A Diamond in the Rough

Photo gallery for A Diamond in the Rough

A two-story house with a deck, outdoor seating, and a small pool.
A dining table with a white vase of flowers, a large wall clock, and a television mounted on the wall.
A room with a ceiling fan, a desk with a computer, a small black ottoman, and a potted plant.
A red wooden cabin with a white door, a window, and an American flag.
A dining area with a wooden table, chairs, and a ceiling fan.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • 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.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Ski lift privileges
  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Fox Lake, IL
  • Place, Fox Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Nippersink Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Jet Funn
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Airport, Chicago, IL (PWK-Chicago Executive)
    ‪54 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, boating, paddle boarding or kayaking and in winter snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. A boat slip to dock your boat, 2 kayaks & 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 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 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. Or, the Volo Museum which has a vast collection of classic, custom and movie cars including The Fast and Furious, Knight Rider and Blues Brothers.
Walking distance to Dingy’s for an ice cold beer, a Dingy burger or sloppy joes and homemade chips-and or El Puerto restaurant for an awesome Margarita and fajitas.
A Thursday night “Thunder on the Chain” to watch thrilling drag boat racing with Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association at Blarney’s Island - “The Greatest Boating Bar in the World” known for live music and is a major destination for summer.

*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!

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Young children must be properly supervised.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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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

Property # 3950258
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

Fox Lake

Located in Fox Lake, this cottage is near theme parks and on a lake. Hunter Country Club and Steeple Chase 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. Volo Bog State Natural Area and Kenosha County Fairgrounds are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
Map
Fox Lake, IL

What's nearby

  • Fox Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Nippersink Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Jet Funn - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Pistakee Lake - 2 min drive - 1.4 km
  • Six Flags Great America - 28 min drive - 30.1 km

Getting around

  • Fox Lake Station - 3 min drive
  • Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A Diamond in the Rough pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at A Diamond in the Rough?

As of 22 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A Diamond in the Rough on 28 September 2026 start from NZ$1,598, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at A Diamond in the Rough?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A Diamond in the Rough?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Diamond in the Rough?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Diamond in the Rough located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is within a 5-minute walk of Fox Lake and Nippersink Lake. Jet Funn and Pistakee Lake are also within 1 mile (2 km). Fox Lake Station is 20 minutes by foot.

About the host

Hosted by Jim & Rosemarie Nilson

Host profile image
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.

Languages:

English

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