Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 13
Popular amenities
Garage parking available
Dog-friendly
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Explore the area
Eagle River, WI
North Nokomis Lake
Place, North Nokomis Lake
5 min drive
Elmer's Fun Park
Place, Elmer's Fun Park
5 min drive
Little Saint Germain Lake
Place, Little Saint Germain Lake
6 min drive
Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County)
Airport, Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County)
42 min drive
Rooms & beds
5 bedrooms (sleeps 13)
Bedroom 1 - Master
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2 - Northeast
1 King Bed
Bedroom 3 - North Center
1 King Bed
Bedroom 4 - Basement
1 King Bed
Bedroom 5 - Basement #2
1 Queen Bed and 3 Single Beds
Living Room - Sleeper Sofa
1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed
3 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 3
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far
Spacious dog-friendly private home on the north shore of Dam Lake with amazing sunrises, sunsets, fishing, and more
~ 3,500 square feet designed for gathering/socializing *and separating/recharging
~ Two dogs (no other pets) may be allowed upon express consent of Owner
~ Sleeping room for up to 13 guests
~ 5 updated bedrooms
~ 3 new full bathrooms
~ New and updated amenities - forced air heating, air conditioning, washer/dryer, stove/range, refrigerator, sink, furnishings, beds and bedding, flooring, trim, sliding glass doors and more
~ Lower level game room with second TV area
~ Very accessible to Bear Paw Resort & Campground, Maplewood Resort, and lots of camps! (Woodland, Towering Pines, and Chippewa are the closest)
~ Dam Lake is the largest of the 5-lake Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes, which is surrounded by the American Legion State Forest. The chain is known for its undeveloped shorelines and fantastic fishing with abundant populations of walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill and perch. You can explore 2,300 navigable acres of water - or you can stay home and catch keepers right off the dock.
~ In the winter there is snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. The Bo-Boen/Sugar Camp snowmobile trail crosses Dam Lake and provides access to hundreds of miles of groomed, well-marked trails right from your doorstep. The rest of the year enjoy the exceptional fishing, beautiful Northwoods forest, and bald eagles, osprey and loons along the chain.
~ From Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, there is a weekly rental policy, Saturday to Saturday, with a three-night rental minimum the rest of the year. Shorter and longer rental periods may be available; please inquire.
~ Rowboat with oars, kayak, and 2 stand-up paddle boards included at no cost; trolling motor and fishing/skiing boat available for rent.
~ The lake frontage welcomes you to sandy bottom swimming, shallow enough for wading and deep enough at the raft for diving. The private dock has plenty of room for your boats - even with ours there.
~ Great for a spring fishing trip, summer family vacation, fall getaway, or a fun-filled winter outing whether you're a solo traveler, extended family, or group of friends. There's something for everyone every season at Sprucewood - including convenient access to Eagle River, St. Germain, Minocqua, Rhinelander, and the UP.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sprucewood. We hope you find it very easy to get to and very hard to leave!
Liz & Jonathan
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Dogs only w/ owner approval
default
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is allowed outside the house only
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
About the area
Eagle River
Located in Eagle River, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Kemp Natural Resources Station and North Nokomis Lake reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Elmer's Fun Park and Eliason Hardware and Lumber. Travelling with kids? Consider Eagle Falls Adventure Golf & Laser Tag and Kartway. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the sledging and snowmobiling.
Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County) - 41 min drive
Restaurants
Pitlik's Sand Beach Resort - 8 min drive
DJ's Northwood's Family Restaurant - 11 min drive
Kaig Stand - 6 min drive
Sportsmen's Chalet - 9 min drive
The Timbers Bar & Grill - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
As of 7 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far on 9 May 2026 start from AU$622, 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 Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
Checkout is at 9:00 AM.
Where is Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far located?
This family-friendly Eagle River holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of North Nokomis Lake, Elmer's Fun Park and Wisconsin River. Little Saint Germain Lake and Little Mamie Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had an absolutely incredible stay here while coming to town to snowmobile. The house was extremely comfortable and easily had enough space for our 13 person group. The kitchen space was well equipped and the adjoining dining room made it such a fun place to cook and hang out. The guys absolutely loved the pool table downstairs! It’s super easy to get to snowmobile rental shops and you there are some cute restaurants/bars nearby.The only thing we regretted is not staying much longer!!
Liza G.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Mar 2026
Oh Liza, thank you so much for this warm review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay and grateful you took the time to share your experiences with us and others. Thank you again, happy spring, and we hope to see you again next year! Take care and all the best, Liz
A relaxing winter escape to Sprucewood! Awesome to see the north woods snow covered and back in business again. Great base for snowmobile trails with groomers out in force. Couldn’t ask for better family time in such a comfortable and well stocked place. Sprucewood never disappoints and we are so happy to be able to enjoy it in the summer and winter! Only complaint is it goes by too fast.
Gregory W.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jan 2026
Thanks so much for your warm review, Greg!
We are so glad you and the fam are able to enjoy the house and area all year round and are happy to share it with you. We'll talk soon about the summer - which will be here before you know it!
