Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events

See all properties

Save

Entire home

Large lawn with space for picnics or lawn games.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.6

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 18223 sq m

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Pet-friendly

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Explore the area

Wautoma, WI

Nordic Mountain11 min drive
Green Lake47 min drive
Golf Courses of Lawsonia48 min drive
Appleton, WI (ATW-Appleton Intl.)65 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 18)

Forest Room: Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Living Room 2

1 Double Sofa Bed

Living Room 3

1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Single Futon

Master Bedroom: Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

The Nest: Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Trundle Beds and Cots- Twins

4 Single Beds and 1 Crib

2 bathrooms

Ground floor bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Separate dining area

Garden

About this property

1.1 acres with 213 feet of lakefront, a native wildflower garden, and a large lawn perfect for lawn games, picnics, weddings, and reunions.

Our family cabin on John’s Lake, in central Wisconsin, has been the site of many happy memories, and lots of summer fun. Now we are sharing this special place with others.

Birch Bay Retreat is family-friendly and is an excellent location for a family reunion, a small casual outdoor wedding, a retreat for a small group or club, or similar events, or a quiet weekend getaway or writing retreat.

Enjoy fishing and swimming from our pier, or take our canoes or pontoon boat out for a spin! BBQ on our wraparound porch with views of the lake and wildflower garden, and then gather around the campfire at our private lakeside fire pit in the evening. For summer guests, the first night's firewood is on us as our welcome to the lake! Please note that the Boat and Pier are only guaranteed in from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please inquire if you are planning on staying outside of those times, if the Pier or Boat will be available for use.

Two televisions (one on each floor). Roku TV's , (bring your own Netflix/Hulu subscription) along with WiFi are included in the rental fee.

Lawn games and other outdoor activities are available for summer guests. On rainy days, enjoy the basement game room with ping-pong, a foosball table and carpet bowling.

The house has a large kitchen and a family-sized dining room that opens out onto a balcony, with views towards the lake. We have beds, sleeper sofas, and futons to sleep 14, and there is space to squeeze in more if you have a bigger gathering.

We do our best to make sure you can bring the whole family:

For families with young children, a Graco Pack-N'-Play is available for infants as well as a Chico caddy hook-on chair and washable silicone placemat to use at the table. Cots are available for young children. The house is partially child-proofed (a stair gate is available, cleaning supplies are placed out of reach of children, and most unused outlets are covered with safety plugs).

To accommodate older family members, the master bath has a walk-in shower with a handhold installed, showerhead with hose, and a shower bench is available upon request.

We understand that pets are part of the family, so your dogs and other pets are welcome to join you in enjoying a stay at Birch Bay Retreat. We do require an additional fee to help cover wear and tear from pets.

A second refrigerator in the basement will allow you to chill all your food and drinks for a large gathering, and a laundry room (washer / dryer / iron and ironing board / drying racks) is available.

We continue to improve the family accessibility based on feedback from our guests.

Birch Bay Retreat is near several charming small towns such as Redgranite, Berlin, and Wild Rose, as well as wineries, golfing and antiquing. Grocery stores, restaurants, and other shops are a short distance away in Wautoma.

The cabin is also close to the Mt Morris ski resort, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails, so there are lots of winter recreation opportunities! It's heated and comfortable for winter guests.

Our family has cherished the memories and traditions we have created here over the years and we know you will, too. Come stay and relax at the lake!

Check in: 4:00 PM - the Property Manager will send you your code for a keyless entry into the home. Directions for use are posted on the door. There will be a house key and boat key on the counter. The necessary paperwork for your stay will be available on the counter with instructions on filling out and where to place them after signing. The Proerty Manager will be available if you have and questions or need futher assistance.

Check In: 4:00 PM (or later)
Check Out: 11:00 AM

A friendly reminder as listed under our house rules: Quiet hours begin at 10:00pm. This includes our wonderful game of carpet ball. While it is a ton of fun, it echo's throughout the lake and can be very loud for all guest and neighbors. Please be sure to continue to make the lake a great place for all!

Because we have a rapid turnaround between guests, early check-in and late check-out is not available during peak summer months (June-August). During non-peak times, early check-in and late check-out may be available upon request for a small fee, on a case-by-case basis -- please ask during the booking process!

Birch Bay Retreat does not allow smoking in the house, on any decks or area attached to the home. There is no smoking on the pier and no
smoking/no pets on the pontoon boat. We do provide portable ashtrays that can be used on the lawn or at the fire pit.

Property manager

Michelle & Maddie

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

View from deck - bring your fishing pole and limit out on this stocked lake!!

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Playpen and infant table seat available on request

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties

Parties/events allowed up to a max. of 30 people.

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)

$50.00 per pet/per stay. Breed limitations apply.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Smoking not allowed home, porche, decks or boats.

Carpet Ball which is located on the screened in back porch, is not allowed to be played past 10:00PM. Quiet hours start at 10:00PM. Thank you

Only septic-safe toilet paper (provided) may be used. Damage caused by flushing feminine products or other objects may be charged to guests.

Quiet hours begin at 10:00 PM. All Guest are expected to be respectful to everyone on the lake, and abide by these hours

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 birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30

Note from host: Parties/events allowed up to a max. of 30 people.

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 and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Wautoma

Located in Wautoma, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Nordic Mountain and Lunch Creek Vineyard & Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Long Lake and Hartman Creek State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Wautoma, WI

What's nearby

Nordic Mountain - 11 min drive
Long Lake - 27 min drive
Crystal River - 42 min drive
Green Lake - 47 min drive
Golf Courses of Lawsonia - 48 min drive

Getting around

Appleton, WI (ATW-Appleton Intl.) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

‪Casey's General Store - ‬11 min drive
‪Culver's - ‬11 min drive
‪McDonald's - ‬11 min drive
‪Taco John's - ‬11 min drive
‪Christianos Pizza - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private lakeside retreat, swim, boat, fish! Perfect for family events located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly holiday home is 5.4 mi (8.7 km) from Nordic Mountain and 11.1 mi (17.8 km) from ThedaCare Medical Center - Wild Rose. Long Lake and Lunch Creek Vineyard & Winery are also within 20 miles (32 km).

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Tony & Dawn R., United States

5 Sept 2023

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

Labor day Family Get Together

Great for the size of our family and plenty to do!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa and Gary S.

25 Aug 2023

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

Johns Lake Rental

Everything was good except the Wifi was terrible. The last two days, I couldn't even log into the Wifi. And with a weak cell phone signal, good Wifi would have improved the experience a lot.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joanne P.

6 Aug 2023

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

Three generations.

Th cottage was very clean. Dishes were clean and we felt comfortable climbing into bed. The water was great for boating, swimming, and kayaking. I personally like the slow boat ride around the lake. The family time was wonderful. We even had fun playing games. The carpet ball game was played the most. We put all the puzzles together. Our daughter came with items for us to paint. The grandchildren spend hours painting. All were very creative. The weather was great. The kitchen had everything we needed. I liked the size of the kitchen. We did find one chair, on the deck, that was broken. The outside door's handle fell off. We did snap off a corner of the boat, when we came to the dock. I was very pleased someone came to check on the gas supply on the boat. Thanks for sharing your cottage.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Loretta M.

21 July 2023

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

Relaxcation

Needed to get away

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Lisa A.

17 July 2023

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

nice lake

We used the cottage to allow for additional family to come for a Memorial service for my mother who passed away during covid. We own a cottage on John's Lake but needed more sleeping accommodations. It worked out great and gave everyone some private space. We enjoyed having the use of the pontoon boat for evening cruising.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle A., Waukesha, WI

4 June 2023

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

Girls Weekend

We had a great girls weekend! The house was very accommodating and there was plenty of room for all! The lake was beautiful and relaxing. Unfortunately the boat was not in service, however, we still had a great weekend! Would recommend!

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jen B., Lake Geneva, WI

28 Feb 2023

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

Nice Getaway

We chose this location due to it's proximity to surrounding lakes for our company ice fishing trip. Everything was perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

6/10 Okay

Stephanie R.

18 Oct 2022

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Cleanliness

Beautiful view

Beautiful lake views. Lots of space inside for a sizable group to cohabitate for a weekend. Several sleeping quarters but if you have more than 2 couples looking for a private bedroom, you might want to consider other options. Fun indoor activities for kids if weather is uncooperative.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rich Q.

3 Oct 2022

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

Great location. Nice layout.

Fantastic

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tyler S.

14 Sept 2022

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

Huge place with great lake

Great place for a large group! Plenty of house and yard space for activities. Plus the lake is very clean and great for swimming.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tony & Dawn R., United States

5 Sept 2022

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

Annual Labor Day Family Gathering

Looks are deceiving from the outside but very nice & spacious inside. All the amenities you could ask for. Nice bog outdoor yard for games, and the pontoon boat is a big plus! Definitely will try to return to this place!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carl S.

25 July 2022

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

Perfect Getaway

Beautiful cabin on serene lake!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Danielle W.

11 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Family getaway

The place was bigger than expected, the yard is huge and the lake is beautiful! Nice location, quiet and a nice little sandbar for the kiddos to play at. Tons of games and books inside for the littles which was awesome. The neighbor/caretaker was very nice, brought extra wood for fire and gas for pontoon towards the end of the week. Some things to point out: - multiple different checkout lists, nothing was consistent across the board as to what should be done. -listing was changed after booking and around the time our stay started regarding the switch from propane provided to charcoal grill available- not a huge deal but not what was expected. -couches except for one were very worn and uncomfortable, our intent was not to be inside often but it rained a number of days.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lisa and Gary S.

27 June 2022

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

Fun with swimming and campfires.

The cottage is very nice and has no steps from the bottom of the cottage to the lake, which was important this year because my wife was on crutches. Having a pontoon boat for cruising and some limited fishing was a nice benefit as well. This was our second year with the same cottage and same week of the year. Overall, we were very pleased.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura L., Wisconsin, USA

20 June 2022

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

Great large family lake house

A beautiful location, large yard, many activities, and multiple boat options were just some of the things our family loved about this lake home. It contained everything we needed, and some things we didn’t even know we needed: agenerator (after a HUGE storm and 2 day power outage), large living spaces, a tandem bike, and we can’t forget carpet bowling. The managers were great with any issues we encountered and checked up on us after the storm. It was the perfect place for our family gathering of 9.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cassander G.

12 June 2022

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

Hidden Gem

Beautiful lake house in central Wisconsin. The pictures do not do justice to the property. Being on a lake with the ability to enjoy the beauties of John’s Lake, spacious yard, fire pit and indoor creature comforts., I highly recommend.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria A.

30 May 2022

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

Super fun weekend!

Many activities to do with family and friends, very organized and welcoming. You feel right at home here and fall in love with it.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

6/10 Okay

Rebecca D.

23 May 2022

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

A birthday weekend

We were notified 1 hour before arrival that there would be no dock or pontoon boat. We were too far from home to turn around and get kayaks. We had planned on fishing and boating. It was out of the owners hands, but also disappointing. We were refunded the boat rental fee, but we did not plan on finding alternatives for entertainment. The cabin was spacious and well stocked. It suited our group size very well. It was a peaceful cabin.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mariah G.

15 May 2022

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

The best place for our mini wedding!

Cannot say enough about how beautiful this place is! The pictures don't do it justice, we were blown away when we arrived! We had a small gathering for my wedding and it was just the right size! The weather was perfect and the large yard was great for an outdoor wedding! Definitely would stay here again just for a getaway with loved ones! (My only complaint is the ticks but that's just life in Wisconsin!)

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lucille B.

27 Feb 2022

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

Worked perfect for our family

17 of us (8 siblings X2 plus mom) had a great time together. It was winter, so we ice fished and walked the lake. The bonfire pit was well used. There was not 8 bedrooms as listed, but lots of pull out sofas to fit everyone. All in all this house worked great for us!

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

6/10 Okay

Dave M., Middleton, Wisconsin

22 Feb 2022

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Disappointed and won't be back

On arrival we found that the fireplace (Listed as an amenity) was not useable! We would not have rented for a winter weekend if we had known. Mouse droppings on the kitchen counter. Advertised 8 bedrooms; there are 3. Bifold doors fall out of tracks. Trickle of water coming out of upstairs bathroom sink faucet. Twice did not have hot water (and we weren't using very much). We were charged a cleaning fee and laundry fee but found the beds were not made on our arrival. Our first evening in the lakeside big room was rather cold. We discovered the next morning that none of the windows in that room had been completely closed and latched . . . in February.

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

8/10 Good

Toni P.

9 Jan 2022

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

Christmas weekend with family

We had a wonderful time.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura L.

12 Oct 2021

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

Fall Lake Getaway

We had a wonderful experience at the cabin. It was beautiful with plenty of space and thoughtful accommodations. Becky was very helpful and kind.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christopher K.

4 Oct 2021

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

Had a Good time

Very nice Property with most anything you would need. Host responsive. Very nice lake and able to bring own boat. Nice for big groups of people, might come back.

Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Edna H.

8 Aug 2021

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

Extended Family Vacation

This property provided plenty of space and activities for four families (16 kids and adults) to gather. We loved the large yard, large fire pit area as well as a great pontoon boat and swimming area. It was perfect for us!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

About the host

Hosted by Michelle & Maddie

Our family has been enjoying Johns Lake for decades. Our grandparents (pictured here) built the house, and we have celebrated family reunions, wedding, Fourth of July fireworks, Christmases, birthdays, and made many other happy memories here over the years. We are grateful to be able to make our own little piece of Wisconsin heaven available for other families to share. We look forward to welcoming you to our special place and hope you will enjoy making your own memories here!

Why they chose this property

Birch Bay Retreat is the perfect place for your private retreat, family gathering, or group of friends. Set on a secluded lakefront property and surrounded by wildlife, the lake provides great fishing and fun water sports such as skiing, tubing, and jet skiing. We provide everything you need for the perfect vacation at the lake. Birch Bay is also close to several delightful small towns with shopping, good restaurants, and great ice cream!

What makes this property unique

Birch Bay Retreat property is more private and more spacious than most other lake rentals you will find nearby, and has beautiful views of the lake, grounds, and the prairie wildflower garden from nearly every room. A private fire pit is available for evening campfires, and a propane grill is available on the porch for summer barbeques.

Johns Lake is beautifully clear and stocked with fish, perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating. Canoes are available for you to use at no cost, and a pontoon boat is available for a small additional fee. Please note that the Boat and Pier are only guaranteed in from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please inquire if you are planning on staying outside of those times, if the Pier or Boat will be available for use.

We do our best to accommodate our guests' needs and to make sure that there is a place for everyone at Birch Bay Retreat. To accommodate multi-generational family groups, a playpen and infant table seat, and a shower chair, are available upon request.

While the kitchen is fully-equipped with dishes and cookware and provides everything you'll need to whip up a great meal, there are also many great restaurants in the area where you can enjoy a traditional Wisconsin "supper club" or Friday night fish fry.

If you plan your vacation timing right, you can participate in one of the wonderful local festivals that the local towns hold throughout the summer and get a taste of area culture at its best!