"Marnoc," the namesake of our lodge, was a spirit who supposedly inhabited the forests of Camp Manatoc. Marnoc means "love of the outdoors.”

In the 1920s and 1930s during each week of summer camp at Camp Manatoc, a few outstanding campers were selected to be members of its "Honor Patrol.” The Honor Patrol had many of the same types of requirements and values as the Order of the Arrow. In 1938, the Honor Patrol applied to become a Lodge in the OA, and in 1939 Marnoc Lodge received its first charter. 1944 saw the election of the first Lodge Chief as well as its first group of Brotherhood members, twenty-two in all. The following year, sixteen more earned the honor. In 1947, the first group of Vigil members was inducted, four receiving the honor that year.

With the growth of the lodge, the first chapters were created in 1957, four in all. Since then, the number of chapters has varied, and chapters were renamed to correspond with changes in the Great Trail Council district structure.

In 1961, an additional ceremonial site was constructed in the newly created Camp Butler, which adjoins Camp Manatoc. Also in 1961, an Indian dance team called the Abnaki Dancers was formed. The dance team was active in the 1960s and 70s. In 1966, the Cuyahoga Valley Trail, also known as the “OA Trail,” was established. The OA trail is a thirteen-mile-long trail winding through the Cuyahoga Valley and the Manatoc Scout Reservation. It was built and is maintained by the Marnoc Lodge Trail Committee.

In 2016, the Greater Western Reserve Council was folded into both the Great Trail Council and the Greater Cleveland Council and correspondingly parts of the Wapashuwi Lodge were absorbed by each council. Marnoc lodge absorbed members from Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

With the new structure, Marnoc Lodge continues to grow and spread cheerful service. For a more comprehensive history please reference the book “The History of Marnoc Lodge” by David L. Wright.