Entire home

Unity Farm: Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts.

Photo gallery for Unity Farm: Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts.

The Barn at Unity farm
The Roost
The Cottage
The coop
Barn
3 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

4 Single Beds

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Office
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Unity Farm: Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts.

Welcome to Unity Farm, a rare retreat set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River.

This listing includes three private cottages: The Cottage, the Coop, and the Roost, ideal for group stays, retreats, or family gatherings. Walk or ski the trails, gather for meals, and enjoy simple amenities like a tennis court, barn, baseball diamond, basketball hoop, restored prairie, and river access. A place to slow down, connect, and experience the quiet beauty of nature.



You will have the farm to yourselves. You may see grounds keepers, or other people walking from time to time.

Visit nearby Taylors falls for spectacular views, hiking, canoeing and Kayaking.
Franconia sculpture park is right around the corner. Many wonderful coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, wineries, and breweries to explore. Local bike trails, hiking trails and cross country skiing.

Guest will park directly in front of the cottages. Roost parking can be found by the sign labeled Roost.


Unity farm is an extraordinary place, filled with wildlife, native flowers, and abundance of trees and forest, and private access to the St. Croix River. It is a place that offers peace and serenity, and surrounded by national forest property. There is a pond in the yard with occasional great blue herons, ducks and many turtles. On the property there are tennis courts, walking paths that lead through the woods and down to the river. There is a small sand beach on the river at the end of the trail. There is a tennis court, and even a baseball field and basketball hoop.

The landscape is glorious any time of the year, whether it is cross country skiing around the big field in the winter or hiking to the river for a swim in the summer.

We have restored 80 acres of land into natural prairie, which offers a variety of wild flowers throughout the spring and summer, and ends in the fall with tall blue stem grasses.

We have three cottages that we offer for rent. One is called “ the cottage”, and it is a two/three bedroom farmhouse with two bathrooms and a small kitchenette. The downstairs has a small living room, with an adjoining bedroom with a queen size bed. The bathroom has a walk in shower. The upstairs floor has four twin beds, with a partial room divider between the rooms. The bathroom has a pink clawfoot tub.

For cold nights in the winter, there is a wood stove downstairs, and for the rest of the year, there is a small front porch, and a few steps away is a large deck with a dining table and chairs.

The other cottage is called “ the coop”, and this farmhouse has a full kitchen, a downstairs bathroom with a walk in shower, and a larger living room with a large TV if so desired. Upstairs there is a queen size bed. This cottage has an outdoor deck that overlooks the restored prairie.

The third is "the Roost", it is a luxurious one bedroom rental with 1/2 bath surrounded by the woods and prairie.

The walking trails are marked clearly, whether you are on snowshoes or skis, or going for a walk through the woods or to the river. Please respect the private property signs and the DNR signs, there is rare flora and fauna in areas, and we want to preserve our natural resources. You will find the woods magical, you might want to pack a picnic lunch and sit on the bridge that goes over Lawrence Creek – there are two for you to choose from!

Please be courteous of our neighbors and pay attention to the areas that are designated for your use.

We are less than an hour outside of the cities, we invite you to come and experience this incredible environment!

NOTE: Prior to your stay we require you to sign and agree to our rental agreement as well as sign our pre arrival form.
Roost and coop have in floor radiant heat.

Internet and streaming can be spotty at times, as this is a rural property.

Basic cooking supplies, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, basic spices are provided.
Local coffee and k cups provided along with tea.

Aveda shampoo, conditioner, and cream rinse provided.
Coffee and tea provided.
Many sculptures are scattered throughout the property.
Tennis courts and baseball diamond.
Pottery studio available for by appointment shopping.

We want your stay at Unity farm to feel comfortable, restorative, and truly five-star. As with many homes surrounded by woods and nature, occasional seasonal bugs or wildlife/critter activity can occur despite ongoing maintenance and preventative care. If anything needs attention during your stay, please let us know right away so we can address it promptly.
Please be mindful of leaving doors open.

Any added guests over 10 people will be charged an added guest fee, and must be approved by host.

Violation charges are as follows:
Guests will be charged $500 for any smoke inside the property.
Unapproved pets bought to the property $300
Unapproved guests: $150 per person per night
Parties will result in immediate eviction without a refund.
Property left excessively dirty will result in an added cleaning fee of $250 to cover added cleaning costs.

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 11:00 AM

default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

default

Events

Events allowed

default

Pets

No pets allowed

default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Quiet hours 10:00pm-7am

Important information

You need to know

Property # 5174512vb
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 are allowed on site
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 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

Shafer

Shafer is home to this cottage. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Interstate State Park and Deer Lake Conservancy, while Franconia Sculpture Park and Folsom House are cultural highlights. Polk County Fairgrounds and Fawn Doe Rosa Wildlife Educational Park are also worth visiting.
Map
Shafer, MN

What's nearby

  • Franconia Sculpture Park - 1 min drive - 0.8 km
  • Saint Croix River - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Interstate State Park - 2 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Folsom House - 4 min drive - 5.0 km
  • St Croix National Scenic Riverway - 7 min drive - 7.5 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Skolhaugen Lounge - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Augies Woodhill Saloon & Grill - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪The Drive In Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Welcome to Unity Farm; Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts. Designed for group retreats and family gatherings, with trails, open space, and room to slow down. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Unity Farm: Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts.?

As of 28 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Unity Farm: Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts. on 25 Apr 2027 start from AU$1,563, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Welcome to Unity Farm; Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts. Designed for group retreats and family gatherings, with trails, open space, and room to slow down.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Welcome to Unity Farm; Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts. Designed for group retreats and family gatherings, with trails, open space, and room to slow down.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Welcome to Unity Farm; Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts. Designed for group retreats and family gatherings, with trails, open space, and room to slow down.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Welcome to Unity Farm; Three private cottages set across restored prairie and forest along the St. Croix River, with a barn and tennis courts. Designed for group retreats and family gatherings, with trails, open space, and room to slow down. located?

Situated in Shafer, this cottage is within 1 mile (2 km) of Franconia Sculpture Park and Interstate State Park. Saint Croix River and Folsom House are also within 3 miles (5 km).

About the host

Hosted by Alison

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback