Vacation Rentals by Owner

Heavenly Peace, Soul-Soothing View

Guest: Larry (Spokane, WA)
Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/20/12

I took my partner to Gold Mountain Retreat to celebrate her 59th birthday over the weekend of March 16, 2012. I wanted to make it the best birthday of her life, and afterward she told me it was. We found this retreat simply stunning. It is impeccably maintained, warm, charming, and comfortable, with every convenience attended to, cozy details everywhere you turn. The place just glows with care and love. The real grace note for me was the incredible view of lake and mountains. We were treated to a lovely spring snow, and in the morning the view was monochromatic in grays and radiant silvers. It was like a gelatin silver photograph, except the scene was ALIVE and filled with drama, constantly shifting from one moment to the next. There was "news" in that beautiful prospect, very good, soul-lifting news indeed. Sunset was bathed in rouge, magenta, gold, purple deepening into blackness against which icy stars came out through windows of clouds. It always took a real act of will for me to pull myself away from that view, and I could never stay away for long. For our field trial English Cocker spaniel, the grace note was the intoxicating scents in the quiet woods surrounding the cabin. He almost forgave me for not having a shotgun. We had some happy, tail-wagging walks. Noting that one guest recommended bringing bottled water because of a metallic taste in the water, I did. We didn't use the bottled water, however, because we found the ice cold tap water delicious--fresh, sweet and pure. I was tempted to bottle some of it and take it home. Whatever caused the metallic taste seems to have been cleared up. I agree that the road in can be a challenge in muddy March when we visited. Our Volvo Cross Country handled it without difficulty, but did almost get stuck in the last short pitch to the house when we came home from dinner Friday night. A two-wheel-drive car wouldn't have made it, and the ruts we left will need repair. Still, I consider the road part of GMR's charm, because this is a place you choose for quiet luxury and beauty away from the hurley-burley of the world below. I can't recommend GMR highly enough. You're pretty close to heaven up there, and it's hard to leave. If you're looking for a great meal out, I recommend 41 South. If you want a beautiful floral arrangement for your sweetheart, give Nicole at Petal Talk a call. We had an unforgettable visit. We'll be back.

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

Beautiful, Comfortable, Cozy Cabin

Guest: Brooke (Malta, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 07/13/11 Review Submitted: 07/19/11

Gold Mtn. Retreat was excellent! The description was very accurate. Able to sleep alot of people comfortably in beds. We found it very clean and with all the amenities as described. The owners were extremely helpful and courteous and only a phone call away if needed. I would definately recommend this to a friend or family member and we hope to rent it again in the near future. Our family enjoyed doing activites at the private beach area, Silverwood Amusement Park, and Schwitzer Mtn. Ski Resort. We enjoyed the remote location and especially the beautiful view. We found lots of hiking trails close by and loved the different wildlife we saw. The cabin was kid friendly and a great family setting. We also enjoyed the games, videos, hot tub, and jetted tub that were at the cabin. The water did have a bit of a sulfer taste, so we did take in our own drinking water. Overall we had a great experience at the Gold Mtn. Retreat!

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

Nice Summer Getaway

Guest: Jeff (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 07/22/10

My wife, two kids, dog, and I recently spent five nights at this secluded home. We had a very restful time, as the house is very remotely located. We used the house primarily as our home base in between trips to their private beach and doing other activities in the area. The house is very well equipped. They have several comfy beds, three bathrooms, a pool table, foosball, darts, bikes, every kitchen gadget you can think of, and even binoculars to enjoy the amazing view. Add to this the fact that they're pet friendly, and you have a definite winner. We were a little disappointed that the hot tub wasn't in working order, but it was summer, so not a huge deal. There are a couple of things you might want to consider about this house before you head up there. First, the road to the house is mostly dirt/gravel, and not well maintained. We had to drive over weeds that were almost two feet high to get to the house. We have a Subaru, so had no problems at all, but this road would be pretty hard on a standard passenger car. Second, bring bottled water. The well water here is really metallic tasting, even using the water filter that is provided. Other than that, this is a very peaceful place to spend a few days or even longer.

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

Absolutely Beautiful!

Guest: luvedit (Alberta)
Date of Stay: 07/11/10 Review Submitted: 07/20/10

I found the property very well maintained and equipped with everything you might need. The view is spectacular and if you're looking for a private getaway, it doesn't get more private than this!

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

Guest: Anita & Kyle (Spokane Valley)
Date of Stay: 09/29/09 Review Submitted: 09/29/09

We stayed at GMR the last weekend of Summer 9/17 - 9/20. What a perfect ending. We are definitely making this an annual place to come - I enjoyed the home immensely. The moment you walk in the door you are relaxed and the wine that was left was a nice addition to our Steak dinner that evening. The Hot Tub is just what I needed as well - what a gorgeous view. Such a beautiful part of the country. I have only been in the Pacific NW for 2 1/2 years and this was such a treat for me. Thank you for sharing your lovely home - we will be back. Anita & Kyle

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/17/09 Review Submitted: 02/17/09

We stayed over President's Day weekend and what a fantastic trip. The house was wonderful and the view was amazing. Close to Schwitzer Mountain where we went skiing for the weekend, also a wonderful experience. The owners were very hospitable and the house was quite cozy. Thanks for sharing the place! I think GMR would be a wonderful place for any season of the year!

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Guest: Barbara Cornwall (Ennis, Tx.)
Date of Stay: 08/08/08 Review Submitted: 08/08/08

We spent the week end at GMR while visiting with our son and daughter-in-law. We had a wonderful time and were completely happy with the house. It is well supplied, has plenty of room, and a beautiful view of the lake. We enjoyed the deck and the hot tub at night. The bottle of wine was a nice surprise, too. We will definitely be back!

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Guest: Patty Johnson (Renton, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/02/08 Review Submitted: 08/02/08

What an exquisite view and home. It had everything needed, and then some. The drive up to GMR is on a dirt road with a few steep pitches and tight turns; however, my 70+ year old father was able to navigate his 5th wheel trailer up to the home. I am not sure a motor home would be as navigable, though. There were 12 of us who stayed there and never felt cramped. The 4 boys had a great time playing pool, foose ball and darts. There is great mountain biking and hiking right out the door. The private beach offered a great place to play in the water. The hot tub helped to wind down for the night. A great location for many different tastes of fun.

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Guest: On Vacation! (Glen Gardner, NJ)
Date of Stay: 07/29/08 Review Submitted: 07/29/08

We stayed at the Gold Mountain Retreat recently. The view definitely is worth the drive up the mountain. Spacious home with a large kitchen. Great place! Thank you for sharing!

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Guest: carroll fisher (rancho palos verdes, california)
Date of Stay: 01/07/08 Review Submitted: 01/07/08

Thanks for a great place to stay....there were eight of us and two pups ... we had a wonderful time! The house is very well arranged and equipped, comfortable and inviting, with spectacular views. Our visit was made all the more pleasant because of the very hospitable owners.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/22/07 Review Submitted: 10/22/07

The view is to die for. The place is wonderful. It feels so much like home. We took a few quads and road around on the trails. The privacy is wonderful. We had planned on going to Silverwood a couple days but only ended up going once because we enjoyed the private community beach much more. Great place. We will certainly stay here again. We had 3 families in the house and still had plenty of room.

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Guest: Maggie24 (Keizer, OR)
Date of Stay: 09/06/07 Review Submitted: 09/05/07

We stayed at Gold Mountain Retreat for our 25th Anniversary. It was great for the 2 of us and plenty of room for the days our family(11 of us) was there! The view was absolutely beautiful! I enjoyed my coffee from the deck every morning and could never get tired of looking at the lake and mountains. We enjoyed the hot tub also. The house had everything we needed.

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Guest: Earlene (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/10/06 Review Submitted: 10/10/06

We had a great stay -- the house is very spacious, clean, comfortable & pet friendly. The view is absolutely gorgeous -- more than worth the steep drive up. Will definitely keep it in mind when visiting Sandpoint again.

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Guest: The Bonns (Airdrie, Alberta)
Date of Stay: 09/19/06 Review Submitted: 09/19/06

I can't say enough about Gold Mountain Retreat. It was perfect for the two of us and our 5 year old son, and we also look forward to bringing family/friends with us next time. (There will definitely be a next time!) It was a beautiful, clean, BIG home with the best view and lots of peace and quiet. Town, the beach, swimming, etc. are not far away - there was so much to do. It had everything we needed, and then some. Deer, crickets, rabbits, elk and so many birds, not to mention the amazing sunsets. We loved it.

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Guest: Julie Ebner (Rocky River OH)
Date of Stay: 01/05/06 Review Submitted: 01/05/06

This is a fabulous house with tons of sleeping accommodations. Decor is darling! We appreciated the use of the cross-country skis. We were very pleased with the house.

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Guest: J Donovan (Bellingham, WA)
Date of Stay: 10/04/05 Review Submitted: 10/03/05

Stayed at the GMR in late September, 2005. Loved the place, very user friendly, well kept, *very* clean, nicely appointed. The drive to the place was a bit tiresome, 15 minutes out of Sandpoint w/ the last 8 min. up a steep, dirty gravel road. The view is definitely worth it, however. The hot tub was broken during our stay but my wife and 1 year-old loved the jetted tub in the master suite. Overall, top notch!

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Guest: Dayna 1 (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 08/10/05 Review Submitted: 08/10/05

We enjoyed our stay and found your home perfect for the 10 of us! The house is beautifully furnished and very comfortable. The view and rural setting is very relaxing~

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