Entire home

A Diamond in the Rough

Photo gallery for A Diamond in the Rough

Morning sunrise
Cottage
Living area
Living room with fireplace for those chilly evenings
Interior

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 680.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Fox Lake, IL
  • Jet Funn
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Chain 'O Lakes State Park
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Volo Auto Museum
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Waukegan, IL (UGN-Waukegan Regional)
    ‪37 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

A Diamond in the Rough

This diamond in the rough is a cozy 2 bedroom cottage perfect for a weekend getaway, family vacation or a romantic retreat. This great escape will provide you with a little piece of paradise while giving you the feeling and comfort of home! And because pets are family too, we welcome them; but must be cleared with the owners first. No cats please, as the owners are allergic.
This adorable cottage is nestled on a quiet residential street behind the main home. Water, pier and boat slip access are only steps away by walking down the lighted path on the side of the main home where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating; and in winter snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. A boat slip to dock your boat and 3-person canoe & 2 paddle boards are available at no extra charge your use. The cottage is fully air conditioned and heated with ceiling fans in bedrooms, kitchen and living room; making it perfect for year-round suitability.
When staying in this home away from home, you can start off your morning soaking up a little fresh air out on the front porch enjoying a cup of freshly brewed Starbucks Verona coffee. After an eventful day exploring all the Chain of Lakes has to offer, both bedrooms have queen size beds with 700 thread count linens and overstuffed pillows for your sleeping comfort. For those less than stellar weather days, cozy on the oversized leather sofa or kick up your feet on the reclining chair in the living room where you can also partake in some viewing enjoyment on the 40” LED television equipped with Xfinity TV or enjoy your favorite DVD by popping it into the DVD player. Feeling a little competitive? Stroll on over the utility closet where you can find several different board and card games to partake in. Secured WiFi internet access is also available. A little hungry? Quickly whip something up on the gas stove in the kitchen that is furnished with all appliances, utensils and dinnerware for your convenience, including an expandable kitchen island. Want make it a BBQ instead? Head outside to your own private patio to access the gas grill.

Your home away from home oasis is:
30 minutes to Six Flags Great America Amusement Park, where you can also make a stop into Gurnee Mall for some shopping
Walking distance to Fams for an ice cold beer and great steak or fish tacos or El Puerto restaurant for an awesome Margarita.
A Thursday night away from watching some thrilling drag boat racing at Blarney’s Island
A Sunday morning away from having an award winning Bloody Mary at Studio Roadhouse.
A click away from access to seeing some amazing live bands

*Staying with us again? Ask about our Preferred Guest Benefits. *
Ask about our discount for Great Lakes Naval Base boot camp graduations.
We look forward to sharing a little piece of paradise with you soon. Cheers!

Property manager

Jim & Rosemarie Nilson
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Young children must be properly supervised.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Do not throw butts on ground or in lake.

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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Fox Lake

Located in Fox Lake, this cottage is near theme parks and on a lake. Parrot's Cove Marina and Hunter Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Six Flags Great America and Jet Funn. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Antioch Ampitheater or Wilmot Raceway. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Fox Lake, IL

What's nearby

  • Jet Funn - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Chain 'O Lakes State Park - 10 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Volo Auto Museum - 12 min drive - 11.1 km
  • Gurnee Mills - 24 min drive - 22.3 km
  • Six Flags Great America - 28 min drive - 25.3 km

Getting around

  • Fox Lake Station - 3 min drive
  • Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Antioch Pizza Shop - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Captain's Quarters - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A Diamond in the Rough pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at A Diamond in the Rough?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Diamond in the Rough?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Diamond in the Rough located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is 1 mi (1.5 km) from Jet Funn and within 6 miles (10 km) of Chain 'O Lakes State Park and Spring Grove Fen Nature Preserve. Turner Lake Fen Nature Preserve and Thomas Memorial County Park are also within 6 miles (10 km). Fox Lake Station is 20 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 67 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lisa T.

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

Diamond in the Rough

Very cosy & nice. The backyard was wonderful. We enjoyed the privacy. The location was convenient to restaurants, etc.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Cynthia M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Victoria M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aimee C.

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

Great cottage!

Water was high so no beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Matt C.

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

Private/Quiet Guest House

The rental is the guest home behind the A-frame home pictured at the end of the road. Very private and quiet! Although there are no water views, the water is just on the other side of the main home with complete access to the backyard, dock, and water. Everything was in great shape and it has everything you need and all the comforts of home. Definitely recommend getting a deep dish from Rosati's and checking out the boat races at Blarney Island!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The hosts Jim and Rose were friendly and helpful. The place suited our needs perfectly. We were attending a wedding in the area that my daughter was matron of honor for, so it was me and my husband, my daughter and son in law. The bedrooms are small but adequate, the kitchen and living areas are very nice. We also had full use of an outdoor gas grill, outdoor seating areas in front and back of the cottage. We also had access to the lake, with nice outdoor seating around a fire pit. The lake is scenic and there are stores, restaurants and bars nearby. Boats, kayaks, etc are available for rent nearby. It was a wonderful long weekend stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan L.

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

PIR Boot Camp Graduation

Great time celebrating with our grandson and our daughter. Convenient to hiking, restaurants and the beautiful chain of lakes.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Janice M.

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

It was a great 2 bedroom cabin. Everything you would need was provided plus extra great things !!

Easily found and easily rented
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie S.

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

Girls weekend retreat!

We had an excellent experience with this VRBO! Jim and Rosemarie were wonderful hosts. They offered local fish fry recommendations as well as nearby spots with live music! This was a very nice, quiet little house on a dead end street with beautiful lakefront outdoor space.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lee K.

