Almost Colorado

When Tracey Abbott was a kid, she became accustomed to family vacations in Colorado. Later, as a grownup with a husband, child, and business interests in the Twin Cities, she would pine for those happy days hiking and skiing in the mountains—now a full day’s cross-country drive from home and responsibilities.

Then, eight years ago, she and her husband, John, checked out the North Shore near Lutsen. They were delighted by what they found: hiking, skiing, and sundry other outdoor activities scarcely four hours from home. True, they didn’t have the Rockies to gaze at, but they could ski out their back door and Lake Superior was just beyond their window.

After a few years of renting a cottage, and following the arrival of a second son, Tracey and John bought some real estate adjacent to a state forest overlooking the lake (and high above the racket of Highway 61). From there, they could revel in the wildlife, indulge their passion for outdoor activities, and enjoy a breathtaking perspective on the ultra-blue water below.

John, an architect, got to work on a cabin design, providing the “inspiration,” Tracey says, while she focused on the “pragmatics.” He talked about “tube structures” reminiscent of the region’s iron-mining forms, and she specified a pair of bedrooms and baths and a loft for the kids. And she didn’t want only one room with a view—she insisted that every room have a vista.

The idea—happily materialized by Hovland–based builder Clarence Kemp—was to create the feeling of camping in the woods. Almost, she adds, like Colorado.

Dale Mulfinger is a partner in Sala Architects in the Twin Cities. His fourth book, Cabinology: A Handbook to Your Private Hideaway, will be published by The Taunton Press in October.