Our Cottage is Small Enough to be Romantic and Large Enough for a Family.

Backus, Minnesota
$295 avg/night Minimum Stay 2 Nights
Bed 4

Bed

Bath 2

Bath

Home Cottage

Property Type

Sleep 10

Max Sleeps

Night 2 nights

Min Stay


Four seasons. Great value year around. Try it. You will like it!

September and October are my own absolute favorite times of the year!!

Special winter rates are implemented for many non-holiday weekends/periods between mid-October and mid-May each year.

Read-away vacations are newly popular. Take a trip centered around reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. I suspect that we may have the best in-home library of any VRBO rental.

This professionally designed beautiful 3 bedroom - 2 bath cottage is available year around. Our cottage was newly constructed in the spring of 2013. The cottage is well maintained. The interior is clean, uncluttered, and bright with natural light. New or improved features are added to the interior and/or to the property exterior each year. We installed entirely new living-room furniture in 2026.

Added new this year: We installed entirely new living-room furniture in 2026

Whole Home is dedicated to the guest. Non-contact self-check-in. No shared interior spaces or facilities. This is rural MN lake country at it's best.

Cooking for family and friends in a commercial quality and professionally designed kitchen

The installed internet service will support work simultaneous with remote education. Bring your family for a week or two away. The service was updated again in the spring of 2025 to triple the overall internet speed.

Cleaning charge will always be applied. Extra charge for more than six people. Extra charge for one pet.

Typical Repeat Visitors: multi-generation family vacation; weekend or week getaway for a couple; Thanksgiving, New Year day, or Christmas family celebration; extended family groups; hobby groups; craft groups; women's weekend away groups; small group reunions; church groups; quilting groups; wedding groups; special anniversaries; engagement proposal weekends; honeymoon cottage; snowmobiling groups; ice fishing groups; XC skiing groups; winter weekend getaways; waterskiing groups; wakeboard groups; wake-surfing groups; fishing opener groups; hunting groups; and more......

DATES IN MID-SUMMER ARE GENERALLY RESERVED THREE OR MORE YEARS IN ADVANCE. Dates in mid-October to mid- May will often be reserved 6 months to 1 year, or more, in advance. Reserve now to acquire a week in the spring, summer or fall of 2026 and the winter of 2027/2026

Grand piano is provided for your enjoyment.

Two tiled bathrooms and full separate laundry area

Exterior fire pit, exterior gas and charcoal grills, interior gas grill and griddle, and interior gas fireplace.

Relaxing recreational location

Large commercial grade kitchen for family special meal prep and relaxed gourmet dining or just serving a family reunion crowd. Please see the pictures.

Nearby access to Paul Bunyan and Heartland trails for great bicycling, inline skating, and X-C skiing.

Great bass fishing (1/2 lb to 5 lb) from dock. Good walleye and northern when trolling lake shallows and sand bars

Quiet, calm, incredibly clear, and nearly weed free lake good for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, and recreational boating. Ultra-clear and clean spring fed lake with a sandy bottom

Loons live here. You should see/hear adults and offspring every day/night in spring, summer, and fall. Variety of other animal life is almost endless. A keen wild-life observer might well see: Hawks, eagles, owls, otters, beavers, bears, raccoons, ground hogs, deer, coyote, pelicans, egret, herons, ducks, geese, swans, common and rarer songbirds, various squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, possums, and more.

Docks: Semi-private dock will be, installed in and removed from, the lake as seasonal weather permits. Exact installation dates in spring and exact removal dates in the fall are affected by weather and availability of the dock vendors, the ice out in the spring, and very low air temperature and/or prospect of early ice on in the fall. Docks are often in by late April. and often out before mid-October. Sometimes the docks are not in by late May. Sometimes docks come out in September. There are two 3000 lb boat lifts. One is for the owner's boat and one is for the guest's boat, if any. The owner, or owner's family members, may sometimes be present and use the dock and the owners boat lift. Guests have shared use of the dock, and access for use of (1st of 2) 3000 lb boat lift/canopy cover. Owner will access dock, 2nd lift, and store owner's boat on one of the two lifts (2nd of 2)

Boats: Supplied with 17' Old Town canoe, 15' Lund fishing boat, two paddle boards, and two kayaks. Outboard motor(s) not supplied but available for rent at limited regional commercial locations. Best option is to buy a well maintained used outboard motor, or trolling motor, and bring it with you. The cost of a used motor will likely be less than one week's rental cost if you find a local rental.

Property has multiple exterior video cameras and monitored interior house/ and garage security sensors. Video systems include (24 hr X 365 day) exterior video surveillance and recording. There is no video interior to the occupied sections of the house (basement is monitored).