Take care and all the best,
Liz
Liz is very responsive and the house is set up well for large groups, we enjoyed our stay and would stay here again
Tracy G.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 July 2025
Hi Tracy,
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and that you would like to stay again. We hope for that opportunity - in general and so you get to enjoy the new oven specifically! ;)
Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Liz
Beautiful, comfortable home on the most relaxing lake. Spend a week there this August with our kids and in laws (and 4 legged family!) and we remarked several times how ideal everything was!
Katie E.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug 2025
Thanks for your kind review, Katie! We are so glad you and your family enjoyed the house and we look forward to hosting you next year!!
We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and will be in touch soon.
All the best,
Liz
Hi Chuck,
Thanks for your generous review and so sorry for the delay - I just realized I never replied. We appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts and are so glad you enjoyed your stay.
We hope you will consider Sprucewood for your next visit to the Northwoods. Check out our updated VRBO listing to see the changes we've made since you were there last. We think you will like the improvements you see. They are what we expected you to see last winter!
All the best,
Liz
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Matt E.
26 July 2018
Great experience at a wonderful location
Perfect location for our family and friends. Beautiful weather during the day and stunning views of the stars at night.
Matt E.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
We are really glad you had a great time. We would love to have you back!
We have been to Sprucewood many times in past years. The new improvements are wonderful. This home has everything you need for a magical vacation!! Beautiful property,lake frontage and home are everything needed for a great vacation!!!
David S.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May 2025
Hi Dave,
Thanks so much for your kind words and generous review! You they mean that much more coming from you. ;)
We hope you and the fam enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again very soon!
Take care and all the best,
Liz
Beautiful lake, roomy house for family, loved being able to bring our little dog:)
Timothy N.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Hi Tim and Laurie,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review! We are glad the house worked for you, appreciate your booking, and hope to see you again sometime.
All the best,
Liz
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Jeni T.
5 Nov 2018
Always love being at Sprucewood!
It’s our home away from home and we love it!
Jeni T.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
We love having you stay with us for all these years. Thanks Jenny
As always Sprucewood had us relaxed and enjoying our vacation!
Jeni T.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Thanks so much for your kind review, Jeni! As always, we love being able to share Sprucewood with you and appreciate the care you show the house. All the best to you and yours, happy holidays, and we'll see you in 2023! Liz
This is our fifth year enjoying our family vacation at Sprucewood. Each year we look for something new that has been added for our enjoyment. And we are never disappointed! We enjoyed some beautiful days on the lake, and had fun with games and puzzles on a couple rainy days. We are already looking forward to next year.
Deborah S.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 July 2025
Thanks very much for your kind review, Deb! We love hosting you and your family and are already looking forward to your visit next year as well!
Beautiful home that’s perfect for a large group! Plenty of parking and lots of room inside for everyone to be comfortable. Host was very helpful and informative.
Ethan M.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Feb 2025
Thanks so much for your stay and your review, Ethan - we appreciate both so much!
It was fun working with you every step of the way, you were a great guest (and host - we can tell!), and we hope to see you again!
All the best,
Liz
Property very clean and well stocked. Owner communicated very well with us. We really enjoyed our stay.
Sue D.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Thanks so much for your generous review and kind words, Anonymous D! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and it was fun talking to you along the way. We hope to welcome you and your friends again another time - and for a longer stay! All the best, Liz
We had our family vacation in this house and it worked well for all 4 families. Great view and well laid out so each family had a separate space but room to all be together for meals and games.
Mandi J.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Thanks Mandi,
Glad to hear you had a great time! Hope to see you again next summer.
This place is truly amazing!We stayed here with family, and the home has so much to offer. It’s in a perfect location—not too far from Minocqua and Eagle River, with beautiful hiking trails nearby.The lake is quiet and incredibly relaxing—everyone had an amazing time just hanging out on the dock, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere. It was the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the beauty of the Northwoods.This was our second Labor Day weekend in a row staying here, and we couldn’t be happier. Liz is an incredible host—kind, friendly, informative, and very quick to respond to any questions we had during our stay.If you're looking for a cozy, peaceful home in the Northwoods, do yourself a favor and check this place out. We absolutely love it and can’t wait to come back again!
Nick A.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Sept 2025
Oh my gosh, Nick - thank you very much for your warm and wonderful review! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and so grateful you took the time to share your experience with others. Thank you again and let’s figure out when you can come back to the house. If Labor Day doesn’t work next year, hopefully we can find another weekend that does! Take care and all the best, Liz
Always enjoy our time at Sprucewood….when we leave at the end of our stay we do so anticipating our return…this was our 35th May at Sprucewood!
Jeni T.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Thank you so much for your kind words and review, Jeni! We love having you and your family and look forward to seeing you all again soon! Take care and all the best, Liz
We had a wonderful experience at this property for our annual Thanksgiving gathering. The house was spacious and comfortable with a beautiful view of Dam Lake. I highly recommend this property for a larger group of people. It was awesome!
Deanne W.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Thank you so much for your kind words, Dee! We are SO glad Sprucewood worked for your family for the holiday and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us and others. Take care, happy holidays, and we hope to see you again soon! Liz
Accommodations were perfect for our stay. Little features that made it stand out were the heated bathroom floors, the fireplace, Sonos sound system, and steam breathing dragon above fireplace.
