The Fire: A North Shore Story

Just after midnight on Feb. 6, 2024, Lut­sen Resort caught fire. The blaze obliterated the historic lodge. The investigation into the fire remains ongoing. In the aftermath of the devastation, the re­sort’s embattled own­er, Bryce Campbell, has been the focus of intense scrutiny in the media and online forums. Campbell is also the centerpiece of multiple investigations led by state agencies, insurance companies, and private firms into his business dealings and his whereabouts the night of the fire.  
This podcast, produced by local North Shore journalists, will detail what happened to Lutsen Resort before, during, and after the fire. 

On February 6, 2024, smoke was reported at Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior's North Shore. A young man named Tyler, working the front desk, noticed smoke coming through the floorboards and called 911. Despite rigorous efforts, the resort was destroyed by a fire.
Bryce Campbell, the owner, arrived to witness the devastation. It did not take long for narrative to shift from sympathy to suspicion. 
Stay tuned for updates on the investigation. News coming soon. 
This podcast is made possible by Kickstarter contributions from dozens of people across Minnesota. No public money was used to produce this podcast. This podcast is also supported by Clover Valley Electric. 
 

Bryce Campbell, the owner of Lutsen Resort, wanted to change the vibe of the iconic North Shore getaway. He wanted an upscale resort. More Manhattan than Duluth. High rollers and special occasions. That was the plan.
Bryce’s vision for a high-end resort at Lutsen was, at best, being met with mixed reviews. Things were changing. People who were accustomed to a more casual and welcoming environment at Lutsen Resort, including people who’d been coming there for many years and who had special memories there, suddenly felt out of place. 
Stories shared in this episode illustrate why Lutsen Resort was more than just a place to take a vacation, and why the changes and subsequent fire impacted so many people.  

Debt. Lawsuits. Liens. 
The financial situation at Lutsen Resort leading up to the fire was bleak. Bryce Campbell, the resort's owner, had to make decisions. What happened to the money coming and going from Lutsen Resort became a narrative before and after the fire destroyed the lodge. 
This podcast is made possible by Kickstarter contributions from dozens of people across Minnesota. No public money was used to produce this podcast. This podcast is also supported by Clover Valley Electric. 

Tyler Cobb was working the front desk and thought he was alone in the hour leading up to the fire at Lutsen Resort. He wasn't.
Who else was in the building in the hour before the fire, and what it means, in this episode.
This podcast is made possible by Kickstarter contributions from dozens of people across Minnesota. No public money was used to produce this podcast. This podcast is also supported by Clover Valley Electric. 

Bryce Campbell was charged with arson and insurance fraud Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. 
 
The charges mark a monumental shift in the storyline of this podcast. Julie Censullo, the story editor of this podcast, attended a press conference in St. Paul where the charges were formally announced. Joe Friedrichs arrived about an hour later, after driving from Grand Marais. 
 
In this episode, Julie and Joe discuss what this means in the short term and moving forward.  
 
This podcast is made possible by Kickstarter contributions from dozens of people across Minnesota. No public money was used to produce this podcast. This podcast is also supported by Clover Valley Electric. 

Documents were made partially public in late July 2026 that reveal more about the arrest and investigation of Bryce Campbell, the man accused of burning down Lutsen Resort.
Campbell was arrested in December 2025. The resort's main lodge building burned to the ground in February 2024. Campbell was charged with arson and fraud at the time of his arrest.
In this update, Joe Friedrichs, the founder and producer of this podcast, along Tom Olsen, a journalist for the Duluth News Tribune, analyze the newly released documents that are available only at the Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais. The documents include a transcript between Campbell and investigators from the day Bryce was arrested and charged with arson and fraud.
You can read Tom Olsen's article on the developments in the case here: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/what-lutsen-owner-bryce-campbell-told-police-after-his-arrest
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