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Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock!

Photo gallery for Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock!

A waterfront property with a wooden deck, a grassy lawn, and a view of the lake.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a white countertop, a stove, a sink, and a window.
A lakeside property with a dock, a wooden deck, and a house with a large lawn.
A cozy living room with a brick fireplace, a large window, and a television.
A wooden dock extending into a body of water with a small boat and a blue lounge chair on it.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Sleeps 8•4 bedrooms•6 beds

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
Ranier, MN
  • Place, Cantilever Distillery
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Ranier Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Ranier City Park
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Airport, International Falls, MN (INL-Falls Intl.)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Twin Bunk Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Twin Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock!

Nestled on beautiful Rainy Lake, on the US/Canadian border, is The Lake House. Owned by Bill and Terry Lahmayer since 1983, this very unique home is situated in the quaint, historic, lakeside village of Ranier, MN, just two miles east of International Falls. Just 50 feet from the water's edge, The Lake House offers stunning sunsets and lake views. Directly across the lake is Ontario Canada. A private, 44ft. dock, lakeside fire pit, and sand-bottom swimming are yours to enjoy. Built in 1936, The Lake House is tastefully decorated in a mix of traditional and vintage furnishings and comfortably accommodates 6-10 guests.

A stone's throw away is Ranier Beach,  Loony's Brew Pub, Tara's Warf ice cream shop, and our local Fishing Hall of Fame fishing guide -- Woody's Fairly Reliable Guide Service. A public boat ramp is right there as well for convenient boat launching.  A few more blocks away is the Ranier Municiple tavern, train depot, post office, darling community building, and wonderful Ranier Park. In winter, a snowmobile trail runs through town, and Ranier boasts two ice rinks (one for pick-up hockey games and the other for free skating), as well as a sliding hill for the kiddies.

Voyageurs National Park, the only national park accessible only by water, is a mere 8 miles east. So whether you are looking to enjoy some fishing, boating, kayaking, swimming, canoeing, biking, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, skating, or just relaxing, we have it all!

It is our desire to bless others with the opportunity for a wonderful getaway on Rainy Lake and all that The Lake House has to offer. So come and spend a few days, a week, or even longer, with us! (Maybe you will even get to experience the incredible Northern Lights!)

Fun fact! Although built as a home in the l930s, the original owners, Merville and Helen Trompeter, converted it into a restaurant in the l950s. Named the Twin Elms -- "Home of hot biscuits", Helen herself did the cooking and baking. People even came by boat for some of Helen's delicious fare! We have incorporated much of the history of the house and the area, into our decorating.


Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Lake/dock are water hazards. Low windows upstairs.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking anywhere on property.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1032488
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the neighborhood

Ranier

Located in Ranier, this vacation home is on a lake. Cantilever Distillery and The River Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Voyageurs National Park and Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating, snowmobiling, and sledding.
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Map
Ranier, MN

What's nearby

  • Cantilever Distillery - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Ranier Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Ranier City Park - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • City Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Ogard Point - 3 min drive - 2.6 km

Getting around

  • International Falls, MN (INL-Falls Intl.) - 9 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Border Bar Pizza - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Domino's Pizza - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin’ & Baskin Robins - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock!?

As of Aug 19, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock! on Dec 31, 2026 start from $391, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock!?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful border waters lake retreat, 50ft from waters edge! Private dock! located?

Situated on a lake, this vacation home is steps from Ranier Beach, Rainy Lake, and Cantilever Distillery. Ranier City Park and City Beach are also within 10 minutes.

About the host

Hosted by Terry and Bill Lahmayer

Host profile image
We (Bill and Terry), purchased The Lake House when we were in our early twenties with a 1 year-old son. Both born and raised in Wisconsin, we moved to Ranier in 1983. Originally we planned to stay in the area for just a "few years", but the people, Ranier, and Rainy Lake captured our hearts. We decided to stay and added two more children to our family along the way. In 2011, we made the very difficult decision to relocate to the Duluth area, but decided to keep our Rainy Lake home as a long-term rental. Because we missed spending time there, we recently decided to try operating a vacation rental instead. That way, we could give others the opportunity to enjoy it short-term, and still have time there for ourselves. I think you, too, will find that it's a very special place.

Why they chose this property

While looking for a home to purchase after our move to the area in 1983, we couldn't find anything that really appealed to us -- until this one. In spite of its unattractive exterior at that time, and it's need for a great deal of work, we fell in love with the place the first time we saw it. The vaulted ceiling, huge living room, massive fireplace, second story railing/hallway overlooking the main living area, and the darling little window --- were just too much to resist! We spent the next 30 plus years updating, replacing and remodeling. With the exception of one of the bedrooms, every single room was taken down to the studs and renovated. Also fascinating to us was the history of the house. Built in the 1930s by the Trompeter family, the house became a restaurant for a number of years in the 1950s. The Twin Elms, as it was called, was known as the -- "home of hot biscuits and honey"! We have incorporated the home's history into it's décor, along with photos of Ranier in it's earliest days. In those formative, wild years, there were many houses of "ill repute". However, our house was not one of them, lol! But even more captivating than the house and it's history, was the beauty of Rainy Lake. It's medicine for our souls and we are so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with it for all these years.

What makes this property unique

With the water's edge just steps from your door, there's no hassling with the hauling of coolers, chairs, toys, blankets, etc. up and down a long stairway or over rocky ground to get from house-to-water. The yard, the dock, the water --- it's all right there! And hearing the gently lapping of the waves at night, is so wonderfully calming. Stunning sunsets never fail to dazzle, no matter how many you've seen. Hearing the call of a loon on a quiet summers evening is a special kind of music. Watching the mama ducks paddle by with their babies in tow, as well as seeing geese, pelicans, seagulls and sometimes beavers and otters, is so rewarding. The sight of a Bald Eagle circling overhead and swooping down to catch a fish in it's talons is amazing. And then there are the Northern Lights! They are not a regular occurrence, but if you happen to catch them, they will take your breath away. Other things we have enjoyed immensely... the privilege of having a boat tied up to the dock, ready to go out for an evening of fishing just down from the Ranier bridge... lounging around on the dock and watching the kids play in the water... And one of my very favorite activities --- having a campfire at the waters edge on a calm, summers night. It can't be beat. However, I have to be honest and say that the mosquitoes can be challenging, especially during the first half of the summer. Fogging the yard and wearing a good bug dope will make a huge difference. While wonderful in many respects, we need to remember that no place is perfect!

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