CAN SLEEP UP TO TEN PERSONS IN A LARGE FAMILY. THIS MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR 8, 9, OR 10 ADULTS EACH REQUIRING PRIVACY. BEST SUITED FOR 3 OR FEWER ADULT COUPLES OR AN ADULT COUPLE AND THEIR CHILDREN. EXTRA CHARGES FOR MORE THAN SIX PERSONS. See bedrooms discussion in website AMENITIES section for further explanation/clarification.

Not fully handicap accessible: Most of the house is on one level. One step up to the exterior front porch. One step up at the entrance from the porch. The kitchen, dining room, both bathrooms, both first floor bedrooms, the sunroom, and a portion of the living room are all on the entry level. One step down between most of the house first floor and just a portion of the living room. 10 steps down (or gentle sloped walk on grass) to lake in front of house. The interior doors are generally 30 in. width. No ramps are provided. The lawn is gently sloped to the lake shore. Lake can be accessed from the lawn easily as well as the steps. The lake sandy bottom is also gently sloped and ideal for handicapped entry, teaching swimming, and monitored child's play.

Pets: Please let me know the breed, weight, and temperament of the pet as soon as you know that you want a pet to be part of your reserved stay. I need to approve any pet in-advance of your stay. There is an extra charge for a pet.

If/when a pet is approved you will need to always keep the pet on leash when outside; you will not leave the pet outside off-leash, unattended, or barking; you will not leave the pet in the house unattended without placing and retaining the pet in a portable kennel; and you will pick up and dispose of pet waste bagged separately within the trash, not leave same in the yard. In addition, I charge a $150 pet fee per pet that covers added cleaning that is needed (pet dander, pet hair, pet odor and etc), and damage that pets cause to flooring in the house no matter how well behaved (wood floors which I have had to refinish every two to three years). That extra fee does not cover damage such as a pet scratching or chewing on a piece of furniture, or scratching/ruining a door or a piece of trim. Your job is to prevent that, and/or to personally cover the costs of that sort of damage if it occurs. Depending on how extensive such damage might be it may not be totally covered under the limited insurance policy.

Owner may often not be present during a portion of guest stay. Guests do not have access to the owner's boat, the lift supporting owner's boat, the house basement, or the garage at any time. Owner retains access to the house basement, the garage, and one of two boat lifts on the dock at all times. All non-guest spaces will frequently be locked. Owner will store one boat on a lift (2nd of the 2) at the dock. Owner may routinely access those areas. Owner will be considerate of time of day and guests needs if/when accessing the dock or the basement. Owner/family sometimes work from and may infrequently spend an extended period in the two-story garage. Windows are carefully offset between the house and the garage so that persons in the garage do not have a view into the house interior, and vice versa.

Exterior of house and all property have full recorded video surveillance at all times. Interior of house ground level, and second floor upper level have extensive security sensors BUT DO NOT include ANY video cameras or audio receivers, except glass breakage sensors. Interior of the garage has extensive security sensors and video/audio recording as well. Basement has extensive security sensors and recorded video, but no audio sensors.

The entire rest of the property has extensive security sensors but in addition includes extensive recorded video surveillance. Any access to the garage or basement will immediately initiate automatic notification of owner and recorded video surveillance. The house ground level and upper-level security alarms will be disabled when guests are present. The garage and house basement security alarms may not be disabled unless owner or owner's family are present. If an alarm occurs other than immediately after guests enter the main house, it is likely the garage system. If officials arrive to investigate an alarm, direct them to the garage first, unless the alarm occurred promptly upon initially attempting to access the main house for the first time, or upon entering the house basement.

Cottage features, furniture, and facilities are improved every year. A portion of each rental is set aside for improvements and maintenance of the home. I try to keep it interesting and in like-new condition. There are many antique pieces of furniture in the cottage. Antiques are obviously not, and should not be, new. Those too may evolve year to year.

Read More Expand
  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • SKI

    Cross-country Skiing And Snowboarding Nearby
  • PETS

    1 Total (up To 50 Lbs Per Pet) Pet Friendly Welcoming Dogs Only
  • BEACH

    Beach Sun Loungers On The Beach
  • DINING

    Dining Table
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Deadbolt Lock Fire Extinguisher First Aid Kit Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    4 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided Sofa Bed
  • GENERAL

    Unit Size: 2200 Sq Ft (204 Sq M)
  • KITCHEN

    Blender Dishwasher Kitchen Island Lobster/crab Pot Microwave Oven Refrigerator Stovetop Toaster
  • LAUNDRY

    Laundry Facilities Near Laundromat Washing Machine And Dryer
  • PARKING

    Car Required Onsite Parking Onsite Parking Options Include A Garage
  • INTERNET

    Free WiFi
  • OUTDOORS

    Balcony Charcoal Grill Firepit Garden Outdoor Furniture
  • BATHROOMS

    2 Bathrooms Hair Dryer Shower Toilet Paper Towels Provided
  • WORKSPACES

    Desk Desk Chair
  • LANGS SPOKEN

    English Spanish
  • THINGS TO DO

    Boat On Site Casino Nearby Cycling Nearby Fitness Facilities Nearby Golf Nearby Golfing On Site Hiking/biking Trails Nearby Ice Skating Nearby Jet Skiing Nearby Kayak On Site Snow Sports Gear Swimming Nearby Water Skiing Nearby Water Sports Equipment Wildlife And Game Walks Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    Books DVD Player Games Music Library Stereo Video Library Smart TV With Cable/satellite Service
  • LIVING SPACES

