Entire home

Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline.

Photo gallery for Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline.

Living area
Living area
Interior
Interior
Interior

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12334.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Outdoor space
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Mercer, WI

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 King Bed

Bedroom 6

2 Single Beds and 1 Single Bunk Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1 on top floor

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

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

About this property

Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline.


Note: - Please download and read the rental contract before booking any dates. The rental contract can be found on the same page as you pay for the rental which is one of the last pages in the booking process. We won't approve any booking until we know that you downloaded and signed the contract and you have stated so in an email to us within VRBO.

Note: Here are some of the rules listed in the contract, but not all of them.

- SMOKING IS NOT ALLOWED anywhere on the property meaning you can't
smoke inside or outside at this vacation home. Violators may be asked to leave
because our insurance will not cover damage to the property(s) related to
smoking.
- NO HEAVY DRINKING. If you have members of your group that drink a lot, (more than 6 drinks a night) don't rent this property. This is a place for families to enjoy not a place to drink hard and party. If the neighbors call me about your group or even just a member that is drunk, we may have to remove your entire group and you would loose the rental period and your security deposit.
This has never happened in 20 plus years of owning multiple rental properties but we have to protect our license to rent out the house and people getting
drunk and rowdy and bothering neighbors is not going be tolerated.
- No parties or inviting other people other than what we approved on the
contract or in writing. Email us for approval if someone wants to visit, it is
usually OK if its 2-3 people but we have to know and approve it first.
- No pets (this does not mean it is pet allergen free).
- Majority of the group must be over the age of 35, unless it is a family(s) or
father/son/daughter type combinations. Person signing contract must be
over the age of 35 unless we approve them ahead of time.
- See other rules we have listed in the contract before booking.
- From the third weekend in June to the third weekend in August, we only allow
7 night stays and they must be Saturday to Saturday. We also only allow the
week between Christmas and New Years to be booked as a week. The rest of
the year can have stays as short as 3 nights.

Description:
Big Bear Family Cabins L.L.C. is on a private lake meaning there is no public access, which keeps it much more peaceful and quite. The lake has about 50-70 acres of water depending on who is rating acreage and what depths they count, and neighbors have verbally agreed to not use gas outboards, so it stays quite and peaceful. We also require catch and release fishing for Musky but you can keep other species if they are of legal size and season, and you have a WI fishing license. The lake is a public lake without a public access point.

Our deck looks over approximately 300' of Southwest facing shoreline without having to look at neighbors , other than houses across the lake. We have a pier and several fishing boats with electric motors, canoes, and a paddle boat that are free to use.

The living room has a cathedral ceiling with windows facing the lake. There is a 22' tall stone fireplace from the floor to the ceiling. The Dining room and Master bedroom also face the lake. There is a large deck overlooking the lake and the only neighbors that can be seen from the deck are across the lake.

The lake has good Musky, Bass, and Northern Pike fishing, along with endless bluegills for kids can catch right from the pier.
In addition to the living room mentioned there is a rec room with TV, pool table, air hockey, a basketball game and lots of other games for kids on rainy days.
Almost the entire house interior is cedar or pine and the atmosphere is very lodge-like and while it is not a log cabin it is almost all wood inside and out. .
The end of our driveway directly connects to a branch of the snowmobile and ATV trail. We don't get much traffic here but it is nice to have direct trail access. Guests can walk to a small restaurant about 1/4 mile away,. It is usually open 3-4 days a week.
We have a rental contract that you will need to sign and return before a rental can take place. We need to make sure your group is of legal age and will not violate local ordinances which limit the amount of noise and the number of people that can be at a rental property.
We have a Smart TV, 4K, with access to the internet so you can bring your Netflix account number or similar streaming passwords to use there. We do not have satellite TV Most shows are now available online through Netflix, YouTube Amazon etc. We do not pay for these options but you can use your account from home on any Smart TV. There are a few channels we get through the air with a TV antenna.

Property manager

Alex Elkins

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 35
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking anywhere on the property No heavy drinking (more than 6 drinks) Renter must download and read rental agreement before booking No Pets

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 and a deadlock

About the area

Mercer

Located in Mercer, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Frog Lake And Pines State Natural Area and Moose Lake State Natural Area, while Mercer Depot Museum and Little Bohemia Lodge are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Mercer, WI

Getting around

  • Ironwood, MI (IWD-Gogebic County) - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wolf's Den - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Around The Corner Pub - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Pines Restaurant - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Liberty Way Tap House - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Beaver Lodge Resort - ‬2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Lakefront vacation home with 300 ft. of private, South West facing, shoreline. located?

