1930's Home - Historic Downtown Baraboo Near Devil's Lake & the Dells
- Minimum stay:2-3 nights
- Internet:Yes
- Pets considered:Yes
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Baraboo house description
Welcome to “The House that Fred Built”. Charming yet practical, our nearly century old home is comfortably set in a quiet neighborhood in the nostalgia of small town Wisconsin. While carefully maintaining its historic charm, Fred's received some renovations and a few modern upgrades in 2006. You could not ask for a better place to hang your hat during your visit to the Baraboo/Dells area.
Fred’s is a 1930 brick home that was proudly showcased in Baraboo’s 2010 Historic Tour of Homes and is respectfully named in honor of its builder. Fred’s is only a 1 block stroll from Baraboo's historic downtown where galleries, specialty shops, wine bar, spa, sports bar, breakfast/coffee shops and “America’s Prettiest Playhouse”- the Al Ringling Theater are all perfectly arranged around the courthouse square. It is also only 6 short blocks from Baraboo’s historic Ringling Bros. Circus, the Circus World Museum and Riverwalk, 6 miles from Devil’s Lake, 10 miles from Wisconsin Dells, sits conveniently between Devil's Head Ski Mountain and Cascade Mountain and is a 3 1/2 hour drive from amazing downtown Chicago's shopping, dining and famous Navy Pier.
Fred’s has been fondly referred to as “cozy”, “charming” and “homey” boasting a comfortable living room with wood burning fireplace, television with DVD player and a video library, book collection and plenty of games and puzzles for guests. The ground floor is rounded out with a formal dining room that seats 6 comfortably, a full kitchen and a bathroom. The upstairs has 3 neatly arranged bedrooms straight from the plans of 1931 practicality with 1 queen bed, 1 full bed and 2 twin beds. Each bedroom is uniquely decorated in warm colors and inviting decor. The living room sofa also folds out into a super comfortable, queen size pull-out bed for additional sleep space.
Fred’s shades a private, grassy backyard with a large patio appointed with fire pit, outdoor furniture and a gas grill; a perfect setting for relaxing with a book, enjoying a glass of wine and a safe place for the kids to play. The basement has a full laundry and additional open space.
Each amazing season offers a diversity of activities and there are endless things to do locally no matter what your interests may be.
FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES there are circus performances, parks and playgrounds, Ochsner Zoo, miniature golf, go-carts, Devil’s Lake and, of course, Wisconsin Dells (the Water Park Capital of the World!) just far enough away to give Mom and Dad a break from water park madness (10 scenic miles) but close enough to spend the day and be home before sunset to walk downtown for a pizza or cook some burgers on the backyard grill.
FOR THE ACTIVE AND OUTDOORSY types, there are plenty of options at Devil’s Lake State Park (6 miles) for beach, windsurfing, scuba diving, hiking, swimming and rock climbing with other opportunities close by for golf, cycling, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, wildlife and boat rental and water skiing. In the winter months, both Devil’s Head Ski and Golf Resort and Cascade Mountain are within 10 miles of Fred’s House providing a beautiful setting for downhill skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing with snowmobile and cross country ski trails and sledding hills also nearby. Not to mention, the indoor water parks and relaxing spas in the nearby Dells, which have a thriving winter season.
FOR THE CULTURE LOVERS the community promotes diverse shopping, circus history, historic walking tours, art, wineries, outdoor live theater, regular performances at the historic Al Ringling Theater, concerts on the square, farmers market, poetry readings and simple strolls on the Riverwalk. And don’t forget the Ho-Chunk Casino, located on the outskirts of Baraboo, for those travelers with a gambling itch to scratch.
With so much to do right at your fingertips it is easy to overlook the surrounding DAY TRIP destinations. If you haven’t already been, here are a few of our favorites that we find worth the drive; the Mid-Continental Railroad, Taliesen: A Frank Lloyd Wright home, the House on the Rock, Cave of the Mounds, the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the drive to the Merrimac Ferry.
If you are unsure of when you want to visit Baraboo, check the town schedule for year round, annual & bi-annual, DOWNTOWN FESTIVALS such as the downtown Wine Walk Fest (May & Nov), Brew Ha-Ha Beer Fest (Mar & Sep), Circus Celebration (Jul), Christmas Light Parade (late Nov) and the Fair on the Square Festival (May & Oct).
Fred’s, nestled in the valley of the beautiful Baraboo bluffs, is surrounded by the perfect blend of culture, history and adventure. Whether planning a family vacation, a romantic getaway, a girls’ weekend or an extended business stay, Fred’s is a uniquely special choice for accommodations.
We hope after sharing your time here, in the midst of making many wonderful memories, you will be left with the same fondness that we have toward the sweetness of the house, its history and the beauty of the surrounding area. Don’t forget to sign the guest book, bid farewell to Fred on your way and come back to visit us again!
Property Type
- House
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Onsite Services
- Housekeeper Optional
Suitability
- Alternative Lifestyle
- Children Welcome
Bedrooms: 3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8, Beds for 6-8
Kitchen & Dining
- Freezer
- Stove
- Toaster
- Coffee Maker
- Cooking Utensils
- Dining
- Kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Dishes & Utensils
Amenities
- Garage
- Babysitter
- Air Conditioning
- Living Room seats 0
- Towels Provided
Entertainment
- Games
- Video Library
- DVD Player
- Satellite / Cable
- CD Player
- Books
Communications
Pool & Spa
Outdoor Features
Theme
- Historic
- Tourist Attractions
- Spa
- Away From It All
- Adventure
- Romantic
- Family
Location & View
- Car Not Necessary
Activities
- Golf
- Rafting
- Snorkeling
- Water Tubing
- Water Skiing
- Jet Skiing
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Medical Services
- Fitness Center
- Laundromat
- Massage Therapist
- Roller Blading
- Scuba Diving Or Snorkeling
- Freshwater Fishing
- Hunting Small Game
- Hunting
- Rock Climbing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Racquetball
- Basketball Court
- Tennis
- Parasailing
- Wind-Surfing
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Cross Country Skiing
- Skiing
- Recreation Center
- Live Theater
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Cinemas
- Horseshoes
- Shuffleboard
- Eco Tourism
- Paddle Boating
- Playground
- Water Parks
- Churches
- Library
- Zoo
- Restaurants
- Winery Tours
- Theme Parks
- Antiquing
- Miniature Golf
- Sledding
- Wildlife Viewing
- Groceries
- Hospital
- Horseback Riding
- ATM/Bank
- Outlet Shopping
- Scenic Drives
- Bird Watching
- Gambling Casinos
- Sight Seeing
- Boating
- Walking
- Shopping
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
5 stars and A+
5 stars and A+
- Guest National Trekker (Midwest)
- Date of stay 08/28/13
- Review Submitted 09/04/13
My husband and our 2 teenagers enjoyed our stay immensely! The owner was very accomodating, answered emails promptly, and was generous with providing information about the property and area. We were very comfortable, had plenty of space and appreciated the close proximity to all of the things we wanted to do….It was a real scorcher, so we spent quite a bit of time at the beach at Devil’s Lake. Sure loved the A/C when we got back! This home is a perfect blend of historic charm and modern convenience/décor. It was also very clean and well-cared for. We are grateful to Edie for sharing this beautiful and unique home in a delightful community. Some highlights-- --Reading the brief history of the 'House that Fred Built' --Swimming, hiking and biking Devil's Lake --Swimming at Prewitt's Nest (aka Pewee's Nest--gorgeous--bring water shoes) --Haunted tour of Baraboo (Shelly is a gifted story-teller and everyone in town knows her) --Tour of Ringling Mansion --Quiz/Trivia night at the Village Book Store --Dinner at Village Inn (Jerk chicken is superb) --Smoothies at The Green Vine --Pastries at Neato's Bakery --Concert on the Square --Shopping and Mini golf in the Dells --Watching teens hand-wash dishes ;o) --Using the laundry shoot as an intercomRecommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you, Dana! :))))
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Warm and homey, great location!
Warm and homey, great location!
- Guest Shelley (Orlando, Florida)
- Date of stay 07/31/13
- Review Submitted 08/09/13
We loved this home as soon as we opened the door. It was exactly as photographed and could not have been more conveniently located. In literally two minutes we were enjoying downtown Baraboo and the drive to the Dells was less than ten miles. This was so much nicer and quieter than staying in the Dells. The owner was very pleasant, responsive, and easy to work with for the transaction. I wouldn't hesitate recommending this property.Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you, Michele! We hope to have you back again! :) It truly makes me smile to hear reviews like this. Fred's is a very special place.