    Dining Room Fireplace Living Room
  • CLIMATE CONTROL

    Air Conditioning Heating
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY

    Children's Books Children's Games Children's Toys Highchair
  • LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

    In A Rural Location Near A Hospital Near Outlet Shopping Near The Bay On The Lake On The Waterfront
  • SERVICES AND CONVENIENCES

    Iron/ironing Board Phone
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    Hardwood Flooring In Public Areas If You Have Requests For Specific Accessibility Needs, Please Contact The Property Using The Information On The Reservation Confirmation Received After Booking. No Elevators Note From Host: 24 X 365 Recorded Video Of Property Exterior Smoke-free Property Upper Floors Accessible By Stairs Only

CheckIn Check-in : 03:00 PM CheckOut Check-out : 10:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 10

Map Map

School District Availability

Review Review

  • Tony S.

    Submitted Feb 16, 2026

    Stayed Feb 6, 2026

    Awesome property and awesome experience! Will definitely be coming back! Couldn’t be happier!

  • Tony S.

    Submitted Jan 25, 2026

    Stayed Jan 17, 2026

    Awesome home! Will definitely be coming back!

  • Joyce B.

    Submitted Oct 6, 2025

    Stayed Sep 22, 2025

    After a two-week stay, we found it very difficult to drive away. We had been blessed with beautiful weather but the remarkable thing was the peace and quiet against the beauty of the lake. The entire place was so well stocked and felt safe, comfy and cozy. This one will be on our list for a return visit.

  • Elisabeth B.

    Submitted Sep 16, 2025

    Stayed Sep 6, 2025

    We had the loveliest week at this cabin! The views took our breath away, and we especially loved sitting on the dock fishing, reading, and relaxing. The kitchen is exceptional, and the extra touches like a grand piano, plenty of fridge and freezer space, and Kleenex boxes everywhere were so appreciated. John was an excellent host and communicated quickly and with all the necessary information and answers. We did not want to leave, and will cherish the memories made here!

  • Jana B.

    Submitted Aug 9, 2025

    Stayed Aug 2, 2025

    We very much enjoyed our stay on Horseshoe Lake. The lake was quiet and peaceful. The weather wasn’t great, but we found plenty to do in the area. Everyone enjoyed cooking in the chef’s kitchen and playing tabletop games on the dining room table. Thank you for sharing your home with us!

  • John P.

    Submitted Jun 21, 2025

    Stayed Jun 14, 2025

    Ejoyed our family vacation. Exceeded expectations.

  • Rita R.

    Submitted May 24, 2025

    Stayed May 19, 2025

    Arrived to 2.5 days rain, then sunny last day. All was great. Hope to return

  • Tony S.

    Submitted Apr 22, 2025

    Stayed Apr 9, 2025

    Awesome place. Couldn’t have been happier.

  • Douglas R.

    Submitted Mar 22, 2025

    Stayed Mar 7, 2025

    Location & Home were excellent get away, wonderful views, quiet and warm surroundings.

  • Claudia L.

    Submitted Dec 2, 2024

    Stayed Nov 26, 2024

    It's a beautiful home, decorated in a cabin style with a truely gourmet kitchen. Our second stay for Tgiving knowing we could make our feast there we went all out. A lovely stay. Cold clear nights so we could really see the stars. And so quiet. Delightful.

  • Pamela R.

    Submitted Oct 20, 2024

    Stayed Oct 16, 2024

    This was our second stay at the cabin. Kitchen is wonderful! We’re a group of two musical families and very much enjoyed the piano.

  • Michael P.

    Submitted Oct 14, 2024

    Stayed Oct 9, 2024

    Went in October. Wonderfull to see leaves changing. Very quiet and nice.

  • Laura Y.

    Submitted Oct 7, 2024

    Stayed Sep 27, 2024

    Beautiful kitchen, very peaceful home.

  • Kevin R.

    Submitted Sep 21, 2024

    Stayed Sep 14, 2024

    Fifth time here, always quiet, beautiful, peaceful

  • Barb P.

    Submitted May 27, 2024

    Stayed May 18, 2024

    Beautiful home, quiet solitude, wonderful kitchen w/everything you need, and had fun fishing. Fortunate to have met Host/Wife while there. Thank you for sharing your paradise with us,we’d love to come back!

Your dates are Available!

Total

Includes taxes and fees
$295+
View details