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Reviews of Lakefront Brainerd Cabin - Great Rice Lake Fishing

Lakefront Brainerd Cabin - Great Rice Lake Fishing
Brainerd, MN

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 46 out of 75 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 75 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 75 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 75 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 75 reviews" "

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Stephanie R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quaint place
Overall nice, quaint place. Quiet, peaceful location. Beds/mattresses need to be updated. Would benefit from more comfortable seating (ie larger couch) in the main area. Had a wonderful, delicious meal from local establishment (Dunmire’s), highly recommend it.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tony L., Roseville, Minnesota

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing little find!
Had my family of 5 stay at this propert during Minnesota MEA break. It was such a great find. The property is right on the water and we had some amazing sunsets and sunrises. Property had everything we needed. There is no stove but we read that in description and brought a skillet and pre made food. It worked out well. Awesome location and pretty close to a lot of Brainerd activities. Also being able to use the canoe was fantastic. No one was staying at the bigger property next door so we had the whole place to ourselves. Will definitely go back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Beautiful property, right on the water. Excellent views and very comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christopher M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quick 2 night get away
Nice little cabin, location was secluded enough for privacy but close enough to grab supplies. We were fortunate that the large sister property wasn’t rented same time as our stay so we had the property to ourselves. Had some minor issues while at the cabin but property manger responded quickly. Over all- great stay at the location! Beautiful relaxing place.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice cabin with a great view and good fishing. WiFi was pretty sketchy but that was no big deal. Would rather fish and watch nature than look at emails.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anna D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful view!
This cabin is located very close to the lake. The view is magnificent from almost every place in the cabin, especially on the main floor. It’s cozy, warm if needed or air conditioned. Fishing is our new hobby, our kids had so much fun catching and releasing fish! We also love hiking and there is plenty places for that. Will come back and use the cabin again!Thanks
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

deb w.

Liked: Cleanliness
we rented this along with the big cabin
to make sure our stay was private. this cabin is small but very nice. great view of the lake!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Abby C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family stay
Place was perfect for our family. Everything was easy to access.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely view
It was perfect for my sister and me. Lake view was great. We didn’t really use the beach. Good location. Nice furnishings.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Britta R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great cabin!
My friend and I spent a couple nights at this cabin and it was perfect! The area was peaceful, the lake was great for canoeing and watching lions, and the cabin was exactly as it was described! Highly recommend!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Morgan S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend getaway
We enjoyed our anniversary/baby moon getaway weekend at your cabin. It was easy to get to and close to town. It was fun to bring our boat with and drive up the Mississippi River. The only downside is that I didn’t read the kitchen descriptions close enough so I brought food to make in the oven. We could have used the grills but we decided to grab food out instead. My husband and I talked about coming back to your cabin. We also recommended it to our family and friends when we got home.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kellie S.

Liked: Cleanliness
An amazing getaway with our dogs:)
This place was absolutely beautiful!! The views were spectacular and the Loon and Eagle sightings and sounds just made it perfect. The location is great for many daytime adventures and we would suggest this home to anyone! Our dogs loved just looking out the windows and wandering around the yard on their leashes:)
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

James D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice views and good fishing
Nice to get away to a beautiful view.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet & pleasant location !
Communication with host was prompt when questioning accommodations. Would recommend this stay to anyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Colin P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Thanksgiving weekend stay
The property was nice, and as represented online. We did wish there was an oven in the kitchen as we planned to cook. Additionally, when we arrived, the smoke detector was chirping so we had to go to the store to buy a battery. That took care of the issue until the final night, the smoke alarm went off at 3:00am and there was no smoke or carbon dioxide.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vik B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place, spectacular views, peaceful!
Perfect getaway for two. Loons on the lake and a very picturesque setting will likely have us returning again next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Anna D.

Cozy place!
It was our first time experiencing, picking up new hobby-fishing! We loved it! Caught few fish, let them go and kept the knowledge :) Place overall was very nice, could have been cleaner- fridge. Grill was filthy. But despite that we had a wonderful time! Planning to come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice getaway on the waters edge.
Had a nice stay at this small rental.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dorota B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Exelent
Beautyfull
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Fatuma Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great weekend getaway trip
We really enjoyed this trip. The cabin at lakeside was the best. Very close to town and secluded at the same time.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Jennifer W.

Lovely lakeside location
We enjoyed paddling and lounging by the lake. FYI the couch was advertised as a pullout, but was not, so sleeping arrangements were not as expected. Overall a good place to be!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Erin P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family vacation
My entire family chose this location to vacation (10 adults and 7 small children). We were aware that the sister house to this cabin was rented separately and we needed the space so we rented both locations. We are glad we did - we commented many times that it would have been uncomfortable to have to share the dock and the backyard with another group. This cabin was cleaned well to the eye, but when we had to search for kids clothes under the beds we noticed a few items left behind under there. Not a huge deal but some a deep cleaning might be helpful. Some comments of odor from the water - we didn’t notice anything of the sort and thought the water actually felt soft so no complaints there. There is a wall mounted AC unit upstairs and downstairs plus plenty of extra fans - not central air but kept us plenty cool. An abundance of towels was nice for the lake. Beds and pillows were very comfortable. As stated, no stove but we did use the hot plates to make some pancakes one day and it worked just fine. Nice seating area off the small deck upstairs with nice views. We didn’t end up using the grill but checked it over and looked perfectly clean and ready for use. There is a walkout from the basement level but only a few feet of yard before you get weeds and wouldn’t have access directly to the lake from there - obviously not a problem as we went to the big house to swim but keep in mind if you are renting separate from the big house you will have to go through the yard to get to the lake. Some weeds in the lake toward the end of the dock (as expected with a lake!) but our kids swim all day every day with no trouble and we fished in the evenings which was successful. The steps to get down to the cabin are built into the grass and are made of gravel so either take the grass with your luggage (it’s not steep) or be prepared to carry it. Again, minimal nuisance. Plenty of plates and silverware but if you are going to do a lot of cooking bring some extra Tupperware. Small selection of pots/pans but without a stove, probably don’t need much. This owner uses Evolve to book - I emailed about a couple different things prior to our arrival but was never able to get ahold of anyone until they sent our checkin information with the property manager email address on it. She responded quickly but I was not impressed with Evolve. Excellent location to all Brainerd has to offer, roughly 15 minutes to everywhere. Overall, was a nice place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful view, Peaceful and Private Retreat
We chose this sweet, private cabin for our 40th anniversary getaway. We were so happy with the beautiful view, our canoe trip on the lake and our quick text responses from property manager with our questions.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Delaney L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great cabin for a couple!
We had a great experience staying at this cabin! Would recommend for a couple or small group
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ashley W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great long weekend!
It was great! Enjoyed canoeing and the cabin was very nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Theresa R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet, serene, and natural beauty!
Bring your binoculars- see all of the wild life just steps away from the patio or balcony. This quaint, clean, updated rustic guesthome was exactly what we needed. Bring some folding chairs if you want to sit on patio or around the fire. We loved watching the loon that visited each morning and night.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jill G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely setting, great view.
Hope we can go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Michelle J.

Beautiful location
This was a beautiful spot on the lake with a beautiful view from the deck! The cabin was cute and quaint, however it was not overly clean when we arrived. It didn’t appear as the bathroom was fully cleaned. Overall, it did the job for a fun girls weekend though!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelli M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very Nice Cabin
The cabin was perfect for my wife and me. The cabin was modern and appeared to be recently updated. The proximity to the lake and the views were awesome. The only downside is that there is no stove, but there is a convection oven. We had to Google how to use it :)
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Deborah A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful view!
Our quick weekend getaway was fun and relaxing here with beautiful views of the lake, even in November, from the wall of windows. We were comfortable and had all that we needed. The manager was quick to respond to our question and apologetially compensated us because the dishwasher hadn't been run.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christine J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great weekend
My husband and I loved the property! The cabin was perfect for our needs and we had a great time!

6/10 Okay

Renee R.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Location but dirty
Great location, stunning views, just needs a little TLC. Our entire trip there was a loud fan (that does not turn off) which was extremely distracting - especially trying to fall asleep. The cabin itself did not meet cleaning standards - dirty dishes, shower not clean, dirt & debris, various scuffs/marks on walls. Also, there was a strong musty/egg odor coming from the sink/shower. I would consider the owners remove their cleaning costs associated with this rental, as we basically has to clean up upon arrival.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Nov 2, 2020
Renee, While we welcome and appreciate feedback, we have to disagree with this review. We followed up with the homeowner, and we'd like to share the following: -The cabin was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before your arrival by the reliable cleaning company. -There are so scuff marks on the walls, nor is there a weird smell in the property. -We are sure this won't occur for future guests, as travelers after your departure have had no similar concerns. -We wish you would have reached out during residence, as the guest contact and cleaners would have been happy to help. We're sure that this owner will continue to provide excellent guest service and five-star stays!

