Entire home

Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND.

Photo gallery for Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND.

NEW construction completed…May, 2022
Lofty Expecta-INNs.
Spacious yard to enjoy.
Our concrete home (severe storm-threat retreat) is on the same building site.
Enjoy the water feature as you’re seated around the fire pit. Weber grill to use
Silo entry…

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 10102.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Pine River, MN
  • Black Bear Golf Complex
    19 min drive
  • Gull Lake
    37 min drive
  • Brainerd International Raceway
    39 min drive
  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)
    53 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Common area 1

1 Double Futon

SHARED Bunk room

4 Single Bunk Beds

Silo bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND.


Lofty Expecta-INNs is a NEW construction, completed May, 2022. We built a “living quarters space” over our shop FOR our kids, their spouses, 15 grand children and their family dogs to all come home to…and for our large deer hunting “family” to stay in, since we don’t all fit in our house anymore! Our kids TOLD US….that this space must be shared by others. And so, a new adventure was born!

We are located 10-20 minutes from the Foothills State Forest Trails and Spider Lake Trails for hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling and ATV enthusiasts! And we are less than 8 minutes to the Paul Bunyan Biking Trail that runs form Brainerd to Bemidji! We have many acres of county and state land nearby for hunting. There are over 400 lakes JUST within 30 miles of Pine River to explore, fish, play, and relax at! We are about 35 minutes away from BRAINERD International Raceway (BIR)…AND, we are located less than 30 minutes to popular tourist shopping towns like Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, and Walker and there’s a VARIETY of fine eating establishments in our rural area…some near, some far…so you’ll have a scenic drive to prepare your appetite with! OR, maybe you’ll just want to prepare your own tasty food from “home” using the the Weber gas grill, or cook right over the fire pit. Our kitchen and coffee station is well equipped to meet your cooking needs.

Winter booking is no problem here. We can accommodate up to 10 Snowmobilers, ice-fishermen and other outdoor winter enthusiasts! We have a large, heated entry for all your gear, clothing, and boots. And if you have an issue with your equipment and need to do repair work…we have a large heated shop to do it in. The Loft is heated with in-floor heat IN THE ENTRY, a splitter, and electric wall units…IT’S COZY up there, and we recommend that you bring house slippers or heavy socks for indoor use as the floor surface can feel cool to the feet.

We LOVE children and dogs…and both are welcome. Young children who are sturdy enough walkers to navigate our 21 STAIRS to and from the Loft, are a good fit here. We ask that both children and dogs be well supervised at all times. OTHER species of pets are NOT accommodated here.

Our home is also on this building site, and you’ll see us from time to time out mowing the grass, or tending the gardens! Machinery and our ATVs also come and go (mostly on the north side of the building), as needed for the farm. The cows and calves will be grazing the nearby pastures. And you can hear and see the abundant birds and wildlife that occupy our pond and creeks, throughout our 60 country acres!

The silo entry has 21 WINDING STAIRS with an iron handrail, that will take you up to our rustic-loft, living space. At the top of the stairs is the silo bedroom that has a FANTASTIC COUNTRY VIEW of the creek, pond, pastures and bordering woodlands. To your right, is the coffee station and kitchen. Your next left, takes you to the dining and gathering area. Bathroom is to the right, and straight ahead is the “open concept” (no door) bunk room with four bunk beds. This whole upper loft is cooled with a splitter on the kitchen wall, and circulated throughout the space, with ceiling fans. It stays comfortable. There are benches for outdoor seating around the fire pit, so you can finish the adventures of your day with a crackling fire and gooey S’mores. We supply free firewood, fire starter supplies, and several roasting forks to get the job done!

Parking is easy here with our extra wide, and well lit driveway. There is plenty of room for multiple vehicles and trailers. Children’s Scooters, Razors, and bikes could be brought to use on our large asphalt driveway.

Lofty Expecta-INNs has a shared entry that leads into our PRIVATE SHOP and also, up the winding stairs to the Loft… your space. WE would only use this entry if absolutely necessary while guests are here. There are 3 security cameras installed for OUR safety. One is on the south exterior, overlooking the driveway. The other two, are IN our PRIVATE SHOP. You may enjoy exploring the yard, developing gardens and rock features on the property. The HUGE lawn can be used to exercise your children and pets. You may also set up yard games, camp chairs and coolers to accommodate your groups needs.

We have a children’s play area where kids can climb, slide, swing, cook in the play kitchen, grill, or jump on the netted trampoline! Parents assume all risks and responsibilities for their children to play here. Children MUST BE supervised by an adult at all times in/on the play area. There is a comfortable 3 seat glider near the play area to enjoy some coffee as you supervise your children.

In the event of a tornado warning, guests are welcome to wait out the threat of the storm in our poured concrete home, with us! WHEN a quick response is needed, going into the closet under the stairwell in the entry is your location choice.

* Case by case determination: IF a second bathroom is needed for showers, we do have a full bathroom in our finished basement available to use when we are home.

Property manager

Chas and Carol Norman

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We have LOTS of stairs…21

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Dogs are not allowed on the furniture or beds.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This is NOT a party destination. This IS a family friendly environment. Treat our property, us, and other guests with utmost respect.
Be sure your bonfire is out before you leave it. Water hose on SE corner.
PLEASE DO NOT drive or park on the grass. There is PLENTY of parking on the asphalt and to the north of the building on gravel.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Pine River

Located in Pine River, this holiday home is in a rural area. Rainy Lake and Lake Ada reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway and Wildwedge Golf & Mini Golf. Travelling with kids? Consider MN Surf Co and Nisswa Family Fun Center. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and ice skating.
Map
Pine River, MN

What's nearby

  • Rainy Lake - 29 min drive
  • Gull Lake - 37 min drive
  • Brainerd International Raceway - 39 min drive
  • Northern Lights Casino - 42 min drive
  • Mount Ski Gull - 46 min drive

Getting around

  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dark Cravings Coffee Shop - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Community Bowling Center - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Bites Grill & Bar - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Pine River Bakery - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Country, Cozy and UNIQUE! Rustic ambiance. Available YEAR ROUND. located?

Located in a rural location, this family-friendly holiday home is 6.9 mi (11 km) from Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway and 9.1 mi (14.6 km) from Black Bear Golf Complex. Wildwedge Golf & Mini Golf and Pequot Lakes Dog Park are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mike C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
MEA weekend
This place felt just like home. The hosts had everything you needed plus more. And they sure do know how to make it family friendly. We will defiantly be back. The falls colors in mid October were absolutely stunning!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda H., Minnesota

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Birthdays Celebration
The place is beautiful! Super easy check-in process, inside is just like the pictures. My granddaughters, 4 & 2, had an absolute blast with the play area & trampoline and seeing the cows up close ☺️. Short drive to Nisswa attractions. I would definitely recommend for the peace & quiet itself.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessi S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing stay!
We just had the best weekend! Our accommodations surpassed our expectations. Thank you so much for having us.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michele S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Over the top!
Everything about this place was amazing! The decor, cleanliness, amenities, kitchen supplies, bedding/pillows, quality towels, fire pit, flowers, playground, and views. No complaints at all. 😀 The hosts were great. Would definitely recommend. Just make sure you’re aware of the stairs and the bedroom layout details.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our BEST Vrbo experience!
Carol and Chaz were amazing hosts. They are so warm and welcoming and we loved meeting them upon arriving. They even had a bonfire started for us. The property is gorgeous and such a wonderful space for families. My kids really enjoyed the swing set and trampoline. They even got out the foosball table for us. Inside the rental is just as amazing. We stay at a lot of rentals and this was definitely our favorite. It was so clean!! And the space was very inviting. The cupboards were stocked and the coffee station was very impressive! We loved the games and sitting together at the big table. Carol and Chaz have really thought of everything. There were tons of towels and the beds and bedding were comfy. If we’re in the area again- this will definitely be where we would hope to stay. Thank you Carol and Chaz so much for the great hospitality!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
50 and Feeling Fine
We had such a blast at this unique property. There was an outside fire waiting for us when we arrived and the inside was toasty warm too! Very clean, spacious and comfortable. (6 ladies) Great communication with the owners. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best Getaway for Peace and Quiet
The property was adorable. We have stayed in many VRBO listings, but this was, by far, the most thoughtfully planned one yet. Clean, quiet, comfortable, and all the little touches you would want for a perfect home away from home.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anthony V., Jackson, MN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay while visiting the Foothills.
I visited this property while a group of us were visiting the Foothills four-wheeling. The property was awesome, and the owners were great conversation!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mackenzie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent stay!
This was such a lovely place to stay for a girls weekend! Carol was so sweet and helpful and we had the best time in a comfortable space:)
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

John O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A perfect place to stay
If you want to get away from business of nisswa area. This place is perfect. The hosts are like an extended family.... the nicest hosts I ever met. The house/loft is tastefully fine and very comfortable. We will definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best Equipped VRBO Ever!
I’ve stayed at VRBOs for years, across the USA and truly this place was the greatest, most thoughtfully equipped spot ever! Plenty of towels, Kleenex, TP, soap, etc. They go the extra mile and provide coffee beans/grinder, tea, hot chocolate, s’more fixings, microwave popcorn, condiments, etc. And it is not a bunch of leftovers from prior renters. Hosts are very nice, place is extremely clean, great fire pit area where you can grill over the fire or use the gas grill. Used it as a place to sleep, shower and do daily breakfast while visiting family lake home over the holiday and it worked out great. We were actually sorry we didn’t get a chance to spend more time at the property. We’d definitely go back and highly recommend giving it a try. Pretty sure it will not disappoint. Thanks for a great time, The Beach Family
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

McKenzie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Carol and Chas have done amazing work on this property! The property was beautiful, clean, and easy to access. Tons of amenities, and frankly - I over packed my family! They were very friendly and courteous. The property is not far from Spider Lake ATV Park/Trails, and also the Brainerd/Baxter area. The silo/barn home we stayed in FAR exceeded our expectations and it was so cozy. Our kids didn't want to leave!! We would definitely visit again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Chas and Carol Norman

Host profile image
We are Chas & Carol Norman. Together, in over 40 years we have farmed, done construction and watch our four amazing kids grow up, start families of their own…having most of them move out of state…and then ENJOY THEM ALL coming home to the farm!
When we decided to build our house on this property 6 years ago, we had to chop the 10’ corn stalks down, and reconfigured pasture fence lines and corral’s, in order to create room to dig a basement. It took US nearly four years to complete our home and CREATE landscaping from virtually nothing but flat dirt.
And then…we needed a shop on this property.

Why they chose this property

We started building this shop project two years ago. What we had in mind was a workshop in the south half, and a large area for machinery storage and repairs during the winter, in the north half. We have hosted deer hunting on our (all together 430 acre) property for decades for family and close friends. Our numbers simply had outgrown our space for housing them…and we were finding “creative ways” to accommodate them! Our family has grown to 13 grand children and when they ALL come home with their parents and family dogs AT THE SAME TIME…we simply needed more space to stretch out in. So, we designed our project with an entry to go into our private shop and access the bonus space above the shop. The BONUS SPACE above the shop, was our way to provide needed room for our growing family and our hunting family! It was our kids that TOLD US that this beautiful, unique space must be SHARED by others! From that, Lofty Expecta-INNs was born. We asked our family to help us come up with a name. There were many ideas with the word LOFT in it…AND, when people who would stop by for a tour came in…many said that you would never EXPECT all this…in here…as you’re driving by! It all fit together.

What makes this property unique

IF you can navigate all the stairs easily, it’s a great place in this gorgeous, north country to come HOME to after your day of adventures at the Foot Hills State Forest…doing trails YOUR way! Or maybe you have a boat and would like to do your boating activities on several different lakes in our area…CONVENIENT…as Pine River has 400 lakes within 40 miles. Maybe you want to take in a good day of tourist shopping, or seeing the sights and eating at Nisswa, Pequot Lakes or Walker…you’re THERE is less than 30 minutes. MAYBE you’re a winter sports enthusiast and need a home away from home to warm up in, and have fellowship and build relationships with your people…good memories can be made to last here! No matter how you spend your day, you can come “home” and prepare a tasty home cooked meal, prepare S’mores over the fire pit and have comfortable beds for up to TEN guests to sleep in! **Again, we do have a full bathroom in our finished basement and would offer the use of it to large groups that need that resource…case by case determination.

Languages:

English
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