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Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview

Lakefront holiday home with fitness centre and sauna

Photo gallery for Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview

Sunlight + living room (and lake views). Photo credit: @MegMcMillin_
Enjoy sunrise at Galena Chalet, overlooking lovely Lake Galena
Welcome to Galena Chalet; have a seat by the bubbling fountain & enjoy some tea
Reclaimed wood from a Scandinavian ship turned breakfast bar, overlooks kitchen
Amazing views of Lake Galena from the back chalet deck

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10371.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Gym
  • Parking available
  • Pool
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Washer

Explore the area

View map
Galena, IL
  • Place, Eagle Ridge Resort Golf
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Grant Home
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Belvedere Mansion
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Airport, Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview

The Galena Chalet is one of only five homes in the Galena Territory with a full lake view of Lake Galena. The home is nestled into three acres of lakeside property with an abundance of natural forestry. The chalet has 5 bedrooms and is tastefully furnished and organized for larger groups of 8-10 people.

The beautiful Chalet is charming inside and out; nestled in the woods and located with the most scenic view Lake Galena has to offer. The chalet is made with the highest quality detail. There is a 2000 sq ft wrap around deck that over looks Lake Galena. Nap in the hammock in the woods, or watch the bald eagles soar over the Lake from the back deck. Gourmet chefs kitchen. Wonderful place for a family or group gathering.

The inside of the chalet boasts European influenced wood-working and architecture throughout. The interior design is a beautiful fusion of rustic-modern. The home has a reclaimed dining table with seating for 10 people; dueling sofas aside the stone, wood-burning fireplace; and a lower level game & billiards area surrounding a decorative wood-burning stove that can also fit up to 10 people comfortably.

We often have wild turkeys, deer, eagles and a variety of birds visit our property. There are various outdoor areas for taking in all the nature that this charming property has to offer. Sit by the front fountain listening to the trickling water and watching the hummingbirds in the chalet’s garden. There is a seasonal rotating bloom.

We have newly installed gig-speed fiber internet available and a work loft with desk. Perfect for a work-remote environment while traveling!

Please note before booking; the home is an older home, and with that comes charm that is unable to be built in modern day homes. There is no central air however there is a powerful wall unit system which keeps the home very pleasant. Feel free to read the reviews. Our previous guests have provided thorough recommendations reflecting back on the detail and enjoyment they experienced from our home. We’ve put a lot of thought and care into it to make it an extra special experience for our guests.

Book your reservation today and enjoy a relaxing and peaceful getaway at the Galena Chalet. It’s wonderful during all four seasons!

We look forward to hosting you and your guests this coming season!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Gym

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Illegal drug use and parties are not permitted. We will call the police if we suspect there is any inappropriate or illegal behavior on the property.
No Pets.
No fireworks, water balloons, or items which would cause excessive litter or negative impact to the natural environment.

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

Galena

Located on a lake, this holiday home is in The Galena Territory, a neighbourhood in Galena. Grant Home and Washburne House Historic Site are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Linmar Gardens and Aqua Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in GalenaOpens in a new window
Map
Galena, IL

What's nearby

  • Eagle Ridge Resort Golf - 10 min drive - 5.7 km
  • Grant Home - 13 min drive - 9.5 km
  • Old Market House - 13 min drive - 12.0 km
  • Belvedere Mansion - 13 min drive - 9.9 km
  • Grant Park - 13 min drive - 9.9 km

Getting around

  • Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Galena Roasters - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Durty Gurt's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Paradise Bar & Grill - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Gobbie's Sports Pub and Eatery - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Grape Escape - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview have a pool?

Yes, this property has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Galena Chalet & Garden: Nature Lovers Haven - Spectacular Lakeview located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly holiday home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Eagle Ridge Resort Golf, Linmar Gardens, and West Street Sculpture Park. Grant Park and Grant Home are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 109 out of 119 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 119 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 119 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 119 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 119 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

tasha a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Went to enjoy Galena and this beautiful home and was not disappointed! Gorgeous property and view.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Randy M.

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

What a view!

From the bicycles, to the fishing poles, to the nice warm bedding and blankets, this get-away was everything my family of seven needed. I am very grateful and thankful to the very thoughtful owners.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley B.

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

Perfect place for winter gathering

We knew from the photos that this place was going to be special, but we really loved visiting it so much. There were so many beds, extra pack n plays and high chairs…things that you need, but don’t need to bring. We would love to come back and stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

B F.

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

We had a great time!

A beautiful home in a gorgeous location! What a view! We had a great time staying here on our girls weekend. :)
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andy S.

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

Big chill weekend

College friends for 37 years (4 couples) - great place to relax, laugh and enjoy marvelous views and conversations. The views from the large deck are amazing and plenty of room for all of us. Large open kitchen with everything you could need and amazing dinner table. We will be back!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Cynthia V.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Galena weekend

The property and views are beautiful. There is plenty of space for a large group and the back deck is wonderful for grilling and socializing. I thought the master bath was a bit odd - very tight, nowhere to put anything, and very outdated. The kitchen was large and good for cooking but we had to wash many items before using as they were just not clean. Overall, a good vacation home but a bit more dated than I was expecting, given the price and 5 stars. I will say that the owners were extremely attentive, even coming out on Father's day to put in a new air conditioner when the old one broke down and temps were hot and humid and the inside temperature was reaching 80 degrees. The pool table and TV area in the basement were a bonus for the rainy days/nights.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Amy A.

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

Galena Girls Birthday Trip 2023

The house and views are beautiful! It’s a very unique property set down into a wooded area with views of the lake. It’s very well appointed, clean, charming and comfortable. This is a perfect house for friends and family to meet as there are many bedrooms and places to hang out together. There are only 2 and a half bathrooms but they are set up in a way that made it pretty easy for multiple women to get ready. This is an older house so with the charm also comes a couple negatives like no central air and some creaking. There are air conditioners in the main rooms which cooled everything except a couple of the back bedrooms downstairs which got a little warm. Put the morning people in those back bedrooms downstairs under the kitchen because once people are up walking around, you can really hear the creaking. But overall, this was a great place to stay and we hope to come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Haleigh S.

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

Perfect family getaway location

This is an amazing property and we felt very lucky to have gotten to stay here. The views are incredible, and the house is very spacious. Many reviews mentioned the lack of central A/C, so we were prepared to be hot during a summer weekend in the mid 80s and high humidity, but there wasn't a moment where the house temps were uncomfortable at all. The wall unit is more than sufficient. I'd recommend booking activities well in advance. If you're not familiar, Galena is super busy in the summer and there were a few things we wanted to do that we couldn't because they were booked. My only 4 star rating is for speed of communication. Most of the time Stephanie back to us within an hour or two away, but it did take a couple of days for her to reply to a question about boat rentals that we asked because online info is sparse. If we had gotten her message sooner, we may have been able to rent one during our stay. One other thing to note, if you're not an early riser and you're traveling with people that are, I would recommend being strategic about which room you're in. The basement rooms under the kitchen are *loud* in the morning because of the floors are creaking in the kitchen from people walking around. The only thing that blocked out the sound was noise-cancelling airpods with white noise playing. Overall, we loved it and would recommend the place to anyone traveling with a big group that will appreciate the views and character of the house.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jordyn V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This home is the definition of charm - so many little details and the decor is wonderful. The home is about a 10-15 minute drive into Galena, which worked out really well for our group. We loved the convenience of being only a short drive away while still being in a peaceful neighborhood with a wonderful view of the lake. There is no central A/C in the home, but that wasn't a problem for us as the provided unites kept the home comfortable for us. We closed the blinds when we left during the day which helped keep the great room cool. We especially loved the large dining table - perfect for group dinners and to play games around. We would definitely book this property again for another girls weekend if we ever come back to the Galena area.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay at this property. We would absolutely stay again. Four friends, and it was the perfect mix of togetherness and privacy (with each of us having a room, plus three bathrooms). The house feels privately nestled away in a forested area, with a sweet burbling fountain out front, and we saw turkeys and deer. :). We enjoyed long evenings on the back deck overlooking the lake, or in the great room relaxing on the big couches. The dining room table was perfect for meals at one end and we actively worked a jigsaw at the other. The large kitchen was well stocked for meals, and coffee in the morning. It’s a lovely, old-world-style chalet, close enough to Galena for shopping and dining but far enough way to serve as a sanctuary. Our host was quick to answer questions and highly courteous and accommodating. You can’t go wrong staying here.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Amber E.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Stephanie L.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Poorly Maintained Property/Dangerous Deck

Beautiful view, nice house interior wise and has a lot of potential. However, the outdoor space is completely not maintained. The deck was dangerous with rotting deck boards, detached/ rotting safety railings, exposed nails in the deck boards/railings with mold and algae on outdoor furniture. There were rodent droppings on the deck (that we had to sweep away) as well as on the furniture inside of the sunroom. The sunroom was filthy and dusty, it was evident the tables had not been wiped down in a very long time as well as the floors. There were a lot of safety hazards from the upstairs deck to the leaking fridge, we were constantly wiping up water off the floors to ensure no one fell. The owner was aware that there was an issue with the fridge from the time we arrived and told us that the fridge is known to have issues. She said she would have someone come to maintenance the fridge the following day as it was leaking and not reaching a cool temperature; we were not followed up with and no one came to maintenance the fridge. There was a slow drain in the master bath, which my brother slipped and fell in the shower and as a result, scratched up his back on the stone wall. The outside was also full of weeds and did not overall reflect the images shown in the listing. Just overall a very disappointing experience.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lauren W.

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

Friends at the Galena Chalet

My friends and I had an incredible time at the Galena Chalet! This property and all of the gorgeous surrounding views felt like a fairytale. The accommodations were perfect and comfortable. We all had so much fun, the only thing missing was a longer stay! Next time :)
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danielle P.

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

100% recommend

We travel to Galena as a family/friend group and it was our first time staying at this property. Stephanie was an amazing property manager! She was very accommodating and a great communicator! Upon walking down the front steps, you immediately feel as if you’re walking into a French cottage. It’s straight out of a storybook! The decks were huge with gorgeous views of the lake. The home felt so quant and cozy.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Satya T.

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

Great location & house. Very clean and very well stocked.

Stayed for a large family gathering, with teens and adults. Had a memorable experience. Host also helped us get into boating club nearby. Very clean and very well stocked to meet all needs.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Allison E.

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

Perfect Bachelorette Getaway

I enjoyed my Bachelorette weekend with my best girls in this beautiful house. It's just outside Galena with scenic views. We even saw an air-balloon float past. It was perfect for all of us to cook together and watch movies and celebrate my upcoming marriage
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

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

Absolute Gem

This property was so beautiful inside and out. Truly such a unique home with views unlike anything I’ve seen in the Midwest. Stephanie was a great and prompt communicator who was very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

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

A Christmas To Remember

We had the most spectacular week ever! The Chalet is just so amazing in so many ways. Breathtaking views, immaculate inside, and everything that you can think of is there. (or at least that’s how we felt) We even brought sleds for our grandkids, but they already had them there. Stephanie responded quickly to our questions and even had people shoveling and salting the driveway and sidewalks for us the day we left after the snow. My grandson even said he would give us his Christmas money so that we can come again!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joseph P., Frankfort

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

Galena Thanksgiving

Amazing property with a stunning view of Lake Galena from the house! We had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend! The town of Galena is only 10 minutes away and is a very charming town. We will be staying there again soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rick M.

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

Amazing Views

Great place to spread out and enjoy the territory. Stephanie was very responsive and very accommodating.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

B R.

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

Mini family reunion

We used the Galena Chalet as a meeting place for our mini reunion. The house was prefect for our party of 6 adults and two children. The amenities were perfect. Thank you for sharing your property with us. oh and can’t forget to mention the view and the decks. BEAUTIFUL!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Don D.

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

Great time!

The house was clean and comfortable and the view was fantastic. The area had a lot to offer.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Megan C.

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

Bachelorette weekend

This stay was perfect. we have already recommended it for other groups in the area!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Tara W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Beautiful, but

The view at Galena Chalet is gorgeous every time you look at it, there’s no doubt! But we were there in August so an old home + hot weather = mustiness and a bad mix for anyone with allergies. Probably not an issue if you plan to stay in cooler months! That being said, spacious and very pretty.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Terry S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

family reunion

beautiful setting
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Stephanie Galambos

Host profile image
Short Stay Chicago began renting professionally furnished rentals in 2005. We have homes in Chicago and the Galena Territory. We hope that you will rent with us - and allow us to provide you with enjoyable accommodations for your short stay.

Why they chose this property

Nestled deep in the woods, the Galena Chalet is situated on three acres overlooking spectacular vistas of Lake Galena. Perfect place for bird & eagle watching, a dinner party, snow sledding, golfing, tennis, a girls spa trip, a bridal or baby shower, birthday celebration, antiquing, or a family/friends getaway retreat.

What makes this property unique

Hammock, hiking, bird-watching, biking

Languages:

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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