House in McGrath, MN

The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.

The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.

Photo gallery for The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.

The Cedar House of the Shire. View of the wraparound deck.
Dining
Living area
Property grounds
Walking on the Trails

Overview of The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.

Reviews
4.3 out of 5 Very good
5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12209 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

McGrath, MN
  • Popular LocationMille Lacs Lake23 min drive
  • Popular LocationFederal Correctional Institution, Sandstone50 min drive
  • Popular LocationGrand Casino Hinckley56 min drive
  • AirportBrainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)78 min drive

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Futon

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 5

+2
6 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.

It is built into a hill with the east and north sides facing into the forest and the other sides facing into an open southerly view. The main floor is vaulted and has a large, open kitchen with full size gas stove with oven, full refrigerator/freezer, coffee pot, crock pot, toaster oven, coffee grinder, and all the necessary utensils, pots and pans, and dinnerware to serve 15 or more. There is a large wooden dining table in the dining area off of the kitchen which seats 8. A small table in the kitchen seats 2 to 4. There are also three 6 foot folding tables and another 18 folding chairs to expand the dining area into the living room if you want, or you can take your meals outside during a beautiful Shire day or night. The north facing deck is accessible through the kitchen which allows convenient access to the grill. There are views out into the woods and Shire lawns.
The vaulted living room has a queen size futon couch located in front of the full, built-in fireplace so you can relax or sleep in perfect comfort. A rocking chair and a coffee table are also located in the living room. A south facing deck is accessible through a door behind the futon.
Also off of the living room, a stairs leads up to the lofted sleeping area. This large space has six single beds and another rocking chair. It overlooks the living room and kitchen. The space is partially lit by a skyway window. There is an air conditioner on this level for summertime use, and the east window faces out into the forest for a beautiful, elevated view.
As you venture further back into the house, you will encounter a full bathroom with a shower and a Jacuzzi tub and then 3 bedrooms. The first bedroom has a full size bed, and it has access to the wraparound east/north deck through a sliding glass door. This part of the deck faces out into the forest. The center bedroom also has a full size bed. The last bedroom has two single beds and a lofted bed. It also has a sliding glass door which leads out onto the wrap around east/north deck. This portion of the deck is screened in.
The lower level has a laundry room, a bathroom with a shower, a single car tuck-under garage, and two car tuck-under garage. There is table tennis and a dart board available in the smaller garage. The larger garage is used for the Shire’s maintenance equipment which we occasionally need access to. A CD player, two air conditioners, floor/table fans as well as ceiling fans, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor grill are also available.

Property manager

Michael Bonnette
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 1:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

Pets

Pets allowed: limit 1 total

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 77
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Mc Grath

Located in Mc Grath, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. While the natural beauty of Snake River and Kettle River can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can head to Moose Lake Golf Club. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Mille Lacs Lake - 23 min drive
  • Banning State Park - 32 min drive
  • Moose Lake State Park - 38 min drive
  • Federal Correctional Institution, Sandstone - 50 min drive
  • Grand Casino Hinckley - 56 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.?

Checkout is at 1:00 PM.

Where is The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches. located?

This family-friendly Mc Grath holiday home is located on a lake, 3.1 mi (5 km) from Snake River, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Kettle River and Mille Lacs Lake. Banning State Park and Rice Lake National Refuge are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

4.3

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 5 - Excellent. 5 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 5 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 2 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews" "

4.0/5

Cleanliness

4.8/5

Check-in

4.7/5

Communication

4.3/5

Location

4.3/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Mary V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Plenty of space
Our family: mom, dad and 4 grown children-2 with spouses, met here to celebrate a late Christmas. There were 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and living room large enough for all of us to play games in. Also, it was dog friendly so we could include our pets in the gathering. The owner used a snowmobile to mark hiking trails which was a great afternoon activity.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

5/5 Excellent

Anzhelika G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet place
A great place to take a break from the bustle of the city. I love farming life, walked along forest roads and met a big kind dog of the owners. I think if everything works out to be back for Christmas
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

3/5 Okay

Justin K.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness
Weekend Stay
Pros: Communication and flexibility with the property owners. Quiet stay, despite there being animals on the property. Great privacy. Cons: The “Cedar House” was not as well maintained as the photographs indicated. We did have one mouse also staying in the cabin with us. Something crawling and scratching in one of the bedroom walls for the majority of our stay. These things all aren’t a big deal to us; we understood that given the animals on the property, we could encounter these things. However, given the price we paid, we did wish there to be a little more attention to detail on the cosmetics of the rental. It isn’t a problem for us (we fully understand the amount of work the property owners and staff have put in to just maintain the property alone), but it may be a problem to others.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

5/5 Excellent

Malia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Flexible, friendly, and homey
We very much enjoyed our stay at "The Shire".... the land is portioned off with many cabins of different sizes. We wanted to get our small children used to camping in an easy way, so some of us slept in tents while some of the colder or rainy nights we stayed in the cabin. The kitchen was very well supplied and there were ample camping chairs for bonfires. The hosts were so friendly and welcoming.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

4/5 Good

Lenora W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
November adventure
very convenient. the bathroom upstairs is a bit of a challenge for anyone over 5 feet tall and 100 pounds but we survived.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020

About the host

Hosted by Michael Bonnette

Host profile image
I have spent the last 25 years of my life firmly entrenched in the research and development world with a vast majority of that time spent in the interventional medical industry. With my creativity and engineering degree, I have managed to receive 70 US and foreign patents with 50 submissions still pending. Many of these ideas have resulted in devices which have helped people in one form or another, and in 2013, I decided I wanted to help people in another way. I acquired this property which will help people escape and relax in the beauty of the Minnesota Woods!

The property has 120 acres of private lands which sits within 68 thousand acres of the Solana State Forest. The Soo Line Trail also travels right through my property. In 2013, the property was purchased by my family and has now become the Shire in the Woods. A special place, with the look and feel of a Tolkien inspired landscape, now located in "Middle Minnesota".

The Shire in the Woods was formerly solely a retreat center which was founded in 1989 by three Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet with a vision of creating a place where people can spend time quieting the mind and opening the heart and spirit. They recognized the need for individuals living in a modern, fast paced society to be able to retreat to a quiet, nurturing place, thus replenishing the soul and deepening their connection with self, nature, each other, and the universe. The Shire still has it's roots within that theme, and it has grown much more for everyone to enjoy!

Why they chose this property

Welcome to the Shire in the Woods, where the natural surroundings will nourish and rejuvenate your soul! Located 18 miles east of northern Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, we are tucked away at the heart of the Solana State Forest and have the Soo Line South Trail running right alongside us. Relax with a good book in front of a fireplace or take a stroll in the beautiful woods. The Shire can serve you, your family and friends, facilitate special groups, workshops, and meetings, host a wedding, hold a family reunion, and more! No matter where you are at in your writing practice, the natural beauty and tranquility of the Shire is perfect for a writers retreat. The outdoors and especially the circle drive would be great for demonstrations with horses for example, or you can come and just be a hermit! Whatever your event or occasion, we will work with you to best serve your needs.

Our private, wooded retreat has seven, year round dwellings and more. There are four smaller cabins (The Woodlands, The Birches, The Meadows, and The Loft), The Cedar House, The Tree Lodge, and a gathering space, movie theatre, presentation media space, and library in The Octagon (unless privately reserved).

Other features of the Shire:
• Screened-in gazebo.
• Wood burning sauna.
• 5 miles of groomed trails.
• A rose garden.
• A labyrinth.
• Beaver, frog, and turtle pond.
• Tree swings and hammock.
• Outdoor fire pits and indoor fireplaces.
• Access to the Soo Line Trail.
• Access to many miles of trails in the Solana State Forest.
• And much more including our horses, a miniature donkey, and a miniature horse. As a guest, you can experience our animals antics and social systems, pet them, and with prior arrangements have guided interactions or feed them treats.

All of the places are arranged in their own unique setting such that you feel like you are the only one there!

What makes this property unique

There are many things to do in and around the Shire. Enjoy wooded solitude on the private trails or hike in the Solana State Forest, meditate while walking the Labyrinth, spend time around a campfire, read or relax in front of the cabin fireplace, and more!

The Shire in the Woods offers many winter and summer vacation activities for everyone to enjoy.
• Enjoy wooded solitude on the private trails.
• Hike in the Solana State Forest.
• Meditate while walking the Labyrinth.
• Spend time around a campfire.
• Read or relax in front of a fireplace.
• Play catch with Frisbees or partake in other games on one of our many groomed lawns.
• Star gaze or moon watch.
• Use the telescope in the gazebo.
• Interact with the horses.
• Cross country ski or snowshoe on our private or surrounding trails.
• Yoga in the Octagon.
• Rock/agate hunt or swim in the nearby spring fed Quarry Pool.
• Ride bikes in the woods or other trails.
• Horseback ride on the Soo Line trail or Solana State Forest Trails with your horses.
• Snowmobile or go ATVing on the Soo Line Trail or the Solana State Forest Trail.
• Spend time in the Pliny Wildlife Area or Ruffed Gross and Woodcock Habitat Area.
• Plan your next birding or photography adventure.
• Enjoy the sounds of nature as the many frogs, owls, wolves, and birds vocalize and sing their songs!

Premier Host

Premier Host
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