This cabin home is located halfway between Zorbaz/Bar Harbor and the shops of Nisswa. Just a 35 minute scenic boat ride to Zorbaz or a short 5 minute drive to Zorbaz, Bar Harbor, Grand View or downtown Nisswa.
Enjoy one of the most private settings on the Gull Chain's most private lake, Lake Nisswa! Over 12 foot water clarity and great fishing await. Enjoy the fantastic sand bars the chain has to offer. Go for a kayak adventure with the 4 kayaks provided. In fact most everything needed is provided by us: towels and linens, kitchenware, gas grill, charcoal grill, outdoor games/toys, and 4 bikes for a touring adventure! If a rainy day or two should happen, we have you covered. There are 2 large high def TV's, DVD player, billiard table, many board games and Wifi!
To kick off your day, the morning sunrise over the lake will awaken you for the day's adventures. If you don't feel like roaming the lakes or downtown; stay at home and make use of the 40 foot beach, fish off the dock or make use of the football field sized yard with yard games also furnished!
At night enjoy the fire pit area as it is great for end-of-the-day conversation or making s'mores. Or take a short trip to be entertained by the northern Gull Lake night life!
Note: NO smoking permitted inside the house and no pets. We respect our neighbors and life in the house when it is not rented. Please no campers or RV.s
Bedroom information: Main bed up: queen size 2nd bed up: queen size 3rd bed down: queen size and bunk beds with 2 twin mattresses
Other sleeping area: Four season porch overlooking lake has a full murphy bed for 2 additional guests. Full size futon in lower level family room adds sleeping area. Additionally there is a queen size foldable mattress under the stairs for extra guests.
Additional lower level walk out with wood fireplace and laundry facility.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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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
About the area
Nisswa
Located in Nisswa, this holiday home is near a water park and on a lake. The Pines Golf Course and Nisswa City Park are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Mississippi River and Crow Wing State Forest. Travelling with kids? Consider Nisswa Family Fun Center, or check out an event or a game at Brainerd International Raceway. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Brainerd International Raceway - 13 min drive - 16.5 km
Getting around
Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 28 min drive
Restaurants
Zorbaz - 9 min drive
Lucky's Tavern - 13 min drive
Dairy Queen - 13 min drive
Cowboy*s - 11 min drive
Roundhouse Brewery - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home?
As of 26 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home on 13 Apr 2026 start from AU$546, 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 Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Private Yet Middle-of-the-Action Gull Chain Home located?
This family-friendly Nisswa holiday home is located on a lake, within 3 mi (5 km) of The Pines Golf Course, Nisswa Family Fun Center and Nisswa City Park. Gull Lake is 2.8 mi (4.5 km) away.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a wonderful stay with family from Colorado and the Twin Cities. Some of our family stayed in other units.
This VRBO was well furnished, lots of games we use the bikes and the kayaks, and watched the Olympics!
This home is large and very nice. We loved all the little extras that we found throughout the house. The listing stated that there was a hot tube, but there was none. My eldest grandson loved the lower level and rarely left it. Though the yard is very large, we weren't able to use it due to all the bird droppings covering most of it. The little beach area also had a lot of droppings, so we didn't use it either. The lily pads covering the water also made it so we didn't go into the water. We did use the kayaks a few times. My family has rented lake property for the last 4 yrs. and this is the nicest one we've been to. If I had an issue or question, I would text Randy and he would get back to me usually within the hour.
We had a fantastic 5 day trip to this property in July - 4 dads and 4 sons - 6th annual trip to Nisswa Lake. This was our first trip to this property and we all loved it! The inside was perfect for our size group and everyone had a place to sleep. Grilling and campfires were great and my 23 foot boat fit perfectly on the dock. Best part was the lakeside lawn - it was huge and great for outdoor games. We are already looking forward to booking another trip next summer!
Overall this was a great property for our family of 9! While we brought chairs, games etc, the house is very well stocked with lots of entertainment. We loved the yard for badminton and bags. The family room and tv were great for our rainy days. We had a wonderful week!
Has everything you need for all ages and then some. Close to town and Wendy's. Lol. Peaceful lake, fire pit by lake and house. We hope to have our 3rd Year. Thanks Randy.
This is our second stay at this Lake Nisswa lake home. Randy answered any questions we had prior to our visit and during our visit in a timely fashion. In fact, he always answered text messages in less than 5 minutes. All furniture and beds are in nice clean condition and comfortable. For rainy days they have games and 3 TV's. I would highly recommend this home for anyone to stay at. Very responsive owner.
This place exceeded our expectations!!It is very private and peaceful. Great big yard! We had a family vacation with 6 adults and 3 children under the age of five. We had plenty of room for everyone to be comfortable. The house was stocked with everything we needed for cooking. There is plenty of entertainment in the house if you have a rainy day. The firepit was perfect for everyone to sit around and enjoy. The location is close to town and was perfect to dock our pontoon and travel the lake chains. The owner Randy was quick to response to any of my questions. Thanks for a great vacation! We will definitely be back!
Overall the property is great and accommodates a large group very well. The outdoor space is huge, and there are many games available for use. Plenty of chairs for around the fire pit and the bikes are great.
The indoor spaces are large and comfortable. The place is very well stocked with everything you'd need.
The issue we had was the inability swim or float. There is a small sand beach area but the area is filled with weeds and lily pads. The pictures of the beach in the listing are very deceptive.
If you're not interested in getting in the water, I highly recommend this property.
I don’t often use the phrase “exceeds expectations” but this one certainly deserves it. The house and property are simply amazing. The photos in the listing are accurate but don’t compare to actually being there. For being a lake property, the house has all of the modern amenities and then some. Everything is updated beyond what we would expect for this type of property. Craftsmanship and pride are demonstrated throughout.
Outside, is an expansive lot and beautiful setting overlooking Nisswa Lake. The use of the dock was perfect for the small fishing boat we rented for the week. We were able to land some sizable bass as well as the elusive Northern Pike we have been after for years. The channel to other lakes on the Gull chain is very handy. We made regular use of the available kayaks. While we had our own bikes with us, the bikes available with the property were in excellent condition.
There is no lack of entertainment available inside as well. From multiple TVs to board games, to the pool table, we had everything we needed for the one rainy day we had during the week. The kitchen is extremely well stocked and had everything we were looking for (including 3 crock pots…with liners!) In addition to our family of four, we had another couple with us. The house was setup perfectly for our situation with common areas and privacy as needed. The ample air conditioning was an added bonus. There were a couple other surprises that I won’t mention. You’ll just have to go and see for yourself.
We are very familiar with the Nisswa area and have visited for many years. This property was beyond what we have experienced in the past and is highly recommended. I also can’t say enough about Randy’s communication. I had messaged him several times with questions in the months leading up to our stay. He is very responsive. I’m always a bit nervous about receiving the check-in instructions. Randy’s instructions came in ample time and were super easy to follow. There was also a book of information provided about the property and area. There were also very clear instructions posted in key areas throughout. It is no surprise that he has Premier Host status. Thanks for a great vacation!
Kevin D.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 July 2021
Thankyou Kevin,
I know vacations are important. I would hate to disappoint our guests. It is important family time and we want to do our best to do our part in your experiences. Thankyou for the kind and beautifully written feedback!
Randy and Cathy
Archival
2/10 Terrible
RRR P.
30 Aug 2016
Terrible experience
The property was very pretty, convenient to shops, etc. No complaints there. However, the negatives are plenty-the black hair found in the lower level bed was less than desirable and the back bedrooms upstairs were very hot. The interactions with the owner were extremely disappointing as well. We had very little hot water, only enough for 2 people a day to have a luke warm shower. We sent an email regarding this. The owner responded he would have someone come look at it and that it had happened to other guests before so it was a known issue. Nobody came to look at it. He said he would give us some of our $ back and we agreed that was fair. However, after we checked out, I started receiving multiple, harassing emails from Randy saying the "house was trashed" and sending pictures of things that were there when we arrived saying we had damaged them. Example-the lower level sink in the kitchenette, the top of the pool table. My requests for "before and after" pictures showing the damage were ignored. Instead, I continued to receive emails accusing us of having "an unauthorized motorhome" parked in the driveway. And "SIX BOTTLES OF MUSTARD LEFT IN THE FRIDGE! SO THERE MUST HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 6 PEOPLE HERE" (yes, in all caps)! I told him we had guests come off and on while we were there, including my brother and his family who drove their motor home. I asked him where in the contract it stated that was not allowed and he never replied. Instead, he did not reimburse us for not having any hot water and he also kept our full security deposit. After several harassing emails, I asked him not to contact us again. I have used VRBO for several family vacations and have never had one single incident. Never had a security deposit unreturned. This was a terrible experience. We were treated very poorly and it definitely put a sour taste in our mouth for future trips. Certainly would not recommend this rental to anyone.
RRR P.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Mar 2020
Amber was right about a couple of things, yes it is a beautiful site, and it is close to shopping and nightlife.