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Family Stay for Devil's Lake
Family Stay for Devil's Lake
- Guest Dan C. (Chicagoland area, IL)
- Date of stay 07/27/13
- Review Submitted 08/04/13
We loved Fred's place. Owner was very helpful and easy to work with to reserve the house; he had sent me an e-mail prior to our rental time to let me know about the Circus Parade start time, which was great and just at the end of the block. So here is the low down. Charming house for sure! The kids did find the laundry shoot and had a blast dropping items down, it was funny. The house was very clean and fit the five of us without any problem. We used the fireplace inside and the fire pit outside for smores a couple of the days. The kitchen has everything you need to cook, note, no dishwasher, if that is an issue for you. The house is in walking distance of all the restaurants and downtown Baraboo. Monk's is great for burgers. The Little Cafe is a great for a dinner, jerk chicken was good and Alpine cafe was perfect for breakfast. About 15 minutes from downtown Dells, but was about 5 minutes away from the south entrance of Devil's Lake, which is why we were there; it was perfect! $10 for out of state plates for Devil's Lake; well worth it for the hiking and use of the beach, great for the kids, no undertow or big waves and nice and quiet. There is a grocery store down the street off 8th avenue, Pierce's(?). The house is older and there is the history of Fred's Place in the guest book, which adds to the charm. We did not have any problems or issues, the pink bedroom is a little squeaky, but comfortable and the pillows weren't exactly comfy, but that is just part of any hotel or vacation get away, not to take away from the delightful stay we had at Fred's Place. I would recommend this house for anyone who wants to visit Devil's Lake, Baraboo or Wisconsin Dells area. Thanks Edie, we had a great time!!!!Recommended for: Families with young children, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you so much, Dan!! I hope you all come back again! p.s. we will do a pillow assessment and collect a few more options to put in the linen closet. thanks for the suggestion! :)
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Relaxing Character!
Relaxing Character!
- Guest Anonymous
- Date of stay 07/18/13
- Review Submitted 07/23/13
Fred's is a delightful house and provided our girlfriend's reunion a comfortable, relaxing and utterly enjoyable "home." The house had all the utilitarian fixtures that were great for a home stay and it has real character, although the front door gave us all some difficulties getting it open at times! I particularly enjoyed that items in the home were useful and likeable, it was decorated nicely but without a lot of bric-a-brac. Thank you!Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you Christen! I am so glad you all enjoyed yourselves. The front door can be testy at times for sure (it is the original door and hardware). I have to admit, in an effort to hold onto as many of the original features of the home as possible, I have resisted the urge to update some of it's old quirks. :)
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Charming
Charming
- Guest Chad a.
- Date of stay 07/14/13
- Review Submitted 07/17/13
Lovely house, great energy.Recommended for: Age 55+, adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you Chad! so glad you enjoyed your time!
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Lovely home in an adorable little town!
Lovely home in an adorable little town!
- Guest Pam
- Date of stay 07/05/13
- Review Submitted 07/11/13
This home was absolutely beautiful, and is in easy walking distance to everything you could possibly need on a vacation. The people in Baraboo are so friendly! Definitely stop at Con Amici Wine Bar while you're there - we loved it! It's close enough for a Dells vacation, but far enough away from the downtown Dells for some much needed respite from the crazy tourism. The owner is absolutely wonderful to work with - very sweet and accommodating, and is happy to answer any questions you may have, and offer tips on events and points of interest in the area. This was one of the best vacations we have ever taken, and this house was by far our favorite place we've rented! You will not be disappointed!Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you Pam! I am so glad you all enjoyed your stay!! :)
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Great stay for family!
Great stay for family!
- Guest Cathleen B.
- Date of stay 06/21/13
- Review Submitted 07/03/13
We had a great stay at Fred's House. The house is charming and great lodging for our two families. A perfect halfway get together for two families meeting from Chicago and Minneapolis. There was plenty to do. We hit the Fish Fry at the Devil's Lake State Park, Circus museum, hiking and beach at Devils Lake plus some pool time at the local pool. The downtown is charming and we had a fun night out with a visit to the wine bar and then dinner at Monks in town.Owner response: thank you!!! :)
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Family Getaway Weekend
Family Getaway Weekend
- Guest Anonymous
- Date of stay 03/22/13
- Review Submitted 03/29/13
Our family consisting of 7 adults enjoyed our stay at Fred's House. It accommodated all of us very comfortably. We also appreciated that it was pet friendly. The town of Baraboo is charming. There are cute shops and places to eat close to Fred's House. Of course, the Baraboo-Devil's Lake-Dells area has plenty of attractions.Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, pet owners, girls getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you Joan! I am glad you all enjoyed your stay!
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Loved Fred!
Loved Fred!
- Guest Mega (Chicago)
- Date of stay 03/08/13
- Review Submitted 03/15/13
Fred was very charming and cozy. I liked that for the most part all the cool features were kept and or restored in this home. Great game selection. Perfect location.Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Owner response: glad you enjoyed it, Megan! :)
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March 2013 Ski Weekend
March 2013 Ski Weekend
- Guest Shelly V. (Chicago)
- Date of stay 03/01/13
- Review Submitted 03/12/13
We very much enjoyed our stay! Great house with lots of personality. Perfect location. Would definitely stay again!Recommended for: Families with young children, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Owner response: thank you so much! We look forward to having you again!
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Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Years Dec 30 - Jan 1, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| Martin Luther King Jr weekend Jan 17 - Jan 20, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| Presidents Day weekend Feb 14 - Feb 17, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| Memorial weekend May 23 - May 26, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| 4th of July Jul 4 - Jul 6, 2014 2 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| Thanksgiving Jul 23 - Jul 26, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| Labor Day weekend Aug 29 - Sep 1, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| Christmas Dec 23 - Dec 26, 2014 3 night min stay |
$209 | |||||
| My Standard Rate 2 night min stay |
$189 | $1134 | $4650 | |||
Additional information about rental rates
A one time cleaning fee of $75 will be added for all stays. Room tax plus city tax equal 11.5%. These fees will be already added into your quoted rate.
EXTENDED STAY or monthly rates may be negotiable.
Fees:
- Pet Fee: $50 + tax
- Housecleaning: $75 + tax
- Tax Rate 11.5%
Cancellation policy:
Policy available by contacting owner when booking.
This owner accepts HomeAway payments.
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Location
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- Attraction
- 4.3 miles to rental
- View on map
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- Attraction
- 9.7 miles to rental
- View on map
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- Attraction
- 17 miles to rental
- View on map
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- Attraction
- 0.6 miles to rental
- View on map
- Nearest Airport: Dane County Regional Airport (Madison - MSN) at 44 Miles
- Nearest Ferry: Merrimac Ferry at 11 Miles
- Nearest Train: AmTrak at 10 Miles
- Nearest Motorway: Interstate 90 at 9 Miles
- Nearest Beach: Devil's Lake State Park at 6 Miles
- Nearest Barpub: Monk's Bar & Grill at 1 Miles
- Nearest Ski: Devil's Head Ski Resort & Convention Center at 9 Miles
- Nearest Golf: Devil's Head Golf Resort at 9 Miles
- Nearest Restaurant: Jen's Alpine Cafe at 1 Miles
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2005
About the owner: Currently living in Florida, we cherish the changing seasons found up north and visit as often as we can. She was born and raised in Baraboo and he in Sarasota, FL. We met in high school when her family moved to the Gulf coast. We both keep very busy working in creative fields and always look forward to the mental reprieve we can count on when visiting our home away from home in Baraboo. We are proud supporters of downtown Baraboo, the Baraboo community and passionate about preserving history, family values and small businesses across the nation.
Why the Owner Chose Baraboo:
After twenty years in Florida, she was fortunate enough to find this beautiful slice of history nestled in a sweet downtown neighborhood which seemed like a dream come true. Not ready to move back to the snow but passionate about the seasons and her hometown we purchased the house for the opportunity to visit friends and family more often and to be able to share the nuances and charm of her wonderful town with others.
The Unique Benefits at this House:
With an appreciation for history, architecture and nostalgia the decision to buy this house came easily. Built by Fred Terbilcox in 1931, he and his family ran a cab service out of the three car garage in the alley. A wealth of history surrounds Fred's House and the Terbilcox family.
After purchasing the house and poking around its nooks and crannies, we found, stuck in the attic rafters, a fascinating charcoal portrait of a man in a black suit. On the back, was written the words Fred Terbilcox.
We couldn't believe the drawing had preserved so well! Soon it was framed and now hangs in the front entryway to honor the gift of his craftsmanship.
Contact us
Links to more information:
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Photos
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Twin bedroom
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walking downtown, in the snow, for pizza
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downtown Baraboo in the winter
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Concert on the Square - every Thursday in the warmer months
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kayak rental on Lake Delton
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Queen bedroom
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Full bedroom
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neighborhood view
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view of snowy downtown Baraboo from the sidewalk in front of house.
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Balanced Rock, a popular spot to stop while hiking Devil's Lake
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playing in the backyard
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downtown courthouse square in Autumn
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morning sunrise through a dewey window pane
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This listing was first published here in 2012.
Date last modified - Monday, November 18, 2013
