Lakefront resort owner charged with arson after joking about burning it down

The owner of a high-end lakefront resort in Minnesota has been taken into custody and faces arson charges after allegedly making remarks about setting the property on fire shortly before it was engulfed in flames.

Bryce Campbell, 41, proprietor of Lutsen Resort Lodge on Lake Superior's north shore, reportedly made several statements suggesting the property should be "burned" in the days leading up to a significant fire on February 6, 2024. Authorities apprehended Campbell on December 3 in Southfield, Michigan, charging him with three counts of felony arson and one count of insurance fraud.

Official reports indicate that Campbell had been experiencing substantial financial difficulties prior to the incident, with debts amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars to vendors and other creditors. In messages to his husband the week before the fire, he repeatedly expressed feelings of depression and responded to financial discussions with phrases like "burn it," including references to owing nearly $500,000 to the Canada Revenue Agency.

In one exchange, Campbells husband remarked, "I think w[ere] on the hook if it burns, babe. At that point we just take the insurance payout and use it to cover CRA," to which Campbell reportedly replied, "Works for me." Several days after the fire, Campbell messaged his husband, noting, "This is usually when I'd make my burn it joke...but karma didn't like that...I'm gonna need a new line :/."

Initially, Campbell told investigators that he had gone home, ordered pizza, and went to bed on the night of the fire. He later admitted to visiting the lodge shortly before midnight to collect items from his desk.

Lutsen Lodge, designed by prominent architect Edwin Lundie and built in 1951, was purchased by Campbell in 2018 for $6.75 million. He claimed to have invested an additional $5 million in extensive renovations. At the time of the investigation, his debts included approximately $467,000 to over 80 vendors, $521,000 owed to previous owners of the lodge, $247,000 to townhome associations, and $277,000 to a construction company. His business accounts reportedly showed very low or negative balances.

Investigators also noted that Campbell had increased the resort's insurance coverage twice, raising it from $11 million in 2022 to $13 million the following year. Authorities determined that he deliberately caused the fire to obtain an insurance payout, prioritizing personal gain over the welfare of his employees and destroying a historic Minnesota landmark.

The State Fire Marshal concluded that the fire originated in the southwest basement, above the boiler room and beneath the lobby, although the exact method of ignition remains unclear. State Fire Marshal Dan Krier emphasized that arson, even without injuries, has significant repercussions on the community and those connected to the historic lodge.

Campbell is currently held in the Oakland County Jail in Michigan, awaiting extradition to Minnesota.

Author: Riley Thompson