Log Cabin on Lake, Approx.30 Min from Wis Dells!

I want to thank Karen for meeting us and going over everything. We had 12 guys on a golf trip and the house was perfect for us. Well stocked with everything we needed.

Our 3-generation family of 20 enjoyed our stay for the fifth consecutive year. This is one of very few places that can comfortably accommodate that many people of different ages (3 to 73 in our case) with enough on-site entertainment options (fishing, swimming pool, hot tub, pool table, games, TVs, etc.) to keep everyone occupied no matter the weather.

We stayed at the lodge this weekend to celebrate our parents 40th anniversary and were pretty pleased with the house. There is enough space in the house to comfortably accommodate our group of 9 children and 9 adults. The house had everything we needed and more. While we truly enjoyed our stay, it should be noted that there is no longer a sandy beach and the house is in need of some minor repairs and a little TLC.

We enjoyed the indoor pool and the hot tub. The place was immaculate and Karen was more than accommodating.

First the good: The house is great for a large group. Karen, the caretaker, was very helpful in explaining all the amenities, and there are many. But the pool is by far the winner as we had 7 children ranging in age from 2 to 17 and they were in it a lot. It certainly met the two most important qualities for me - quiet and clean. We have stayed, as a family of 15 or so, in several VRBOs and the “great room” here has comfortable seating for ten or more; not something you find in all homes. Plentyof hot water, dishes and silverware etc. for all.

The “Bad” The pictures are outdated by, I would guess, several years. No beach and the dock now has a covered place for a boat. No big deal as there is a bear rug on the ceiling in the great room and most of what is there is what you get. But the house is showing some need for minor maintenance; shade pulls off track in the master bedroom causing some problems, dish washer didn’t always get everything clean, but all in all not a big problem.

The Ugly

Petenwell lake is on the Wisconsin DNR site as one having problems with blue-green algae and it kept us from enjoying the lake at the waterfront and actually being outdoors. I guess because the house is on the west side of the cove the algae accumulates on that shore and by the time we left it looked like a carpet of green about as far out as we could see. AND, it stinks which is why I mention not being able to enjoy being outdoors. We also could not fish from the dock as others had mentioned for that reason. Truly a shame for us and I would think even more so for the owners of any house on that shore. Apparently it is a problem for many miles in the Wisconsin river. Check a link to the WI DNR for more info.