The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!!
The Great River Retreat (main house to the currently rented guest House VRBO Listing #480979) nestled between the small riverside towns of Alma and Nelson, Wisconsin, this home sits on the backwaters of the Mississippi. It is fully furnished and every detail of the house has been redone in the past few years. Whether you enjoy your evenings sitting by the fireplace, watching a movie on the big screen, socializing by the bar, listening to the trains roll through on the beautifully screened porch (overlooking the river), or spend it by the campfire - you will find a way to cozy in! You'll notice our modern decor with an inviting outdoor touch throughout the home keeping it very comfortable along with the beautiful landscaping you'll enjoy as you make your way around the property. Spring of 2016, we took the 3 car garage and workout room and turned it into a HUGE rec room for a great place for our groups to gather and entertain without ever having to leave the property! Included in the rec room is a custom made bar, dart board, pool table and a social nook with 3 comfy couches to hang out and enjoy. The room above the rec room is a bonus room with additional sleeping (3 fulls and 3 twin beds) to accommodate larger groups.
If you're looking for an escape for larger groups check out our adjacent property (which is set up to sleep 6 comfortably) for availability and book them both!!
As a guest here, you’ll have access to the water and use of our dock so that you can fish, swim, or just relax. We have a few kayaks down by the water for your group to use and if you’d like, the Alma Marina is a quick 4 miles away and has pontoon rentals available.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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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
About the neighborhood
Alma
Located in Alma, this vacation home is on the waterfront. Wings Over Alma and Castlerock Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Pepin Depot Museum and LARK Carousel. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or check out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and sledding.
Lock and Dam No. 4 Observation Area - 6 min drive - 8.5 km
Buena Vista Park - 6 min drive - 8.9 km
Castlerock Museum - 6 min drive - 9.3 km
National Eagle Center - 9 min drive - 14.2 km
Restaurants
Subway - 11 min drive
Top Hat - 7 min drive
Wabasha Warehouse Liqour - 12 min drive
Dairy Queen - 14 min drive
Red Ram Saloon - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!!?
As of May 9, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!! on May 10, 2026 start from $753, 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 The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!!?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The Great River Retreat on Mississippi backwaters: views, modern & peaceful!! located?
Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Mississippi River and within 6 mi (10 km) of Castleberg Park and Wings Over Alma. Lock and Dam No. 4 Observation Area and Buena Vista Park are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
The house was as described and had plenty of room for our group to spread out and visit during a family reunion. The screened in porch was great at night for meals and board games together after a day of boating on the water. All in all our family enjoyed the space & it was perfect for our group’s needs.
WE all loved your place!! There were the 7 of us that came to visit the area and to see the fall colors, we were all very comfortable, very family friendly atmosphere . The location was just beautiful. It could use some deep cleaning like the vents and windows and the inside cob webs, replace the burnt out light bulbs, lots of bugs in the light fixtures but it is that time of year. I myself clean for homes too so I look into these things way to much. overall very nice place. I did clean some inside windows myself, hope that was ok :)
Property was in good condition and everything went very smoothly. There was no issues with anything and everyone had a good time. Main game area was a big hit.
We used this place for a girls weekend for 10 women. The home was clean and had plenty of room to comfortably sleep all of us. It’s got a wonderful set up for entertaining as well. The screened in porch was great to sit and lookout at the river and listen to the trains go by. The home is nestled between Alma and Nelson and great location to go between wineries. No complaints and we’ll definitely come back when we get a chance.
My favorite room was the 3 season porch. Loved relaxing in there listening to birds, leaves rustling, and boats going by in channel. My teenage son and his friends kept busy in the rec room when not out on the river. And when rain/storm came through they chilled watching movies in the downstairs area. Kitchen was full of everything needed to cook. Plenty of room for everyone.
The train traffic was understated. The trains rolled through almost every hour, night and day the entire time we were there; Friday and Saturday and Sunday. On Friday night, one train parked on the tracks immediately behind the property, blocking our access to the river and the dock for the entire weekend. if you do not care about getting down to the river, this is a great property. it was clean and very large to accommodate our family gathering. The screened porch was very nice. The rec room area was awesome for our teenagers and adults and we enjoyed the pool table and the darts. We also really enjoyed use of the kayaks that were provided!
The property was accurately described online. The driveways were a little tricky at night (and probably would be in the winter!) but we planned for that. We had everything we needed for our stay. We didn’t l anticipate a parked train behind the house for the whole weekend and had to climb between rail cars to get to the river, but the property owners can’t control that. The house has plenty of gathering space. We really enjoyed the screened porch, but with the rec room and basement - this property could easily accommodate families or groups with several ages to have their own areas to hang out separately. The “downtown” area of Alma was just a few miles away, and there were multiple bars and restaurants to choose from, along with at least one nearby winery. Overall, I would recommend this property to someone if they were ok being fairly remote and not bothered by having to drive to get to restaurants, bars, etc. The scenery is beautiful!
Verified traveler
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Samantha L.
Mar 1, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Large home; small yard and weird layout
This was a pretty nice home to stay at, but is very divided. The hallway that divides the house from the rec room is COLD! So anybody that stays on that side has to walk through the dark cold hallway. There is only a kitchen table to use on the main part of the home so it was a little small. No bathroom or running water in the rec room so it was tough to have food on that side. Getting in the driveway is tricky and there isn't very much parking space. Also be careful when renting the property if you are looking for privacy because the guest house on the property is a separate rental unit. The basement on the main part of the home is super COLD and had some damage in the one area! Overall it went ok and the home owner was very easy to get a hold of. Beds are comfortable, kitchen has pretty much everything you need, but the towels throughout are not the greatest.
It was a nice stay with a beautiful view. Very spacious, lots of places to sleep. The house was clean and ready for to enjoy our stay upon arrival. Enjoyed the rec room except the dart board didn’t work and darts were slim pickens. We had no problems with the pool table. Outside of rental could us a little cleaning by deck area, but very minor. Lastly make sure you read the email before you arrive about turning into the driveway.
What a wonderful family reunion. This was our first time renting a VRBO and it was perfect. The property was beautiful. We docked our boat and enjoyed water skiing and tubing right infront of the house. Can’t wait to come back. Thank you!
One amazing memorial day weekend! Location, house, activities were absolutely awesome. Extremely relaxing environment, worth more than enough options for things to do. The house was beautiful, the Porch made for a great area to hang out! Would definitely recommend, and would love to stay here again!
We rented for our wedding weekend, and were blown away by how neat this property was! The views were incredible and there was a bed for everyone. It was perfect!
We booked for bachlorette party. Place was beautifully located with beautiful views of the mississippi river. The house was just as it looked in the pictures. Game room was awesome! Beds were comfy. Tons of space. Easily slept 12 people! Owners were easy to contact and very accommodating. Would definately stay again!
This place was perfect for all of us to stay for the weekend, as we had a family wedding in Nelson. Lots of space to spread out, beautiful views, everything you need is there. Clear communication and friendly, helpful owners! Highly reccommend!
The home and property was in beautiful condition. It's perfect for a family getaway and accommodates all ages. Nestled in a private area close to the river, accessible to nearby Alma for a dinner out or needing to shop. We loved this home and the owner was friendly and helpful! Highly recommend this property for a vacation!
Very clean, short walk to river, lots of fun and friends. We grilled and spent most of our time I game room. During day, we went cruising on pontoon going south one day and north the next. Went through Alma lock and found fabulous place to pull up to and swim and have fun meeting new people. I'd say the only thing that would have been nice would be a bathroom and sink in game room for convenience.
We booked this last minute for a bridal shower/bachelorette party and the owner was very accommodating! There is plenty of space and the rooms are much bigger than the pictures depict. Patio is awesome (FYI no fire pit anymore) as is the rec area and we never felt crowded even with 11 people gathered. There is also an extra fridge in the rec room which was a nice surprise. Everyone commented the beds are comfortable as well. The water area is a little difficult to get to as you have to go down a narrow set of steps and down a rocky slope, we had one girl with an ankle injury so wasn't able to join us but luckily had plenty to do in the house. Overall, would highly recommend staying here!
Justine M.
About the host
Hosted by Jeremiah & Jessica Flotterud
We are parents of 3 young children who love every aspect of this wonderful home and gorgeous location.
Why they chose this property
Current property owners to another VRBO property we've managed since 2013, we fell in love with every detail of this home.