COOK COUNTY, MINNESOTA — A northern Minnesota judge has denied a motion to dismiss criminal charges against Bryce James Campbell, the former owner of the historic Lutsen Resort, allowing the case involving a February 2024 fire that destroyed the Lake Superior landmark to proceed toward trial. Cook County District Judge Michelle M. Anderson denied Campbell’s motion to dismiss three counts of first-degree arson and one count of insurance fraud for lack of probable cause, according to court documents. Campbell is accused of intentionally setting the fire that destroyed the Lutsen Lodge in early February 2024. The historic resort, located along Lake Superior’s North Shore, had been a fixture of the Lutsen community since the late 1800s. Court documents allege that companies associated with Campbell were more than $14 million in debt at the time of the fire. The financial circumstances surrounding the resort are part of the prosecution’s case, which includes allegations of insurance fraud. Investigators have also examined Campbell’s account of his activities on the night of the fire. Previous reporting included statements from a former resort employee who said Campbell changed his timeline of events surrounding the blaze. Campbell challenged the criminal charges by arguing that prosecutors had not established sufficient probable cause to proceed. Judge Anderson rejected that argument, allowing all four counts to remain pending. The ruling does not determine Campbell’s guilt but permits prosecutors to continue pursuing the case in court. The Lutsen Lodge fire destroyed one of Minnesota’s most recognizable historic North Shore properties, ending more than a century of resort operations at the landmark building. Campbell faces three first-degree arson counts and one insurance fraud count as the case moves forward. A trial date was not included in the information provided. Source: Cook County District Court documents and previous reporting on the Lutsen Resort fire.