Cabin

dr John's rustic retreat

Photo gallery for dr John's rustic retreat

A lakeside view with a bench and chairs, surrounded by trees.
A room with a large window overlooking a lake, a swing, and a picnic table.
A small cabin with a red exterior, a front door, and a window with a lit lamp inside.
A cozy room with a dining table, chairs, a sofa, and a coffee table.
A cozy room with a wooden ceiling, a ceiling fan, a dining table with chairs, a sofa with cushions, and large windows offering a view of trees.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Garden

Explore the area

View map
Gordon, WI
  • Place, Leader Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Whitefish Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Pickerel Lake
    ‪9 min walk‬

Where you'll sleep

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Garden

About this property

dr John's rustic retreat

*Please note we rent Friday to Friday* Looking for a beautiful, private, lakefront cabin to recharge your batteries? Look no further! Our family has enjoyed summers at our family cabin, on beautiful Leader Lake since 1959, and now we would like to share it with you! Located in Gordon, WI, just 40 minutes from Duluth, MN and a two and a half hour drive from the twin cities, our cabin is the perfect place for families or a couples retreat, to enjoy your summer vacation.

Property Information:
This rustic retreat is located on 8 acres of lakefront property. There is a small beach, private dock, raft and access to a small 4 person pontoon boat, 2 canoes, and a paddle-boat. Enjoy fishing, swimming, tanning on the dock, hikes along our private trails, or reading a book on our family size screened porch! Fall asleep listening to the wind rustling the leaves, the night calls of the loons, or the water lapping at the shoreline. Plenty of wildlife to observe and endless bird watching.

The cabin has a large living room with fireplace, full kitchen, full bath (washer/ dryer), two bedrooms fully enclosed, one bedroom at the end of the screened-in porch, a playroom/office, and a family size screened in porch with sitting and dining areas facing the lake. There is a guest cabin for 2 located 100 yards from the main house, perfect for couples looking for a little more privacy.

Leader Lake is a 160-acre lake that has a maximum depth of 56 feet and has a hard sand shoreline. For the fishermen, our lake is home to northern pike, walleye, large mouth bass, and panfish. The lake has limited public access so it remains pristine and private.

Amenities:
- Wi-Fi
- DirectTV with DVR
- Free local calls
- Washer/Dryer
- Dishwasher
- Printer
- Small Pontoon Boat
- 2 person canoe
- Canoe for 1
- Paddleboat
- Weekly Outdoor Music Concerts in the neighboring town of Solan Springs
- Close proximity to fishing day trips down the St. Croix and Brule rivers

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
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

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1407988vb
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Gordon

Located in Gordon, this cabin is in a rural area and on a lake. While the natural beauty of Leader Lake and Whitefish Lake can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can head to Black Bear Golf Course.
View more Cabin rentals in GordonOpens in a new window
Map
Gordon, WI

What's nearby

  • Leader Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Whitefish Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Pickerel Lake - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Pattison State Park - 53 min drive - 78.8 km
  • St. Croix Casino Danbury - 58 min drive - 76.5 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Bootleggers - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Circle Pines - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Golden Chipmunk - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Pogo's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Lookout - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is dr John's rustic retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at dr John's rustic retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at dr John's rustic retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at dr John's rustic retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is dr John's rustic retreat located?

Situated on a lake, this cabin is steps away from Leader Lake and Whitefish Lake. Pickerel Lake is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

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. 27 out of 29 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 29 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 29 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 29 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic Cabin with great history loved this place!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We love this property and have had five stays there. Though in a popular vacation area in Wisconsin, the cabin is quite private, it's lready generous territory further buffered by the fishery land preserve next to it. The separate little cabin and the pontoon boat are great bonuses. The sandy beach is freat for kids and adults. As we've noted in previous reviews, everything about the rental is wonderful. And the housekeeper is a phone call away if you need anything. We hope to return next summer.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Classic old-school Up North cabin vibe. Very peaceful lake and property. A great way to unwind in the Northwoods. Loved the massive, screened porch. Excellent communication with host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place for family

Perfect place to get away, connect with nature & make lasting memories with family.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect place to relax

Easy, straightforward check in. Loved the screen porch! We had the best weather, caught lots of fish and relaxed to our hearts content.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Picturesque Peaceful Paradise

In love with every aspect of this place. I would of loved growing up here. Words cant express how much we all enjoyed our stay. Thank you!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We are repeaters at Dr John's and can't imagine staying anywhere else in Northern WI. The property is secluded, the territory well kept, the cabin amazingly appointed and with everything you need to cook, relax, and have fun. Plus there is a great compact pontoon boat with a trawling motor. And the housekeeper maintains 5-star cleanliness and is accessible if you need help. A simply amazing place we've already reserved for next season.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

family vacation

This is a beautiful property and lake. Its very private and the beach is perfect for little kids. It doesnt get deep for aways. I would highly recommend this property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
The place was basically filthy but large the bedroom situation was bad the beds were not very comfortable the lake was beautiful
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great northern getaway!

The property was well cared for and had everything we needed. Loved the screened porch! We had 4 adults and 4 kids and the space was plenty roomy for us. The beach area was clean, water very clear. The kids had a blast jumping off the pier and raft! Booking, check in were seamless.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A really nice place on a quiet lake

A nice cabin, stocked with just about anything needed such as bed linens, kitchen linens, bathing linens and supplies. Plenty of dishes and glasses and silverware. A small pontoon powered by an electric motor that did okay for four adults. Rustic charm, deers in the area along with lions and good fishing of largemouth bass and northern pike.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Private Beautiful Setting

We enjoyed our stay, in particular we used the screened in porch for reading, playing games and doing puzzles. The location is very private and it feels like you have the whole bay area for yourself due to the DNR land adjacent. If you want a traditional north woods cabin experience this has all of the feature you can expect. The pontoon is easy to use. You feel like you are at a home not a resort.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The Gem of Douglas County WI

This was our second stay at Dr. John's, and we have already reserved for next year. It is hands-down the best VRBO rental in Northern Wisconsin that we have stayed at over the past six years. The cabin is rustic but with all the creature comforts, including excellent Wifi and Internet service and a very well equipped kitchen with dishwasher. The housekeeper does a terrific job preparing the place for new guests; the approach to the swimming area is sandy and down a short flight of stairs to water that was remarkably algae-free for late August. Fishing is great, and we enjoyed using the electric-motor-powered pontoon boat. All in all just a wonderful experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Absolutely wonderful lake cabin in the woods

This was our third stay (see earlier reviews) in four years, and we're planning a fourth stay later this summer. Dr. John's is the rarest of finds: private, quiet, very clean, well-appointed with just about anything you might need (see the impressive list of amenities). The shoreline is sandy and graduated for swimming; the pontoon boat--great for outings on the lake or fishing. Wifi works well, supporting multiple devices and streaming; the fireplace is well-stocked with dried wood; kitchen is immaculate, with lots of implements, pots and pans, and devices; beds are very comfortable, the screen porch provides great views without bugs, and there are lots of books, games, and puzzles. Excellent communication with owners, and the housekeeper-manager (Lorraine) is available nearby, should you need help. All in all just a wonderful place that we hope to return to again and again.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Get Away....

We loved our visit. We were looking for a remote, rustic retreat and found the PERFECT spot. We arrived and were greated by a family of Deer by the little cabin. We watched wildlife, fished, hiked, boated, canoed, watched the water and the most incredible star show - and left the world behind us. Found everything we needed (and more) in the Cabin. Loved listening to the loons in the morning and at night. Truly Magical. Fun family dinners, card games and quiet reading on the screen porch. Just perfect. Already planning a trip back. Thank you for sharing your wonderul family home. You can tell it was full of love and laughter. The Deutscher's
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful Get-Away

Thank you Edson family for sharing your peaceful nature retreat with us. Communication was very prompt and personable. Description of this property is spot on. We very much enjoyed canoeing Leader Lake as well as Bond Lake via the passage. One day we rented a canoe and paddled the beautiful Brule, a 45 minute drive from the cabin. Our evening pontoon excursions were highlights. The moonlight on the water, the views from the Grandparents' Bench, daily visits from our deer friends, the warm wind in the trees.... all in all a wonderfully relaxing week. Internet was great but we found we didn't use it much. If you enjoy simple living and peace and quiet, this special place will feel like heaven to you!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 6 September 2021
Thank you Karen. So glad you enjoyed our cabin and lake and boats. Hope to see you next year. Margie
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The Perfect Rustic Cabin Experience

For their favorite vacations some family’s run for the beach while others seek out the sites of the big cities or busy amusement parks. My family and I tend to always land on a lake some where looking to check all of the same boxes: - Clean lake - Good quiet “coffee drinking dock” - Clean and comfortable living space - Some fun local towns to explore - Ability to relax around a fire This wonderful family cabin checked all of our boxes exactly as we needed it too. The history of the cabin is easy to see through family photos on the walls...a history that left me wishing I could have met the guy in those pictures responsible for creating such an amazing place for his family to enjoy. After looking at the photos close, I honestly felt honored to be staying in the cabin he built. Our quite mornings paddling the canoe around the crystal clear lake...sipping our coffee and following the loons was truly heaven on earth for my wife and I.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It's a beautiful large older cabin that has a lodge like feel to it. Stepping back in time was refreshing. 9 year old granddaughter was fascinated that there's a landline phone. LOL Very nice updated kitchen and bathroom and newer appliances. Plenty of books, games and puzzles to enjoy indoors. Everything you might need or forgot to bring is there.Outdoors was paradise. The lake views are perfect especially being surrounded with pines and oak trees. Beach, dock, pontoon were all we needed to enjoy the lake.Our dog is anxious with being around too much activity so this was good for him with nice trails to walk on.Highly recommend if you're looking for a peaceful vacation spot. We will be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay. This property is everything one would want in a cabin! Beautiful property, lovely 3 seasons porch, boats included in the rental, plenty of bedrooms, a large and well appointed kitchen, fire pit, everything you need! We saw tons of wildlife and explored the nearby towns and Duluth. The home was comfortable, with plenty of linens and towels and games/puzzles. The fishing was great! We would love to come back someday!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved this place! Juliette was very helpful!Lorraine was always willing to do what ever she could to make our stay awesome! We had a storm the first night and lost some trees. We were blocked in. The sunroom flooded because off all the rain. I texted Lorrainne around 8 p.m. She came out to help. And the maintenance people came out around 9 p.m.to cut the trees off of the drive. The only thing that could have been better is if we could have got our boat in the lake. The guys are fishermen and they like to get up early in the morning and take their boats out. It's not the owner's fault that we couldn't put our boats in the water. The lake was down alot so there was not enough water at the ramps. Thank you so much for making our stay great!! We love your place!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We absolutely loved Dr. John’s Rustic Retreat. It has such a classic lake house vibe it reminded me of my Grandfather’s lake house growing up. The fishing was excellent and having 4 boats to choose from made it perfect for exploring the lake or fishing off the pontoon boat. We swam in the lake everyday and since it is a private lake you don’t need to worry about boaters taking you out or over crowding. The property is 8 acres and completely private. Great place for peace and quiet. Plus they had a bunch of trails running around the property to explore. The area around leader lake is super cool with lots of 4 wheeling and snowmobiling trails. There are also serval bars and restaurants in the area. The house is well stocked with board games, puzzles and tons of books for raining days. We would definitely stay again. Even though the cottage is named after Dr. John the family’s grandfather. We were jamming to Dr. John music all week.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Secluded

Property is located right on the lake. Enough tree coverage that you feel very isolated and secluded. A lot of privacy. Weather did no cooperate for swimming but great fishing. This was the third year that we have stayed here and it gets better every time.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cousin Gathering

Since I was unable to go to the cabin with my cousins due to my husband being injured (deer/motorcycle crash) I can't give you an assessment but I believe they enjoyed your cabin and the setting. I will see if one of the cousins is willing to respond. Doris
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A Week to Remember

Our group has done a series of stays at cabins in the area, but our usual haunts are now overpriced, so we were looking for a more economical destination. Everything about our stay was first-class: the housecleaning is meticulous; the kitchen decently supplied with a slew of devices and instruments and, thankfully, no leftovers from previous guests; the beach is perfect for all ages; the equipment--from life jackets to games--is exceptional; the fishing fantastic (at least in early-mid June), and the owners responsive. We didn't use the little "cabin for two," but it looked wonderful. And the territory is surrounded by DNR properties so there are no neighbors within hearing range or sight. Best of all, a very basic but excellent pontoon boat with a rechargeable electric motor comes with the cabin, and we used it daily. Suggestions: The cabin has been built up in stages, consequently the floor plan is a bit non-traditional, with the bathroom serving as a hub with three different entrances. A floor plan online would definitely help people figure out whether this arrangement will work for them: for us it was perfect. Also, the inner rooms get little direct sunlight, so we kept lights on more than we wanted, but light bulbs are cheaper and greener than air conditioning, and the cabin is excellently ventilated and pleasantly cool even at midday thanks precisely to the lack of direct sunlight. Also, this is Northern Wisconsin, so be prepared to check for ticks in June and July especially and insist that the grass is cut as low as possible (general advice for any cabin up north). Finally, we are accustomed to finding instructions and not having to search through drawers and closets to find basic things like the remote for the smart tv. We had to ask for departure instructions. We're experienced renters; we already know the routines. But less experienced renters could use more information and could be timid about asking owners to supply same after arrival. All in all , though, it was a great place, and we could imagine returning.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peace and serenity

We loved it. Soooooooo quiet. We could have a fire every night. We lived on the porch. We enjoyed the short hiking paths in the woods. We hope we can do it again. Problems: no propane, dirty coffee pot with mold. Need information on battery life of the little pontoon. It did storm and we were not sure about the porch curtains. The floating dock broke lose during the storm and we dragged it to the shore.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

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