Grassy Knoll Retreat on the Big Spirit Lake

Photo gallery for Grassy Knoll Retreat on the Big Spirit Lake

A well-maintained lawn with a fire pit and outdoor seating area, surrounded by trees and houses in the background.
Property video
A spacious living area with a wooden floor, a dining table, a bar, and a seating area with a sofa and chairs.
A dock leading to a building with a grassy area and trees.
A sunroom with wicker furniture, large windows, and string lights.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Arcade/game room
    A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade/game room.

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Waterpark access
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Garage parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Spirit Lake, IA
  • Place, Spirit Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Templar State Recreation Area
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, East Okoboji Lake
    ‪3 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Twin Bunk Beds

Bedroom 5

2 Twin Bunk Beds

Common Spaces

1 Double Sofa Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the neighborhood

Spirit Lake

Located in Spirit Lake, this vacation home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Brooks Golf Club and Emerald Hills 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 Templar State Recreation Area and Marble Beach State Recreation Area. Traveling with kids? Consider Goodies Handmade Candies and Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum. Jet skiing, kayaking, and water skiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hunting nearby.
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Map
Spirit Lake, IA

What's nearby

  • Spirit Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Templar State Recreation Area - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Marble Beach State Recreation Area - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • East Okoboji Lake - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
  • West Okoboji Lake - 7 min drive - 10.2 km

Getting around

  • Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) - 94 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Barefoot Bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪A&W - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪VFW - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Grassy Knoll Retreat on the Big Spirit Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Grassy Knoll Retreat on the Big Spirit Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Grassy Knoll Retreat on the Big Spirit Lake?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Grassy Knoll Retreat on the Big Spirit Lake located?

This family-friendly Spirit Lake vacation home is located on the waterfront, within a 10-minute walk of Spirit Lake and Templar State Recreation Area. Orleans Public Beach and Marble Beach State Recreation Area are also within 1 mi (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 20 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 20 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 20 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a great setting for family time and making memories!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice family friendly place.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed at this property to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday and couldn’t have enjoyed it more!! It had everything we needed, no detail was missed! Space for kids and adults to enjoy both indoor and out! The home was extremely clean and very well maintained. We look forward to our next visit!!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We found the property perfect for our yearly reunion of six 74 year old high school friends. The house was clean and pleasantly decorated. We enjoyed the view of the lake, sunrise and sunset!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a great place for our girls weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Beautiful retreat on Big Spirit. Close to restaurants in Okoboji. We had a multi generational family reunion and there was something for everyone from two years to 70. Beautiful home and dock area. We had an amazing stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very kid friendly!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Check-in was seamless and everything was very well stocked and organized.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful time. This rental was perfect in every way. Would definitely stay here again
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family vacation

Was amazing. Loved the property can’t wait to stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome

Grassy Knoll was perfect for our family. Wonderful amenities. Perfect location. Had EVERYTHING we needed and then some. Will definitely stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was a great place for our bachelorette party. It had everything we needed and was very clean. The responsibilities at the end of the stay (laundry, garbage etc.) were minimal. There were just a few things that were disappointing. First, it was very weedy by the dock. We went in for one swim but the weeds were super thick and it was not enjoyable. The water also had a smell. It needed to be stirred up/agitated. Second, the house also had a bit of a musty smell, particularly in the basement. The smell really hit when you returned from outside after a while. Overall, it was an enjoyable stay and we had a fun weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We have been doing our immediate family reunion vacation for 13 years - in a different location each year! This rental met all of our needs & worked out great! Everyone had a wonderful time! The location was good, much quieter than closer to Arnold's Park! We loved our stay here & hostess was excellent to work with - when we ended up with a couple extra grandkids! Thank you for sharing your home!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Our family of 14 had a wonderful stay. The house is beautiful with plenty of room and amenities for all of us. The morning view from the deck was amazing! Everyone loved fishing off the dock, boating and kayaking. The kids and grandkids enjoyed the Maui mat, catching lightning bugs, and making s’mores by the fire pit. It’s just a 15 minute drive to Arnolds Park so we also spent a day enjoying the festivities down there. Thanks for sharing your place with us- a vacation we’ll always remember!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Definitely will stay again!

The grassy knoll had everything, including ambience, tranquility, spacious, and the only thing we had to purchase was a cigar cutter, so the men could sit at the edge of the dock, reminiscing. So much to do and so little time to get it all done. The beds are comfy and the place was spotless. We enjoyed the extra little secrets of candy in the rooms and the adorable note left for us to read. huge yard that allows for mini activities. Thank you for a wonderful memorial day weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 11, 2024
Thank you for your kind words and I am so glad we were able to make your stay comfortable and relaxing. We look forward to hosting you again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot for multiple families with kids

We had a group of three families with six kids between us (ages 3-9). The layout worked very well for us with the three main bedrooms and two bunk rooms in the basement. There were lots of helpful amenities including toys, books, water shoes, and life jackets. Everything was clean and accessible for our stay. We were there over July 4 and it was a busy and exciting location with lots of people and boaters around.The only slight downside is that the lake is a bit far down a hill, so make sure to bring all your stuff down to the dock and avoid the long hike back. There is a floating pad for the kids and kayaks, which was great because there were rocks but not sandy shoreline.Would definitely stay again! Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our family vacation at The Grassy Knoll was everything we hoped for. The house was very clean, and set in such a peaceful lakeside environment. The neighbors welcomed us with kind words for us to enjoy our stay. We had so much fun in Okaboji and really enjoyed our only 12 minute drive back to the silent reprieve back at the house. My favorite part of the vacation was having coffee on the deck by the lake, and sharing the quiet early mornings with my grandkids. We will definitely stay here agaian!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
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