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Northwoods Retreat on Bad Medicine: Prime swimming, watersports and snowmobiling

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Exterior
Property grounds
Beach
Exterior
Exterior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6142.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Gym
    Gym
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Ponsford, MN
  • Itasca State Park
    17 min drive
  • Lake Itasca
    40 min drive
  • Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
    45 min drive
  • Detroit Lakes, MN (DTL)
    63 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

All-season porch

1 Double Futon

Bedroom 1 - Main

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2 - Double

2 Double Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Northwoods Retreat on Bad Medicine: Prime swimming, watersports and snowmobiling

This is a unique property on pristine Bad Medicine Lake! Once the owner's cabin of 'Red Top Resort,' a three-cabin property active since the 1930's, it has been converted into a northwoods-style year-round lakehouse while retaining its rustic charm.

The house features two bedrooms and two bathrooms, two fireplaces, a full kitchen, a living room, and an all-season porch. The all-season porch has a pull out couch for additional overnight guests (this is practically on the water and the best opportunity to hear the loons while you sleep!). The unfinished basement has a washer and dryer for your use, and a ping-pong table for those not-so-nice days or evening entertainment. There is also a pool table.

The kitchen includes an oven, stove, microwave, and refrigerator/freezer. Other small appliances and cookware, serveware and eating utensils are also included. Guests must bring their own food and life jackets.

**Part-time on-site caretaker**


Lake Information

Bad Medicine Lake is consistently one of the clearest, cleanest lakes in Minnesota. Minnesota Monthly rated it as the best lake for swimming in 2008! It's not uncommon to catch snorkelers and even scuba divers around the lake! Watersports such as tubing, waterskiing, and even sailing are very popular.

Bad Medicine Lake is a great spot for Rainbow Trout and Walleye fishing! It's stocked with Rainbow Trout every year! A public boat launch is only 10 minutes away. Other excellent fishing lakes are easily accessible and close by.

Excellent snowmobile trails are located just off the lake! The trails are groomed, well-maintained, and connect directly to many restaurants, gas stations, and Lake Itasca State Park.


Nearby Activities

Lake Itasca State Park is an approximate 20 minute drive away. Walk across the headwaters of the Mississippi or enjoy excellent biking or hiking trails. Snowmobiling here in the winter is also a lot of fun!

Nearby towns of Park Rapids, MN and Detroit Lakes, MN offer a lot of entertainment for both kids and adults. Fun shopping and good restaurants are easy to find. Park Rapids offers 'Evergreen Fun Park' for the kids, complete with bumper boats, laser tag, mini-golf, and more. Detroit Lakes offers family-friendly activities nearly every weekend.

Property manager

Krista Stenerson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Gym

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Dogs only. Max of 2. Additional pet fee applies.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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

About the area

Ponsford

Located in Ponsford, this cabin is in a rural area and on the beach. Red Pine Trail and Landmark Interpretive Trail are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Peace Pipe Vista and Evergreen Gifts & Fun Park. Jet skiing and snorkelling offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hunting nearby.
Map
Ponsford, MN

What's nearby

  • Itasca State Park - 17 min drive
  • Mississippi Headwaters - 35 min drive
  • Two Inlets State Forest - 38 min drive
  • Lake Itasca - 40 min drive
  • Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge - 45 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Northwoods Retreat on Bad Medicine: Prime swimming, watersports and snowmobiling pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at Northwoods Retreat on Bad Medicine: Prime swimming, watersports and snowmobiling?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Northwoods Retreat on Bad Medicine: Prime swimming, watersports and snowmobiling?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Northwoods Retreat on Bad Medicine: Prime swimming, watersports and snowmobiling located?

This Ponsford cabin is on the beach, 9.2 mi (14.8 km) from Itasca State Park, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Heart Lake and Two Inlets State Forest. Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and Bison Kill Site are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 55 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 68 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 68 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Matt L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Winter retreat
We loved the cozy cabin feel. Daily fires in the porch were a treat and that is where we enjoyed eating all of our family meals. Steve was helpful and kind. We hope to return next year. Thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful getaway!
My wife and I enjoyed this stay very much! The cabin is roomy and full of light and has beautiful lake views. The property has great lake toys and a great place to get in the lake. We were very comfortable and the cabin was well appointed! Great place to spend a long weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jodee S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Three sisters are we
Memories when we were kids and our grandparents owned it. Then called the Red Top Resort. Actually had the resort name on the fishing boat. Great time and memories. Thank you Steve and Krista From The Blanski sisters
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Russ & Sue R., Hanover

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Classic Cabin Getaway
We spent a week here and had phenomenal weather and were able to spend many many hours on this pristine lake! The water is extremely clear and refreshing. The beach area was awesome for our 3 young grandsons playing in the sand with their trucks. There is a sandy shallow cove area to the left of the beach that make it nice for the kids to swim and play more independently. They really enjoyed the Lilypad! The cabin is a classic cozy cabin with many newer updates being made; however no A/C. The weather was cooler in the evenings which made it comfortable to sleep. Overall we were pleasantly surprised! Steve and Krista were extremely prompt in their communication with us; they are very gracious and welcoming hosts! Thanks again for the awesome week!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alyson G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Getaway!
My husband, mother and I had an excellent time and were impressed with the living space as well as how well equipped the kitchen was! Steve told us everything we needed to know when we arrived, and he was extremely respectful of our privacy. Great swimming area, the two docks are sturdy and each have seating areas at the end which was fun for star gazing at night. We enjoyed the peacefulness of the area and had fun swimming, boating and scuba diving on Bad Medicine.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terri M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Definitely Coming Back!
We loved everything! Steve greeted us with a warm welcome when we arrived and was very helpful. He even showed us areas around the lake! The house had everything and more! It’s a beautiful home and property! The gorgeous lake was perfect for skiing, tubing, swimming, and even off the dock fishing. We will definitely be coming back next summer! Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise with us!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Dan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing lake in a charming older cabin
We had a lovely week. Cabin provided for a great family getaway. Loved the loon calls and the water was so clear. Biggest negative was the very nice property owner taking care of the ground while we were wanting to have the place to ourselves. Twice I didn’t get to sleep in because he was hauling things around on the property, once our evening was disturbed because he kept watering the lawn and leaving it on for long stretches before remembering and moving the sprinklers again, and then the final morning we should have had a few hours to enjoy the place but he was out there mowing. We had dogs that were well behaved but had to be restricted with all the watering and mowing. If that work had to be done, seems like it could have been coordinated around the day we explored Itaska park. This could be a 5 star place, with so many places to sit and view the lake, kayaks to play on the water, and multiple rooms to spread out in. Just wish the yard work hadn’t spoiled the magic.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kyle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family get away!
We had a great time again! Very relaxing!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ben K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderland
If you like rustic themed places with a gorgeous view and lots of activities this is the place to be ! Great for a handful of people or multiple families even !
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Exactly what we were looking for!
Our family spent 4 days at Steve and Amy's property on Bad Medicine Lake. We wish we could have stayed several more days...better yet, the entire summer! We had been at the property for approximately 5 minutes when Steve and Amy coasted up to the dock in their boat after an afternoon ride. Steve was standing behind the wheel and greeted us by name as they drifted in. We're not entirely sure if Steve and Amy welcome all their guests in this way, but it sure made us feel like rock stars! The cabin is a stones throw from the water. Some of the clearest water we've ever seen in Northern MN. The hosts allow use of their paddle boat (seats 4), two single-person kayaks and paddles, and an aluminum row boat that comfortably fit one adult and two kids for several fishing outings. Speaking of fishing, we mentioned to Steve our kids liked to fish and he asked if we had any live bait. We did not. Well, that night he returned from dinner with a fresh carton of crawlers for us to use! Very thoughful. The little swimming beach is where our kids spent most of their time running in and out of the water diggin, collecting rocks, and chasing minnows. There's an epic swing set right on the water's edge that was a crowd favorite for our family. The cabin grounds were plenty big enough to toss a frisbee and we really enjoyed the fire pit and appreciate the use of the host's firewood. The highlight of the cabin itself is the front room that overlooks the water. We spent the majority of our time in this room eating or playing games at the large dining table and relaxing on the couch and oversized recliner. We absolutely loved the breeze coming in through the open windows. The two bedrooms and two baths were plenty for our family of five. Our kids enjoyed the foosball and ping pong tables down in the basement. We found the kitchen to be extremely well stocked in terms of utensils (even sharp knives!), dishwear (thank you for having plastic cups instead of all glass!), and appliances. Our family brought several games on the trip, but found the selection of games and books at the cabin to be so good that I don't think we even touched one of our games. Steve's book collection is extensive and a highlight of the trip for me was finding a fun novel to binge read after the kids went to bed. In short, our trip to this property was everything we wanted for a relaxing, family-centric getaway. All we can say is you better book this property before we do!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Seth D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Could not have asked for more
I'm sort of hesitant to write this review because the more people know how great this place is, the harder it will be for us to stay here next summer. The cabin was clean, comfy, and equipped with tons of amenities for rainy days, but why stay inside with Bad Medicine Lake being an absolutely top notch swimming/kayaking/boating option? The owners absolutely went above and beyond to make our stay amazing, and our whole family (including 9 and 4 year old kids) had an absolute blast. The biggest disappointment was that we had to leave. See you guys next summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeff A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Summer get away
Beach was great for grandson to play on. He learned to kayak and loved it. He loved the paddle boat. Most of all he loved playing on the lily pad. The cabin and location was great. We all enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay!!
My group and I had a wonderful stay! Bad Medicine is our favorite lake and we were thrilled to be back. The house was great and had pretty much everything we needed. It is a relaxing property and the lake is just steps away from the deck. Looking forward to returning!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dorothy A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
Fishing was fun and swimming was good! The place is very nice!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Robb L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fishing Trip
Great trip on an extremely nice property right on bad medicine lake. Great hosts that communicate well and extremely nice property.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kyle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect
Wonderful, much needed get away! Kids had a blast! Also Mom and Dad!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steven Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Chill Weekend
Hiking at Itasca and then back to the cabin for an early supper and sitting in front of a fire for the rest of the evening. Listening to the loons and just vegging. A perfect stay.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rory M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great family spot!
This was a perfect spot for a long weekend for our family of 5. Our three younger kids loved the beach area, very nice hard sand beach. Cabin was clean and comfortable and had everything that we needed. Beautiful scenery, peaceful, quiet and relaxing!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nathan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place!
We had a great time at this cabin. The cabin was clean and cozy with it's fire places and excellent sunrise views. We also enjoyed the proximity to Itasca State Park and the North Country Nation Scenic Trail.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Jill K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
September
The trees, the lake, the coziness of the deck lights was wonderful. We rented late in season, so nearby neighbors were not around and made for a peaceful, private time.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful lakeshore property, very comfortable cabin.
No one would be disappointed. Owner offers excellent amenities.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Greig J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mid-September Visit
Great trip for retired couple and black lab. Family cabin felt like home. Everything we needed was provided. Steve, owner, was onsite in an adjacent cabin for most of our stay and we enjoyed visiting with him about the history of the lake and property.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic place
It was a home away from home. I felt very comfortable being there.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

4/10 Poor

Monique V.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Beautiful Beach/Poorly Maintained Cabin
I have never written a negative review before and hesitate to now, but I feel that it’s important for other renters to know what we did not before renting this property. I preface with saying that this is our experience and that yours may be different. Our preferences may differ from others. When we arrived, the owner was there to walk us through the property and the massive amounts of do’s and don’ts. Don’t flush the toilet too often, don’t take too many showers, don’t do laundry unless absolutely necessary (why bother having it available?). There were so many that it gave us misgivings right off the bat. He was friendly, but overbearing. He stayed in a guesthouse on the property less than 50 feet from the house which was very uncomfortable and allowed for zero privacy. Thank goodness he didn’t stay the whole week, just Saturday thru Wednesday. The house also had very close neighbors. So close that one night we had to close all the windows because they were so loud. As for the cabin itself, in my opinion, it was not professionally cleaned before we checked in. Since the owner has you clean the entire house for him before you leave, I assume no other cleaning gets done, except maybe the bathrooms, although you have to clean those before checking out too. There was a list showing that some surfaces get sanitized due to COVID restrictions, which was nice. When we did our finally clean up, we found previous renters garbage under chairs and a lot of corner cobwebs. The kitchen was very dirty upon our arrival. The cupboard surfaces, the rug, the floor, all had dirt build up. We tried to leave it better than we found it but I resented having to do a massive amount of housework after paying what I consider a large sum to stay. Because the screen doors were old and had holes, there was a constant fly issue. Again, we expect a certain level of customer service that did not exist here. You were allowed one night of wood for a fire (shouldn’t that be included in the price?) if you used the propane, you had to replace it (Why isn’t a back up supplied as a perk of renting? It is other places). There was an obnoxious note on the refrigerator about keeping the door closed. I understand that there may have been past issues, but the note did not need to be so offensive as if addressing 5 year olds. Customer service goes a long way to building repeat business. We will not be going back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Stephen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property on a great lake
Property was as advertised, close to the water, great waterfront area with kayaks and paddle boat for use. Really great that dogs are allowed. One thing we found odd and the only reason for the 4 stars was that the owner was on the property the majority of the stay, using the power washer and fixing up an old dock to put his personal boat out. Steve is a very nice guy but never had so much contact with a property owner while doing a VRBO.

About the host

Hosted by Krista Stenerson

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Languages:

English
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