Michael D.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2023
Hi Mike, Thanks so much for your review and kind words. We're glad you appreciated the little details - we do too! Please come back anytime. Take care and all the best, Liz
We had a group of girls and this property was perfect for us. Plenty of space to take time away from the group, all relax on the deck, or hang out in the living room. The kitchen was well stocked with everything we could have needed. Liz gave us great suggestions for dinner in town and was a pleasure to speak with. Had a wonderful time by all! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us.
Dana S.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 May 2025
Thanks so much for your kind review, Dana!
We're so glad the property worked for you, you enjoyed the area, and you got to have time connecting with friends - that's what it's all about!
We hope to see you again and wish you a happy spring in the meantime.
All the best,
Liz
This property has a lot to offer inside and out. Our 3-generation family greatly enjoyed meals at the large table on the outdoor deck, all the comfortable and spacious rooms of the house, the well appointed kitchen and bathrooms (showers were amazing), beautiful views of the lake from the house, the sitting area down at the dock, use of the row boat for fishing, fishing off the peer, and the kids had a great time playing and swimming in the water. Outside games of corn hole and crochet and evening fires in the well located fire pit were enjoyed by all. the owner's conscientious communication and avaiability of the property managers was an added plus to a very pleasant stay and experience.
Carol W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 July 2025
Hi Carol,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review!
We are very glad Sprucewood worked so well for you and your family, really appreciate your booking and review, and hope to host you again soon.
We also hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!
Liz
The house was fantastic, great layout with thoughtful amenities for each guest. We spent a lot of time indoors due to the weather and couldn’t have asked for a better place to hang out,
Make meals and
Play games with the group.
Heather N.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 June 2024
Oh Heather, thank you so much for your kind words and generous review! We are sorry the weather did not cooperate during your visit but are glad the house did. ;)
We hope to see you again at Sprucewood and wish you all the best in the meantime.
Liz
Thanks very much for your review and kind words, William! We are so glad Sprucewood worked for you and your group and we appreciate that you took the time to share your experience with us and other guests. We hope to see you again and wish you and yours all the best regardless. Take care, Liz
About the host
Hosted by Liz Kunkle
We always joked that if we opened a Bed & Breakfast, Liz would be the 'Bed' and Jonathan would be the 'Breakfast.' We are so excited to share our home and vision with our guests.
Our family has attended and supported Camp Woodland for Girls and Camp Towering Pines for Boys for three generations. We hoped to find property that would allow us to spend even more time in the area and were lucky enough to find Sprucewood in 2020.
The house has great indoor and outdoor space for relaxing, gathering (and separating!), and warm and wonderful southern lakefront exposure with stunning views. It is too perfect for us. We hope it is perfect for you and yours too.
Why they chose this property
We have enjoyed spending time in and around Eagle River for generations. As our kids started attended Camp Woodland and Towering Pines years ago, we spent more and more time here in the summers, appreciating the opportunities to relax and recharge on land and on the water. Sprucewood is conveniently located in the town of Sugar Camp, between Eagle River, St. Germain, Minocqua, and Rhinelander. The property has a stunning south-facing view of Dam Lake in the 5-lake Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes, which is surrounded by the American Legion State Forest. Most of the Chain's shoreline, including Dam Lake's 7-mile shoreline, is undeveloped.
The serenity and beauty of the Northwoods are unmatched. You are truly in one of the most peaceful places in the world. The lake is beautiful, great for boating and waterskiing, part of the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes, and has fantastic fishing (Dam Lake is a Class A muskie lake). Within just a few miles, you can find horseback riding, go carting, miniature golf, wildlife parks, laser tag, tubing or canoeing down the Wisconsin River, nature trails, cross country skiing, hiking trails, miles of paved bike trails, fishing guides & tournaments, many 18 hole golf courses, snowmobiling, and much more. Whatever the season, there is something for everyone at the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes.
What makes this property unique
We loved the home at first sight, but we also had a vision for how it could be improved. With luck, a lot of hard work, and a great local team, we are excited to make that vision a reality for us and our guests.
New forced air heating, central AC, electrical systems, ceiling fans, and sliding glass doors create a climate of comfort. 25mb of WiFi (ample for Zoom calls and movie downloads), flat screen TVs, and an updated cable TV service add modern convenience. Two existing bathrooms were entirely redone with generous step-in showers and updated accessories. A new laundry room and third bathroom were created in formerly unused basement space. Three beds were upgraded to king-size from full-size, and new bedding and towels are provided throughout for every bed and guest. The kitchen has a new pantry, refrigerator, range, microwave, hood, and sink, as well as new indoor and outdoor dishes, serving ware, glasses, and utensils. New hardwood floors, plank flooring, knotty pine, hickory, and other wood accents, and a fresh coat of paint add the finishing touches.
The home also has a great location, being south-facing on Dam Lake, which is part of the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes & in the American Legion State Forest. The home has easy access by boat to 2,300 acres of navigable water and equally easy access by car and snowmobile to Eagle River, St. Germain, Minocqua, Rhinelander, and more.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests