Thunderbird Lodge
| Address: | 2170 Co Rd 139, International Falls, MN 56649, USA |
| Phone: | +1 218-286-3151 |
| Site: | thunderbirdrainylake.com |
| Rating: | 4.3 |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 5
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A Private User
My boyfriend and I just stayed at Thunderbird a couple of weeks ago on our first visit to Voyageurs Natl Park. We planned to arrive at the lodge early in the evening before renting a boat and heading off to the park to camp for several days the next morning. Unfortunately we took a rather leisurely drive from Chicago, and didnt arrive at Thunderbird until 11:30pm or so. Not a big deal- the sun doesnt set fully here in the summer until about 11:00pm, making the ride on HWY 53 absolutely gorgeous. When we got to the lodge the lobby desk was closed, but the bartender had our key and paperwork all ready for us. The room where we stayed was in the main lodge. It was clean, recently updated, and really a lot nicer than we expected for the $89/night. There was free wifi which worked perfectly, and a very comfortable bed with duvet comforter. The next morning we awoke and had a leisurely breakfast in the lodge restaurant. We were the only ones there, and had a beautiful view of the lake from our table. The breakfast was simple American-fare, but good. We rented our boat from Thunderbird as well, and got the best deal I could find in the area. We just had a simple 16 with a 15hp motor (perfect for us who were there to enjoy the novelty of a little boat and soak up the wilderness), for $50/day. Amazing! Steve, the guy in charge of the marina, was great. He loaned us all kinds of equipment (buckets, extra gas can, tons of advice and lots of laughs), gave us samples of some walleye, and helped us load our gear. Overall, this place was really perfect. I would absolutely go back- and maybe check out their little private cabins. Everyone was very friendly, helpful, and full of laughs. There were a lot of guests milling about the docks who all seemed very at home. The grounds were well-kept and beautiful, and there was all around a good local vibe. If youre looking to compare this place to another in the area, read my review about the Island View Lodge--- unfortunately we had to stay there when we returned from camping because Thunderbird was booked. Also, for another breakfast option head to downtown International Falls- on HWY 53 in the downtown district (where the street is lined with old building facades) look for the coffee shop with yellow chairs out front. The breakfast was superb! And the coffee, their local roast, was also fantastic and would make a good souvenir gift. Try the raspberry scones and the green eggs and ham!
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ramiro garcia
I just want to say I rarely ever write reviews but I had to say something. So my family and I wanted to have a nice dinner since it was our last night in Rainy, so we asked the locals and a few mentioned that this was one of the "good" restaurants in town. My wife and I arrived with our two boys 10 & 8 and a friend that is working in the area for the summer. So lets begin.. The kids menu, my son ordered a cheese burger and he wanted bacon so they charged an additional $2.00, ok thats fine since I heard this is the place to go. Any rate when his food came out it was literally a White Castle slider size burger and old soggy fries! My ten year old son even said, dad Im not sure if this was worth the money.. Im usually the type to make the best out of a situation but I couldnt help to agree. My wife ordered a ribeye (steak Oscar $36.00) a so called 12 oz ribeye with hollandaise sauce, which had more sauce than meat, seriously Im not kidding.. I went on to order the Prime Rib- again $36.00 and was a great disappointment. Waiter brought out my dish and once he placed it on the table I just looked up at him like if he was joking and poor guy couldnt even look me in the eyes. The meat was completely filled with fat and the cook didnt even give me the courtesy of sending me a hot baked potato, seriously it was lukewarm and the dang cheese didnt even melt. I will say my 8 year old chicken fingers, all two of them looked appealing. On the other hand our friend did order the walleye and that was actually pretty good, she shared a few bites since she realized I wasnt going to eat a plate full of fat. The bill was over $130.00 which Im used to when eating at a good restaurants, but this place certainly should not be charging these rates on food thats sub par... Maybe Im just upset that Im still hungry? Either way I most likely wont ever go back, not just the food but the service was odd. Freaking waiter only came out once to give us water and that was the only other time we seen him besides when he delivered the food and quickly gave us the bill. I know its seems like Im complaining a lot but with the great views you think they would step up their game. Perhaps that as good as it gets up here? Hope this helps my fellow foodies out their..
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Scott Thiele
The Lodge itself has been around for a while. The current owners have done a great job of keeping the rooms updated and very clean. There is much charm around the property. It is literally on the edge of the wilderness. The staff a the hotel is fantastic and very helpful. They helped arrange a guide for a one-day fishing trip. The guide, Pat, on the trip was great. He took care of everything. Despite some strong winds that limited where we could go (and not be seasick) on the lake, he put us on the walleye. We caught our limit of fish. We had a break on shore at an open campsite. Pat would have taken us anywhere we wanted to go on the lake. The trip to the fishing spot was an experience worth the price. We dined in the Lodge restaurant on our second night. I was pleasantly surprised by the menu selections and the wine list. The food was excellent and far exceeded my expectations. If youre in the area and looking for a great restaurant, this is the place. The view from the dining room is a group of islands in the bay. Beyond the islands is the Voyager NP. The view will help you put lifes little stresses in the proper perspective. This is truly a first rate operation, and I cant wait to return.
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Lisa Primm
We visited just for dinner mainly because website said it was pet friendly. They did let us have our dog on the deck while we ate, but I wouldnt call anyone there " pet-friendly". We were charged extra to have our food brought out to the deck. It was a beautiful evening and there were other patrons dining inside and out. The view was mainly of the marina, but nice. The service was mediocre, as our waitress took several "smoke breaks" during dinner but the food was amazing! Very limited menu but everything we had was wonderful. There was a full bar which made the experience better!
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Andrew Bayba
The Thunderbird Lodge is one of the nicer places to stay when looking at or near international falls, MN. The location is right on the river and there is a restaurant (which is pretty good) attached along with a gift shop. The rooms are alright a little outdated but for the price not bad. Beds are comfortable and dont reek of chlorine. Word of caution for those whose cell carriers are T-Mobile or AT&T good luck finding any service the four nights I stayed there had none whatsoever. There is free Wi-Fi but that is pretty spotty and didnt work my last night there.
