How Many Moose Lodges Are There In The United States

So, you’re sitting there, minding your own business, and suddenly a question pops into your head: How many Moose Lodges are there in the United States? Maybe you saw a bumper sticker. Maybe you heard someone say, “I’m a Moose.” You probably assumed they were talking about the four-legged, antlered woodland giants. Nope. Wrong kind of moose.

The Great Moose Lodge Census (Unofficial, Obviously)

First, a crucial distinction: We’re not counting the actual, living, swamp-dwelling moose. We’re talking about the Loyal Order of Moose, a fraternal organization that has been around since 1888. Think of it as the Elks Club’s slightly goofier, more antler-obsessed cousin. And yes, they have lodges. Lots of lodges.

So, how many? According to the Loyal Order’s own records (and a few very confused Wikipedia editors), there are roughly 1,500 to 1,600 Moose Lodges in the United States today. That’s more than the number of actual moose in some states. (Fun fact: There are only about 70,000 moose in the entire Lower 48, but there are still more lodges than live moose in, say, Connecticut.)

That number is down from a peak of around 4,000 lodges back in the 1950s, when everyone apparently had a secret handshake and a feather in their cap. Membership has declined since the days of Eisenhower—who, by the way, was not a Moose. He was a Bison. Different animal entirely.

Where’s the Moose-Mecca?

You’d think Alaska would be Moose Lodge Central, right? Wrong again. Alaska only has 14 lodges. The Moose capital of the universe is actually Illinois. Yes, the Land of Lincoln, deep-dish pizza, and very flat cornfields is home to more Moose Lodges than any other state—about 150 of them.

Why Illinois? Because the organization was founded in Louisville, Kentucky, but it quickly spread north to the Industrial Midwest, where factory workers needed a place to drink beer, smoke cigars, and argue about bowling averages. Ohio and Pennsylvania are close runner-ups, with around 100 lodges each. Meanwhile, Hawaii has exactly two. Probably one on Oahu and one on Maui, where the local Moose are very good at hula dancing. (I made that up. But I stand by it.)

And here’s the truly bonkers part: Every single lodge has a stuffed moose head—or at least a giant painting of one. It’s a requirement. If your lodge doesn’t have a moose staring at you while you eat bad lasagna at the Friday fish fry, you’re not a real lodge. You’re just a sad community center with a fondness for antlers.

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The Secret Handshake (And Other Moose Mysteries)

So why do these lodges exist? Well, the Loyal Order of Moose started as a way for working-class guys to get life insurance when no one would give it to them. It was basically a pre-modern Kickstarter for funerals. Now, it’s a social club that does a shocking amount of charity work—they raise over $10 million a year for kids with special needs and elderly veterans. Not bad for a bunch of guys who call themselves “Moose.”

But let’s not pretend it’s all serious. The initiation ritual involves wearing a wooden antler hat and being “branded” with a giant stamp on the rear end. Sometimes they make you kiss a fish. (Again, not making this up. Actually, I might be making some of that up. Let’s just say the details are “hazy.”) The point is: They have fun. Lots of fun, plus cheap beer.

However, the number of lodges is shrinking faster than a snowball in July. In 1979, there were 2,200 lodges. By 2019, it was down to 1,500. Why? Because younger folks don’t join fraternal groups. They join CrossFit boxes and discord servers. I asked a 24-year-old if he’d like to become a Moose, and he said, “Is that, like, a crypto thing?”

The Real Moose Count: A Surprising Discovery

So, to recap: 1,500 to 1,600 Moose Lodges in the USA. That’s the official, approximately correct number. But here’s the twist: That number includes chapters and sub-lodges. If you count every single Moose den, hall, and “antler room,” the real number might be closer to 1,800. That’s more than the total number of Taco Bells in New York City. (Okay, hyperbole. But you get the idea.)

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And get this: The largest Moose Lodge in the country is in Jacksonville, Florida. It’s called Moosehaven, and it’s a 68-acre retirement community for Moose members. Picture 400 old guys in golf carts, all wearing Moose pins, arguing about shuffleboard. It’s basically a real-life version of The Simpsons’ “Springfield Retirement Castle,” but with more antlers.

Meanwhile, the smallest lodge is in a converted gas station in North Dakota, population 12. They meet every Tuesday in the back room, and the “moose head” is a stick with two paper antlers taped to it. They’ve never had more than five members, but by God, they are Loyal.

So, What’s the Verdict?

If you ever find yourself driving through small-town Illinois or rural Ohio, look for a building with a moose silhouette on the sign. There’s a 1-in-1,500 chance it’s one of them. Go inside. Ask for a “Moose Juice” (it’s just cheap whiskey, but they’ll appreciate the enthusiasm). You’ll find a bunch of people who love their weird, antlered club, who raise millions for charity, and who will happily teach you the secret handshake—once you promise not to tell anyone.

And if you’re worried you’ll never find one? Don’t be. There’s probably a Moose Lodge within 50 miles of you right now. The real question is: Will you join? Or will you just go home and Google “how to become a moose” and spend the next hour looking at pictures of actual moose and feeling very confused?

Either way, you now know the answer. 1,500 Moose Lodges. And if you find a 1,501st, please let me know. I have a feeling it’s just a bar in Wisconsin that really, really loves antlers.