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

We had a great time

We had a lovely short weekend getaway at this cottage and would love to stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

4/10 Poor

christina w., Yorkville

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Trailer does not fit

Upon review of the pictures of the subject in question the home was farther away from the lake than shown on pictures discussed truck and trailer size in regards to parking situation when arrived the truck was was centimeters away from the garage the house and the trailer was too wide as discussed with the owner they stated it would fit but it wouldn't no available parking for trailer or boat anywhere so we had to stay at a hotel and keep our boat elsewhere we were not able to use the facilities called the owner right away They did not return our calls to 4 hours later that day we did not go into the property or use the facilities we requested a refund they were not cooperated with us
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt D.

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

Great Place!

Great place!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

zach k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Communication

Nice little house, no parking

Clean cute little house, Small bedrooms but everything needed was there except parking, on our stay there was only one parking space. We moved the gazebo to fit a second car. We were supposed to be bringing 2 cars and a truck w boat trailer. We were told there was parking for it, there was not. We ended up storing our vehicles up the street for an additional cost. I would stay again as long as I only need to bring one vehicle. The owners are actually very nice but did not answer the phone on check in to try to fix the problem.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joanne R., Fort Worth, Texas

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

Dimond in the Rough fits perfectly.

We truly enjoyed our stay at this adorable, clean well stocked cottage. Easy access to home and to communicate with the owners. It had everything we needed for our stay. We would love to return and I would recommend to stay here.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Ed M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Our Stay

The property was clean, well kept, had all the amenities, and the property managers were very responsive. The parking was tight for a large truck, and the yard for dogs was the yard of the property manager across the driveway in the back of their home.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tisha W.

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

Very nice

The host was very kind, property was clean and well kept and had a nice quiet stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

4/10 Poor

Evan G.

Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Great getaway BUT

The property was nice and it was a lovely get away for a week. However 3 weeks after our stay we received a message saying that we were being charged for $300 for our dog defacating and an uncleaned oven. This was weird to us as we didn’t use the oven and we vaccumed and cleaned the whole place prior to exiting and no sign of any. The place was nice but this tarnished the experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Doo L.

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

Nice!

Everything was very nice except fishing.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

4/10 Poor

Glen M.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Disappointed

Not bad but much less than advertised
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Barbara C.

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

Clean, well decorated cottage

The cottage is as owners describe, being behind their home so just short walk to waterfront (30-45 second walk). The cottage was lovely and well equipped. Owners were on site and friendly and helpful. Parking is tight for 2 vehicles and very difficult for us with a boat in tow before it was docked the day after arrival. But the owners were gracious and accommodating
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kathy F.

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

A getaway on the lake.

We enjoyed our stay at the cottage. Location was great close to everything we wanted to do. Boating, dinning and shopping. Would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

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

Fox Lake getaway

The cottage was perfect as a base for our activities in the local area. Tucked away and very cozy. Jim and Rose were great hosts
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Frank S.

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

Weekend Get away

Cottage was very clean, and spacious. Property managers/owners were very friendly, and informative. Area was quiet, and lake access/views were excellent. I highly recommend!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

6/10 Okay

Vicky C.

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Pricey for the product

Although the unit was well appointed and nicely decorated, the furniture was somewhat uncomfortable and the beds terribly soft, had to find some plywood to firm up a little. All of the appliances and kitchen gear was adequate. Parking for our visit was somewhat inconvenient due to a newly arrived boat trailer. There is actually No direct view of the water, however it was nice that renters allowed onto the waterfront yard of the main home. Do not know if owners lived in main house, there was no communication offered. Overall the stay was just Okay but cost on the high side for the product.
Stayed 9 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

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

Perfect getaway

Cute and cozy cottage, perfect for my girls’ weekend away. It was clean and comfy and located right on the water! The lake was beautiful! The owners were great! So welcoming! We had access to the fire pit and pergola, which allowed for a very relaxing day/evening by the water. We took in the sun and did some swimming before venturing out to the surrounding areas. We found a local winery and had a wine tasting, then found a waterfront bar for sunset drinks/food. Great time had by all!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

About the host

Hosted by Jim & Rosemarie Nilson

Host profile image
A love of boating, fishing and the outdoors has been embedded in us from our youth. I spent my teenage years on the Chain water skiing and boating with my family. Jim and I opted to live where we had many happy memories, where people are friendly and life is exciting and fun -- the Chain O’Lakes. We feel truly blessed to be able to live in a vibrant and historic community and most importantly, to be close to those that matter most – our family and friends.

Why they chose this property

Why Escape to Fox Lake?
The Village of Fox Lake is a vibrant community rich with history, wonderful people and just a short distance from many delightful attractions, such as:
• Chain O’Lakes State Park
• Downtown Chicago
• Great America
• Gurnee Mills
• Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
• Volo Auto Museum
• Wilmot Mountain
Fox Lake is part of the Chain O’Lakes that is comprised of 10 connecting lakes – Bluff, Catherine, Channel, Fox, Grass, Marie, Nippersink, Petite, Pistakee, Redhead as well as the Fox River. The Chain O’Lakes provides year round enjoyment for boating, fishing, snowmobiling, bird watching and ice fishing. In addition, the Chain O'Lakes allows for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities with special events throughout the summer sponsored by local businesses, including boat races, fishing tournaments, Venetian night, fireworks and live musical performances. Your Great Escape is just minutes from downtown Fox Lake – and moments from great memories.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests