The River Lodge - a place for family & friends! - Crow Wing County

7 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 24436 sq m

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Fireplace

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Free WiFi

Washer

Explore the area

Aitkin, MN

Crosby Memorial Park18 min drive
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area18 min drive
Brainerd International Raceway47 min drive
Duluth, MN (DLH-Duluth Intl.)113 min drive

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 24)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

4 Single Beds

Living Room 2

2 Single Bunk Beds

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Basement Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo

Basement Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Main Level Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Upstairs Half Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Separate dining area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!

WELCOME TO THE RIVER LODGE –a place to gather with friends and family! This unique home sits on a peaceful five acres on the banks of the Mississippi River. It features three levels with 7 bedrooms plus additional sleeping areas in the loft and the game room, making it possible to fit up to 24 guests (see below for details). The great room with its double height ceiling and loft balcony provides a large gathering space which is perfect for reunions and retreats. Additionally, there are 3 other living rooms all with smart TVs, 5 bathrooms, a game room with ping pong, several outdoor sitting areas, a beautiful fire pit patio and several lawn games to enjoy.

THE AREA
The towns of Aitkin and Crosby are just a 15 minute drive from the lodge. Both have a wonderful variety of cafes, restaurants, antique shops and events throughout the year. Also a short drive away are the famous Cuyuna mountain biking trails! In the winter, cross country, snowshoe and snow-mobile trails are all nearby.

BEDS AND BEDROOMS
Bedroom 1: King bed (main level)
Bedroom 2: Queen bed (upstairs)
Bedroom 3: Queen bed (upstairs)
Bedroom 4: Queen bed (upstairs)
Bedroom 5: Queen bed and bunk bed (basement)
Bedroom 6: Queen bed (basement)
Bedroom 7: Queen bed (basement)
Loft: 2 daybeds with trundles (upstairs)
Game Room: 2 bunk beds (basement)

LODGE RULES & INFO
-Dogs allowed (up to 3) with pet fee - inquire for pet rules and fee questions
-No parties allowed
-Only guests who are part of the reservation may be on the property at any time. Small weddings allowed with additional fee, only up to 50 guests. Please inquire for details.
-No confetti or glitter allowed
-The Mississippi River is not easily accessible and swimming is never recommended. There is a boat launch just a couple miles down the road and several great lakes nearby with beaches as well. We would be happy to provide more details.

HOME FEATURES & AMENITIES
Kitchen
-All basic utensils and cooking tools
-Pots, pans, bakeware and dishes
-2 drip coffee makers, 2 french press, 1 chemex (pour over), 1 aeropress
-Blender
-Slow cooker
-Hand mixer
-Griddle
-Toaster
-Gas grill (propane is provided)
-Salt, pepper and olive oil
-2 refrigerators
-Pantry
-Paper towels and dish soap

Linens & Toiletries…
-100% organic cotton sheets and pillow cases
-Bed quilts and fleece layering blankets
-Towels and washcloths
-Hair dryer
-Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash and Body Lotion

Other…
-High speed WiFi
-Bluetooth speakers
-Smart or Apple TVs with soundbars in all living room areas
-Walkout basement with radiant floor heating
-Custom built extra long dining table with seating for 16 people
-Fireplace
-Pack and Play
-High chair
-DVDs, books and games
-Fire pit and roasting sticks
-Swings and Hammocks
-Outdoor tables for dining al fresco
-Lawn games

Property manager

Andrew and Joy Ballard

Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Please beware of stairs and river bank.

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and weddings

Small events allowed with an additional fee.

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)

$100 fee for 1st dog, $50 for each additional dog

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No drinks/food in bedrooms or in hot tub.

Only guests included in the reservation are allowe

No confetti or glitter allowed ever.

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

Parties and events (including family gatherings and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 50

Note from host: Small events allowed with an additional fee.

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Aitkin

Located in Aitkin, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Mississippi River and Nelson Lake reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Traditions at Cuyuna Falls Mini Golf and Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway. Travelling with kids? Consider Paul Bunyan Land and This Old Farm. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Aitkin, MN

What's nearby

Crosby Memorial Park - 18 min drive
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area - 18 min drive
Mille Lacs Lake - 38 min drive
Gull Lake - 46 min drive
Brainerd International Raceway - 47 min drive

Getting around

Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

Woodtick Inn - 15 min drive
Bridge Tavern - 10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The River Lodge - a place for family & friends! pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The River Lodge - a place for family & friends! located?

This family-friendly Aitkin cabin is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Mississippi River and Nelson Lake. Milford Mine Memorial Park and Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area are also within 9 miles (15 km).

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

16 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Women’s winter break

This is the second year our group had stayed at this wonderful property! Fully stocked kitchen, great spaces for sharing and quiet nooks if you need a little quiet time. Hosts are responsive and amazing; it is a wonderful place for our group of 24 to stay at!!!

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tom R., Gainesville, Florida

31 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas Hygge Gathering

We really enjoyed our family Christmas celebration at The River Lodge. Together we had 19 people of a variety of ages 4 - 70+, who gathered. There was more than adequate room for a puzzle table, multiple reading corners, and time together sharing wonderful meals! (The kitchen was well equipped for large family cooking) We enjoyed two evenings together watching favorite Christmas shows! The sleeping accommodations were spacious. Thank you, by the way, for the ramp up to the front door. It was a gift for the elders in our family! One night we enjoyed a fire in the pit outside, watching the stars. Our hosts were very responsive whenever we asked questions. Thank you!

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

26 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

3rd Family Vacation

We again had a wonderful time at the River Lodge. Two suggestions we have would be to screen in the upper deck so we can enjoy it during the evening (mosquitoes are very bad), and replace the mattress in the upstairs north/river facing bedroom. That mattress was too soft and creaky.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jamie G.

19 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing family vacation!

We spent our annual family vacation at The River Lodge this year & it was by far our favorite place we’ve stayed! The lodge was very clean, well stocked with supplies, & Joy was very communicative, attentive, & great to work with. We had 10 adults, 5 kids & a pup & never felt cramped. It was spacious with many different spots to watch movies, read, or visit with family. The wrap around porch & the yard were our favorite! The lodge is also decorated beautifully, & the property is so peaceful. We hope we can return soon!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marika P.

10 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great stay under our belt at Riverlodge

We are returning for our fourth stay at Riverlodge and continue to be impressed with the care that is given to this space. We had activities for all ages and were excited to see the solar panel addition! We love Riverlodge.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Andrew and Joy Ballard

We are husband/wife team, Andrew & Joy, and we are passionate about creating a space where friends, family and guests can retreat to out of the hustle of life and enjoy some quality time together. We are honored and excited to provide our guests with an exceptional retreat experience!

Why they chose this property

The River Lodge provides the space for a lot of people to sleep, but also enough space to cook together, eat together, hang out and have fun together. It was important for us to create an environment where a large number of people could be comfortable and feel at home. Additionally, the secluded setting surrounded by nature is a valued factor in creating a peaceful and relaxing stay for guests.