2/10 Terrible

Pat M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Extremely disappointing stay.
The experience was extremely disappointing. The overall condition of the cabin together with the fact that it was not clean made our stay anything but relaxing. The cabin should not be embarrassed to rent it out and its current condition. There were cobwebs and dust bunnies in almost every corner of the cabin. It was clear from the finger marks on the refrigerator doors and food particles inside the refrigerator that it was not cleaned. The ice bin on top of the refrigerator was not clean. There was a layer of dust on every windowsill and low wall; the rug in front of the refrigerator was filthy and there is mold growing in the shower track. The couch was so filthy we looked for one of the air bed sheets to cover it. The air bed sheets intended for our use were rolled in a ball on the floor in the corner of the closet. One of the basement shades does not close completely and another does not go up - at all. The entire cabin needs a coat of paint and most of the furniture needs to be replaced. We immediately set about Clorox wiping every single surface in the cabin. As you may recall COVID-19 is spreading and because of this we mistakenly expected the cabin to be uber clean. The hike from the parking lot to the cabin is described nowhere in your ad. The owner could supply a cart or wagon for the purpose of packing your gear in and out. On top of this, guests are required to do what should be the job of the cleaning crew before leaving the cabin - per their long list of the cleaning they want guests to do before leaving the cabin. Extremely disappointing. Would not recommend this cabin to anyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 13, 2020
Pat, We're sorry to hear that you didn't completely enjoy your stay at this cabin. We have passed along your feedback to the homeowner and cleaning crew, and we'd like to share the following: -The cleaning staff confirmed that the place was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, as they take pictures of the entire property after their procedures. We are confident that it was guest-ready and that future guests will not have to worry about these concerns. -Once notified of your concerns about fingerprints on the fridge, the cleaning crew offered to come over and re-clean the place right away- this was denied by your group. -There is no ice bin in the freezer, but only ice trays. These were washed before your arrival. -All new bedding was purchased earlier this year, as well as two new sitting chairs, and a new BBQ grill. -The check-out procedures are standard across vacation rentals, and they only require guests to strip the beds, take out the trash, and do the dishes used while in residence. We wish you the best in all your future travels, and we are sure that many future travelers will enjoy their stay here!

10/10 Excellent

Paige H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful
We loved how quiet and peaceful this cabin was. Loved our canoe ride at sunset, gorgeous views! I had a question prior to our stay and evolve never got back to me but otherwise the property was great. A perfect spot for adults to enjoy some kid-free time.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Mandie C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Views
Love the design of the cabin! So modern and cute. Would totally stay here again, especially now that we know what to expect. Small things but still I would want to know before staying. Some of the things I wish were more clear in the listing : There is not a stovetop/oven - there is a convection oven microwave and two hot plates. Obviously this is not a huge deal, but it defiantly is worth noting, and took some getting used to. There is AC!!!!!!!! The listing does not say this and I was SO HAPPY to find that there was in fact air conditioning in the cabin! The listing says that there is a queen air mattress with linens, the only sheets we could find in the house were for a twin. Not sure if something got messed up between this house and the sister house but we could not use the air mattress. Lastly - the property is very close to the sister cabin, and since the dock is located closer to the big cabin it can feel a little uncomfortable (probably depending on who's at the sister cabin). This cabin is located right next to the water, and the yard is a hill. So if you had anyone elderly or young kids it would be very hard. None of these things would stop me from staying again. We swam every day and loved watching the sunset every night.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jane P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Boathouse
We really enjoyed the boathouse. It would have been a little better if the parking for the boathouse was a little closer so that we didn't have to go so far to unload all our things. We would really have rather had our own dock rather than having to share one with the big cabin. Sometimes it was hard to tie up our boat if the other cabin took up too much room. Overall, we enjoyed our stay.

8/10 Good

Kenneth S.

Liked: Cleanliness
A pleasant escape
The property is pretty much what you see ... a quaint little abode on the lake shore, with spectacular views. The property is well maintained, and within 5-minutes from stores/civilization. A couple of things that may help you have a better time: 1. The “stove” is plug-in induction cook tops (their are two), not a traditional stove (no oven). 2. WiFi is spotty, but cellular is pretty good. 3. It is an open floor plan - there are no internal doors separating any rooms other than the bathroom. 4. There are no window treatments in the upstairs, making sunsets impossible to miss (and a bit bright), and you’ll want to reframe from being upstairs without being publicly presentable. :) The only issue we had was the shared parking with the larger cabin next door. Their are 4 parking spots that are shared. We had two different groups in the big cabin during our stay. The first group had 3 cars and the second had 4. Apparently, they didn’t get the memo that all the parking spaces weren’t for them. Otherwise, we enjoyed the property and our trip (there were loons calling on the lake almost every morning). We will likely go back again, although we may opt for the bigger cabin to get a little privacy from the kids over a week-long stay.

