Entire home

Private Retreat on Placid Lake

Photo gallery for Private Retreat on Placid Lake

Side porch off kitchen
Main deck
Living room, fireplace, and main deck
Dining table and living room
Main deck

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms0+ bathroomsSleeps 10213.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Deerwood, MN
  • The Lakes
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Bay Lake
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Farm Island Lake
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

2nd Level Bedroom

3 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Private Lower Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 half bathroom

Main Floor Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Private Lower Bathroom

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Private Retreat on Placid Lake

Experience the tranquil beauty of Placid Lake and surrounding wilderness any time of year in this distinctive and comfortable home. Situated on a hill, the panoramic scenery is featured from many vantage points throughout the property and house with many spaces to relax and/or congregate.

Enjoy 220 feet of shoreline with plenty of Sunnies, Crappies, Bass, and Northern Pike to catch right off one of two available docks. To venture out further, a canoe and two fishing kayaks are provided. A 22' pontoon is available for rent for fishing or cruising the lake. There is a sandy/rocky bottom good for swimming. Outdoor games are available to play on the hilltop lawn, which also includes a fire pit with plenty of firewood.

The house accommodates up to 11 guests in the summer, 9 in winter, and includes a full kitchen, 3 bedrooms, loft, 'Eagles Nest' (small upper bedroom), 1.5 bathrooms, and a sauna—great for families and get-togethers or a peaceful getaway.

Note: The lower private bedroom with queen bed is closed in the winter months. 4-wheel drive is required to access the house in winter. Without 4-wheel drive, a 250 ft walk up the hill to the house is required.

Main floor:
• Master bedroom with king bed, washer and dryer in laundry closet.
• Main level bathroom with shower (no bath), two sinks, and electric sauna.
• Kitchen with plenty of counter space, cupboard space for dry goods, French press or drip coffee makers. Sliding door with porch off kitchen. Your chef will enjoy an open layout with the dining/living area that allows for interaction and a view of the lake.
• Dining area with seating for 6.
• Living room area with fireplace.
• Large sun room with lots of windows, sofa, chairs, table with seating for 4, TV with Dish network and Wifi through Viasat (Satellite Internet).
• Main level deck with large propane grill and patio seating.

Second level:
• Up the spiral staircase.
• Loft area has 2 twin beds. View of lake from second level window.
• Through the loft, enter the spacious 2nd level bedroom with 2 twin beds and a queen. Views of lake through the windows.

Third Level:
• Up spiral staircase from 2nd level bedroom.
• Small room, “Eagle’s Nest,” with twin bed and great views of the lake.
• Enter rooftop deck through the Eagle’s Next.

Lower Private Bedroom (*summer only*):
• Has separate entrance from the lower deck. Great view of the lake.
• Queen bed and half bathroom.
• Couch and TV with Dish Network.

Outdoor description:
Adjacent to the back deck you will find a slope with some steps up to a hilltop lawn area featuring a fire pit overlooking the lake. Back to the house and around the side deck you will find steps to the lower bedroom deck, and still more stairs to the front lawn area. (There is another entrance to the front lawn from the kitchen deck on the other side of the house.) Down another set of steps landscaped with railroad ties you will find the lake lawn area with a wood swing. Taking a stroll down a mowed path you will find the lakefront area with canoe and kayaks and a small lawn, as well as the dock. From the lawn there is a small entrance to the lake in a break between a boulder wall. The lake bottom is sandy/rocky and good for swimming. There is a 'swimming hole' -type area between the shore and dock.

TV and Internet:
Dish network with TVs in the sun room and lower private bedroom. WiFi through Viasat Satellite internet.

Garage:
There is a garage with space for two cars.

Boats:
A 17 foot canoe and two 10 foot kayaks are provided.
We have a 22 ft. pontoon boat available to rent for $550 per stay (available through October 21st). It is a Premier 225 Legend with a 50 hp motor.
It is a private lake with no access on the property. No outside boats are allowed on the lake.

Accessibility:
During winter, a four-wheel drive vehicle is required to climb the steep gravel driveway. Alternative street parking is available at the bottom of the hill, about 250 feet from the house.

Area:
Nestled among dozens of beautiful lakes the area is famous for, Falconhurst is conveniently located within minutes of Ruttger's resort with golf, gourmet dining, a convenience store, and other entertainment options. Nearby Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is famous for mountain biking with over 25 miles of riding spread across 800 acres of paved and singletrack trails. Brainerd is a short drive west and Grand Casino Mille Lacs is a short drive south. The towns of Deerwood, Crosby ('antique capital of the Brainerd lakes area'), and Ironton are just minutes away.

Swim, fish from the dock, paddle, or just relax on the deck and enjoy the great outdoors. A stay at Falconhurst is a truly unique and memorable experience.

(The name "Falconhurst" comes from the name of the tree house built by the Robinson family in the 19th century classic Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Weiss. In the novel, the shipwrecked family share an exciting and heroic adventure on a tropical island paradise. We hope you will bring your family to Falconhurst to enjoy your own memorable adventure in paradise!)

Property manager

Mark Johnson
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
High decks and drop-offs. Supervision required.
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Please be respectful of neighbors.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)
Pets must be house trained. Outdoor waste removed.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking indoors.
All outdoor fires shall be contained to the metal/stone hilltop fire pit. Only the available firewood (and fire starting material) shall be burned.
No unsupervised children by water, on rooftop deck, or in upper (eagles nest) room. No unsupervised children by fire pit. Steep decline by fire pit.
No pets allowed in the second level, or upper bedroom, or rooftop deck.. All pets must be house trained.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 35
Note from host: Please be respectful of neighbors.
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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Deerwood

Located in Deerwood, this holiday home is on a lake. The Lakes and Traditions at Cuyuna Falls Mini Golf 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 Hesitation Wildlife Management Area. Paul Bunyan Land and This Old Farm are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Deerwood, MN

What's nearby

  • The Lakes - 6 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Bay Lake - 6 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area - 18 min drive - 15.9 km
  • Farm Island Lake - 22 min drive - 12.7 km
  • Paul Bunyan Land - 22 min drive - 17.7 km

Getting around

  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 21 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Lonesome Pine Restaurant and Bar - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Cuyuna Brewing Company - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Midway Bar - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Retreat on Placid Lake pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Private Retreat on Placid Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Retreat on Placid Lake?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private Retreat on Placid Lake located?

Situated on a lake, this holiday home is within 3 miles (5 km) of The Lakes, Malkerson Island and Bay Lake. Bird Island and Loon Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 80 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Linda J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend vaca

The cabin was beautiful & spacious. The owner was super helpful as well. Definitely recommend anybody to book this stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Riana R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet Cabin Getaway

Falconhurst is a great weekend getaway for a group of friends! The area is quiet and the lake is great for swimming, canoeing and kayaking. The cabin has lots of charm and lots of seating for a larger group. The sun room is great for relaxing, playing games or drinking morning coffee with views of the lake. The rooftop deck is amazing for star gazing. The kitchen is well stocked with appliances and utensils, we had no problem cooking meals. The sauna is a nice option.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sreng C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy and Secluded on a lake

Nice and clean with plenty of rooms and decks, big lot with privacy. The host was Very accommodating. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cate M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

August stay

Lots of room to spread out! We had chilly, windy, rainy weather and still had a great time. Thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Holly S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique lake house on a smaller sized,beautiful quiet lake

Our family enjoyed our stay here. Some areas of the cabin could have been cleaner is why I gave a lower score. We liked the outside decks all offering a nice view of the lake. The lake water was very clean and we enjoyed the use of the pontoon boat each day for fishing, swimming and night cruises. The kitchen had all the essentials you need for making meals. We enjoyed the coffee shop and donut shop a lot in Ironton.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Large family vacation

We had so much fun on our vacation!! There was plenty of space inside and out for our family of 11 amd 2 large dogs. The kids loved exploring the mowed trails in the yard and all the different rooms inside.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Colleen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A birders paradise and more…

Oh my goodness, there was so much to love about this property! I could gush and get wordy but I’ll be specific: -comfortable beds and pillows -generously stocked kitchen and bathroom’s. -quiet environment, easy to chill. No leaf blowers while we were there. -considerate mowing of grass to help filtration in order to maintain the clear “Placid” lake. Still the mowing allowed ambling of the beautiful property. -as environment was a consideration, it hosted many species of small birds while the lake hosted loons and eagles. -host communication was good. -we were happy they so warmly welcomed our well-behaved canine family members. It means so much to us. We tried hard not to make more work down the line. -highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Getaway

Our family had a great time on vacation. The house, property and views are amazing.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely location and house

We enjoyed our stay. We especially liked playing cornhole and having evening fires in the firepit. The pontoon and kayaks were great too.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott B., Evanston IL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful House and Lake

Our family of four had a fun week! We decided to rent the pontoon boat and were very glad we did. Placid Lake is fairly quiet and the fishing was great (bass, pike, bluegill and crappie). We were entertained by a loon family and a bald eagle. The house can be warm when it’s 85-90 degrees outside but always cooled off at night. As others have mentioned, the kitchen is a bit dated but everything works well. Loved the nice Weber grill on the deck too! Mark is a very responsive and accommodating host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Deb M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Lovely Oasis

A comfortable property on a peaceful lake, this home was perfect for our family getaway. The layout of the house is so interesting, with nooks for both quiet isolation and for group gaming or eating together as a family. The grounds are surprisingly spacious and beautifully (naturally) landscaped. This home had just about everything we needed for a perfect week-long stay. The location is perfect, too -- far enough from "civilization" to feel like a real getaway, yet close enough to a town like Crosby to easily go get coffee or ice cream or shop the cute stores on Main Street. And renting the pontoon boat was a fantastic decision. The lake isn't huge, but it's plenty big for touring on the pontoon at a Sunday Afternoon Drive pace. Check-in was simple and communication with Mark was quick and easy. The guide/info book provided by the owners at the house is extremely helpful too. Would definitely go again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kellie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic lake week!

Charming and unique property! We enjoyed the clean and quiet lake for tubing, fishing, swimming, and sunset rides. Definitely would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great House

We enjoyed our time at Placid Lake. Falconhurst was a great cabin. We had 9 people and we all fit well and had plenty of space. The pontoon boat was a fun addition and made for some very fun days on the lake. The lake was quiet and really enjoyable. We were able to catch several fish right from the dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christine B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Family Vacation

We had a fantastic family vacation at Falconhurst! The home accommodations were perfect for our 11 family members. We enjoyed fishing from the dock and from the pontoon boat. The grandkids especially loved swimming in the lake. We were visited by bald eagles and loons often and enjoyed the quiet of this private lake. The kitchen was well stocked with what we needed. We will definitely be making this our annual family vacation spot! Such a great place!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Malia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Placid lake love

This was one of the most architecturally interesting, tastefully decorated, and well-provisioned cabins we have ever stayed in. We loved the lake, the pontoon and kayaks, all the different deck areas and indoor nooks and hangout spaces. The sauna worked great and it was so refreshing to jump in the lake after heating up. The kitchen was well-provisioned. We saw and heard loons, a beaver dam, and we caught a northern pike! We’ll definitely consider staying here again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and Private

The location of this quaint cabin is outstanding. Private, on a hill overlooking the beautiful (and not overly busy) Lake Placid. The fireplace and sun room are outstanding. The kitchen and bath are dated - but everything worked, which is most important. Sauna was great as well.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lynn R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

We really enjoyed our stay on the lake. There was quite a bit of property with many different vantage points to enjoy the views along with plenty of space for the whole family to spread out.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful property!

Great property, beautiful view! Perfect place for the whole family, the kids were very upset when it was time to leave :). Property owner is fantastic, will definitely return!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Devona H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquil

Amazing views from every room. Plenty of space for everyone to spread out and have their quiet time or comfortable space for the entire group to sit and visit. The firepit is perfect. We plan to have Falconhurst as our getaway whenever we feel the need to rewind.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Daniel S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome

Very unique property to explore and relax at. Owner was very accomidating and great communication. Had a blast on the pontoon which worked perfectly. Fishing was great literally right off the shoreline. And got to see a distant thunderstorm with stars out at the same time, all from the private rooftop deck - something we may experience never again! Excellent time.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Preston F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lakeside fishing and relaxation

Wanted an escape from the hustle and bustle. This did just the trick. Rented the boat and fishing on the lake was great. The local community had just enough fun spots for the family to visit to keep us busy.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chloe M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful week away in the cabin on the hill!

We were so happy with our stay at Falconhurst. This was our first time trying a new place in 20 years, so needless to say we were worried and had high expectations. These were definitely met and exceeded! Highlights: - Very quiet lake, yet big enough to explore and boat around—we kayaked and boated every day multiple times. - The boat!! Such a fun addition to the week, we used it every day. - The views!!! Every room has a beautiful view. We spent a lot of time in the sunroom each morning watching the sunrise over the lake and in the evening, watching the sunset from the roof - The property. It's quite a stunning spot with lots of wildlife and privacy. We were grateful for the space and solitude. - Crosby. We weren't expecting much from this small town, but we're pleasantly surprised! We loved the Iron Range Eatery (returned twice) and Cuyuna Brewery (returned 3x). - Mark made it easy to checkin and out! Great communication and even gave awesome recommendations! Only downfalls: - Lots of bugs and flies—to be expected in July near a lake! - No A.C.—we had a hot week, some days in the 90s. We were able to keep the house semi-cool but not as comfortable in evenings when the lows weren't lower than 75. - No beach—the boat made up for it though! - No walkable restaurants or bars and not great walking on the road near the house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

June 2022

I stayed at the house with my husband, my best friend, her three teenagers and our dogs. We had so much fun! We rented the pontoon (highly recommend it if you are there in the summer) and really enjoyed cruising around the lake. The house comes with all the basics so cooking was easy. They thought of everything! My husband enjoys grilling and was impressed by the grill. Its a good one! The house itself has such a great energy. We especially enjoyed the TV room - love the dragonfly tiffany lamps. It creates such a cool ambiance in the evening. The view from the decks is amazing and the property is a wonderland for puppies to explore. We highly recommended this property and hope to come back again next summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Louise B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very enjoyable and relaxing

Wonderful hosts and beautiful house on lake. We enjoyed the fishing and peace and quiet for our family gathering of 11 including children. Hoping to come back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mark Johnson

Host profile image
My wife Kami and I (Mark) live in Bloomington MN with our two young boys. I am a technical writer at a software company and Kami is an accomplished pastel artist, musician, home schooler, and budding permaculturist! We met years ago as employees of MakeMusic Inc., the company that develops Finale music notation software, and have been married since 2006. We also live with two rescued barn cats, Mango and Murray.

Why they chose this property

We first stepped foot upon the grounds of Falconhurst in April of 2018, and instantly knew this was the ideal site to found our lakeside retreat. We have both enjoyed the north woods of Minnesota all our lives, and were captivated by the unique beauty of Placid lake and this extraordinary house and accompanying land. There is an amazing combination of scenery, wildlife, privacy, and cozy comfort. We hope you enjoy this special place as much as we do!

What makes this property unique

You won't find another place like this anywhere!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests