Purchased in 1921 by American-born wildlife and landscape artist Belmore Browne, the original one-room log cabin served as a summer home for the Browne family. The family named the cabin “Illahee,” which is the Inuit-Yupik-Unagan language word for “home.”

The original Browne cabin was a one-and-a-half storey log structure, with a side gable roof and a distinct Rundlestone fireplace. In addition to the main residence, several secondary buildings were located on the site. These included a fuel shed and horse shed, both constructed of log, as well as a stable constructed of rough wood siding. Various additions to the property throughout the years have transformed the building into the tourist inn known today as Elkhorn Lodge.