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The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!

Photo gallery for The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!

Welcome!
Front porch
View from front porch and accessibility ramp.
Porch swing and side entrance.
Kitchen view of the front door.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
7 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 22436 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Aitkin, MN
  • Nelson Lake
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Cuyuna Lakes Trail
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)
    ‪33 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 22)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

4 Single Beds

Living Room 2

2 Single Bunk Beds

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Basement Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo

Basement Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Main Level Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Upstairs Half Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!

WELCOME TO THE RIVER LODGE –a place to gather with friends and family! This unique home sits on a peaceful five acres on the banks of the Mississippi River. It features three levels with 7 bedrooms plus additional sleeping areas in the loft and the game room, making it possible to fit up to 24 guests (see below for details). The great room with its double height ceiling and loft balcony provides a large gathering space which is perfect for reunions and retreats. Additionally, there are 3 other living rooms all with smart TVs, 5 bathrooms, a game room with ping pong, several outdoor sitting areas, a beautiful fire pit patio and several lawn games to enjoy.

THE AREA
The towns of Aitkin and Crosby are just a 15 minute drive from the lodge. Both have a wonderful variety of cafes, restaurants, antique shops and events throughout the year. Also a short drive away are the famous Cuyuna mountain biking trails! In the winter, cross country, snowshoe and snow-mobile trails are all nearby.

BEDS AND BEDROOMS
Bedroom 1: King bed (main level)
Bedroom 2: Queen bed (upstairs)
Bedroom 3: Queen bed (upstairs)
Bedroom 4: Queen bed (upstairs)
Bedroom 5: Queen bed and bunk bed (basement)
Bedroom 6: Queen bed (basement)
Bedroom 7: Queen bed (basement)
Loft: 2 daybeds with trundles (upstairs)
Game Room: 2 bunk beds (basement)

LODGE RULES & INFO
-Dogs allowed (up to 3) with pet fee - inquire for pet rules and fee questions
-No parties allowed
-Only guests who are part of the reservation may be on the property at any time. Small weddings allowed with additional fee, only up to 50 guests. Please inquire for details.
-No confetti or glitter allowed
-The Mississippi River is not easily accessible and swimming is never recommended. There is a boat launch just a couple miles down the road and several great lakes nearby with beaches as well. We would be happy to provide more details.


HOME FEATURES & AMENITIES
Kitchen
-All basic utensils and cooking tools
-Pots, pans, bakeware and dishes
-2 drip coffee makers, 2 french press, 1 chemex (pour over), 1 aeropress
-Blender
-Slow cooker
-Hand mixer
-Griddle
-Toaster
-Gas grill (propane is provided)
-Salt, pepper and olive oil
-2 refrigerators
-Pantry
-Paper towels and dish soap

Linens & Toiletries…
-100% organic cotton sheets and pillow cases
-Bed quilts and fleece layering blankets
-Towels and washcloths
-Hair dryer
-Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash and Body Lotion

Other…
-High speed WiFi
-Bluetooth speakers
-Smart or Apple TVs with soundbars in all living room areas
-Walkout basement with radiant floor heating
-Custom built extra long dining table with seating for 16 people
-Fireplace
-Pack and Play
-High chair
-DVDs, books and games
-Fire pit and roasting sticks
-Swings and Hammocks
-Outdoor tables for dining al fresco
-Lawn games

Property manager

Andrew and Joy Ballard
Premier Host

Languages

English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Please beware of stairs and river bank.
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and weddings
Small events allowed with an additional fee.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)
$100 fee for 1st dog, $50 for each additional dog
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No drinks/food in bedrooms or in hot tub.
Only guests included in the reservation are allowe
No confetti or glitter allowed ever.

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 and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 50
Note from host: Small events allowed with an additional fee.
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

Aitkin

Located in Aitkin, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Mississippi River and Crow Wing State Forest reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Aitkin County Fairgrounds and Northern Pacific Depot. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Aitkin, MN

What's nearby

  • Nelson Lake - 8 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area - 18 min drive - 15.0 km
  • Cuyuna Lakes Trail - 20 min drive - 18.2 km
  • Gull Lake - 46 min drive - 44.0 km
  • Brainerd International Raceway - 47 min drive - 52.1 km

Getting around

  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Woodtick Inn - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Bridge Tavern - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The River Lodge - a place for family & friends! pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The River Lodge - a place for family & friends!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The River Lodge - a place for family & friends! located?

This family-friendly Aitkin cabin is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Mississippi River and Nelson Lake. Milford Mine Memorial Park and Crow Wing State Forest are also within 9 miles (15 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. 161 out of 168 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 168 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 168 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 168 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 168 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Arlys S.

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

Class reunion organizer

Your house is perfect for our group! So many different places to be for large or small group conversations. A lot of separate sleeping rooms which we wanted. A lovely kitchen too!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeremiah S.

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

Family All Together

What an amazing job they have done to this place. We had so much fun as a family staying at the River Lodge. We are already thinking about when we want to go back. It had plenty of space for the family to hang out, play games, watch movies and just enjoy time together. We highly recommend it to any larger families looking for a place to all be together.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susanne B.

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

Perfect family vacation

This was our second stay at the Lodge. It works so perfect for our family with 7 bedrooms and numerous
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

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

Our summer getaway

Our family has been staying at the River Lodge for the past 4 years and we all love it. The host is extremely responsive.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jill S.

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

A lil Piece of Heaven

This Lodge is the perfect place to unwind and spend quality time with family or friends. It was peaceful and cozy. There is so much room for everyone to have their own space. Beautifully decorated, spacious bedrooms and baths. There is nothing you need to bring besides food and your necessities. The kitchen is fully stocked and with two fridges lots of room for food! We did not want to leave as you feel right at home the minute you walk in. The 12 adults in our group all agreed this was the PERFECT get away!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sandy E.

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

Perfect set up for a group

Large, nice areas to relax and have conversations, beautiful view, calming. Plus the owners communicated well with us.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Perfect place for families

We loved having our family vacation here. There was so much room and so much to do for all ages. We could gather together for games and puzzles, or be reading and still with everyone. The kitchen had everything needed for each family to take a turn at making a delicious supper. The fire pit and the hot tub were popular. There were lakes nearby for fun on the water. You’ll enjoy your time here, and the host is great.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jess P.

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

Staff Retreat

We stay here every year as part of our school staff retreat. We love the location, the house, amenities and it's neat to see the new updates every year. We'll be back again next year!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Emily N.

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

Wedding Weekend

The River Lodge is gorgeous and very spacious. We were able to host our intimate wedding ceremony and dinner (30 guests) and the property was beautiful. One guest booked their future family reunion after experiencing the lodge! We would definitely recommend staying here! The hosts have great communication and are very responsive!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rob B.

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

Weekend Retreat

The lodge and property were perfect in every way. Perfect for a large gathering. So much room for meeting together and break-out spaces for small group conversations. The lodge is so well appointed. Andrew and Joy thought of everything! Super clean and so comfortable. And the river - beautiful!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Women’s winter break

This is the second year our group had stayed at this wonderful property! Fully stocked kitchen, great spaces for sharing and quiet nooks if you need a little quiet time. Hosts are responsive and amazing; it is a wonderful place for our group of 24 to stay at!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tom R., Gainesville, Florida

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

Christmas Hygge Gathering

We really enjoyed our family Christmas celebration at The River Lodge. Together we had 19 people of a variety of ages 4 - 70+, who gathered. There was more than adequate room for a puzzle table, multiple reading corners, and time together sharing wonderful meals! (The kitchen was well equipped for large family cooking) We enjoyed two evenings together watching favorite Christmas shows! The sleeping accommodations were spacious. Thank you, by the way, for the ramp up to the front door. It was a gift for the elders in our family! One night we enjoyed a fire in the pit outside, watching the stars. Our hosts were very responsive whenever we asked questions. Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

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

3rd Family Vacation

We again had a wonderful time at the River Lodge. Two suggestions we have would be to screen in the upper deck so we can enjoy it during the evening (mosquitoes are very bad), and replace the mattress in the upstairs north/river facing bedroom. That mattress was too soft and creaky.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jamie G.

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

Amazing family vacation!

We spent our annual family vacation at The River Lodge this year & it was by far our favorite place we’ve stayed! The lodge was very clean, well stocked with supplies, & Joy was very communicative, attentive, & great to work with. We had 10 adults, 5 kids & a pup & never felt cramped. It was spacious with many different spots to watch movies, read, or visit with family. The wrap around porch & the yard were our favorite! The lodge is also decorated beautifully, & the property is so peaceful. We hope we can return soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marika P.

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

Another great stay under our belt at Riverlodge

We are returning for our fourth stay at Riverlodge and continue to be impressed with the care that is given to this space. We had activities for all ages and were excited to see the solar panel addition! We love Riverlodge.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joei H.

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

Summer Family Vaca

My family and I had the best time during our 5 day stay. We had 20 of us staying and this place worked and accommodated our family so well. The open deck, the space in rooms and bathrooms, the decor and kitchen space and big living room we all could be in together made our trip so enjoyable and relaxing. Communication was amazing between us and the hosts. We definitely plan on booking again. One really neat thing we all enjoyed was watching the robin nests all week on the deck. By the end of our week they had learned to fly off, every day we were eager to check. This was a blessing for my mother to have all her family together and so good for us all to reconnect and see the older kids enjoy time together. Memories definitely made!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brenda G.

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

Family Get Away

This cabin was the perfect place to accommodate our family of twenty. We could all gather and have fun with each other; but also find a quiet place if you needed any alone time. Everything was so neat and clean. owner's were so good about communicating before and during our stay. They are excellent hosts! We hope to come back some day.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janice O.

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

Beautiful spacious family reunion paradise.

Numerous conversation areas and seating areas. Well-maintained and lovely decor. We especially liked the large open kitchen with table to seat. 14 people. Very private. Enjoyed the ping pong table and hot tub.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susanne B.

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

Perfect family reunion lodge

We had a fabulous time at the River Lodge. We were very impressed with all the space and it worked perfect for our annual family reunion. The River Lodge is well equipped and provides all the basic necessities. It has space on every floor for hanging out, playing games or just reading a book. We will be back
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amanda S.

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

Fantastic family get together

This was the perfect place for 2 families to meet. Plenty of space to spread out and yet get together at the same time. The Hosts were very accommodating! We appreciated their hospitality and would recommend 100%
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Darlis M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Wonderful family vacation house!

We loved this house. So many different common areas, wonderful kitchen with everything you need to cook home style meals, a beautiful yard with lots of room to run and play!! Online discription was misleading to river access and close proximity to bike trails, but with everything else there was to do we adapted. Even room for a kickball field!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane K.

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

60th Birthday Celebration

We rented the property for a 60th birthday celebration for a group of friends. It was a very enjoyable experience. The lodge is beautiful. There are enough bedrooms and bathrooms and living spaces to accommodate a very large group. We would highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aurora L.

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

Great for family gathering

This property was amazing it’s big enough that out group of 21 did not feel crowded but still felt like we were in a home. It’s amazing the kitchen is set is both functional and stylish and the large table makes a great place to play games plus we could all eat together when we pulled a folding table from the panty even with all those people in the kitchen at one time it didn’t feel crowded. The deck off the kitchen was so nice we put our coolers out there for easy access plus the dogs loved be able to go in and out with us without a leash. My only real complaint was the stairs going to the lower level were very dark and the railing only goes about half way down. A brighter light would be helpful. Otherwise we all loved it so much and hope to return in the future
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie W.

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

Perfect lodge for our family of 17!

From the moment we entered the lodge we were hooked. It is open and roomy from top to bottom. Everything you would expect and need was available from a huge table for all to eat together, gorgeous great room with fireplace and chairs, couches, tables for games, etc.!! The lighting is fun Edison lighting all around the lodge. A very spacious deck looking towards the river. There is a patio fire pit and we used it every night every night and sat in the outdoor sauna also. Very comfy beds and plenty of rooms to accommodate our big family. The hosts were the best...always available and willing to help or answer any questions. Great VRBO...dont miss it!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica L.

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

Great place for a get together

This is a great spot for a get together, this is our 3rd time using this location for a friends get together and are looking forward to coming back. The hosts are great with responses and working with you to make the stay easy.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

About the host

Hosted by Andrew and Joy Ballard

Host profile image
We are husband/wife team, Andrew & Joy, and we are passionate about creating a space where friends, family and guests can retreat to out of the hustle of life and enjoy some quality time together. We are honored and excited to provide our guests with an exceptional retreat experience!

Why they chose this property

The River Lodge provides the space for a lot of people to sleep, but also enough space to cook together, eat together, hang out and have fun together. It was important for us to create an environment where a large number of people could be comfortable and feel at home. Additionally, the secluded setting surrounded by nature is a valued factor in creating a peaceful and relaxing stay for guests.

What makes this property unique

The lodge is a large space where families will not feel crowded and there are spaces and activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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