Named for the Encampment River and Encampment Island on the North Shore of Minnesota, the Forest Association was formed in 1921 by twenty-five prominent businessmen from the Twin Cities as a private club. That exclusive origin, its relative seclusion along the scenic North Shore of Minnesota, the conservation of its surrounding land, and the residents desire for anonymity shroud the place in mystery. The 1,575 acres of forest that comprised the original property are owned collectively by the Association and contain log-cabin-style homes that are often handed down from generation to generation, and a main lodge where meals are served to members. A stick-style pedestrian bridge crosses the Encampment River on the grounds and has been replaced over the years, and, most recently, a handsome rough-hewn log footbridge was installed at the river’s mouth at Lake Superior.