Escape to the serene lakeside setting of Shady Crest, where you can unwind with kayaking and swimming or simply watch your favorite sports by the gas fireplace. This spacious home features a pool table, bunk room with a Lego table, and 5 bedrooms that can sleep 16 people. Enjoy an open floor plan with a wall of windows overlooking the lake and explore nearby attractions like Nokay Lake or Upper South Long.
Welcome to the Shady Crest. Gorgeous lakeside views at this spacious home located on peaceful, private Grave Lake. This home is perfect for your extended family get-together or a quiet get away with your own family. Conveniently located between Brainerd and Garrison. Enjoy the lake with kayaking and swimming, or relax and watch your favorite sports, play board games or a game of pool, roast s'mores by the bonfire, or just curl up with a book by the gas fireplace - this rental has everything!
The space This lakefront home boasts many family-friendly spaces complete with a pool table and bunk room with a Lego table! Shady Crest is a two level home which can sleep 16 people. There are 5 bedrooms plus a Lego/ Bunk room, and 3.5 Baths. Everyone has a bed - 5 king beds and 10 twins. Enjoy the open floor plan, fireplace, wall of windows and deck looking over the lake and the peace and quiet you would expect with a property at the end of the road, next to the woods and on the lake. The yard contains a small apple orchard - late summer and early fall guests are welcome to pick and enjoy!
Fully stocked kitchen. Double oven and an extra full size fridge make cooking for a large group a breeze. A large island is perfect for cooking and gathering. There are plenty of place settings include drinking glasses, wine glasses, coffee mugs, kid friendly dinnerware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, mixing bowls, baking dishes, pizza pan, cookie sheet, toaster, crock pots, Instapot, can opener, wine opener, measuring cups/spoons, and coffee maker.
Indoor entertainment includes 5 smart TVs (family room, living room, both king bed-only bedrooms, and the new king/ twin bedroom in the lower level). These TVs are equipped with Rokus, Direct TV, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. Feel free to bring passwords to other accounts such as Hulu or Netflix - just be sure to logout when you leave! The high speed internet access is perfect for streaming as well as that work meeting you just can’t miss. The basement family room features a pool table and high top table for board games. The bunk room includes a well stocked Lego table for the kids and the kids at heart. We also have a large assortment of board games.
Outdoors you will have a taste of MN wilderness. Fox, turkeys, deer and the occasional bear will visit the backyard. The lake is great for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Kayaks and a canoe are stored near the lake, paddles and an assortment of life jackets are stored in the garage. Enjoy some S’mores around the bonfire after your day on the lake. The deck features a 6-person table and a gas grill. We have a spare propane tank onsite. If the tank runs out, please contact me and I will get you access to the spare tank.
To make traveling a bit easier with young children we have two pack-and-plays, a high chair, booster chairs, stools in the bathroom, toys (including Little People and Magformers). Guests have access to a full sized washer and dryer.
Guest access: Guests have access to the entire house, yard and attached garage with the exception of the locked owner’s closet & utility room. The three car attached garage has many yard toys and is available for parking. The detached garage is not accessible to guests except by request.
Other things to note: Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) has a 3-5 night minimum.
Labor Day - Memorial Day is a 2-3 night minimum.
Please note this house is in a quiet neighborhood. It is a private dirt road with a speed limit of 15mph. Please be respectful of our neighbors who are permanent residents.
Grave Lake is a private lake with no public boat launch. We have kayaks and a canoe for guest use May - Sept. Swimming is great for kids! The water starts out 10- 12 inches deep (no real beach) and get gradually deeper, it is 3.5 - 4 feet deep at the end of the dock. The bottom is hard sand with rocks and occasional weeds. The water in Grave Lake is tea colored due to tannins in the water. The tannins seep into the water from the roots of the trees around the lake and stain the water. It is safe to swim and boat. The water indoors is treated to remove tannins and iron to prevent damage to laundry.
There is plenty of room to park your boat if you would like to explore nearby lakes. Nokay Lake is just across Hwy 18. Upper South Long and Bay Lake are also near by. Mille Lacs, Gull and Pelican are popular options but a bit of a longer drive.
Home is located one mile from the "18 Run Trail" which allows easy access to many county trails on snowmobiles. There is plenty of room in the driveway and garage to store snowmobiles and trailers when not in use. Check out midweek pricing if your schedule allows in the off season.
The exterior of the property is monitored by three cameras. One monitoring the front entrances of the home (located on the detached garage), one monitoring driveway (located on front of attached garage) and one monitoring the rear entrance to home (located on back of attached garage). All cameras record audio and video.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach towels
Ski
Cross-country skiing nearby
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Electric car charging station on site
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee grinder
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
6 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
3.5 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Books
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
7 steps to reach entrance
Handrails in stairways
Hardwood flooring in public areas
Thin carpet in public areas
Tile flooring in public areas
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
On a lake
On the waterfront
Things to do
Bicycle parking
Bicycle storage
Billiards/pool table
Kayak
Birdwatching nearby
Casino nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Sledding nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
Bicycle parking
Bicycle storage
Double-glazed windows
Electric car charging station
Garden
Unit size: 3,700 square feet
Water-efficient showers
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You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Check-out instructions
The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items and take out the trash
Lock the doors
If gas grill was used - please turn off gas and empty drip tray.
Let us know if any damage occurred.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Rules
3 Exterior cameras in use to monitor property. Located on detached garage facing front of house, on attached garage facing driveway and rear of house.
Septic system in use. Flush ONLY natural waste and toilet paper.
Quiet hours 10pm - 8am. No parties or events. Only registered guests on property.
Private road with 15 mph speed limit.
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Note from host: Pack-and-plays, highchair, boosters and step stool
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
About the area
Located in Brainerd, this vacation home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Mille Lacs Lake and Mississippi River reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Paul Bunyan Land and WonderTrek Children's Museum. Traveling with kids? Consider Northland Arboretum and Traditions at Cuyuna Falls Mini Golf. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the sledding and snowmobiling. Visit our Brainerd travel guide
Is Shady Crest. Pool table, fireplace, games, kayaks, Legos. 5 kings - 16ppl. pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Shady Crest. Pool table, fireplace, games, kayaks, Legos. 5 kings - 16ppl.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Shady Crest. Pool table, fireplace, games, kayaks, Legos. 5 kings - 16ppl.?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Shady Crest. Pool table, fireplace, games, kayaks, Legos. 5 kings - 16ppl. located?
This family-friendly Brainerd vacation home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Paul Bunyan Land and Long Lake Upper. Portage Lake and Hanks Lake are also within 6 mi (10 km).
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All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
My group of 10 adults had a wonderful stay at Shady Crest. We spent four nights during a cold winter get away to enjoy time together. Everyone agreed the home was a wonderful venue. The house was very well appointed. The beds were very comfortable, the kitchen was a cooking dream, the views, the comfortable furnishings, and everything was clean and welcoming. The host was great to work with and was very helpful in answering all our questions. Simply a great stay!
Wonderful place fully equipped witb everything you can think of (and more!). We especially appreciated all the extra supplies, books, and toys for kids. We had a great time here and highly recommend it to others.
Super house with large rooms and we’ll supplied amenities. Peaceful and refreshing!
Our host Lisa was great! The property was well kept, nice large bedrooms and king size beds were super. Plenty of amenities and things to do. Close to Brainerd for additional supplies and things to do as well. We were a group of 9 adults that really enjoyed the house and property.
We rented the VRBO for a place for our family to stay for our sons out of town wedding. The home was beautiful, very comfortable and well stocked with absolutely everything you could ask for. Couldn’t ask for any better accommodations, owner is extremely nice and pleasant to deal with. Definitely a 5 star rating.
The property was ideal for mom. She was able to enjoy everything on one level. There were many trips to the dock and lots of casual fun stories and memories of the past shared. Talks of doing it again next year.
Shady Crest is a great place for a getaway. Very nice home with great accommodations. There is ample space to relax. Lisa is a great host with timely communication. The view of the lake from the house is pleasant. It is quite a walk down the steps to the lake - be ready for 87 steps back up! Good workout. Very clean and comfortable. Thank you.
EVERYthing was as advertised, and more. Incredibly clean, all drawers/closets, etc. labeled. Unexpected amenities like ziplocs, Tupperware, body lotion (Lubriderm) in bathrooms, plethora of kid toys and games. (Our daughter said she didn’t need to bring anything for her two-year old.) Communication with host was immediate and friendly. Definitely recommend this property!
This place was great for a family gathering of up to 12 people.
Nice kitchen space for everyone to get around in and nice to have 2 full size refrigerators. Everything is so well labeled to find what you need.
The bedding was extremely comfortable. Love my bed at home, but this was a 10 for 10 for sleeping.
Great bonfire area and nice space to enjoy yard games. Hang out by nice deck and enjoy the great view to lake down the hill to the dock.
Small quiet little lake to canoe or kayak on.
Fun bonus was the apple trees which we got to enjoy in the September season.
Very well equipped if you have little ones as well.
This is a wonderful property. Not only is it a beautiful location but the home has everything one could want. The kitchen is not only stocked with dishes, silverware and other utensils, but also crockpots, coffee makers, toaster, blenders, cutting boards, storage containers, etc. there was nothing we needed that wasn’t provided. The bedrooms/bathrooms were also generously stocked with phone chargers, toiletries, hair dryers, etc. Our kids particularly enjoyed the game room with a pool table, board games and many toys for very young kids. While there are numerous steps down to the lake, it was well worth the walk. We spent most of our time in, on or near the water. Very popular were the canoe and kayaks that were provided. The kids even caught a few small fish off the dock. Our host, Lisa, was extremely accommodating and responsive. We enjoyed our stay immensely and look forward to returning at a future date.
Absolutely beautiful home. Everyone loved the pool table, kayaking, the fire pit area and quiet location. Very kid friendly with all the toys and games, high chairs and booster seats, pack and plays, dishes for the kids, baby gate, outdoor toys, etc.
The kitchen was the most well-stocked kitchen we’ve stayed in. Bathroom thought of as well- Shampoo, conditioner, toiletries, etc.
It seems as though nothing was forgotten here.
We loved having the lifejackets, beach floats, kayaks, bonfire necessities, etc.
Can’t say enough about all the attention to every little detail.
Our host was amazing! Great communication before and during to make sure we had everything we needed.
You won’t regret staying at this beautiful property!
The host was absolutely spectacular to work with! The property was beautiful, spacious and cozy! They had so many things available to us to use and cover anything that came up! My brother and his wife had forgot to grab their baby monitor and happened to find one they had on hand for guests along with numerous other baby items! We will definitely be booking this again in the future! Thank you so much for giving us a fantastic weekend!
Great place to stay! Clean, great communication with property manager and they had everything there. Plenty of room for our large group of 8 adults and 10 kids.
The house and property were perfect for a meet up of old high school friends. We enjoyed the firepit and the great spaces for "hanging out" and playing cards or pool and watching sports.
Very happy with our experience. Home was well equipped to entertain all ages. Kids had a blast catching Bluegills and Sunfish off the dock. We had 16 in our group and there was plenty of space for everyone. I would recommend for anyone with a large group.
The house was just perfect for our family. Spacious and great layout. Beds were over the top comfortable we used the fire pit every night. The only drawback was the amount of steps to the water, but that didn’t stop us from having a good time. It just made us more organized when we made the trek down to the water. The kids actually loved the walk down to the water.
Place was above and beyond what we expected. Had 13 of us there for a get together for a nice 4 day weekend. Would absolutely recommend this place to anyone. Lisa is was awesome to work with through the whole process.
Beautiful, private setting. Spacious & modern! Many extras for guests that were very welcome.
To name a few; lots of towels, personal supplies, well stocked kitchen, two refrigerators, plenty of parking, firepit, games. Great location & close to Brainerd.
We went on a last minute family weekend at Lisa's beautiful VRBO. Each and everyone of has had a wonderful time.
The pool table and Lego room were a hit with the kids and the entire house is beautiful!
Lisa was a great host!
We were a group of well traveled 70 year olds and were extremely impressed with the cleanliness and the overall set up for this property. We all commented on the 5 King Size beds, that for 70 year olds was just as important as the rest of the layout. It is very peaceful and totally relaxing. This is a group that has traveled the world and can be hard to please. This property provided for us at every turn. Lisa was extremely responsive and unbelievably great to work with. The pictures of the property are understated as compared to the excellent experience for staying there. Go…go now!
An amazing property! The house is very comfortable and clean with great view of the lake! We enjoyed swimming, kayaking, fishing, campfire and just hanging out. The organization of the house itself was phenomenal with cupboards labeled, toys and games for children, high chair and pack and play (we needed two and the house had two).
Loved it and highly recommend.
We spent a weekend at the lake for a birthday celebration. I’ve stayed at vacation rentals all over the world and this home is one of the most thoughtfully appointed places I have ever stayed. We did not have our kids with us but it has every amenity you could need for children of all ages. For adults it was incredibly comfortable with a fun space to play pool and games downstairs or enjoy the views from a comfy recliner upstairs. The deck and the fire pit were also wonderful for enjoying the perfect weather we had. The kitchen is stocked with everything you could possibly need for cooking. The beds are all so comfortable and everything feels brand new. The owner was so helpful and responsive. Overall a 5 star weekend at the lake. Thank you for sharing your lovely home!