Entire home

Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat

Photo gallery for Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat

A cozy cabin interior with a wooden deck, a large window, a sofa, a chair, and a dining table.
A wooden-paneled room with a bed, dresser, and window.
A green house with a porch, a small front yard, and a pathway leading to the door.
A serene park with tall trees and a lake.
A living room with a red leather sofa, a yellow patterned armchair, a fireplace, and a painting above the mantel.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Arcade/game room
    A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade/game room.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Mississippi River
4 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Arcade/game room
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View map
Brainerd, MN
  • Place, Brainerd International Raceway
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Cragun's Legacy Courses
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, The Classic at Madden's Golf Course
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Airport, Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)
    ‪10 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat

Nostalgic 1930's lake cottage has 4 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths and sleeps 8-12 comfortably. It is nestled on 5 wooded acres and has 220 feet of westerly exposure on one of Minnesota's clearest lakes. Gilbert Lake is a premiere water-skiing and fishing lake. Because of its unique three-lakes-within-a-lake structure you are sure to find a calm place to fish or play nearly every day.

The home is conveniently located on the east shore of Gilbert Lake in Brainerd and is available to book Friday to Friday. Ir has easy access to Crosslake, Breezy Point, Nisswa, the Paul Bunyan Trail and all the activities the Brainerd Lakes area has to offer.

This cottage is beautifully decorated with wood floors through out. It also features a four seasons porch, deck, dock, outdoor fireplace, washer/dryer, central air, TV, ping-pong table and more.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:30 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
RENTAL RULES 1. Smoking is NOT allowed. 2. People other than those in the Guest Party (Persons renting the premises, or “Renter”) set forth above ma

Important information

You need to know

Property # 419197vb
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 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

About the area

Brainerd

Located in Brainerd, this holiday home is near a water park and on a lake. Mississippi River and Crow Wing State Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Northland Arboretum and WonderTrek Children's Museum. Travelling with kids? Consider Paul Bunyan Land, or check out an event or a game at Brainerd International Raceway. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating and snowmobiling.
View more Holiday homes in BrainerdOpens in a new window
Map
Brainerd, MN

What's nearby

  • Rice Lake - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Mill Ave Park - 4 min drive - 3.9 km
  • Lum Park - 5 min drive - 5.0 km
  • WonderTrek Children's Museum - 5 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Essentia Health St Joseph's Medical Center - 8 min drive - 6.8 km

Getting around

  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Slice On Oak - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Little Caesars Pizza - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is Charming, peaceful, lakeside retreat located?

This family-friendly Brainerd holiday home is located on a lake, within 3 mi (5 km) of Mississippi River, Northland Arboretum and Rice Lake. WonderTrek Children's Museum and Gregory Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

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. 42 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 44 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a great place to stay ! Wonderful Hosts to work with. A great family friendly atmosphere Will definitely book here again
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

GREAT STAY 2ND YEAR IN A ROW

We enjoyed the place very much. Nice area for the kids to play in the water and the dock works great for fishing off of and tying up the boat. thanks again for such a great place to stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful retreat

Lots of room, well kept, quality furniture, appliances and washer and dryer. Besides great bass fishing, the ping pong table is a big hit with our family!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 July 2025
Thank you Jean. We enjoyed having you and your family. Thanks so much for taking good care of our place. We're so glad you enjoyed your time at our cabin. Hope you and your family will visit us again. Ken
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful stay

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at this cabin. We relaxed, enjoyed fishing, boating and swimming in the lake. Ken was a wonderful host. Thank you for sharing your cabin with us! We hope to return in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family Fun

We had a good week. We would consider returning. It was a good spot for the kids to keep entertained while the adults relaxed and caught up.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

July 2019

We had a wonderful time with our family. The facilities were very well supplied and met all of our needs. The owners were very enjoyable to work with. We plan to return again. Very positive experience.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful week at the Lake!

Thank you for sharing your lake cottage, it was everything we hoped for and made our family get-together from 3 states a complete lake vacation experience! We loved the vintage look and feel of the house. It was very clean and well maintained. The 4 bedrooms accommodated our 3-generational family of 12 nicely! We all enjoyed the cottage's large living space, 4-season porch and the basement rec room. It is on a quiet and secluded spot on the lake with great boating, fishing and beach area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing Week

If you are looking for a great property near Baxter, look no further. From the moment you walk onto the property, relaxation begins. Enjoy coffee on the screened in porch over looking the lake every morning. Fish and swim from the wonderful sandy beach, take out one of the paddle boats and just enjoy the beauty and wildlife. The kitchen has everything you need to cook all of your meals, but if you want to eat out, you are less than 10 minutes from numerous restaurants. We all slept great every night. The beds are so comfortable. I loved the extras, the ping pong table downstairs, the washer and dryer, the outdoor firepit and grill area. Everything you need for an amazing vacation. The owners are wonderful to work with. We hope to come back next year. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful and Convenient

This was our second time staying here. This place doesn't disappoint. The lake is very clear,with lots of great fishing off the dock for the grandkids and even better fishing on the lake from the pontoon. The cabin is a little older, but very clean and there was plenty of room for our family of eleven. We enjoy how peaceful and quiet it is here and yet everything you could possibly need is just ten minutes away in Baxter. I'd like to mention that with little older cabins sometimes the water pressure isn't good or the water smells. Not here, the water pressure and hot water are great and the water has no odor. Great property, thanks for sharing it Ken and Joan.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
All 11 of us had a fabulous time at Joan and Ken’s property on Gilbert Lake. Overall, the cabin was roomy and comfortable for all. The kitchen had any and all utensils necessary for all the meals we prepared. The kids enjoyed the ping pong and foosball down in the basement and they especially enjoyed jumping off the dock and paddling around in the paddle boats. We all enjoyed s’mores at the fireplace after catching too many fish to count on Gilbert Lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a perfect, quiet lake place to relax and enjoy the area!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quiet, Peaceful, Quaint

This lovely cabin was perfect for our annual family getaway. 3 adults (Our DIL couldn’t make it) + 4 kids, ages 5-9. Plenty of beds to satisfy everyone’s need for privacy or companionship as the case might be. Soft, sandy shallow beach was great for little people. Owner rented us an awesome pontoon boat that made fishing a breeze. Cabin is decorated in a kitschy 40’s? era rooster theme, loved it. No dishwasher but I found it relaxing to wash them by hand. Great 4 season porch and game room in the basement. Plenty of hot water and the kitchen was stocked with lots of supplies. The outdoor fireplace was perfect for making S’mores.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing and quiet

The property was just as described. Cozy nostalgic home, the lake was very clear and lots of great fishing both off the dock and out on the lake. The home had everything we needed for the nine of us. The most impressive thing however was the hosts. Ken and Joan really know their stuff. The check in check out process was fast and easy. They answered all our questions and needs without hesitation. We hope to come back again some time. Wonderful property!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect getaway!!

This property was perfect for our families. The two upstairs bedrooms sleep four people in each room. The beach was our granddaughters favorite place to hang out and build sand castles. We would definitely recommend this cabin and would rent it again. Thank you for sharing this nostalgic cabin with us!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place!

This was the perfect place for our family weekend!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Just perfect!

This house worked great for our large family. The kitchen was well equipped with everything we needed. We slept with the windows open and the area was very quiet… so many stars too! The kids loved playing down at the lake.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Enjoying time with family

We had a wonderful time with our family. The house was very clean and stocked with everything we needed. The outside fireplace was awesome, enjoyed our evenings there very much. The ping pong table was a hit with both kids and adults. The pontoon we rented from Lake Fun Rentals was great, enjoyed very much. Would highly recommend and hope to get back again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

August vacation

Everything met or exceeded expectations. Lake level was low but can’t hold owners responsible for that!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Place!

This quiet, relaxing property was perfect for a get-a-way with friends! The view is amazing and the fireplace is so unique. Great hosts! We would stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quiet Retreat

Nice, quiet clean place to stay. Lake was very clear by the dock. Loved the fireplace but would be nice to have a fire pit down by the lake area to sit around.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Place

The property was perfect, everything you need for a getaway. Lots of space, indoors and out and water toys. Kitchen and linens are well stocked. The owner was very helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great family vacation

We had a great stay here! We loved the bedroom set-up for our family. We had two large rooms upstairs so the six of us (4 small children) slept upstairs while my parents and brother had their two rooms on the main floor. The main downside upstairs was that it was rather warm most of our stay because the AC doesn’t flow through vents upstairs. They gave us fans so we opened windows and had the fans running at night and during naps. Despite it being warm it would have been nice to have comforters in the rooms and not just the light bedding provided. The people who stayed on the main floor were cold because the AC worked well. Otherwise, the kitchen was well supplied with cooking utensils and pots and pans, dishes, etc for meals and the bathroom had plenty of towels for our family. We spent a lot of time Hanging out in the porch and outside fishing and swimming. The outdoor fireplace was great too. My three year old son caught ten fish over the week fishing off the dock with grandpa. Our three year old daughter spent a lot of time swimming. We brought our kayaks and it was a Great Lake to explore with not much activity when I would go out. We very much enjoyed our stay and would definitely go back again. The owners were great and helpful too.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family fun!

This property was a great, secluded, comfortable get away! Lake was quiet most of the time. Grandkids liked seeing and catching fish off of the dock. Plenty of room for 10 of us. Ken was a great host!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful place for a family vacation!

We had a great week! The house was clean and provided a lot of space for everyone to gather. The kitchen was well stocked with pots, pans, all the dishes we needed. The outdoor fireplace was amazing and the lake was clean. We enjoyed using the canoe and the paddle boat. The owners were gracious and answered any questions we had. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

This lake front property was amazing.

It is a charming get away. The owners were kind and curious. All had a great time.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2020

About the host

Hosted by Joan Mimmack

Host profile image

Languages:

English
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