1.1 acres with 213 feet of lakefront, a native wildflower garden, and a large lawn perfect for lawn games, picnics, weddings, and reunions.
Our family cabin on John’s Lake, in central Wisconsin, has been the site of many happy memories, and lots of summer fun. Now we are sharing this special place with others.
Birch Bay Retreat is family-friendly and is an excellent location for a family reunion, a casual outdoor wedding, a retreat for a small group or club, or similar events, or a quiet weekend getaway or writing retreat.
Enjoy fishing and swimming from our pier, or take our canoes or pontoon boat out for a spin! BBQ on our wraparound porch with views of the lake and wildflower garden, and then gather around the campfire at our private lakeside fire pit in the evening. For summer guests, the first night's firewood is on us as our welcome to the lake!
Two televisions (one on each floor). Cable TV with DVD player, WiFi, and Google Chromecast (bring your own Netflix/Hulu subscription) are included in the rental fee.
Lawn games and other outdoor activities are available for summer guests. On rainy days, enjoy the basement game room with ping-pong, a foosball table and carpet bowling.
The house has a large kitchen and a family-sized dining room that opens out onto a balcony, with views towards the lake. We have beds, sleeper sofas, and futons to sleep 14, and there is space to squeeze in more if you have a bigger gathering.
We do our best to make sure you can bring the whole family:
For families with young children, a Graco Pack-N'-Play is available for infants as well as a Chico caddy hook-on chair and washable silicone placemat to use at the table. Cots are available for young children. The house is partially child-proofed (a stair gate is available, cleaning supplies are placed out of reach of children, and most unused outlets are covered with safety plugs).
For older family members or those with somewhat limited mobility, the master bedroom is accessible by only a few steps, and it opens onto the main floor (kitchen, dining room, living room, and master bath are all on the same level). The master bath has a walk-in shower with a handhold installed, showerhead with hose, and a shower bench is available upon request.
We understand that pets are part of the family, so your dogs and other pets are welcome to join you in enjoying a stay at Birch Bay Retreat. We do ask for a small additional fee to help cover wear and tear from pets.
A second refrigerator in the basement will allow you to chill all your food and drinks for a large gathering, and a laundry room (washer / dryer / iron and ironing board / drying racks) is available.
We continue to improve the family accessibility based on feedback from our guests.
Birch Bay Retreat is near several charming small towns such as Redgranite, Berlin, and Wild Rose, as well as wineries, golfing and antiquing. Grocery stores, restaurants, and other shops are a short distance away in Wautoma.
The cabin is also close to the Mt Morris ski resort, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling trails, so there are lots of winter recreation opportunities! It's heated and comfortable for winter guests.
Our family has cherished the memories and traditions we have created here over the years and we know you will, too. Come stay and relax at the lake!
Check in: 4:00 PM - the Property Manager will meet you upon your arrival to give you keys and answer any last minute questions, and will be during your stay if you need any assistance.
Check Out: noon.
Early check-in and late check-out may be available upon request for a small fee, on a case-by-case basis -- please ask during the booking process!