The article deals with the history of development of the Karelian Isthmus, which was a part of the autonomous Great Duchy of Finland, as an area of country and resort recreation for the residents of St. Petersburg and other parts of the Russian Empire. Considerable revenues to the Finnish treasury and to the local residents were brought by purchase and rent of estates and houses by the Russian subjects and by maintenance of the vacationists. On the other hand, influx of the Russians caused discontent of some strata of the local society who spoke out against growth of Russian cultural influence in Finland.