4 Best Vacation Spots in the North Al Capone is Rumored to Stay in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Editor’s note: This archived Vault story was first published Aug. 25, 2022.

Stories of Al Capone’s secret hideouts and hideouts in the Northland have circulated throughout the state of Minnesota for decades. Residents of the North Shore and Iron Range have long boasted of their backyards as a hangout for bootleggers.

These claims have become increasingly difficult to verify over the years, but that hasn’t stopped Minnesotans—and Wisconsinites—from claiming the notorious Capone as their own.

The stories told today have become something of a gangster tale, flavored with truth and filled with mystery.

It may seem strange that America’s most notorious gangsters of the 1920s and ’30s considered northern Wisconsin and Minnesota their haunts, especially in the summer. However, compared to other wealthy Chicagoans, their retreat to the north woods was not so strange. Many representatives of the city elite came here for their summer holidays.

Of all the places where Capone is rumored to have stayed, the one in Coudera, Wisconsin has received the most attention.

Spanning over 400 acres, the property includes a structure with 18-inch stone walls for added security. The property also included watchtowers hovering over the nearly 40-acre lake bordering the property. It is rumored that there was also a gun turret here.

While the place was certainly a relaxing alternative to living in Chicago, it wasn’t all about hiding away. According to the Library of Congress, Al Capone and his team received shipments of alcohol from Canada, which were transported across the border on seaplanes.

The property, which also includes a bar and restaurant, was put up for sale in 2009 with a starting price of $2.6 million. It was sold to the Chippewa Valley Bank.

The Nanibooju Social Club opened in 1928 in Cook County on the North Shore. The grand private lodge was created for the nation’s elite, providing a private and extravagant retreat from the country’s major cities.

In addition to celebrities such as Babe Ruth, the members-only club is rumored to also include members of organized crime, including Al Capone.

The resort itself, including the area around the buildings, covered an area of ​​3,300 acres. The dense forest offered visitors opportunities for hunting and solitude.

Membership was not easy. In the 1920s, a 99-year membership cost $200, according to the company’s website. Instead of advertising the club, its exclusivity was promoted through friends of friends.

Lutzen

The Lutzen resort is among a number of North Shore locations that also claim to have been the hideout of a notorious Chicago bootlegger.

According to Lutsen Resort History, Al Capone stayed at the resort in the 1920s with a female companion. Upon check-out, the resort owners noticed that the fish house they had rented was full of bullet holes. Capone paid an additional $20 for damages.

The story of how the bullet holes came to be has now become the stuff of legend and lore, some of which involve a shootout on the shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota.

Another infamous and grand location that Capone frequented is rumored to be outside the sleepy town on the northern coast of Finland, Minnesota.

Although specific details are difficult to determine, the story in Northern Wilds contains details from local residents who recall hearing stories about Capone’s escape.

The residence included the main house, swimming pool and stables. There are also several guest cabins on site.

Stories of Capone’s flight to Finland also include mention of a large underground safe where Capone supposedly stored ammunition.

The facility was located along Heffelfinger Road,

according to Northern Wilds

.