Doc’s Harbor Inn
Doc’s Harbor Inn is a historic property situated on the south side of the Warroad River that winds its way through the town. It serves as a rental property for visitors to the area as well as a hub for outdoor recreation all year round! Learn more about its history and everything it offers to our lakefront community.
Doc’s Harbor Inn derives its name from original owner and veterinarian, Dr. Leland Hughes. The Doc and his wife Mildred moved into the home and raised their three children there. They were very involved community members: Mildred was known as a wonderful cook and classy entertainer, and Doc as a naturalist and environmentalist whose adventurous spirit had him sailing on his hand-built sailboat to the many islands of Lake of the Woods in the summers and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through the Beltrami Forest in the winters. Their daughters worked for Cal’s Resort, a destination along the Warroad River owned by Cal and Beth Marvin.
Cal and Beth’s 12 sons and daughters also helped run their riverfront resort and enjoyed adventuring on the Warroad River – swimming, fishing, skiing, and floating upriver to see the beauty around every turn. In the winter, they lived the hockey life. The patriarch of the family is warmly recognized as the “Godfather of Hockey” in this area as he initiated the UND hockey program, created the Warroad Lakers senior men’s team, and even coached Team USA in the 1958 Olympics. He also orchestrated annual community events like Timber Days and Water Frolic that drew up to 10,000 visitors to Warroad as fundraisers to build up the hockey program and its facilities.
Cal’s children inherited his love for athletics and the outdoors, along with his entrepreneurial and community-minded spirit. So, when Cal’s daughter, Janet, moved back to Warroad after 30 years in the metro, she knew she wanted to open a business on the water. Her sister, Randi, saw the “For Sale” sign in the yard of Doc’s property, and she and Janet along with their sister Robin took a tour. The house had sat empty for years after the Hughes children had moved away, and the Marvin sisters fell in love with the potential it held. What captured their interest the most, however, was the water access the property offered. Located just 1 mile upriver from beautiful Lake of the Woods, it served as a gateway to the winding river as it travels west and ultimately south of town.
So, in 2013, the Marvin sisters banded together and spent eight months renovating the home. They aimed to keep the integrity of the original design and add to its charm. Old carpets were pulled up with the wood floors beneath refinished, and four layers of drapes were removed. The kitchen was remodeled, an upstairs bathroom was added, and a coffered ceiling was installed in the dining and living areas. But the original wallpaper and sketched glass windows remained, and the old, cherished antiques were washed and polished before the first honored guests – the Hughes daughters – came to stay.
The idea to rent out the Inn itself was not in the original plan. Instead, events were designed to utilize the space, whether it be a church service, a stop on the town’s Wine walk, a photo with Santa at Christmas, or even a haunted house at Halloween! There were also recipe card exchanges, book clubs, piano recitals, author’s retreats, girls’ weekends, craft and bake sales, and so many other events and gatherings. The Marvin’s aimed to offer monthly community service events to benefit different organizations in the area.
Their true bread and butter, however, was the opportunity to promote the outdoors. They ran summer camps for area youth on land, water, and even on destination. They partnered with local law enforcement to offer a bike safety class, took the 6th grade class ricing in their canoes on the Rainy River each fall, and hosted field trips and celebrations for the school, churches, 4H clubs, and other organizations each year.
Today, the home itself primarily serves as a short-term rental for tourists, and they have had visitors from nearly every state and as far away as England sign their guestbook! They also offer rentals for community members and visitors alike to get out and enjoy nature. In the summer they have canoes, paddle boards, paddle boats, and kayaks for rent, and in the winter, they have cross country skis, snowshoes, ice skates, and a kicksled. Doc’s River Rink is also the central hub of the 2.5 mile long Riverbend Skate Path that is in its third year on the Warroad River.
Doc's Harbor Inn is a Historical vacation rental property built in 1914 on the banks of the Warroad River. It is an elegant old home that offers gorgeous river views and a unique stay in Warroad. Doc's features 4 private bedrooms with an upstairs nook that sleeps 1, 2 bathrooms - one of which houses an original cast iron claw foot bathtub, full kitchen, living room, and dining room. There is off-street parking, WiFi, cable tv, dock space in the summer and access to the snowmobile trail. Doc's Harbor Inn is located within walking distance to downtown Waroad. We are 1 mile up river from Lake of the Woods and 1 mile from the Warroad Arena. Doc's is the hub for outdoor adventure starting with the Doc's RiverRink that connects directly with the RiverBend skating path. Doc's rents skates, skis, snowshoes, and in summer we fill the river with kayaks, paddleboards, paddle boats and canoes.
You can visit Doc’s at this year’s FriluftFest on Sunday, February 19th.
This outdoor event on the Riverbend Skate Path gives a nod to our Scandinavian heritage and encourages community members to embrace the outdoors.
Doc’s will host Elsa and Olaf of Arendelle as they skate with kiddos in the community, and then will be home to Youth Boot Bash, a boot hockey tournament for 8-12 year olds.
The local robotics team will be serving hot dogs, marshmallows will be available for roasting, and hot cocoa will be served.
And as is always the case at Doc’s, you can warm up around the bonfire and embrace the outdoors in beautiful northern Minnesota.
*Photos courtesy of Doc’s Harbor Inn and Andrew Fisher of Explore MN Tourism.