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Country Retreat Nestled in Wooded Valley

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My home in the forest
Exterior
summer's gardens
Spring lilacs blooming
Misty spring day

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Spring Grove, MN
  • Beaver Creek Valley State Park
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Houston Nature Center
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • La Crosse Center
    ‪49 min drive‬
  • La Crosse, WI (LSE-La Crosse Municipal)
    ‪51 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed

Jesse's Room- bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Master Bedroom 1

1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 2 Cribs

Meadow's Room-bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Country Retreat Nestled in Wooded Valley

This spacious home is nestled in a wooded clearing, giving you privacy and delight in the life of the forest surrounding you. The birdfeeder has flocks of birds visiting all year with delightful variety! We offer all the comforts of home since we also come here for our haven getaway. We have collected art, antiques and nature treasures. Enjoy reading my son's journal of the beavers living in the valley with maps of the dams and lodges!
Red Oak post and beam construction have created an open kitchen, dining room and comfortable living room. A separate family room offers an extensive library and entertainment center plus another sleeping area for 2 with use of downstairs bathroom. Large windows and a sun room give views of perennial gardens, bird traffic to the bird feeder and bath, cheeky chipmunks and squirrels running on the garden fence and silent deer. Sunlight warms the golden hues of the oak floors, wainscoting, furniture and butternut cabinets. The heated sunporch offers a lush jungle of flowering plants and herbs year round.
3 bedrooms upstairs and a hall space have beds for 8, dressers and closets. (one large bedroom has a queen and king bed in it.) An upstairs bathroom has a claw foot tub for a cozy soak.
Because we are opening our home to you with so many personal touches, we ask that you don't come here for a drinking party weekend.
The yard offers a picnic table and lawn chairs, a badminton net, a stone fire pit for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs and relaxing by the fire's glow in the dark forest with its night sounds. There is a charcoal grill. In season, the garden may have tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, peppers. The yard and grassy clearings in the woods have scrumptious wild berries to pick; red raspberries, strawberries, black caps mid summer and big blackberries in August and September. You can see eagles and hawks soaring above and in the spring and fall, flocks of geese pass over with their plaintive honks.
Explore West Beaver Valley. Hike dry runs for crystal rocks, fossils and hidden waterfalls cut deep in the rock. Climb the bluffs to rock outcroppings with caves and wild inhabitants! Follow West Beaver Creek, rich with rare songbirds, herons, kingfishers, a mallard hiding her ducklings in the weeds. Wade or be brave and swim in a deep refreshing pool! Hike the mowed trails in Beaver Park. Take a tour of historic Schech's Mill and buy cornmeal or buckwheat flour, all within a mile!

Property manager

Lynn Selness
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please leave shoes in the entry. Sort your garbage into paper, recycle, trash and compost pail. Leave kitchen clean and dishes done.

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) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 16
This property uses solar and geothermal energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
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 and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Spring Grove

Located in Spring Grove, this holiday home is in a rural area. Bluff Country Artists Gallery and Peterson Station Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum and City Brewery. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Spring Grove, MN

What's nearby

  • Beaver Creek Valley State Park - 14 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Houston Nature Center - 17 min drive - 19.0 km
  • La Crosse Center - 49 min drive - 51.9 km
  • Oktoberfest Grounds - 51 min drive - 52.9 km
  • University of Wisconsin-La Crosse - 52 min drive - 53.7 km

Getting around

  • La Crosse, WI (LSE-La Crosse Municipal) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Good Times Restaurant & Bar - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Elsie's - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Wired Rooster - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Dq Grill & Chill - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Country Retreat Nestled in Wooded Valley pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Country Retreat Nestled in Wooded Valley ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Country Retreat Nestled in Wooded Valley ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Country Retreat Nestled in Wooded Valley located?

Set amidst the mountains, this ski-in/ski-out holiday home in Spring Grove is 1 mi (1.6 km) from Beaver Creek Valley State Park and is convenient for winter activities, such as cross-country skiing and sledging. Houston Nature Center and Root River are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 67 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Christopher W.

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

Great spot!

Perfect place for friends to gather for a relaxing weekend in the area. Lynn was a fantastic host and the stay was fantastic!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert N.

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

Beautiful spot in the woods

Absolutely wonderful place. The home, the location, all of it was great.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melanie N.

