Vacation Rentals by Owner

Beautiful Autumn Setting

Guest: guswilt (Lake Elmo, MN)
Date of Stay: 10/20/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

Gorgeous fall colors, beautiful waves on the shore, excellent bonfire weather, and a wonderful family vacation. Three generations and multiple sources of entertainment to keep all of us happy, from grandchildren to the grandparents. The owner and staff that maintain the beautiful Stay Spa are wonderful to work with and very accommodating to the needs of their guests. This place will exceed your expectations and make for an enjoyable vacation.

Owner response:Thank you so much for the review. Fall is definetly one my favorite times of year at Castle Rock Lake.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Stay Spa Wedding Weekend - Exactly What We Had Imagined!

Guest: Caroline (Brooklyn, Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 09/21/11 Review Submitted: 11/04/11

After 6 months of planning a weekend wedding getaway at the Stayspa on Castle Rock Lake, my fiancé and I finally arrived at this beautiful property. We rented both the Stayspa and the Lakefront Town Home and were able to connect with many local businesses in order to pull together the details through the helpful suggestions of the property owner. Upon arrival Wednesday evening, everything was as we had imagined it! On the first night we all walked along the lake shore to the nearby restaurant and dined on some delicious dishes and wine, followed by a really fun time in the Spa Room playing with all the storm sequence and hanging out in the steam room. Thursday was a relaxing day with the rehearsal dinner that night at the Stayspa. One of our very close personal friends comfortably catered a beautiful meal ample kitchen space for our immediate family and wedding party (24 people). Friday was the “Big Day” and between the two houses the wedding party was able to enjoy plenty of privacy to primp and enjoy some champagne toasts throughout the morning. I had two stylists provide hair services for the ladies in the luxurious comfort of the Grand Master Suite bathroom. The scenery offered an endless supply of unique photo opportunities for our wedding photographer.. The ceremony was supposed to take place on the deck in front of the restaurant next door; however, due to rain the ceremony was moved into the dining room with ease and still offered plenty of space. We had 160 guests attend our wedding and/or reception. The food was delicious. The laughter was plenty. The owner/chef went out of his way to plan a completely personalized menu with plenty of variety for all to enjoy. Moving the tables off to the side after dinner allowed for ample dancing space and we were able to set up a photo backdrop in the back entry area for our guests to get a little silly. Saturday was time for recovery, relaxation and an afternoon taco party for our house guests. We played in the Spa Room some more and enjoyed a late night campfire on the beach. So much fun! We cannot wait to take a small group back to enjoy the Stayspa again next year. We really found a great place to enjoy the outdoors, good food, good friends and amazing accommodations. A perfect way to begin a marriage!!

Owner response:Thank you for the teriffic detailed review. Your wedding party was the largest group we have handled so far and I'm glad everything went well (other than the weather). I will forward your kind words onto Kevin at The South Shore Restaurant. Hope to see you again for your anniversary.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great vacation spot

Guest: Jeff (Miami Beach, FL)
Date of Stay: 08/07/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

Thank you for an outstanding vacation. My expectations were exceeded. Plenty of room for large groups, very clean, beautiful lake/beach, modern cooking appliances and amenities. Fun little bar/restaurant and a top-5 all-time massage. Very well done operation. We'll be back

Owner response:Thank you very much for the review. I do believe the Stay Spa concept is truly beginning to catch on.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Best Family reunion ever

Guest: lynnyb (Queensbury, NY)
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

What a place - we had a houseful of people and we were never stepping on someone else - The numerous amenities for relaxation, ie hot tub, cold plunge, etc were fun -loved the message chairs! all was great! Hopefully will be back next year!

Owner response:Thank you for the review. We tried to build the Stay Spa with everyone in mind.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

What a vacation!!

Guest: Jutta (Manitowoc, WI )
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11

We had the privilege of staying at the Stayspa for our family reunion this past week. It was amazing and the accomodations exceeded our expectations!!! There were 16 of us and never once did we feel like we were crowded! Fred and his family went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and those who had massages will be back for more next year. When I think of THE perfect vacation spot, this is it!! We truly cannot wait to come back next year!! It did our hearts and souls good!!!!! THANK YOU!!

Owner response:Thank you for the wonderful review. I will be sure to forward this to Deb. She has had clients drive all the way from Cedar Rapids, Iowa for repeat Shiatsu treatments in Madison. I look forward to seeing you and your family again next year.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Stay Spa truly Luxurious

Guest: KIngs and Quees for a Day (Freeport, IL)
Date of Stay: 07/09/11 Review Submitted: 07/31/11

The Stay Spa is one of the most beautiful places ever! We have stayed there the last two years with my parents, siblings, and their significant others. It is a place to gather, to relax, to enjoy, and to never want to leave. The morning views and the sunsets from the long picture like glass windows are breath taking. The lake offers room to play and the private beach is a nice addition. The Spa is spacious enough for privacy yet big enough for all to gather together. There are so many cool things to use and to enjoy. Fred is accomodating and easy to reach if needed, and Scott also helps out in a pinch and ensures that everyone has what they need. I must say though campfires on the beach as the moon sparkles on the water is my absolute favorite part, ok and the hot tubs too of course. The kitchen is amazing and a mother's dream space. All the details are taken care of and with everything so close you can take a trip here and keep your packing pretty simple. Also the Dells is so close that you can leave room for some day trips if you wish. Over all we LOVE the stay spa and we always leave feeling like Kings and Queens.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect for a large family!

Guest: Beth (Madison, WI)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

Our large family (10 adults and 6 little kids) rented the Stayspa Resort and the Townhome (a separate property rented through this same owner nearby the Stayspa). I cannot express enough how wonderful this property is for a summer getaway! Everything was so beautiful and comfortable. The rooms are big, clean, comfortable. The kitchen is huge with tons of surface area for cooking and seating everyone for meals. The huge hot tub / sauna spa room is super relaxing and high tech. The massive sandy beach just outside is fantastic for children and adults. Plus all the added fun - the golf cart, nearby in-ground pool, clubhouse, and Deb (massage/yoga - she was amazing). To put it in a nutshell this was more than perfect - it was luxury at a perfect price!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Awesome!

Guest: Laura (St. Paul)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

We recently visited the Stayspa and it was just AWESOME! The kitchen is huge and comfortably fit our large group for mealtime. The bedrooms are luxurious with beautiful furniture and a television in each bedroom. The grand master bedroom is a vacation spot in and of itself. More importantly, the beds are extremely comfortable. The owners didn't outfit this place with anything less than excellent quality. The beach is right outside the back patio...oh, and it's a sandy beach with a designated swim area. There's also a swimming pool and a clubhouse within a very short walking distance, but if you're so inclined, you could take the Stayspa provided golfcart. Sit poolside with your kids and order lunch or snacks at the clubhouse. I wish our stay was longer, but we'll definitely be back!

Owner response:Thank you for the Review. It's always nice to hear how much people enjoy the Stay Spa.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

PERFECTION!

Guest: guswilt (Lake Elmo, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/17/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

From the first inquiry about the Stay Spa with the owner, continuing through with the experience our group shared at the property, to reliving the wonderful memories we created at the Stay Spa, the entire trip was one of the best vacations ever. Every thing was well thought out in the process of creating this luxury environment. The pictures and the description of the property are modest in comparison to actually being able to enjoy the wonderful amenities, as the property far outweighed our expectations. Our group of three families with children and dogs enjoyed an extended weekend that will be difficult to repeat. Great views, great luxurious amenities, wonderful spa treatments, friendly personnel; a complete and relaxing experience from start to finish. Thanks for sharing the experience of the Stay Spa with others.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Mike L. (McFarland, WI)
Date of Stay: 04/01/09 Review Submitted: 04/18/09

This is a fantastic property! We stayed there with three other couples and was the perfect no-kids-friend-gathering-getaway. Plenty of room for everyone. Between the hot tub room, the deck hot tub, massage services, and entertainment center, it was a great vacation. We relaxed and enjoyed being away from everything and spending time with good friends. We stayed during late Fall, so we didn't get to enjoy the beach and lake, but plan to on our next stay this summer!

Recommended for:

Fantastic Getaway! Wow!

Guest: Mike L. (McFarland, WI)
Date of Stay: 11/21/08 Review Submitted: 04/19/09

This is a fantastic property! We stayed there with three other couples and was the perfect no-kids-friend-gathering-getaway. Plenty of room for everyone. Between the hot tub room, the deck hot tub, massage services, and entertainment center, it was a great vacation. We relaxed and enjoyed being away from everything and spending time with good friends. We stayed during late Fall, so we didn't get to enjoy the beach and lake, but plan to on our next stay this summer!

Owner response:Mike, Thank you for your comments. We are happy to hear that you and your friends enjoyed your fall get away at the Stay Spa. We look forward to seeing you again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.