Cabin

Classic Minnesota Cabin on Beautiful Lake O'Brien - Includes Pontoon Boat

Classic Minnesota Cabin on Beautiful Lake O'Brien - Includes Pontoon Boat

Photo gallery for Classic Minnesota Cabin on Beautiful Lake O'Brien - Includes Pontoon Boat

Cabin and Lakeside Patio
Lakeside Patio and Lake
Lakeside of Cabin
Lakeside of Cabin and Porch
Cabin and Garage from Driveway

Overview of Classic Minnesota Cabin on Beautiful Lake O'Brien - Includes Pontoon Boat

5 out of 5 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 695 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Lake view

Explore the area

Crosslake, MN
  • Popular LocationCrosslake Community Center19 min drive
  • AirportSt. Cloud, MN (STC-St. Cloud Regional)106 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Loft

Main Level Bedroom

1 bathroom

Main Level Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Outdoor Shower

Spaces

Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

Classic Minnesota Cabin on Beautiful Lake O'Brien - Includes Pontoon Boat

If you are looking for the 'cabin experience', this quintessential cabin in the pines won't disappoint. The property was originally purchased and built by my grandparents in 1958 and has been in our family ever since; it was completely renovated by my wife and I in 2011. A small but efficient layout, the cabin has a wonderful screen porch, sitting area with gas fireplace, and dining room; all with panoramic views of the lake, which is only steps away. It has one bedroom on the main level (king), and a semi-private loft with two queen size beds. There is one 3/4 bath, and a great outdoor shower with views of the lake for those true Minnesotan's. The inside space flows seamlessly to a large lakeside patio with grill, outdoor dining area, fire pit and coffee sitting area. The rental comes complete with a pontoon boat (2014 Bennington), a 4-person paddleboat, a canoe, and of course a hammock in the yard. For those that can't disconnect, the cabin also includes two high definition TV's with Cable (DVD/Blu-Ray on main TV) and free Wi-Fi! And don't worry, you won't be roughing it, the 2011 renovation also brought all new mechanical systems including air conditioning, new appliances, and a new Kinetico softened water system!!

Situated 5 miles east of the town of Crosslake, crystal clear Lake O'Brien is spring fed with a water clarity of 24', the cleanest lake in the entire watershed district. The lake itself is surrounded by mature pines. There is approximately 5 miles of shoreline, of which about a quarter of the lake is undeveloped state owned property. During the summer, this recreational lake is perfect for fishing, skiing, wake boarding canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and all water based activities, including floating on an air mattress!! There is a sandbar where you can walk across the lake which is a favorite gathering spot for 'kids of all ages'!! It's location on a quiet tar township road make it perfect for a morning walk or bike ride. During the winter months the lake is perfect for ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and is a perfect base camp to access the endless miles of groomed snowmobile trails.

Our property is perfect for a family of up to 6 or a few couples. We have a strict limit of 6 due to the size of the cabin and the single bathroom. We do keep our calendar updated and so if you are seeing availability then it's likely available. Upon reservation confirmation you'll receive a complete 'what to bring' list so you are prepared for your time up north. Feel free to inquire with any questions you may have and we’ll be prompt to reply! We pride ourselves on keeping our property and structures/equipment pristine and are certain we'll exceed your expectations in that regard. And further, since we also live on this lake, should any questions or problems arise we can respond quickly. In fact, your only disappointment will be when you have to leave!!

The pontoon boat is typically in the water and available for use from mid-May to the beginning of October.

Property manager

Jeff Balmer
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Lake view

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Crosslake

Located in Crosslake, this cabin is on a lake. Deacon's Lodge Golf Course and Traditional Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Crosslake Community Center and Nelson Lake. Wildwedge Golf & Mini Golf and Traditions at Cuyuna Falls Mini Golf are also worth visiting. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Crosslake Community Center - 19 min drive

Getting around

  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • Moonlite Bay Family Restaurant & Bar - 18 min drive
  • Maucieri's Italian Bistro Bar & Deli - 16 min drive
  • The Wharf - 21 min drive
  • Pine Peaks Restaurant - 15 min drive
  • Zorbaz - 16 min drive

Reviews

5

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 5 - Excellent. 272 out of 276 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 4 out of 276 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 0 out of 276 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 276 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 276 reviews" "

5/5

Cleanliness

5/5

Check-in

5/5

Communication

5/5

Location

5/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Jeremy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet Retreat
This was our second stay at "The Cabin" to celebrate our anniversary, and it was once again perfect! Quiet, warm, cozy, everything you're looking for in a romantic get away with your favorite person. Lindsay and Jeff are wonderful hosts, always making the stay effortless from start to finish! We are already looking forward to our next stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

5/5 Excellent

Frank and S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing stay
Everything was great. We were able to relax, read, watch the Vikings and Wild games. Just what we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

5/5 Excellent

Bailey M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A true Shangri La!
What a fantastic spot for a perfect Minnesota "up north" experience. We like to disappear during the week of Thanksgiving each year - this was our first time spending a week at this spot and we will absolutely try to make it our go to from now on. THE MOST COMFORTABLE BED - please tell me where you got the mattress :)
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

5/5 Excellent

Shannon C F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The greatest experience around!
I think this is our 4th year on a Jeff and Lindsay Balmer property, the first time at this location. This cabin is cozy and amazing! It had the perfect amount of space to relax and unwind. The view of the lake is unparalleled. We stayed almost 3 weeks this time and thoroughly enjoyed every minute!! There is so much to see and enjoy in the area and the cabin is the perfect place to unwind and reset. The Balmer's have thought of everything you need and a few quaint touches that elevate it even further. We have stayed at many VRBO's and airbnb's over the years, after staying at a Balmer property it is hard to stay anywhere else. We are hoping to get away next year for another 3 to 4 weeks. Can't imagine anywhere more perfect! Thanks again Jeff and Lindsay!
Stayed 17 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jeff Balmer

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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