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

Peaceful Retreat

We were looking for a quiet and peaceful getaway and this property delivered. Definitely enjoyed the location. Woukd recommend to others.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Abbigail V.

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

Great Stay

Was a fantastic stay. It was beautiful and peaceful. Lynn was an amazing and so nice when greeting us. Definitely a very different lifestyle than I’m used to but very lovely stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie F.

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

Beautiful wooded retreat

The house was so homey and comfortable, most especially because it was lovingly built and lived in as a home. The woods were peaceful. We loved exploring the area and the land around the house.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Benjamin M.

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

Beautiful Setting

This comfortable, unique home afforded us a great getaway from the cities for the weekend with great access to bike trails, breweries, distilleries, and the mill. We enjoyed our time in the surrounding area as equally as our time playing family games and sitting in the woods last room at the house.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Lovely place in the woods

Beautiful, well appointed. One of the very best we’ve rented
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica L.

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

Perfect for a relaxing bachelorette party!

Clean, quaint, and relaxing. We loved sitting outside watching all the birds!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly D.

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

Quiet and relaxing

It was clean, beds we used were comfy, kichen is nicely equipped. We lucked out with the weather so we were outside a lot! Lots of gnats, zero mosquitos. Fire pit is awesome, lots of wood provided. There are a lot of garbage rules, hopefully we did it correctly.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Willa B.

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

Perfect Hideaway

Lynn's beautiful cabin and valley was just what my group of friends and I needed! There was a bit of adventure getting there (apparently, GPS can think there are roads where there are none, depending on which side you enter from), but a quick call, and we were sorted. We loved the house, and seeing all of the beautiful scenery surrounding it. While the weather didn't cooperate for us to do as much exploring as we would have liked, the house was perfect! Thank you so much, Lynn, for allowing us to gather in your little piece of paradise! amazing and adorable thingsentertained
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina G.

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

Beautiful house in the valley

Beautiful house in the valley, the discription of the place is accurate. I highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

M H.

Great Accommodation

The cabin in the woods offered all we needed for a Thanksgiving celebration with the five of us. Plus a piano (needs tuning) to boot. We had a great time and loved the surrounding hills. A trip to the Marine Arts Museum in Winona was the reason for selecting this location.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2015

10/10 Excellent

Amy K.

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

Beautiful, Remote location

The place was absolutely stunning. The gardens and grounds were beautiful and a great place to bird watch. We were conveniently about 40 min to LaCrosse to our boat rental and an easy ride in to close towns for a coffee and firewood. The kitchen was equipped with all of the flatware, utensils and cookware that we needed to cook our meals.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chloe F.

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

Quiet, beautiful, & functional

I was looking for a place that could house seven student field researchers, and that would have the space for all our gear, and the setup for cooking, laundry, and doing some computer work in the evenings. This was by far the most wonderful place we stayed. The house and surroundings are beautiful and peaceful, the layout of the spaces is well-thought out and very practical, and we were able to fit all of our people, all of our stuff, and all 4 of our vehicles. The house book is very helpful and detailed, with information about everything you might need to know. The plant room was a magical place to sit in the mornings and afternoons to read or just have some quiet time. We had a fantastic stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Betty E.

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

Quiet sanctuary

Lynn’s home is the perfect, secluded place in the valley. Easy to get to, close to activities such as hiking, fishing, bird watching etc. We visited the brewery and the distillery in Spring Grove. We sat around a camp fire. Just sitting in Lynn’s sunroom was wonderful. We will be back next spring!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Cade M.

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

Excellent Bluff Country Getaway

The house and property were full of country charm. The attached green house was my favorite place to sip on wine and read. The yard was very private and rustically beautiful with the wild flower gardens and many birds coming and going at the bird feeders. The bluff country is an awesome place to sightsee and explore. From the local Grist Mill to the Amish farms.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kris L.

A nature paradise in the woods.

My husband and I stayed here for a weekend get away and found the setting perfect for us. We are bird and nature lovers and we couldn't have asked for anything better. The sound of the birds have serenaded us continuously. We found plenty of activities in the area including biking, the National Owl Center, great dining and leisurely walks. We hope to return again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Karen S.

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

Peaceful birdwatching in the woods

This was a delightful home filled with interesting displays and comfortable antiques. It is not far from other houses, but the woods make it feel like you are in your own secluded get-away. The birds that visited the feeder were very entertaining. The only challenge was carrying luggage and supplies up the rough hewn stone steps from the parking to the house.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel P.

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

Family lodging for a nearby wedding

It was a very pleasant stay! Our family was able to go to Calendonia’s Good Times for a nice Friday night dinner upon getting into town. We woke up to a variety of pretty birds at the feeder, just outside the kitchen window. The atmosphere bathing you in the surrounding nature! We then went to the breakfast and a bakery in Caledonia for a pleasant morning, before visiting Ma Cal Grove for 9 holes of golf! Returning to the vrbo to prepare for a beautiful wedding with family and friends! Overall, a very enjoyable weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

J N.

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

Weekend in the woods

We (4 adults) enjoyed our stay at Lynn's property. The site was beautiful, wooded and restful - we loved watching the variety of birds arriving at the bird feeder outside of the dining room window and the doe and new fawn exploring the yard. The house was clean and pretty much as described, but had a musty odor. The kitchen was nicely equipped but the grill was locked in the garage so we were not able to use that. These concerns are small details because overall, we were quite happy with the property and would book it again if we are ever planning a trip to that area again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Roberto A.

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

Weekend Escape

This was a perfect place to get away from it all. Wow. Very secluded house in the woods. We loved it! We brought my mother who is sadly living her last few months and she enjoyed her peaceful stay. The house was as expected. It was inviting and cute. It did have a musty smell, but from reading the reviews that was expected in July. It didn't really bother us. There were enough places to sleep for everyone (9 people). We did hike in the woods nearby and took an afternoon trip to Beaver Creek State Park and took a nice cold dip in the creek. Lynn was quick to answer any of our questions. And I had a few to make sure everything would be fine for my mom. Overall, a very enjoyable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

David and Barb D.

Tranquil Country Home

We found this property to be very relaxing and peaceful. The big country kitchen had everything we needed and we were so glad to see some spices were there for our use as well. The weather wasn't conducive to walking outside but we enjoyed the view from within. The front steps are definitely treacherous and although add to the character of the home they were not very safe. The only other thing that we could suggest is to have hand soap in the bathrooms that was not watered down. Otherwise the beds were very comfortable and we have plenty of sleeping room for the 5 of us. We did get to chat with the caretaker as we were leaving so he gave us some history on the house and that was interesting. Thank you so much Lynn for sharing your home - it is simply lovely and we would come back at some point if we were to go to the area again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2017

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie A.

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

Nice stay in rustic country home

We had no surprises based on reading prior reviews and we had a lovely stay. The house had very nice shared spaces. The kids loved the outdoor space and the cows at the nearby mill were a big hit. The owner was super easy to work with. They also loved visiting the owls at the nearby town. The bedrooms require that you're friendly with everyone in your party. The hall twin is at the very top of the stairs. The queen room has a door. The king/queen room is at the end of the hall with no door. The twin room is inside the king/queen room and is more like an alcove. It worked out perfectly for our party but would have been cozy with additional families. The kitchen was well equipped – no microwave or dishwasher (not a problem, just awareness). Trash also has to be sorted because you’re in the middle of the country. We had a lovely getaway for a long weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Linda D.

Perfect location with some issues

The house was in a beautiful, rustic area and the owner was very nice. There are a lot of birds around the property which were very pretty to watch. • There are tons of extension cords plugged into extension cords running thru walls and up and across walls so fire safety was a concern. • The front steps are stacked stone and uneven so our elderly guests had difficulty on them and bring supplies in and out was tricky. • Minimal privacy upstairs as the large bedroom area has no door and one room with a door is only accessible by walking thru the open bedroom. • We had to stock our own tissues and toilet paper. • The first time we used the oven there was a lot of smoke when it warmed up and it set off the smoke alarms. The owner did not list the code so by the time we were able to contact her to get the code they had already dispatched the fire department which will cost us a significant amount. • There was no air conditioning which was hard for guests with allergies. • There were large spiders in the windows which made some of our party feel creepy. Maybe just power wash those away in the summer months would help. • There is a fire pit area but it was pretty unkempt and the wood available was not cut to be used and was all pretty wet.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tim S.

Charming Hide-away in the Woods

We were pleased beyond our expectations when we arrived at this beautiful country home nestled in the woods! The living room is very welcoming and spacious and is open to the roomy kitchen and dining nook. The sunroom was our favorite place - very cozy and woodsy and a haven in which to read, have some downtime, or just enjoy watching nature. We so enjoyed looking at all of the interesting pieces of antique decor throughout the home - they added charm and warmth and beauty to the atmosphere and many were similar to things we had at our house, which made it feel like home. It didn't take long for us to sense that this was a place where family was important and where love and memories abounded - God's presence was definitely felt there. The kitchen was fully stocked with all we needed for cooking our meals, and we also enjoyed some hot dogs outside in the fire ring. (It doesn't have a microwave, but we brought a little toaster oven along and did just fine with that and the nice, new oven). The bedrooms were all clean and nicely decorated and the master BR not having a door was easy to get use to - what a spacious, lovely room! The sun streaming in the large windows was just delightful!! All of our communication with the owner was very timely and pleasant. She was very thorough in providing information we needed for our stay and was so very accommodating. Lots of information about the house and local sites and attractions was found in the binder she had put together, which was helpful in deciding what to do each day. We especially enjoyed the Amish Tour via audio/CD - it provided good information about farms/places we'd want to go and ways to be respectful of the Amish when we would visit. And a mill nearby also sounded very interesting, but we ran out of time. We would HIGHLY recommend this lovely haven to all we know! We made our own good memories there and are excited for when we can return!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2016

About the host

Hosted by Lynn Selness

Host profile image
I'm Lynn. My childhood was spent in New Jersey and next I landed in the midwest where I married, had 7 children and lived for 25 years. In 1999 we all (13 of us then) moved to CA to run a bamboo nursery where the whole family could work together. We had a bunch of teens and early 20's kids by then, and we rented out our MN home. This went rough on my MN house so I reclaimed it and have been restoring it for some years now. Our CA experience was tough and I lost my husband, so I supported my 2 youngest children, Forest and Meadow, for 15 years. I established a goat dairy in the Santa Cruz Mountains where I still reside. I was so happy to be able to return to my MN home, I was always homesick for it in CA and now love coming back whenever I can escape the farmwork. Now I have 9 precious grandchildren in CA and 3 great-grandchildren, so I treasure my time there also.

Why they chose this property

Building our home was my heart's desire, to live in this scenic valley, the same wilderness valley I had first moved to in the state in 1976. I had lived near the source of West Beaver Creek surrounded by wooded hills with my baby Willow. Years later we had 5 children and bought 5 acres, cleared the house site and milled the oaks for our home in the “big woods”. I loved gathering limestone rock to terrace the hillside, build the steps, even the entry floor. From pouring the footings to shingling the roof, it was a creative work of joy with help from many friends. My last 2 children were born here and 2 grand daughters. We homesteaded for many years, raised the 7 children with our gardens, chickens and goats.

What makes this property unique

I hope you sense the tranquility and beauty of nature all around you here. The fragrances of the valley, the earthy dampness cooling the summer evenings, the magic of fireflies twinkling in the deepening woods shadows, the call of the whippoorwill, owls hoot to each other, the coyotes yelp, a lone cry of a wolf, all are spellbinding. Every season here is rich for me. I find God's voice speaking to me and refreshing my spirit in this place.
I love the friendly small town feeling of this community. They celebrate their Norwegian heritage with colorful holidays like Nordic Fest in Decorah, IA, Syttende Mai in Spring Grove, and their farm life with harvest festivals, Steam-engine Days, horse and tractor pulls. I love the cultural aspects, Shakespeare Festivals in WInona, La Crosse's Art and Music Festival, Riverfest, Lanesboro's plays, and my favorite, Spring Grove's outdoor Black Barn plays. I love visiting the Amish farms with their produce stands, maple syrup, furniture and basket shops and bakeries.
My family have always enjoyed the outdoor activities, bike trails, canoeing the Upper Iowa and the Root River, the Mississippi backwaters around the islands. There's a bird sanctuary near Alma where during migrations, swans, pelicans, Canada geese and Snow Geese gather in noisy flocks. There are little towns up and down the Mississippi for shopping, music, great restaurants, wine-tasting. My kids loved the caves near Harmony, where you climb deep into the earth, a little too deep for some of us! We never run out of fun things to do!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests