Entire home
A Diamond in the Rough
Photo gallery for A Diamond in the Rough





Reviews
9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms 1 bathroom Sleeps 6 80.7 sq m
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Fox Lake, IL
- Jet Funn11 min walk
- Chain 'O Lakes State Park11 min drive
- Volo Auto Museum13 min drive
- Chicago, IL (PWK-Chicago Executive)51 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining area
About this property
A Diamond in the Rough
This diamond in the rough is a cozy 2 bedroom cottage perfect for a weekend getaway, family vacation or a romantic retreat. This great escape will provide you with a little piece of paradise while giving you the feeling and comfort of home! And because pets are family too, we welcome them; but must be cleared with the owners first. No cats please, as the owners are allergic.
This adorable cottage is nestled on a quiet residential street behind the main home. Water, pier and boat slip access are only steps away by walking down the lighted path on the side of the main home where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating; and in winter snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. A boat slip to dock your boat and 3-person canoe & 2 paddle boards are available at no extra charge your use. The cottage is fully air conditioned and heated with ceiling fans in bedrooms, kitchen and living room; making it perfect for year-round suitability.
When staying in this home away from home, you can start off your morning soaking up a little fresh air out on the front porch enjoying a cup of freshly brewed Starbucks Verona coffee. After an eventful day exploring all the Chain of Lakes has to offer, both bedrooms have queen size beds with 700 thread count linens and overstuffed pillows for your sleeping comfort. For those less than stellar weather days, cozy on the oversized leather sofa or kick up your feet on the reclining chair in the living room where you can also partake in some viewing enjoyment on the 40” LED television equipped with Xfinity TV or enjoy your favorite DVD by popping it into the DVD player. Feeling a little competitive? Stroll on over the utility closet where you can find several different board and card games to partake in. Secured WiFi internet access is also available. A little hungry? Quickly whip something up on the gas stove in the kitchen that is furnished with all appliances, utensils and dinnerware for your convenience, including an expandable kitchen island. Want make it a BBQ instead? Head outside to your own private patio to access the gas grill.
Your home away from home oasis is:
30 minutes to Six Flags Great America Amusement Park, where you can also make a stop into Gurnee Mall for some shopping
Walking distance to Fams for an ice cold beer and great steak or fish tacos or El Puerto restaurant for an awesome Margarita.
A Thursday night away from watching some thrilling drag boat racing at Blarney’s Island
A Sunday morning away from having an award winning Bloody Mary at Studio Roadhouse.
A click away from access to seeing some amazing live bands
*Staying with us again? Ask about our Preferred Guest Benefits. *
Ask about our discount for Great Lakes Naval Base boot camp graduations.
We look forward to sharing a little piece of paradise with you soon. Cheers!
This adorable cottage is nestled on a quiet residential street behind the main home. Water, pier and boat slip access are only steps away by walking down the lighted path on the side of the main home where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating; and in winter snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. A boat slip to dock your boat and 3-person canoe & 2 paddle boards are available at no extra charge your use. The cottage is fully air conditioned and heated with ceiling fans in bedrooms, kitchen and living room; making it perfect for year-round suitability.
When staying in this home away from home, you can start off your morning soaking up a little fresh air out on the front porch enjoying a cup of freshly brewed Starbucks Verona coffee. After an eventful day exploring all the Chain of Lakes has to offer, both bedrooms have queen size beds with 700 thread count linens and overstuffed pillows for your sleeping comfort. For those less than stellar weather days, cozy on the oversized leather sofa or kick up your feet on the reclining chair in the living room where you can also partake in some viewing enjoyment on the 40” LED television equipped with Xfinity TV or enjoy your favorite DVD by popping it into the DVD player. Feeling a little competitive? Stroll on over the utility closet where you can find several different board and card games to partake in. Secured WiFi internet access is also available. A little hungry? Quickly whip something up on the gas stove in the kitchen that is furnished with all appliances, utensils and dinnerware for your convenience, including an expandable kitchen island. Want make it a BBQ instead? Head outside to your own private patio to access the gas grill.
Your home away from home oasis is:
30 minutes to Six Flags Great America Amusement Park, where you can also make a stop into Gurnee Mall for some shopping
Walking distance to Fams for an ice cold beer and great steak or fish tacos or El Puerto restaurant for an awesome Margarita.
A Thursday night away from watching some thrilling drag boat racing at Blarney’s Island
A Sunday morning away from having an award winning Bloody Mary at Studio Roadhouse.
A click away from access to seeing some amazing live bands
*Staying with us again? Ask about our Preferred Guest Benefits. *
Ask about our discount for Great Lakes Naval Base boot camp graduations.
We look forward to sharing a little piece of paradise with you soon. Cheers!
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Have a question?
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Similar properties

Beautiful Cora Cottage on Fox Lake/Chain O'Lakes with 40 Ft. Private Boat Pier.
Beautiful Cora Cottage on Fox Lake/Chain O'Lakes with 40 Ft. Private Boat Pier.
- Kitchen
- Washer
- Dryer
- Pet-friendly
10.0 out of 10, (90 reviews)
House Rules
Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Young children must be properly supervised.
Events
No events allowed
Pets
Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Smoking
Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Do not throw butts on ground or in lake.
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
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
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Fox Lake
Located in Fox Lake, this cottage is near theme parks and on a lake. Parrot's Cove Marina and Hunter Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Six Flags Great America and Jet Funn. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Wilmot Raceway or Tempel Lipizzans. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Fox Lake, IL
What's nearby
- Jet Funn - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
- Chain 'O Lakes State Park - 11 min drive - 8.8 km
- Volo Auto Museum - 13 min drive - 11.9 km
- Gurnee Mills - 27 min drive - 25.2 km
- Six Flags Great America - 30 min drive - 28.4 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- McDonald's - 4 min drive
- Antioch Pizza Shop - 4 min drive
- Whistle Stop Cafe - 3 min drive
- Black Lung Brewing Company Fox Lake - 12 min walk
- El Puerto Mexican Restaurant - 4 min walk
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Jim & Rosemarie Nilson

A love of boating, fishing and the outdoors has been embedded in us from our youth. I spent my teenage years on the Chain water skiing and boating with my family. Jim and I opted to live where we had many happy memories, where people are friendly and life is exciting and fun -- the Chain O’Lakes. We feel truly blessed to be able to live in a vibrant and historic community and most importantly, to be close to those that matter most – our family and friends.
Why they chose this property
Why Escape to Fox Lake?
The Village of Fox Lake is a vibrant community rich with history, wonderful people and just a short distance from many delightful attractions, such as:
• Chain O’Lakes State Park
• Downtown Chicago
• Great America
• Gurnee Mills
• Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
• Volo Auto Museum
• Wilmot Mountain
Fox Lake is part of the Chain O’Lakes that is comprised of 10 connecting lakes – Bluff, Catherine, Channel, Fox, Grass, Marie, Nippersink, Petite, Pistakee, Redhead as well as the Fox River. The Chain O’Lakes provides year round enjoyment for boating, fishing, snowmobiling, bird watching and ice fishing. In addition, the Chain O'Lakes allows for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities with special events throughout the summer sponsored by local businesses, including boat races, fishing tournaments, Venetian night, fireworks and live musical performances. Your Great Escape is just minutes from downtown Fox Lake – and moments from great memories.
The Village of Fox Lake is a vibrant community rich with history, wonderful people and just a short distance from many delightful attractions, such as:
• Chain O’Lakes State Park
• Downtown Chicago
• Great America
• Gurnee Mills
• Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
• Volo Auto Museum
• Wilmot Mountain
Fox Lake is part of the Chain O’Lakes that is comprised of 10 connecting lakes – Bluff, Catherine, Channel, Fox, Grass, Marie, Nippersink, Petite, Pistakee, Redhead as well as the Fox River. The Chain O’Lakes provides year round enjoyment for boating, fishing, snowmobiling, bird watching and ice fishing. In addition, the Chain O'Lakes allows for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities with special events throughout the summer sponsored by local businesses, including boat races, fishing tournaments, Venetian night, fireworks and live musical performances. Your Great Escape is just minutes from downtown Fox Lake – and moments from great memories.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback