Cuyuna Country Gets Central Minnesota's First Floating Sauna at True North Basecamp
True North Basecamp Gets New Owners and a Complete Overhaul
True North Basecamp, a lakefront property on Armour No. 2 Mine Lake at the edge of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Crosby, Minnesota, has reopened under new ownership with a thorough redesign. Jake and Meghan Zoesch, the couple behind the growing Cuyuna Cabin Collection portfolio, purchased the campsite and six rustic cabins after being struck by the property's location. They then completely rebuilt the guest experience from the ground up. Each of the six cabins now features running water, a private bathroom, king beds, fireplaces, kitchenettes, projectors, and private outdoor hot tubs with views of the woods and water. Nearly all 40 acres of the property borders the recreation area, and a private trail on the property connects guests directly to the DNR mountain bike trail system. Downtown Crosby sits about a half-mile away.
Central Minnesota's First Floating Sauna
The centerpiece of the renovation is the Floating Fire Sauna, an electric sauna suspended on Armour No. 2 Mine Lake, designed for up to six guests at a time. The experience is built around Nordic contrast therapy: guests move from the heated sauna directly into the cool mine lake water, then come back to a Breeo fire pit with a stargazing net suspended overhead. According to Jake Zoesch, the lake itself adds something most sauna experiences cannot replicate. There is no public boat launch on the water and no motorboat traffic, giving the experience a level of solitude that is hard to find. The sauna will be open to overnight guests and available through public reservable sessions, making it accessible even without a cabin stay. Lakefront cabins are set to open at the end of June. Campsites opened May 1.
A Destination That Has Outgrown Its Mountain Biking Roots
The Cuyuna Lakes region built its reputation over the past decade on world-class mountain biking, with the red dirt trails and mine lakes of Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area drawing riders from across the Midwest and beyond. True North Basecamp originally served that crowd and will continue to do so, with traditional campsites still operating and a new group site designed for mountain bike teams and larger gatherings. But the Zoeschs say their guest mix has shifted. Meghan Zoesch noted that they now see just as many guests who come purely for the experience and the setting as they do dedicated mountain bikers. That shift in audience is exactly what this renovation is designed to serve.
What It Means for the Cuyuna Region
The continued investment in high-quality lodging and wellness amenities in the Cuyuna area reflects a broader pattern of growth in Greater Minnesota's outdoor recreation economy. For Twin Cities residents looking at the region as a weekend destination or as a place to consider longer-term, the buildout of destination-quality infrastructure is worth paying attention to. The Zoeschs have also indicated plans to expand into outdoor wellness programming, including forest bathing and guided kayak tours, pointing toward a guest experience that is evolving well beyond a traditional cabin rental.
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