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YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

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Property grounds
Exterior
Exterior
Exterior
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 20

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Cougar, WA
  • Ape Caves
    15 min drive
  • Marble Mountain Sno-Park
    19 min drive
  • Mount St. Helens
    26 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

1

2 Single Beds and 2 Queen Beds

2

1 Queen Bed

3

2 Single Beds and 2 Double Beds

4

1 Single Bed and 2 Double Beds

2 bathrooms

1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

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

About this property

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

12+ Beds Heart of Cougar. Great location / Accommodations for large family/Group. In the heart of Cougar WA. Previously Monfort's BNB.
Central to the best variety of year round recreation the PNW has to offer. From the comforts of this cozy retreat access all your favorite outdoor recreational activities within minutes. If you want to do it…. This is where to find it!
Walking distance to Bar & Grill, stores and Yale Lake / Cougar Park.
Full basement REC room. Pool table, poker table, foosball, darts, Hoops, Ring Toss, and more.
Best Fire Pit you will find. shaped like Mt St Helens

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, there are almost 1,500 miles of trails on the forest open to hiking, biking, ect.
Mount St. Helens Nation Volcanic Monument, open for climbing year round and offers some of the most popular snow-parks for snowmobiling/cc-skiing enthusiast. Be sure to visit Lava Canyon!
Ape Cave lava tubes (10 miles), which formed about 2,000 years ago and is open year round.
Marble Mountain Snopark (4.5 miles) The trip to June Lake is one of the most popular ski tours from the Marble Mountain Snopark. If the snow is good, the skiing is easy. Other skiing and snowshoeing options are available, and the snopark also serves as a base for hiking and climbing trips. Marble Mountain Snopark is the hub for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers on the southern slopes of Mount St. Helens. Adequate snow cover for skiing can usually be found from December through March most years. The snow at the snopark is seldom very dry and often changeable, so it’s generally best to be riding on no-wax skis. Most days are skiable here if you’re prepared for the conditions.
The Falls (34 miles) Lower Lewis River Falls, the Middle Falls, and the Upper Lewis River Falls.

Local Fish
Variety of trout, Bull Trout, Dolly Varden, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Silver Salmon, Kokanee, Northern pike minnow, Sculpin & Tiger Muskie, Coastal Cutthroat, Steelhead.

Boat Ramps & Recreation
YALE LAKE RESERVOIR
Cougar Camp (1 mile), restrooms and showers, parking for 180 vehicles, 15 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Beaver Bay (3.5 miles), restrooms and showers, parking for 40 vehicles, 6 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Yale Park (2 miles), restrooms, 30 picnic sites, parking for 130 cars and 80 trailers, a four-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Saddle Dam (9 miles), restrooms, parking, picnic tables, swimming area and boat launch ramps.
LAKE MERWIN
Cresap Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms and shower, 20 picnic tables, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Speelyai Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms, 25 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Merwin Park (20 miles), restrooms, 135 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, and a beach swim area.
SWIFT DAM RESERVOIR
Power Canal (7 miles), parking to fish at canal and two developed recreation facilities at the east end of the reservoir. Swift Forest Camp has restrooms a two-lane boat ramp with parking spaces and a day use beach swim area. Eagle Cliff Park has restroom, parking and is a walk in park with picnic tables and is a cool place with secluded feeling.
MERRILL LAKE
Merrill Lake Camp (6.5 miles), restrooms, parking, boat launch, catch and release fly fishing.

Property manager

Troy S Zuercher
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties

Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
House trained, never unattended, clean up after

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
your pet must be house trained . Your pet must not

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: 20
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

Cougar

Located in Cougar, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. Cedar Creek Grist Mill and Pomeroy Living History Farm are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Ape Caves. Travelling with kids? Consider Johnston Ridge Observatory, or check out an event or a game at Woodland Motocross Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Cougar, WA

What's nearby

  • Ape Caves - 15 min drive
  • Marble Mountain Sno-Park - 19 min drive
  • Mount St. Helens - 26 min drive
  • Canyon Creek - 27 min drive
  • ilani Casino - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Cougar Bar & Grill - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Ape Cave - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Red's espresso - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Jack's Restaurant & Store - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Squatch Stop - ‬2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat located?

Located on a river, this family-friendly holiday home is within 12 mi (20 km) of Ape Caves, Toutle River and Ape Cave Lava Tubes. Gifford Pinchot National Forest is 10.4 mi (16.7 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 30 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Makenna B.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication
Birthday Weekend
A great house in a beautiful location. The game room was perfect for our group and we really enjoyed using the kitchen space as well. Unfortunately Cougar Park was closed while we were there but Yale Park was a nice place to go swim. For the check in process we realized that we were not given the code in advance and when we tried to contact the owner about it he was unreachable through text, phone call, and VRBO messenger. Fortunately some of the neighbors were able to help us or otherwise we would not have been able to get in at all. Unfortunately there was a burn ban preventing us from using the outdoor fire area so make sure to check the weather before planning to use that. Other than our check in difficulties we really enjoyed the house and our time there.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Relaxing and Responsive
The property itself was beautiful with plenty of things to do and the host, Troy, was so responsive and helpful the entire time, even with some unexpected hiccups. Truly enjoyed ourselves, will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

christian r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay
Stayes there for my brothers bachlor parry with 15 others and had a wonderful time. The house and yard were cleaned and orginized when we showed up. Spent a lot of time in the game basment. Even didbthe ape caves hike
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle Caroline L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
!!!!HAPPPY NEW YEARS!!!!
Wow! Such a gem of a spot! Couldn't ask for better communication and flexibility from Tony! Immediately upon arrival he was already lighting the fire for us, letting us know that we don't have to worry about the noise and to just communicate with him which was such an amazing welcome! The space was clean, but also had an immense amount of character that complemented our New Years vibes. The fire pit was amazing, the grill was a plus, the pool table and the basketball hoop kept us entertained and the cold plunge at the dock kept us sane. The highlight of the weekend were the New Years fireworks that left us all with our jaws on the floor. Yale house was truly special, do not hesitate to book. We all left the weekend hoping we could stay longer. We will be coming back! Thank you so much Tony! You da best:)
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wayne B., Huntington, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Place to gather
Had a wonderful time staying in the yale house. The game room was excellent!! Definitely recommend the house.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Women’s gathering
Fun property. Beds a bit tough for our generation but we worked it all out. Some of us not a big fan of the animals but they were in the pics. Troy made it easy to check in. Great weekend for our women’s group that has been together now for 48 years!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

jacob k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was perfect!
Everything about this place was great! Everyone had a place to sleep and was comfortable. The decor upstairs and downstairs was perfect! Only thing that could be improved would be the BBQ.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Hank B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyable
One of the two air conditioners was inoperative, so the first evening and day, which were very hot, were somewhat uncomfortable in the house. Other than that, the facility is quite enjoyable, with a great basement and game room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sherri H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Space
Thank you Troy and Cody! This layout and space of your home was perfect for the needs of our two families (9 children). We greatly appreciated the outdoor space for eating and the multiple bunkbeds.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful time. Troy is a great host and very accommodating. The house was perfect for us.
Awesome experience! We’d definitely rent this house again for our big family.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Joy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a great place to spend Christmas
We had all items we could need. Made a full Christmas dinner and had up to 8 adults and 4 kids. Everyone had something to do! The Buffalo was a big hit and the dogs couldn’t get passed the kitty cat!!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

David D., Vancouver, WA, US

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Bachelor party was a success
Just a great place with good neighbors!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Labor day fun
We had a really great time. The property is located within 2 blocks of the convenience store and walking distance to cougar park. We played at the lake and loved the fireplace and pool table. Thanks again Troy for the wonderful time.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Donna E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Friendly Property
The kids (and some adults) loved the game room. Found out my 13 year old grandson is a pool shark! The location was great for going to Ape Caves, and Yale Lake. We also took a day trip to the Johnston Ridge Observatory in the Mt. St. Helens National Monument. We all enjoyed our stay. The kids had lots of questions about the decor!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Walda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful, wonderful memories
Everything from first questions to final good bye was so easy, informative and friendly. This place was an oasis of calm, peacefulness, games and things to do. I am so grateful I found this place and dealt with Troy through the whole experience. Would highly recommend for any type of getaway or get together.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maggie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fun property for a big gathering
Lots to do around Cougar and the house is very accommodating for big groups.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sergey B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful house in Cougar
It was unfortunate that weather did not cooperate: it was raining one of the days. But the house offers a lot of activities that made the day even in spite of the rain. Thanks a lot!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tonya R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
33rd birthday week
Me and my family came here for my 33rd birthday and it was perfect. With 7 kids and all us adults we were never bored. The neighborhood is so quiet and the neighbors are very friendly. The kids got creeped out by the mannequins but the kids had fun naming them. We will definitely be coming back for another family trip soon. Thank you for having us.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carin L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome place!
So cozy and unique.. we had everything we needed and more! Even with the weather being crappy we had plenty to do inside !
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fun birthday weekend
We had a great time overall. Lots to do in the basement. The kitchen had everything we needed. We did have a fuse blow and couldn't locate the fuse box but other then that the stay was great. We will be back in the summer.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

flossie n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fun for the Family
This was a fun property. Very well equipped game room and kitchen. Walking distance to handy-andy stores and restaurant.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jay P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome!!
Nice place!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

6/10 Okay

Raychel C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fun on the lake
We had a lot of fun using the kayaks out on the lake. Cougar Park was a 2 minute drive away! The house had lots of quirky touches. The hosts allowed us to check in early which was greatly appreciated. We were quite turned off by the open food in the fridge and pantry.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jordan H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cougar Gold
Awesome place. Good area for outdoor stuff. Troy was very friendly
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Matthew M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good house for get together
Great house, worked well. Neighbors like to stop by to say hi. Only issue was no toilet paper on arrival
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019

About the host

Hosted by Troy S Zuercher

Host profile image
Brothers, Best Friends, Partners

Why they chose this property

This is the best and closest property to everything around Cougar.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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