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Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom!

Photo gallery for Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom!

A modern living room with a fireplace, a dining area, and a kitchen in the background.
Sectional in living room/great room.
A lakeside road with a dock extending into the water, featuring a covered seating area and a boat.
A bunk bed with navy blue frames and white anchor-patterned bedding.
A modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a stainless steel refrigerator, granite countertops, and pendant lighting.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Fireplace
    A rare find - cosy up in front of a warm, inviting fireplace.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to City Beach Park
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 11

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dogs and cats allowed
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Clear Lake, IA
  • Place, Surf Ballroom and Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Clear Lake Fire Museum
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, City Beach Park
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Mason City, IA (MCW-Mason City Municipal)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Living Room

1 Double Futon

Living Room

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom!

Privacy and yet so close to it all in the heart of Clear Lake! Walk to activities, parks, concerts, establishments, farmers' market, and all the new Surf District additions, all from North Shore Drive. Modern and Nautical decor.

The owner is a licensed Realtor in the State of Iowa.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 23
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 9 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Pickup after pet in yard and stay off furniture.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds, gather used towels and store extra beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Empty the trash into the receptacles along the front house sidewalk and roll to the curb of the driveway corner for Tuesday trash collection. Strip beds and used towels and pace in front of washer.
Ensure all windows are closed and locked, as well as exterior doors. If you brought a pre-approved pet, ensure all pet waste is collected from the yard and disposed of properly.
Turn Google Neat to Eco mode to save energy.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
No parties/events and no smoking or open flames inside. Approved pets must pick up after pet in the yard. Keep noise in check, and no barking.
Before checking out, place used linens in front of laundry machine, load and start dishwasher, and set all trash out at corner/curb of driveway.
No Smoking. A $1000 minimum fee will be charged if the house smells of smoke. Walk on driveway/sidewalk and not in east yard neighbor's yard/grass.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2878552vb
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Clear Lake

Located in Clear Lake, this cottage is in the city centre and on a lake. Surf Ballroom and Museum and Clear Lake Fire Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Maze and Meredith Willson Boyhood Home.
View more Cottages in Clear LakeOpens in a new window
Map
Clear Lake, IA

What's nearby

  • Clear Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Surf Ballroom and Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Clear Lake Fire Museum - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Central Gardens of North Iowa - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • City Beach Park - 10 min walk - 0.8 km

Getting around

  • Mason City, IA (MCW-Mason City Municipal) - 6 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Lake Time Brewery - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Culver's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Pasta Bella - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Remodeled cottage hidden yet close to City Park, the Lake and the Surf Ballroom! located?

Located in the heart of Clear Lake, this cottage is within a 5-minute walk of Clear Lake and Surf Ballroom and Museum. Clear Lake Fire Museum and City Beach Park are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

VICKI P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The home was wonderful. Very clean and great for a girls weekend. The distance to town is a definite benefit since there are a lot of fun shops and restaurants to enjoy.We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brittany P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was very cute and had lots of room and amenities. Would absolutely recommend! Host was very responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen B.

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

Close to Surf

We stayed for the Winter Dance Party and the location to the Surf Ballroom was excellent! The place was clean and stocked with everything we needed!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carol M.

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

Lovely stay during Horse Show in Mason City

A lovely, clean home close to all the best shopping, restaurants and of course Clear Lake. Sherri was a fantastic hostess, helping us work through some issues unrelated to the property or Venmo. Still laughing as yes, the cottage really is hidden!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle T.

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

Love this place!

Great location and accommodations! Attention to detail is excellent. Owners are responsive and helpful. Already booked again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deborah T.

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

Location, location

The best part about this property is the location - close to downtown, park & beach. Found it to be clean and comfortable. Appreciated amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steve K.

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

Nice quiet hideaway

The place has an excellent layout with a great room which flows into the kitchen. The first floor master bedroom was great. The house was clean neat and uncluttered Highly recommend it
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sherrie B.

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

Home Away from Home

Very clean. Very comfortable. Everything we needed for the stay we wanted including a bucket and shovel for the beach 😁. Would definitely stay here again. Hosts responded quickly with great communication.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Mary Ann C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
One of your bar stools is not very stable Otherwise quite n8ce
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug 2025
Thank you for letting me know as this was the first time we have had that reported. We will look into it.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

William S.

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

Perfect little property - excellent location

This was our first time visiting Clear Lake as a family. This casita was perfect for us. Clean, cozy, and stocked with beach gear. We enjoyed the separate living areas and the basement’s washer and dryer. The hosts’ communication was excellent and everything was better than expected. One block away from the Surf ballroom and 4 blocks to the main beach and city park. We will hopefully be back in the future.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Theodore R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy

Clear lake

House was clean - listing was not clear about size and location of basement bedrooms- pictures were a bit misleading
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug 2024
I am sorry you thought the pictures were misleading as they were taken with a standard iPhone setting and were not altered in any way. I will review the listing to see if there is anything we can do to improve the listing so there is no confusion for guests.
Verified

8/10 Good

Rachel L.

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

Great location for triathlon weekend

Stayed here for the local triathlon and the location/proximity to City Park, Beach, splash pad, playgrounds, restaurants and cafe was all perfect (3 min walk). This was a carriage house behind the main property which also appeared to be vacation rentals. Very quiet and I appreciated that the house had blackout curtains (a detail that seems to be hard to find in vacation rentals). Loved the check-in/security lock on the door – very easy to use. The house has been very nicely and thoughtfully remodeled. They've even stocked plenty of board games and yard games. Couple things that would make it perfection: We were disappointed to find that while there was a coffee machine, filters were not provided. Thankfully we had packed our own coffee grounds but couldn't have predicted what filters to bring so had to make a special trip back out to the store after checking in. The other surprise was communication about the living room futon – it's actually an air mattress. It worked out ok as I had my two young kids on it and it was a nice air mattress as far as they go with a built-in electric air pump. The biggest downside to it was that the sheet set included was the wrong size (too small) so I ended up having them use two flat sheets instead of a fitted sheet and flat sheet.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Matthew F.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Location

Very hidden property.

Poor parking and long walk to get your things into the house. The property is behind another duplex and you must walk by the other house that is not very well kept and has a large barking dog with open windows in the house you walk by to get to the VRBO we stayed at. It’s not clear whose yard is whose and the owner of the dog clearly doesn’t clean up the dogs Poo therefore our toddle not only was our toddler frightened multiple times she couldn’t walk through the yard due to the dog mess. The cleanliness of the rental was so so - we had to sweep and wipe down the floor to feel comfortable letting our toddler play in the house. The forced insurance policy was annoying as well. We would not stay here again mainly due to the large dog and gross yard you you must pass to get to the house far behind the other rental house. You can’t see the VRBO from the street we thought we might have a peak a boo view of the lake based on the pictures that is not the case at all.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug 2024
We are sorry to hear about the issues with the pet from another nearby Airbnb that weekend. Other Airbnb guest were to pick up after their pet. We weren't aware they hadn't been controlling their dog until your review. We would have been happy to address it with the other neighbor if we had known and taken it up with them immediately. We have informed the cleaning crew that you didn't find the floor as pristine as it normally is, and to make sure to address this right away.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dana H.

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

A wonderful cottage in beautiful Clear Lake, Iowa

This sweet cottage was the perfect place for a reunion in Clear Lake with my family! It is tucked away behind a house in a downtown neighborhood of beautiful historic homes, all of which having lovely gardens and charming front porches. The cottage's location set back from the street and behind a house created a nice courtyard with a bit of a private feel, and we spent a lot of time out there on the patio, enjoying the beautiful trees, the squirrel "acrobatics," and the abundant bird life (including some kind of little owls that SCREECHED [just one occasion] and startled us all one evening!). As for the interior of the cottage, it was absolutely immaculate and extremely well appointed with everything we needed. The décor had a nice beachy theme, and the cottage was comfy and inviting. We had planned our reunion around the Clear Lake "Art Sail," and the cottage was close enough that we could walk to the City Park where it was being held, as well as to the City Beach, the Lady of the Lake paddleboat, and to all the great restaurants downtown (do NOT miss the Starboard Deli!). A public boat dock was just up the block from the cottage, and the Surf Ballroom and Farmer's Market were nearby. Sherri the host was very responsive to all of our questions, both before booking and during our stay, getting back to me often within minutes of my messaging her. Thank you, Sherri, for being a great host! I absolutely recommend the Hidden Cottage to anyone planning a stay in Clear Lake.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Doug N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We couldn't have asked for a better host and place to stay! Sherri was quick to respond to questions or issues. Location was great, just a short walk to the Surf and to downtown, we hardly had to use our vehicles! The house is right on the bike loop around the lake too! Kitchen supplies were plentiful, as well as bathroom supplies. There were also a number of fans/heaters available. We had the best time with the games provided too! Would definitely recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Ben

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Sherri

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

We chose this neighborhood for its proximity to the lake, Clear Lake City Park, and the lake. It is also tucked away from all the traffic on North Shore.

What makes this property unique

Completely remodeled and close to it all. You hardly can see the property from the street.

Languages:

English

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