Vacation Rentals by Owner

great place for our group

Guest: frank (greenwood , wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 08/31/11 Review Submitted: 09/06/11

if you are looking for a five star hotel with all the ammenities go to vegas. if your looking for a cozy place for a family, or get together with friends then take your shoes off and kick it here! my wife and I are from wisconsin and we had six friends fly in from the west coast . when we got to the cabin everyone was impressed by the lake . the cabin was spacious and cozy , more then plenty of room for us eight adoults. the large lower deck is where we spent most of our time. if the mosquitos are biting then the screened porch was a great place to sit and relax.but most of the five nights we were there that was'nt even an issuse. none of us fish ,but we still took rides around the lake in the small motor boat provided us. and it seemed like someone in our group was always out on the lake in the canoe.paddle northwest across the lake and you will see an eagles nest on the far shore. eagles were flying by sevseral times every day and saw plenty of deer. in an earlier review someone said they saw mice in the cabin we saw no evidence of mice on our stay, only eagles, deer, chipmonks, and squirells. my friends from out west were most impressed by the eagles flying by every day. I would recommend this place for almost any kind of group. families ,friendly group get togethers, whatever,if you want to kick back and relax,or paddle the lake or take a rustic walk in the woods this place has tit all. we had cocktails on the deck and fires in the fireplace every night we were there.( there was plenty of wood for the fireplace when we were there.) also there is a great train ride with brunch(we went on sunday)we took from spooner, it was very reasonably priced and a fun way to spend an afternoon. all in all we had a very relaxing five nights there. carol was very helpful through the process of arranging the cabin. and giving me info on other activities in the area. thank you again for sharing your home with our group carol we all had a great time,frank q.

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

Delightful! No complaints.

Guest: Lin B (Danville, VA)
Date of Stay: 08/25/11 Review Submitted: 08/30/11

The previous reviewer said it well. This is a CABIN - so it's rustic, and it's in the woods next to a lake so yes, it's humid in the basement. But what's important is that it's comfortable and spacious in the living areas and it's a friendly feleling, fun place. All boats were in good working order (canoe, paddleboat, and the rowboat with motor, which was a little slow to start first time but fine after that) and there were plenty of lifejackets of various sizes. Eagles flew by, sunsets were wonderful every day, loons made their requisite strange calls, and no bears made an appearance. There were plenty of fans for the one day it got warm in the afternoon and there was plenty of firewood for chilly evenings. And a good brick firepit with two benches. We didn't do any extensive cooking, but we found everything we needed in the way of kitchen utensils and so on. And so many nice extras, like stuff to put on mosquito bites, lots of matches and candles, books for adults and kids, a CD player you can plug an MP3 player into, a basketball goal & ball ... I would recommend it without reserve ... except I'd rather keep it secret so it won't be booked up when we want to return.

Recommended for:Pet owners

Awesome cabin

Guest: Bonny (Maryland (originally from Cumberland, WI))
Date of Stay: 08/18/11 Review Submitted: 08/27/11

My husband and I grew up around these parts and we have been renting this beautiful rustic cabin for the last three years for get-togethers. We love this cabin! In fact, we hope to own a cabin just like this someday! For those who've grown up in the city and expect Donald Trump's place in the woods, this is not it. It is a CABIN! We love it for its cozy, rustic charm! We will continue to stay here each summer!

Owner response:I appreciate the feedback, as always. Other recent guests have been pleased with the updates made in the past month. Many thanks to those who shared positive experiences, as negative concerns are often more likely to prompt a review. Recent updates include: • New refrigerator in the kitchen • New coffeemaker (carafe had been broken by recent renters) • 3 new sets of flatware; new cups and bowls to accommodate more people • Both toilets have been replaced with new, insulated tank toilets • Carpet that got damp/mildew in the heat from the "sweating tank" removed (remaining bathroom carpet left in place as the linoleum beneath can be very slippery and hazardous) • 3 new fans on 4-ft stands that rotate • New trolling motor on the boat • 2 new air mattresses, 3 new tubes, 2 swim noodles • An inflatable mini-boat and paddle • New oars on the boat • Additional life jackets - we now have at least 4 child vests and 7-8 adult vests (as of 8/13 when I left) • 2 woodpiles stocked One window on the lake side has clouded due to air leaking between the panes. We tried to remove this window when I was there, but it is fixed in place and will require more time and a contractor. Thus, it will have to be fixed after the season.

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

2nd year in a row is even better than first!

Guest: default (DC)
Date of Stay: 08/18/11 Review Submitted: 08/25/11

Well, I'll start by saying I'm a North of HWY8 native who now lives in DC. I know the area well and believe myself to be a pretty good judge of what makes a good North-Woods getaway and what should/shouldn't be expected. With that said, this is quite possibly the best cabin north of the Twin Cities if you're looking for seclusion, comfort, fishing, and space for you and your 25 closest friends. For two years in a row, I've held my annual family gathering at this cabin (after moving from a smaller venue) and have found it to provide very adequate plumbing, protection from the elements, ample of room to cook brats/burgers for a whole battalion of friends/family, and an overall warm atmosphere. Furthermore, there is a bumper-pool table and foosball table downstairs (how can you argue with that?). With respect to the outdoor amenities, the paddle boat, the canoe, and the plethora of water gear make for a very easy and enjoyable water experience. The yard is clean, the wood is dry (and plentiful), and there is room to park plenty of vehicles. Now, I haven't used the motor boat, but when I go camping, I'm usually more inclined to use the silent canoe (ensuring the loons and eagles don't avoid me while on the water). I have also seen the complaints lodged against this venue and have to say that they sound a bit out of form if you're looking for a cabin "Up Nort". Yes, mice live in woods. 99% of the houses up there have seen a mouse or two in their day, not to mention homes that are not lived in 100% of the time (i.e. cabins). I've personally not seen a mouse in this house, but it wouldn't surprise me and wouldn't bother me one bit (I'd report it, but I doubt it would offend my guests). Also, you'll probably notice that the basement may feel like a basement. That means more moisture in the air and less ventilation. However, I've had about a dozen different folks sleep down there and haven't had one complaint (it is a walkout to the lake with a mighty fine view, so it's hard to complain). At the end of the day, this cabin provides a great experience if you're looking to get away with just the Mrs, or if you're looking to host a great fun-in-the-sun weekend BBQ. It feels warm, lived in, and provides all the comforts of home, while still providing the rusticness and durability of a cabin in the woods. It isn't the Hayword Hilton, but it definitely merits the Lipsie Ritz :)

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

Rustic Dirt

Guest: none (Locust Grove, VA)
Date of Stay: 07/08/11 Review Submitted: 08/14/11

We stayed at this house in early July 2011. Nine of the twelve of us traveled a long way and just wanted to spend time together in a quiet rustic setting. It was a quiet and relaxing place outdoors with beautiful sunsets and good fishing (when you could get the boat started). Inside was a different story. The major problem was that we could not use the basement because of a mice infestation. The first evening we were there, we found mouse droppings in the dresser drawers in both bedrooms. The next morning, we saw several mice in the larger bedroom, including one that fell from the ceiling onto the bed where my grandson had just been sleeping. It turns out that a nest had just hatched in the ceiling. Needless to say, both of my daughters' families moved to the main level for the remainder of the week. There were 12 of us sleeping on the main floor. One of my daughters and her husband slept on the futon in the livingroom, my two grandsons slept on an air mattress on the floor next to them, and their luggage spent the entire week in the livingroom too. My two other kids, their spouses, and their babies had to stay in their bedrooms for 1-2 hours after the babies woke up each morning so that those in the livingroom could sleep. Although the property manager came by and put poison in the ceiling, my daughters did not feel comfortable having their families sleep in the basement again. On the main level, I also found mouse droppings in the pantry and under the entryway sink and a snapped trap. Besides the mice, the place just wasn't clean enough for the money we spent. For example, the windows were so filthy that the view of the lake was not what it should have been, and the refridgerators were old, too warm, and not very clean. Really, this place just needs a thorough scrubbing in the spring, a better cleaning between guests, and a regular pest service, and it would be fine since really you are there to be outdoors and not worry about that kind of stuff. After all of this inconvenience, I was only reimbursed less than one nights rental even though we were inconvenienced for five of the seven nights and not able to use an entire floor of the house. I thought this was unfair, considering how the owner seemed to sympathize with my situation over the phone while we were there and via email when I returned home. This rental was advertised as rustic which we expected. But it most definately was not clean.

Owner response:This rental group did encounter mice during their stay, and I regret this very much.This is the only rental group that has reported mice, and our response to their circumstances is described below. We have regular pest service annually. I just returned from two weeks at the cabin (Aug 1-13, 2011) spent with family and friends. We saw no evidence of mice during our entire stay. The Manager continues to check weekly. For this occurrence my Property Manager responded to the first call on the morning of Day 2 to clean out the "nest" that was discovered and put out several traps and poison (with great care so as not to endanger children or pets.) He made several return visits over the next few days to ensure the "uninvited guests" were vacated. As I understood it, the evidence of mice was seen on the arrival day and the actual mice were seen on the morning of Day 2. On the remaining Days 3 - 7 there were no further mice reported. In addition to the Manager's visits, I spoke directly with three individuals in the group (on days 3 and 4) by phone, and they explained what had happened and each said that no further mice were seen. They also expressed appreciation for the property manager's follow-up and persistence. I was truly sympathetic to their concerns, especially because I pay for the pest services. Based on their feedback I believe that we responded quickly and effectively to fix the problem. The group apparently chose not to sleep in the lower level for days 2-7. It appeared as though the large lower level family room was used freely and frequently throughout the week (Foosball, bumper pool, darts, etc.) Because I understood from the renters I spoke with on days 3 & 4 that all was well after the rough start the first night, I returned the entire original damage deposit in spite of finding some things that will require repair, plus an additional amount equivalent to one night (of a weekly stay) out of concern for their very unfortunate first night. I've written previously that we have replaced the refrigerator based on the helpful feedback from renters. Although the motor worked recently, we are replacing it this week to ensure that there are no further issues for renters. It's an ongoing process to maintain a place originally built in 1938 and we do our best to keep it clean and fun. We'll work hard to continue to do so.

Recommended for:

We Love Lake Lipsie

Guest: Frank (Ankeny, Iowa)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

My family, my borther and wife and our mother have been vacationing at resorts in Wisconsin for many years. We had not stayed on Lake Lipsie since 1992. We returned to Lake Lipsie for a wonderful vacation at the Lipsie Ritz over the fourth of July for a week stay. We truly enjoyed the up north cabin feel of this home. We especially enjoyed all of the room (up and down) that we had available to us. The screened in porch was used for morning coffee, many meals and late nights chats and games. Loved the fir pit and hammock! The garage was nice for parking a vehicle if needed as well. Swimming off the dock was great, very clear water! Fishing was excellent with several large crappie, bluegill and bass. Thanks for letting us share your home!

Owner response:As the owner I very much appreciate all feedback, and we have received several handwritten notes at the cabin and other email reporting positive experiences, in addition to this very nice review. As I am currently at the cabin, I wanted to report several updates. We have a new refrigerator, a new coffeemaker, several new fans (the single window air conditioner is not designed to cool the entire cabin, only to take the edge off - nearly impossible when temperatures reached 100) and we have two new insulated toilets ready to be installed next week. There are at least 6 adult life jackets and 4 children's. The crib has been replaced with a playpen. The carpet on the upper level was replaced two years ago, and the kitchen floor was replaced three years ago. The boat worked fine for several recent renters (directions are provided so that minor issues like not opening the air valve on the gas can don't prevent the engine from running properly.) There were several functional floaties/water toys here on my arrival and I will leave additional items after my stay. We have two wood piles of logs, and there are endless sticks around to gather for getting the fires started in the firepit. More wood is just a phone call away if the piles get depleted. It's still a cabin - just what we love - and because the original building was built in 1938 it has it's creaks and "charm" including somewhat uneven floors, knotty pine walls, and rustic feel. If you're looking for shiny and modern, it's not that kind of "Ritz."