8/10 Good

NANCY B., Dewey

Liked: Cleanliness
Management communications
The property itself was beautiful & we enjoyed our stay. Unfortunately, we had a question for management, Evolve Rental Management, that went almost 2 wks without a response via phone msg, VRBO messaging & regular email. We have rented VRBO properties many times with no problems contacting owners but these owners used Evolve to manage their rental. Love VRBO but NOT Evolve!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2020

8/10 Good

Michelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun getaway!
We loved grilling and enjoying the evening on the balcony!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2020

10/10 Excellent

Tamara

Liked: Cleanliness
Cozy cabin next to the lake
Comfortable and clean boathouse cabin with lots of light from huge windows. We enjoyed a quiet weekend getaway in this recently remodeled space. Be aware the wifi is spotty.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent getaway cabin
The boathouse cabin is a very unique cabin right on the water's edge. We stayed in October and the fall colors were impressive. We really enjoyed our stay here, and would definitely recommend it.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Dori Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice secluded cabin
Nice little secluded cabin. Perfect for my husband and I and our 2 little dogs. Wish they had a stove top instead of hot plates. We would stay there again.

10/10 Excellent

Matt F.

tranquil and good fishing
We loved the cabin! It was clean, comfortable and had a wonderful view of the lake. We enjoyed using the canoe as well. Fishing right off the dock was great!! It was nice to have a grocery store close by but the cabin was so quiet and tranquil.

10/10 Excellent

amanda p.

Amazing views
Thank you so much for sharing your home with us for the weekend. We enjoyed the gorgeous views of the lake, and all of the wildlife that inhabits the lake that we saw on our 2.5-hour canoe ride. The house is the perfect size and space for a grown up weekend away without kids. Your kitchen is truly well stocked, and the quality of your linens is one of the best we've ever had at a VRBO (pillows were great). Even though we didn't use the grill, we appreciate that you had one and plenty of propane for it. Using the canoe was great, wish we would have had better weather this weekend to enjoy it more. The dock and bench seat are great as well. We appreciate all of the thought that went into designing the boat house. The amount of natural light in there was fantastic. Even with it being overcast and rainy most of the weekend we never had to turn a light on until it was dark out. We had an amazing weekend. We appreciate you opening your home to us for the weekend. It is such a gem! We will definitely recommend your house to friends, and hope we can stay there again in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

8/10 Good

Jo A.

Boathouse in Brainerd, MN
My husband and 2 small dogs really enjoyed our stay at the boat house in Brainerd, MN. The place, was charming, clean, and right on the lake. It was also close to town and other activities in the area. I would recommend renting this property should you be vacationing in MN. Perfect for 2 to 4 people.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2018

4/10 Poor

Jan L.

Property and view of lake very nice.
Beautiful view of lake, the house itself needs more attention to cleanliness especially the bathroom. Bed linens all need replaced As they are stained and do not look clean.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 25, 2020
Hi Jan, We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the cabin's beautiful lake views, but we are sorry that the cleanliness of the property fell short of your expectations. The homeowner and their cleaner are dedicated to the maintenance of the cabin, and we understand that the cleaner immediately resolved the issue with the bathroom when you reached out. Clean sheets are always put out for each booking, but the iron-rich water in the area can cause some discoloration. We do appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, and we hope to travel with you again soon! Best, the Evolve Team

10/10 Excellent

Lisa S.

Peaceful, modern, beautiful - perfect!
The boathouse was better than I imagined and more then I hoped for. We were visiting Brainerd for business and looked forward to coming home every evening to our lovely place right on the lake. The location is ideal. The decor is well done. The king size bed is so comfy!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2017

8/10 Good

Sara B., Minneapolis

Super cute boat house!
My husband, 2 kids, and I enjoyed our stay at the boat house. We loved all of the big windows looking out on to the lake. The proximity to town and groceries and target was great.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2017

8/10 Good

Kara M.

Relaxing!
The boathouse was lovely! The view of the water was incredible. Unfortunately it did not have a swimming area for the kids, and fishing was very tough. However, Patrica was a wonderful host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

Tamara G.

A lovely and tastefully done property
Perfect for a writing retreat - you can sit inside and feel like you are in the water. We got our project done! More proof of the lovely space. I took it down a star because if you do need heat, it is terribly loud. We managed with extra sweaters.