I am very sorry that Amber felt dissatisfied with her stay. I will stick with the facts: 36 hours prior to check out at 7pm Amber notified me of no hot water. I immediately responded that I would give her a $250 credit and call around for a plumber in the morning. I could not get a plumber out her last full day at the cabin. Her response to my e-mail indicating a plumber would be called and a $250 credit would be given was, and I quote: " Thank you Randy. We had a great time. Really enjoyed your place!"
Upon my arrival about 40 hours later to meet the plumber, we found hot water on tap. The plumber said there was nothing wrong with the water heater, just heavy usage. (The neighbors had indicated that they saw 12-15 people, and the contract was for 6.) I did indicate an earlier guest in the year had contacted me about running out of hot water one night. When morning came, there was sufficient hot water for the rest of their stay. An on-demand hot water heater has been installed to avoid any future issues.
All beds, sinks, etc. are thoroughly cleaned prior to all rentals. There is a 30 point checklist that is taken care of after every guest checkout. Before a guest arrives, all rooms are inspected for cleanliness and pictures are taken.
Emails were sent to Amber with before and after pictures to show the damage that was done by her party and to inform her of the reasons why the damage deposit would not be returned. My emails were all fact based, nothing personal. I had many guests stay here over the summer and did not keep one dollar from anyone else. There would be no motive to keep Amber's damage deposit if there had not been any damage.
Finally here is a list of the damages and extra expenses incurred because of her visit:
Multiple tears to an expensive pool table surface ( damage est $450)
Broken side burner on grill ($50)
Burned railing on deck ($50)
Two broken cue stick tips ($50)
Extra cleaning charges for black soot in downstairs sink, beach sand all over furniture, extra oven cleaning charge ($100)
In addition, a pickup load of garbage was hauled away and the lake had multiple red solo cups, beer cans and bottles in it.
I work hard to ensure my guests enjoy their vacations. Vacations are an important part of life.
This property was very awesome. Quiet place with paved drive for our bikes. We were able to park in the garage which was a huge plus! All cooking utisips and pots and pans were at hand. Very happy with the place. Thank you!
This is our third stay at this Lake Nisswa home. We love the location being close to town and yet on the chain of lakes so we can adventure thru the channels and watch the wildlife, or we can give the kids a great time tubing and skiing on the lake. Each night ends with a campfire. Given the wooded lot, one has the privacy of camping in the woods. It is a great place to get away!
Great location, plenty of room, well stocked for indoors and out of doors. Larger than large (XL) recreation area.
We enjoyed the fire pit at night with seating for 10 plus.
Perfect lake chain and docking for our pontoon.
Owner was quick to respond to all questions, and provided valuable information.
We Highly recommend this home.
You will totally enjoy the experience, but don’t try to reserve the week we were there because we already reserved it for next year.
We had a wonderful time at this property.
This house exceeded our expectations based on the listing.
The house is completely stocked with everything that you could ask for and more.
The owners are responsive and kind, quickly ready to solve any minor issues that we had.
We had four adults and 3 kids 11 and under and this was the perfect place for us.
Property was clean, the house was very nice. Just a little disappointed in the beach and lake. It had said 12 feet of clarity in the lake and I would say it was about 2 feet. So we didn’t swim and for the kids that was a big piece
My family had a great trip to the area. We were able to dock the boat and have easy access to the Gull chain. Great location with all the amenities needed for a great experience. Thanks for the memories!
We really enjoy staying at this Lake Nisswa getaway! Each one of us has a favorite event or activity. The 8 and 5 year old grandkids like playing on the beach and tubing on the lake. Our granddaughter learned to water ski this year, which was exciting for all of us! Each night we end the day with a campfire with singing and music around the fire. It sounds corny, but it really is fun and special. I love our early morning excursions thru the channels looking for photo opportunities of wildlife! Then there is always just relaxing with a good book down by the beach! Randy and Cathy have all the little touches available as well: flipflops to sunglasses as well as kayaks, firewood, and bikes! Thank you for a wonderful time again this year!! Lori and Family
This is a fantastic home in Nisswa. It had a large yard and easy lake access. The home was very well stocked. Bedrooms were comfortable. Owner was quick to respond to basic questions. No complaints. Would highly recommend.
This was year two for us at Nisswa Lake, and our stay was even better than last year! The weather was perfect for boating, tubing, playing in the lake and taking a few nature walks. My grandchildren love playing on the sand beach and fishing off of the dock. I enjoy wildlife photography, and love that the deer and eagles are right outside my window many days! We hope to make 2021 year number three!