This family-friendly Mercer holiday home is located on the beach, within 3 mi (5 km) of Grand Portage Lake and Carow Park. Frog Lake And Pines State Natural Area and Mercer Depot Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

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. 9 out of 14 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 14 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 14 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Dan L.

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

Snowmobile trip

This was a great house for our snowmobile trip. The trails are conveniently located in front of the house. The house has a nice scenic view looking over the lake and has all the amenities to cook and grill out. There is also plenty of parking for your trailers.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

andrew d.

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

Nice quiet place to spend time with family

Nice quiet property to enjoy time away with family and to relax
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darren K.

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

Little Martha Lake Paradise

Amazing area. great house! Rooms are comfy and well decorated. Game room in basement was lots of fun. Lake had amazing fishing and was very quiet and peaceful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jody S.

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

Up nort retreat

Place was great,plenty of room to roam
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matt B.

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

Sowmobiling

Alex is great to work with and quick to respond. Logistics and check-in / out went smoothly—great Cabin in the Northwoods on the snowmobile trail. There is plenty of room for our machines and trailers, and it is close to town. We will go back.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Rachael P.

Liked: Check-in, location

Nice location

There are a lot of stairs to the lake, the boats that are there had a solar powered battery charger, not great for cloudy days, you had to row back and only one of the boats batteries would work. The basement was cold. The room in the basement is the room with the bunk beds for kids, the heat was locked so you have no control over your comfort. The washing machine was padlocked and not available for use. There were notes everywhere with warnings about doing things wrong and you'll be charged if you do. We went to our friends cabin, it was like a home, no notes everywhere you look. The sheets and blankets were very old and didn't smell great. There were no sheets or blankets that fit the king size bed. The owner was worried about us playing music at a campfire and was very insistant that music is not allowed except with ear buds, however, there is a bar right next door playing music so loud you can hear it inside the house. The shower heads, wow, at least it wasn't a tent with no shower. It's just a lot of money for what was, I feel, not represented appropriately. The living room is beautiful as pictured. There were several games for us to use. The fishing on Little Martha Lake was a lot of fun, especially for kids, caught a lot of blue gills, it was non stop fun. The size of the property was great for our family.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian T., Commerce Township, MI

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

Memorial Day Wknd

Wonderful property on fabulous Little Martha Lake. A true northwoods experience. Jean and Alex are clearly passionate about their property -- and it shows. My three teenagers and I had a wonderful Memorial Day wknd stay at Big Bear Family Cabin.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2020

8/10 Good

John M.

Property was exactly as advertised

A perfect Northwoods setting. The game room was a nice addition. The location is close to many of our favorite winter activities. Our family of 8 had more than enough beds and bedrooms which allowed for privacy while being all together under one roof. Perfect for a large group of people.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Joel D.

Good location and lots of room.

A group of 11 stayed for our annual snowmobiling trip. The house had plenty of room and is located right next to the trail. Nice little bar and grill next door as well. The cabin was well suited for our trip.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kelly S.

Great place to stay in northern WI

My family of 8 had an amazing week at this cabin. It was so spacious and had all the amenities you could want for a family get away. We enjoyed every aspect of the Big Bear Family Cabin, from the basement with pool and air hockey, to the lake which was perfect for fishing and swimming. The cabin had everything available you could want. It was so peaceful and secluded, yet there was the convenience of being close to town and having a lodge nearby for a quick meal. Alex was very helpful. We had a wonderful vacation.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

daniel L.

Awesome clean cabin with plenty of space and a real up north feel (Great veiws). Loved it!

Really cool place! I really like the look and feel of this house. Even though it's not a log cabin, it has a similar feel, especially inside with wide cedar boards and huge stone fireplace. They have an antique wooden canoe in the living room and up against the fireplace wall. It's huge, how did they get it in there? Really cool. Great living room and view of the lake. Nice not having other houses near it and having a yard that feels like your up North. Caught some nice fish, had fun on the trails and swimming, loved the whole experience. My kids loved it. Owners were nice and keep this place in good shape. They left us alone until I called for something and then they had someone come. Then it was back to having the place feel like it was mine again. The lake was quite and I felt like I was the only one there. I like it that they don't show up to check on things, but instead left us alone until we called them, which is much more relaxing. One of the better rental experiences I have ever had and I have gone up North every year for 24 years. D.L. Madison WI
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dolores V.

We love this place!!

We have been coming to this cabin with our family for summer vacations for 5 years. We absolutely love it! The cabin is always very neat and clean. None of that musty old cabin smell that you find other places. The furnishings are very nice, comfortable and up to date. It has beautiful "Up North" decor - the long canoe, the fireplace, the details all throughout the house. The property is well kept, in great shape. It's wonderful to have a place that fits our whole group so well. The lower level with the game room gets a lot of use when we are there. We use the lower bedroom as the kids room, the cousins love to bunk together for the week. All the rooms are spacious and comfortable. The lake is beautiful. So nice that boats are included in the rental. We have a few serious fishermen and they enjoy their time on the lake. We all have fun taking a canoe or paddle boat ride. The kids like to swim off the dock. We have campfires in the fire ring, lunch on the deck, and the kids really like the big swings. Our grand children love being at the cabin. They talk about it all year. "The Cabin" is on their list of favorite things to do. We all enjoy our time in the Mercer area and look forward to returning again. Alex and Jean (the owners) have been very friendly, handling any questions we have had promptly. We have never had any complaints or problems. Big Bear Cabin is a great spot for families to spend some time together.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Shawn M.

Awesome Cabin - Perfect Location - A Home Away From Home!!

I have been coming to Big Bear Family Cabin for nearly 5 years each Spring (1 Fall visit), with 6 total stays, and it's always been a wonderful experience. I love the seclusion, serenity, and just the overall relaxation that comes with staying at Big Bear. The cabin is welcoming, like a home away from home, so after a day of fishing on the Flowage it's easy to just settle in for the night and be fully rested to take on what the next day has in store. The cabin has all the amenities, and then some, to make my visit everything I want it to be. Whatever mess I make, I can leave it to clean up whenever I feel like it... unlike at home when I feel guilty leaving it for someone else. It's my mess, I'll clean it up when I'm ready. :) The cabin is so big that it's easy to get away for a bit if needed. Being situated on Little Martha lake has it's definite advantages, especially on those days when you just want to stay "at home" yet can get away for a little fishing on practically your own private lake. Although I have never caught a musky on Little Martha, I have caught my fair share of Perch and Pike. What's so awesome about it is that you don't have to hassle with trying to launch your own boat, there is already one (or two!) waiting for you ready to go. Although not a "happening" town, Mercer is a great place to visit. It's very laid back, nobody gets in a hurry, and who wants to be in a hurry when you are on vacation. I particularly like to visit The Pines restaurant situated on the main drag. It's a wonderful restaurant, with an awesome beer garden, that serves the best roast duck on Saturday nights that I have ever had... oh and the Perch and Haddock on Friday nights should not be missed. A total home cooking experience, featuring some great German food and of all things, awesome take home pizza - take this back to the cabin to enjoy whenever. Last, but not least, Alex (owner) has always taken care of me and my buddy each/every time we come up to visit. The cabin is always clean, comfortable, and there are always extra stuff that previous renters have left behind like paper towels, or salt/pepper, etc. so if you forget something quite possibly you might be covered. We try to leave something back for the next renters in return, I sure know I appreciate it. If we have ever had a problem (rarely), Alex has been very prompt about getting it corrected. This is truly a great place to rent, you will not be disappointed.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

2/10 Terrible

Gianni P.

Not as described!

This cabin is very dated, the kitchen and bathrooms especially. It snowed twice during our stay and we had to shovel our own paths, make sure you have a 4x4 if going in the winter. The basement is a frozen tundra, there was a space heater down there, but it didn't even make a dent. Customer service from the owner may be some of the worst I have ever experienced. I go up to northern Wisconsin quite often, and I have stayed at many cabins through the vrbo, but I will not be staying at this particular cabin ever again.

About the host

Hosted by Alex Elkins

Host profile image
We own two lake front vacation rental properties in the area and have been renting out houses to people since 2001.

Why they chose this property

This property has a real north woods or up north feeling to it. It has much more privacy than most lakefront properties and with 6 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms it can handle up to 12 guests without anyone sleeping on couches, or waiting in line for a bathroom. The setting and view of the lake are truly beautiful.
We do not allow people to sleep on couches, so please do not book it if you have more than 12 people including all kids.

What makes this property unique

Massive stone fireplace in a room with a 22' tall cathedral ceiling. Also a large rec room for rainy days. Directly on the ATV and snowmobile trail. Walking distance to the Beaver Lodge a small restaurant where you can order a pizza or eat dinner.

Languages:

English
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback