.
Cute place for a night or two. We enjoyed the 25 minute speed boat ride. The kayaking was fabulous. Bathrooms are shared and dated but clean. The room was also dated but comfortable. The food was tasty. Good onion rings and fried walleye. Tasty pancakes. They need more fruits and vegetables on the menu. Friendly staff. A cute spot. Highly Recommend!
Bartender wouldn’t pay any attention to us. Definitely made me not feel welcomed. Sat down at a table in the bar for 10 mins. Went up to the bar and asked do we order here? Bartender said yes, I asked what beer you have and no response. I asked where do we order food and ignores me more. Sounds like he had locals filling up the whole bar and didn’t care to serve me. Went over to the restaurant and had a better experience with service. I drove hours too see this establishment and not to feel welcomed is terrible. The dam is beautiful and they do sell gas. Please get rid of your bar tender
What a lovely place! Feels like visiting grandma’s. The chefs make homemade food like you would cook yourself. The menu is quite large, especially considering how hard it must be to get products in/out of here. Rented a canoe one day and a motor boat for fishing the next day. The service here is crazy good. The owners are literally the nicest people you will ever meet! Actually, every person on staff is crazy nice and accommodating. Highly recommend. Anything they lack is made up for with their genuine kindness and generosity. It’s hard to find people like that in this world, and it makes this place a true gem. Also, the area is gorgeous!
The food is good and the server is nice enough, the real draw however is the atmosphere and the history of the place. The walls have many old photos and the bar has a slanted floor which adds charm and is fun. There are a few 1940s esque naked women photos in the bar so if you're uptight and not willing to see the humor in it, the bar might not be for you. As far as I can see, all the negative reviews are more issues with the person leaving the review than they are with the actual place. Come here with an open mind to a historic hotel and you'll have a wonderful time.
We spent two nights sleeping soundly at the hotel. This is a place to go to renew, connect with nature with out the noise of tv, radio, car sounds etc. The boat ride to the hotel, the delicious broiled walley and wild rice, the staff’s friendliness and help and the rescue after tipping our canoe exceeded all my expectations. It has been on my to do list and at 76 finally went! Be mindful it is simple, rustic and well loved and many others enjoy this scenic secluded spot in Voyageurs National Park!
This is an incredibly unique experience within the NPS and the best way to really experience Voyageurs NP. Voyageurs is a water park with few roads and fewer places for you to access the park without a boat. In fact, the vast majority of the park, 3 of the 4 lakes and entirety of the Kabetogama Peninsula, cannot be accessed from a car. So, if you don't have a boat, one of the only places you can stay is Kettle Falls which is a hotel located on the very end of the Kabetogama Peninsula between Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake. For over a hundred years is has served as a lodging for visitors, loggers, bootleggers and hundreds of National Park guest. ||This is an experience; it is not luxury lodging. It is camp style lodging with common restroom over a cozy lobby and boarding house dining room. There is a nice, covered porch and the local bar for the park. It is nicer than a tent, but without internet or TV, it is oddity more like the early history of the park where you engaged total strangers in face to face conversation. Again Kettle Falls is not the destination but the experience, and it is one you cannot get anywhere else.||One of the great things about Kettle Falls is the stay gets you a boat ride to see the park. Ok, it is a $45 charge, but with a room at $70, I preferred to look at it as a normal hotel room with a boat ride into the park included. On that ride we saw several bald eagles which was so cool. As the electronic entertainment amenities are low, this place is made to get outdoors with hiking, kayaks and boat rentals and more. Unfortunately, the day of my visit was steady rain so I did not get to take the kayak out, but I did some hiking to the dam and see the spot where you can look south into Canada from the US. ||The last part of traditional entertainment of the hotel is the bar for people all around the park to come to and it is a bar you will want to see. The original foundation was not on stable ground, so the porch and bar floor began to sink, so much that there is a visible and pronounce lien in the building. When the NPS stabilized the building, they kept the slope in the bar and porch, so you can still experience this. The best part is the pool table that rises above the floor on one side to keep it level, adding to the uniqueness of this visit. Again for me this is all about the experience and while my experience did not have the best weather, it did not stop me from enjoying this stay greatly.
Not impressed with this place. Food was lousy and cheap tasting. The bar had posters of naked women all over. That could have been a very awkward experience if the family had walked in with me. Heads up in case you have to take the kids to the bathrooms, they are basically in the bar, with posters visible from the hall.
Considering the land and building are owned by the National Park Service, I would have expected a higher standard. Absolutely poor taste, do better.
Stopped in on our Border Guide Service Tour (if you want the best tour get Bill, he is awesome) and fell in love with this place even though we were only there for a few minutes. The bar is the coolest little bar I have ever been in. We will definitely be coming back to stay for a few nights in the future.
We really enjoyed this place we were crazy we flew out for one night stayed over, tour the two visitor centers, they recommended city cab to us, which was great got us right to the boat launch. Then Craig came and got us on the boat Taxi, an amazing person and amazing driver of the boat. And then we were introduced to SEAN which is one of the operators, great guy, well knowledgeable, not only the two of them but, Buddy and Chad in the restaurant & the bar also got to know us for our short time there . I would highly recommend this place to my friends and to other people that want to visit the national parks. Thank you again for being there, oh yeah they took care of us on a two hour rental on a boat we had so much fun they navigate Us,
Send amazing place which is right on the border of Canada
Stayed at a campsite nearby and boated over a couple times during our stay. There is so much history to see and read about there while enjoying a cold drink. It really gives a lot of perspective on how the area came to be what it is today. They have a store with whatever essentials you may have forgotten as well.
We visited here on a day trip boat cruise from Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. The journey to the hotel is part of the fun experience. We saw many eagles and other wildlife all in the context of an amazing body of water and beautiful wilderness. We enjoyed the Ranger led stories about the Kettle Falls hotel and area. It has fascinating and colorful history. The Hotel has been carefully restored by the Park service. They respectfully retained the very slanted bar floor. We enjoyed a very nice lunch on the porch and the short walks to the falls and surrounding area. If you are in the area it is worth a visit.
I love the atmosphere in the hotel. both staffs and guests are very friendly. Food is good and price is fair. Bed is very comfy. The shuttle boat is amazing. Great experience inside the Voyageurs National Park!
