50 Years, 50 Legacies: Julie Gutz
#14: Julie Gutz
Julie Gutz as a catcher for the Kenosha Comets in 1950
When Julie Gutz arrived in Kabetogama in 1955, she wasn’t yet known as a trailblazing athlete. To locals, she was simply the new proprietor of the Pine Ridge Inn, a modest grocery store, lunch counter, and “three-two” beer joint that quickly became a familiar hub for both residents and travelers. But behind the counter, Julie was laying the foundation for something bigger: a long-standing legacy of entrepreneurship, resilience, and quiet leadership in one of the early gateway communities to what would later become Voyageurs National Park.
Julie’s story represents the spirit of those early business owners whose hard work and vision shaped the visitor experience long before the park’s official establishment. In the summers, she built and operated Cedar Cove Campsites, offering lakeside access and hospitality to anglers and explorers eager to discover the wild beauty of northern Minnesota. In winters, she returned to the Twin Cities, working as an electronics technician for Honeywell – a career that mirrored her hands-on approach to life. Upon retirement, Julie became a full-time resident of Kabetogama, continuing to support and invest in the small community she helped build.
Julie Gutz (left)
It wasn’t until 1988 that the community discovered just how far Julie’s legacy extended. That year, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown listed her among the players of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). She was flown to the set of A League of Their Own as a consultant, and her days as “Gutzie,” a powerhouse catcher with a six-year professional career, came into public view. She had played for the Springfield Sallies, the Kenosha Comets, and several other teams, and wrapped up her career in the winter league with the Miami Maids.
Julie’s path from Storm Lake, Iowa, to professional baseball diamonds across the country, and eventually to a lakeside business in Kabetogama, reflects the widespread impact of the quiet town that would soon become part of a National Park. She may not have sought recognition, but in every season – on the field, behind the counter, and along the shoreline – Julie Gutz left a legacy as enduring as the landscape she chose to call home.
Check out the full list of our 50 legacies!
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy. Years, 50 Legacies is a yearlong storytelling series highlighting individuals whose lives are woven into the fabric of the park – whether through conservation work, cultural traditions, recreation, research, or personal connection.
Raise a canteen and celebrate this historic milestone with us at our 50th anniversary website. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories and updates!