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

Disappointing!

Guest: Megan (Superior, WI)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

Our family and neighbor's family had been looking forward to this vacation for months. However, upon arrival, immediate problems were noticed. We just want others to be aware that there are some issues in this cabin. When entering the cabin, we smelled a horrid stench only to find that the smell was coming up from the basement (where all the kids slept). Not sure if it was mold or what, but no amount of candles or air freshner could get rid of that smell. The crib (which we counted on for our baby) was broken and completely unsafe for anyone to use. We ended up having to prop a suitcase underneath it so our toddler wouldn't fall out. There was a serious spider infestation in the basement - I'm not bothered by insects but it freaked the kids out and some adults. Nothing worked properly in the cabin - from the air conditioner to the row boat (w/motor) to the floatie toys (all broken), etc. Serious updating needs to occur such as remove the carpeting from the bathroom - it smelled before, during, and I'm sure after our stay. Also, the kitchen is insufficiently stocked and the caretakers are very stingy with things such as coffee filters. When you have 12 people staying, you need more than 1 coffee filter per day. Be prepared to bring a lot of your own things...there's no wood for fires, which we were told there would be, bring your own life jackets and floaties (most are broken), bring your own boat (don't count on theirs because it doesn't work), bring your own pack 'n play or portable crib (theirs is broken and unsafe), bring pots, pans, etc (insufficient amounts), bring your own cleaning supplies (again, insufficient amounts), toilet paper, paper towels, bring some bug killer to get rid of the spider infestation, etc. The shower is tiny and filthy so be prepared if you have small children (no bathtub). We expected to not have to bring a lot and ended up having to buy things. However, even with the long list of complaints and issues with things being broken, the bad smells, uncleanliness, and insufficient items, we still made the best out of our vacation. Kids enjoyed swimming everyday and using the canoe or paddleboat. We rented a pontoon and were out on the beautiful lake every day fishing, boating, and swimming. We caught tons of large mouth bass, bluegill, sunnies, and 1 pike. We loved being out on the lake, however, we will not be coming back to this cabin again. We left the cabin in better shape than we found it.

Owner response:I truly regret that the writer of the review found things so much to their disliking. As I responded directly to the writer, had I known of their concerns early in their stay I could have sent any of three people to their assistance. Unfortunately, I can only respond to malfunctioning items (boats, lack of life jackets, etc.) if I know about them. We have not had an issue with any other renters on any of the issues noted apart from the experience of a slight odor upon arrival (which disappears after the first couple of hours) from the lower level. It is an old building - a cabin - and there are some things that cannot be fixed much as we might like to. For the record, the listing is clear on the lack of a tub. We did have miscommunication with this renter on the items that are supplied. I take responsibility and I have apologized directly. I have also asked my cleaning team to check on the items mentioned. We do our best to set appropriate expectations and to provide a nice, albeit rustic, environment for families.

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Guest: Travis
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

It was an excellent weekend. Thanks much and I hope we can do this again next year.

Recommended for:

Guest: Caroline
Date of Stay: 08/21/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

We had a wonderful week at your home away from home - THANK YOU so much for sharing!

Recommended for:

Guest: Mary
Date of Stay: 08/01/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

Our family had just a wonderful time at Lipsie Ritz.

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Guest: Rena
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 09/01/10

Thank you for sharing a piece of paridise with us. We had a wonderful time at your cabin, the weather was perfect most of the time, we had a breathtaking sunset seven our of seven nights. Can't ask for much more than that. Your manager was great, he called both Sunday and Wednesday when we had bad storms just to make sure that we were aware of the weather, that is very reassuring. The lake provided hours upon hours of entertainment for our grandchildren (3 nd 5) plus our three children [and] their spouses. We had a great time and hopefully will be able to get everyone together for another vacation in the next couple of years.

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