Entire home·Private host

Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events

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Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Unclassified image, 2 of 43, button
Property grounds
Interior detail
Exterior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 18223 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events

1.1 acres with 213 feet of lakefront, a native wildflower garden, and a large lawn perfect for lawn games, picnics, weddings, and reunions.

Our family cabin on John’s Lake, in central Wisconsin, has been the site of many happy memories, and lots of summer fun. Now we are sharing this special place with others.

Birch Bay Retreat is family-friendly and is an excellent location for a family reunion, a small casual outdoor wedding, a retreat for a small group or club, or similar events, or a quiet weekend getaway or writing retreat.

Enjoy fishing and swimming from our pier, or take our canoes or pontoon boat out for a spin! BBQ on our wraparound porch with views of the lake and wildflower garden, and then gather around the campfire at our private lakeside fire pit in the evening. For summer guests, the first night's firewood is on us as our welcome to the lake! Please note that the Boat and Pier are only guaranteed in from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please inquire if you are planning on staying outside of those times, if the Pier or Boat will be available for use.

Two televisions (one on each floor). Roku TV's , (bring your own Netflix/Hulu subscription) along with WiFi are included in the rental fee.

Lawn games and other outdoor activities are available for summer guests. On rainy days, enjoy the basement game room with ping-pong, a foosball table and carpet bowling.

The house has a large kitchen and a family-sized dining room that opens out onto a balcony, with views towards the lake. We have beds, sleeper sofas, and futons to sleep 14, and there is space to squeeze in more if you have a bigger gathering.

We do our best to make sure you can bring the whole family:

For families with young children, a Graco Pack-N'-Play is available for infants as well as a Chico caddy hook-on chair and washable silicone placemat to use at the table. Cots are available for young children. The house is partially child-proofed (a stair gate is available, cleaning supplies are placed out of reach of children, and most unused outlets are covered with safety plugs).

To accommodate older family members, the master bath has a walk-in shower with a handhold installed, showerhead with hose, and a shower bench is available upon request.

We understand that pets are part of the family, so your dogs and other pets are welcome to join you in enjoying a stay at Birch Bay Retreat. We do require an additional fee to help cover wear and tear from pets.

A second refrigerator in the basement will allow you to chill all your food and drinks for a large gathering, and a laundry room (washer / dryer / iron and ironing board / drying racks) is available.

We continue to improve the family accessibility based on feedback from our guests.

Birch Bay Retreat is near several charming small towns such as Redgranite, Berlin, and Wild Rose, as well as wineries, golfing and antiquing. Grocery stores, restaurants, and other shops are a short distance away in Wautoma.

The cabin is also close to the Mt Morris ski resort, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails, so there are lots of winter recreation opportunities! It's heated and comfortable for winter guests.

Our family has cherished the memories and traditions we have created here over the years and we know you will, too. Come stay and relax at the lake!

Check in: 4:00 PM - the Property Manager will send you your code for a keyless entry into the home. Directions for use are posted on the door. There will be a house key and boat key on the counter. The necessary paperwork for your stay will be available on the counter with instructions on filling out and where to place them after signing. The Proerty Manager will be available if you have and questions or need futher assistance.

Check In: 4:00 PM (or later)
Check Out: 11:00 AM

A friendly reminder as listed under our house rules: Quiet hours begin at 10:00pm. This includes our wonderful game of carpet ball. While it is a ton of fun, it echo's throughout the lake and can be very loud for all guest and neighbors. Please be sure to continue to make the lake a great place for all!

Because we have a rapid turnaround between guests, early check-in and late check-out is not available during peak summer months (June-August). During non-peak times, early check-in and late check-out may be available upon request for a small fee, on a case-by-case basis -- please ask during the booking process!

Birch Bay Retreat does not allow smoking in the house, on any decks or area attached to the home. There is no smoking on the pier and no
smoking/no pets on the pontoon boat. We do provide portable ashtrays that can be used on the lawn or at the fire pit.

Property manager

Michelle & Maddie

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 3 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Smoking not allowed home, porche, decks or boats.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the bay
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Boat
  • Foosball table
  • Golf
  • Kayak
  • Snow sports gear
  • Table tennis
  • Water sports equipment
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,400 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
3 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: $50.00 per pet/per stay. Breed limitations apply.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Playpen and infant table seat available on request

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Parties/events allowed up to a max. of 30 people.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

Property is also known as

Private Lakeside Retreat Swim Boat Fish Perfect Family Events
Private Lakeside Retreat Swim Boat Fish Perfect Family Events

About the area

Map
Wautoma, WI

What's nearby

  • Nordic Mountain - 11 min drive
  • Long Lake - 27 min drive
  • Crystal River - 42 min drive
  • Golf Courses of Lawsonia - 48 min drive
  • Thrasher Opera House - 49 min drive

Getting around

  • Appleton, WI (ATW-Appleton Intl.) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪B R Diner - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Lakeshore Family Restaurant - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events located?

This family-friendly Wautoma holiday home is located on the waterfront, 5.4 mi (8.7 km) from Nordic Mountain, and within 12 mi (20 km) of ThedaCare Medical Center - Wild Rose and Chippy's Dog Park. Long Lake and Lunch Creek Vineyard & Winery are also within 20 miles (32 km).

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Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 77 out of 98 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 98 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 98 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 98 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 98 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tony & Dawn R., United States

Labor day Family Get Together
Great for the size of our family and plenty to do!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jen B., Lake Geneva, WI

Nice Getaway
We chose this location due to it's proximity to surrounding lakes for our company ice fishing trip. Everything was perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Loretta M.

Relaxcation
Needed to get away
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa and Gary S.

Our whole family had more than enough room at this cottage. We had a wonderful time!
Excellent experience all around. Very clean and the caretaker explained everything around the cottage in great detail. We all had a wonderful time and talked about renting again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

April K.

Christmas Holiday
Our rental worked wonderful for our family. We really enjoyed our time. Thank you for being so easy to work with and sharing your home with us.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Sandy V.

Scrapbooking retreat
I rented this house with a group of ladies for a scrapbooking retreat. It was perfect. Everyone enjoyed it and the house was stocked with everything we needed. The beds were super comfortable as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Michelle A., Waukesha, WI

Girls Weekend
We had a great girls weekend! The house was very accommodating and there was plenty of room for all! The lake was beautiful and relaxing. Unfortunately the boat was not in service, however, we still had a great weekend! Would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa A.

nice lake
We used the cottage to allow for additional family to come for a Memorial service for my mother who passed away during covid. We own a cottage on John's Lake but needed more sleeping accommodations. It worked out great and gave everyone some private space. We enjoyed having the use of the pontoon boat for evening cruising.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa and Gary S.

Fun with swimming and campfires.
The cottage is very nice and has no steps from the bottom of the cottage to the lake, which was important this year because my wife was on crutches. Having a pontoon boat for cruising and some limited fishing was a nice benefit as well. This was our second year with the same cottage and same week of the year. Overall, we were very pleased.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Lisa and Gary S.

Johns Lake Rental
Everything was good except the Wifi was terrible. The last two days, I couldn't even log into the Wifi. And with a weak cell phone signal, good Wifi would have improved the experience a lot.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura J., Iowa City, Iowa

"paradise" on the lake
Our extended family gathered for a beautiful June weekend at Birch Bay Retreat. My son said that the home and location were "paradise". From quiet mornings listening to the birds from the deck - to canoe trips exploring the lake in one of the two provided canoes - to swimming from the dock to the platform - we enjoyed every moment. Highly recommend Christiano's Pizza in town. Everything in the home is clearly labeled and easy to find and we were quite comfortable. We hope to return in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

Great Getaway!
Secluded home on the lake with pontoon boat! This property is surrounded by John's lake on two sides and has its own peninsula for making great big campfires. For a small fee the owner includes a very large pontoon boat. There are also many activities and games in the large game room downstairs. If you have a large family there is plenty of room. Swimming in the lake was also wonderful! At the end of a very long property there is plenty of area in the lake for swimming with a raft out in the lake. John's Lake is a very nice area just to get away and enjoy!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Carlyn S.

Excellent Find!!
Our stay at Birch Bay could not have been better! The house was a great size with more than enough room for 6 of us. Becky met us at the house and showed us around, which was very helpful. The lake is quiet and peaceful. Having the boat included with the house was a huge bonus and a rare find. During a bad storm, Becky called to check on us and, the other bonus, the generator when the power went out. There is quite a bit of yard to cover between the house and the dock. My mother-in-law was unable to make it out to the dock, but was able to see the dock and lake from the main floor porch. This house is and excellent find with a great hostess!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Jennifer M., La Crosse, Wisconsin

Liked: Listing accuracy
Nice and peaceful
This property was nice! Remember to bring your own towels since there is only 1 provided per person. Additionally, if you visit from April--July be aware that there are TICKS! The property was treated for bugs which made it much better, but if you walk around the trails you must check yourself. A few of the advertised "beds" were in fact broken and therefore unusable, so check ahead if you need them to make sure they are functional. Enjoy the wildlife and birds. My favorite thing about this property was listening to the birds in the morning and enjoying the dock right on the lake. It was beautiful! The property owner had to enter the unit a few times during our stay, so if you want more privacy I'm sure that can be communicated.
Stayed 42 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

erika B.

wedding on the lake
We brought more than we needed. There all the kitchen appliances you could want,including blender to serving containers. There is a 2nd fridge and a washer,dryer and dishwasher and a grill. There are flashlights and a first aid kit.She had extra cots .All we needed to bring was towels and bed sheets. Property manager is easy to reach.She had everything organized and written down. Pictures on site don't do justice,its beautiful.Our group was ages 40 to 75.We had 14 people stay for a weekend.We had a small wedding ceremony in the backyard.Everyone was comfortable. The lake is clear and the pontoon boat was lots of fun.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Joanne P.

Three generations.
Th cottage was very clean. Dishes were clean and we felt comfortable climbing into bed. The water was great for boating, swimming, and kayaking. I personally like the slow boat ride around the lake. The family time was wonderful. We even had fun playing games. The carpet ball game was played the most. We put all the puzzles together. Our daughter came with items for us to paint. The grandchildren spend hours painting. All were very creative. The weather was great. The kitchen had everything we needed. I liked the size of the kitchen. We did find one chair, on the deck, that was broken. The outside door's handle fell off. We did snap off a corner of the boat, when we came to the dock. I was very pleased someone came to check on the gas supply on the boat. Thanks for sharing your cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Edgar H.

Overall
Great stay. Had everything we needed games supplies
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carmin E.

Plenty of room for 18 of us
Beautiful lake view and everything you need and lots to do.v. We got lucky the whole time was 70's in late September! The check in process got a 4 because code didn't work but response from host were spot on and fixed quickly.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Piotr F.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Toni P.

Wonderful Week
The cabin was spacious and clean. Had everything you needed in kitchen plus lots of extra little things. Our family of 17 enjoyed the carpet ball, pontoon rides and swimming. A little disappointed that the swimming area for the children was weedy and mucky. We made the best of it and enjoyed the week.Thanks for the great memories.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

pat v.

Very spacious accommodating home.
Great for our family of 18. All us adults and kids loved the open levels, great kitchen, dining room, and big deck. We were floating everydayand on the sanbar and great pontoon. 2 bedrooms upstairs were comfy but the 3 hydabeds need a think foam and the 2 twin beds could really use new mattresses. Our grandchildren said they loved it there.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Sheila K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ok place
The internet service was terrible. No reception at all. Couldn’t watch tv. Ran out of hot water after 2 showers and even had no water at all. Could have been a cleaner house. Had hair in bathrooms and cobwebs. Had broken chairs on deck The pontoon boat was nice to have. The landscaping would of looked really nice with wild flowers if the weeds would of been kept under control
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Stephanie R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful view
Beautiful lake views. Lots of space inside for a sizable group to cohabitate for a weekend. Several sleeping quarters but if you have more than 2 couples looking for a private bedroom, you might want to consider other options. Fun indoor activities for kids if weather is uncooperative.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rich Q.

Great location. Nice layout.
Fantastic
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tyler S.

Huge place with great lake
Great place for a large group! Plenty of house and yard space for activities. Plus the lake is very clean and great for swimming.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022