Entire home
Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.
Photo gallery for Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.





Reviews
10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms 3+ bathrooms Sleeps 16 343.7 sq m
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Brainerd, MN
- Paul Bunyan Land5 min drive
- This Old Farm5 min drive
- Long Lake Upper6 min drive
- Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)24 min drive
Rooms & beds
6 bedrooms (sleeps 16)
Alcove in Family room
1 Single Bed
Basement Bunk/ Lego Room
1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Single Bed
Basement King
1 King Bed
Main Floor 1
1 King Bed
Main Floor 2
1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 King Bed
Master Bedroom
1 King Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed
New Bedroom
1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds
3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom
Basement Bath
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer
Main Floor
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Hair dryer
Main Floor Full
Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer
Master Bath
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.
Welcome to the Shady Crest. Gorgeous lakeside views at this spacious home located on peaceful, private Grave Lake. This home is perfect for your extended family get-together or a quiet get away with your own family. Conveniently located between Brainerd and Garrison. Enjoy the lake with kayaking and swimming, or relax and watch your favorite sports, play board games or a game of pool, roast s'mores by the bonfire, or just curl up with a book by the gas fireplace - this rental has everything!
The space
This lakefront home boasts many family-friendly spaces complete with a pool table and bunk room with a Lego table! Shady Crest is a two level home which can sleep 16 people. There are 5 bedrooms plus a Lego/ Bunk room, and 3.5 Baths. Everyone has a bed - 5 king beds and 10 twins. Enjoy the open floor plan, fireplace, wall of windows and deck looking over the lake and the peace and quiet you would expect with a property at the end of the road, next to the woods and on the lake. The yard contains a small apple orchard - late summer and early fall guests are welcome to pick and enjoy!
Fully stocked kitchen. Double oven and an extra full size fridge make cooking for a large group a breeze. A large island is perfect for cooking and gathering. There are plenty of place settings include drinking glasses, wine glasses, coffee mugs, kid friendly dinnerware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, mixing bowls, baking dishes, pizza pan, cookie sheet, toaster, crock pots, Instapot, can opener, wine opener, measuring cups/spoons, and coffee maker.
Indoor entertainment includes 5 smart TVs (family room, living room, both king bed-only bedrooms, and the new king/ twin bedroom in the lower level). These TVs are equipped with Rokus, Direct TV, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. Feel free to bring passwords to other accounts such as Hulu or Netflix - just be sure to logout when you leave! The high speed internet access is perfect for streaming as well as that work meeting you just can’t miss. The basement family room features a pool table and high top table for board games. The bunk room includes a well stocked Lego table for the kids and the kids at heart. We also have a large assortment of board games.
Outdoors you will have a taste of MN wilderness. Fox, turkeys, deer and the occasional bear will visit the backyard. The lake is great for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Kayaks and a canoe are stored near the lake, paddles and an assortment of life jackets are stored in the garage. Enjoy some S’mores around the bonfire after your day on the lake. The deck features a 6-person table and a gas grill. We have a spare propane tank onsite. If the tank runs out, please contact me and I will get you access to the spare tank.
To make traveling a bit easier with young children we have two pack-and-plays, a high chair, booster chairs, stools in the bathroom, toys (including Little People and Magformers). Guests have access to a full sized washer and dryer.
Guest access:
Guests have access to the entire house, yard and attached garage with the exception of the locked owner’s closet & utility room. The three car attached garage has many yard toys and is available for parking. The detached garage is not accessible to guests except by request.
Other things to note:
Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) has a 3-5 night minimum.
Labor Day - Memorial Day is a 2-3 night minimum.
Please note this house is in a quiet neighborhood. It is a private dirt road with a speed limit of 15mph. Please be respectful of our neighbors who are permanent residents.
Grave Lake is a private lake with no public boat launch. We have kayaks and a canoe for guest use May - Sept. Swimming is great for kids! The water starts out 10- 12 inches deep (no real beach) and get gradually deeper, it is 3.5 - 4 feet deep at the end of the dock. The bottom is hard sand with rocks and occasional weeds. The water in Grave Lake is tea colored due to tannins in the water. The tannins seep into the water from the roots of the trees around the lake and stain the water. It is safe to swim and boat. The water indoors is treated to remove tannins and iron to prevent damage to laundry.
There is plenty of room to park your boat if you would like to explore nearby lakes. Nokay Lake is just across Hwy 18. Upper South Long and Bay Lake are also near by. Mille Lacs, Gull and Pelican are popular options but a bit of a longer drive.
Home is located one mile from the "18 Run Trail" which allows easy access to many county trails on snowmobiles. There is plenty of room in the driveway and garage to store snowmobiles and trailers when not in use. Check out midweek pricing if your schedule allows in the off season.
The exterior of the property is monitored by three cameras. One monitoring the front entrances of the home (located on the detached garage), one monitoring driveway (located on front of attached garage) and one monitoring the rear entrance to home (located on back of attached garage). All cameras record audio and video.
The space
This lakefront home boasts many family-friendly spaces complete with a pool table and bunk room with a Lego table! Shady Crest is a two level home which can sleep 16 people. There are 5 bedrooms plus a Lego/ Bunk room, and 3.5 Baths. Everyone has a bed - 5 king beds and 10 twins. Enjoy the open floor plan, fireplace, wall of windows and deck looking over the lake and the peace and quiet you would expect with a property at the end of the road, next to the woods and on the lake. The yard contains a small apple orchard - late summer and early fall guests are welcome to pick and enjoy!
Fully stocked kitchen. Double oven and an extra full size fridge make cooking for a large group a breeze. A large island is perfect for cooking and gathering. There are plenty of place settings include drinking glasses, wine glasses, coffee mugs, kid friendly dinnerware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, mixing bowls, baking dishes, pizza pan, cookie sheet, toaster, crock pots, Instapot, can opener, wine opener, measuring cups/spoons, and coffee maker.
Indoor entertainment includes 5 smart TVs (family room, living room, both king bed-only bedrooms, and the new king/ twin bedroom in the lower level). These TVs are equipped with Rokus, Direct TV, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. Feel free to bring passwords to other accounts such as Hulu or Netflix - just be sure to logout when you leave! The high speed internet access is perfect for streaming as well as that work meeting you just can’t miss. The basement family room features a pool table and high top table for board games. The bunk room includes a well stocked Lego table for the kids and the kids at heart. We also have a large assortment of board games.
Outdoors you will have a taste of MN wilderness. Fox, turkeys, deer and the occasional bear will visit the backyard. The lake is great for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Kayaks and a canoe are stored near the lake, paddles and an assortment of life jackets are stored in the garage. Enjoy some S’mores around the bonfire after your day on the lake. The deck features a 6-person table and a gas grill. We have a spare propane tank onsite. If the tank runs out, please contact me and I will get you access to the spare tank.
To make traveling a bit easier with young children we have two pack-and-plays, a high chair, booster chairs, stools in the bathroom, toys (including Little People and Magformers). Guests have access to a full sized washer and dryer.
Guest access:
Guests have access to the entire house, yard and attached garage with the exception of the locked owner’s closet & utility room. The three car attached garage has many yard toys and is available for parking. The detached garage is not accessible to guests except by request.
Other things to note:
Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) has a 3-5 night minimum.
Labor Day - Memorial Day is a 2-3 night minimum.
Please note this house is in a quiet neighborhood. It is a private dirt road with a speed limit of 15mph. Please be respectful of our neighbors who are permanent residents.
Grave Lake is a private lake with no public boat launch. We have kayaks and a canoe for guest use May - Sept. Swimming is great for kids! The water starts out 10- 12 inches deep (no real beach) and get gradually deeper, it is 3.5 - 4 feet deep at the end of the dock. The bottom is hard sand with rocks and occasional weeds. The water in Grave Lake is tea colored due to tannins in the water. The tannins seep into the water from the roots of the trees around the lake and stain the water. It is safe to swim and boat. The water indoors is treated to remove tannins and iron to prevent damage to laundry.
There is plenty of room to park your boat if you would like to explore nearby lakes. Nokay Lake is just across Hwy 18. Upper South Long and Bay Lake are also near by. Mille Lacs, Gull and Pelican are popular options but a bit of a longer drive.
Home is located one mile from the "18 Run Trail" which allows easy access to many county trails on snowmobiles. There is plenty of room in the driveway and garage to store snowmobiles and trailers when not in use. Check out midweek pricing if your schedule allows in the off season.
The exterior of the property is monitored by three cameras. One monitoring the front entrances of the home (located on the detached garage), one monitoring driveway (located on front of attached garage) and one monitoring the rear entrance to home (located on back of attached garage). All cameras record audio and video.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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10.0 out of 10, (6 reviews)
House Rules
Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Pack-and-plays, highchair, boosters and step stool
Events
No events allowed
Pets
No pets allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Lock the doors
If gas grill was used - please turn off gas and empty drip tray.
Let us know if any damage occurred.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
About the area
Brainerd
Located in Brainerd, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Mississippi River and Telef Paulson Wildlife Management Area reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Paul Bunyan Land and This Old Farm. Travelling with kids? Consider WonderTrek Children's Museum and Northland Arboretum. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Brainerd, MN
What's nearby
- Paul Bunyan Land - 5 min drive - 4.7 km
- This Old Farm - 5 min drive - 4.7 km
- Long Lake Upper - 6 min drive - 4.7 km
- Lake Ossawinnamakee - 21 min drive - 20.6 km
- Brainerd International Raceway - 34 min drive - 35.2 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Oak Lawn Tavern - 7 min drive
- Paradise Shores - 15 min drive
- Char's Bar at Paradise Shores Resort - 15 min drive
- Grab-A-Java - 16 min drive
- Track Stop - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Lisa Houchins

Andy and Lisa live in the twin cities with their 5 kids (elementary school through college). We love to stay in rental houses when we travel. This allows the kids have their own beds and we can do some laundry to minimize packing!
Why they chose this property
We were so excited to find the Shady Crest property! We were looking for a home were we could gather with family and friends. We love that we can enjoy the house with all our kids and their cousins. There is plenty of room for our extended family of 15 when we gather together. The kids enjoy the lake, the pool table and of course the Legos!
What makes this property unique
We have 5 kids and travel with a fair amount. We have thought of the little details that make traveling with kids easier. There are nightlights in every room, stools in the bathrooms, a highchair and booster seats, plastic dishes, the dressers are attached to the walls, games and toys. We want this to be a place where families can come to relax and enjoy the company.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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