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Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB

Photo gallery for Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB

View from the deck
Back of the lake home
Beautiful Lake Watab in the Fall
Front of the Lake Home
Clear summer morning

Reviews

7.8 out of 10
Good
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 61900 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
St Joseph, MN
  • Place, College of Saint Benedict
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Saint John's University
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, The Ledge Amphitheater
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Airport, St. Cloud, MN (STC-St. Cloud Regional)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB

Quiet location and lake home for a couple or family of six or less to discover the beauty of a crystal clear lake less than an hour and a half from the Twin Cities. Full kitchen, living room, home theatre system with cable and internet access, three bedrooms with two queen beds, extra long bunk beds and the blackout curtains are just perfect for a good night’s sleep. New appliances and remodeled bathroom will impress. Hundred feet of shoreline with dock and firepit. A boat launch access is available for a fee of $25 from the Rod and Gun Club. Minutes away from St. John's University, the College of St. Benedict, and St. Cloud State University. Enjoy the Lake Wobegon Trail, a 63-mile great hike and bike pathway, or wonderful fishing with bass, walleye, northern, and sunfish. Great golf courses are available nearby in St. Cloud, Sartell, Cold Spring, Richmond and Albany.

This lake is not heavily populated - so the atmosphere is very peaceful. There is no public boat access. There are few jet skis on the lake; kayaks and pontoons dominate. Bring your kayak or paddle boards, if you would like. There is also very good fishing, with walleye, northerns , and sunnys. Also in the winter months, great cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Pretty of great restaurants and bars in St. Joseph which is a five-minute drive away, including Obbnicks, a wonderful new whiskey distillery.

No pets, no smoking.

Off-street parking is available for two large vehicles.

Owners have a private residence in the lower level of this property with a private, separate entrance so as not to disturb your visit and respect your privacy. They are rarely there.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Water view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children defined as 16 and under
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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 on property
GUESTS: ONLY registered guests are welcome on the property. Must have name, address, ph #, license # of every car on site.
FIREARMS: While we are not against them, our insurance does not allow them. So, NONE are allowed on the premises. DRUGS: NO drug use policy.
QUIET HOURS: 10:00 PM and before 8:00 AM. ANY unauthorized gathering will be charged a $500 fee

Important information

You need to know

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
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

St. Joseph

Located in St. Joseph, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. The Ledge Amphitheater and Stearns History Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Benedicta Arts Center and Paramount Theater. Travelling with kids? Consider Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and Summerland Family Fun Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
St Joseph, MN

What's nearby

  • College of Saint Benedict - 7 min drive - 5.7 km
  • Benedicta Arts Center - 9 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Saint John's University - 13 min drive - 14.7 km
  • The Ledge Amphitheater - 15 min drive - 14.6 km
  • Crossroads Center - 16 min drive - 15.0 km

Getting around

  • St. Cloud Station - 20 min drive
  • St. Cloud, MN (STC-St. Cloud Regional) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Caribou Coffee - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The House Food and Tap - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Park Diner - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB?

As of 27 Mar, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB on 8 May, 2026 start from S$219, 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 at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB located?

This St. Joseph holiday home is on the beach, 3 mi (4.8 km) from College of Saint Benedict, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Mississippi River and Saint John's Beach. Quarry Park and Nature Preserve and Benedicta Arts Center are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

7.8

Good

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. 8 out of 27 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 27 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 27 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 27 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 27 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

8.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

7.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Beth F.

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

Coming Home

Had a great stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

mike s.

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

Great place to stay.

Stayed with a group of work friends. This place was great place.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Sean K.

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

SJU Football Weekend

Great location close to St. Joe and SJU campus! Enjoyed the weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Margaret B.

Liked: Check-in, location

June 2

Very nice. Beds are a bit too hard, need a regular coffee maker, re do back porch for splinters and cushions on the porch chairs. Enjoyed our stay none the less. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melanie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

We were in town to watch our son play for the Rox.

The property was quiet and nice. The dock offered a great spot to relax.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gary L.

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

Family time

Wonderful setting on Watab Lake. Full moon rising over the lake was gorgeous!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hayden S.

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

GREAT LAKE ESCAPE

The stay was amazing. The home was close to all the great things central minnesota has to offer. It was a homey space, and the backyard was stunning. It was peaceful and quiet, nd the lake was very clean. The beach was a huge bonus. Great place. Great area. Even better hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Patrick P.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Minnesota vacation with family

Nice quiet neighborhood. Nice lake property.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Tiffany D.

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

Serene neighborhood

The view from back deck was beautiful! The hosts were very nice. The neighbors were all friendly also. We enjoyed our first visit to MN and plan to come back. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris R.

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

Terrific Neighborhood

My family and I loved staying here, the house was perfect. Bedroom space was great, the kitchen was sufficient to cook while we were there, access to the lake was great, the yard was very well kept up. the neighborhood was really nice and full of friendly people. We will come back again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shawn R.

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

SJU Reunion

Three fellas back for their 35th reunion from all parts of the country. Very comfortable and accurate description. Went for a swim and sat on the dock too. Great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris S.

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

Amazing!

What a beautiful property. We had a little hiccup with the website so reached out to the owners, John and Cici we absolutely amazing! They were extremely helpful and quick to respond. I highly recommend this property and would 100% come back. Thank you John and Cici, you were awesome.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

niall c.

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

Well kept.

Everything was good. The couches were very low , especially for people our age. I have had bth knees replaced and when I sat down I was only about a foot off the ground, but everything else was fine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

6/10 Okay

Linda E.

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

The lake was nice

Conflict with the host set the tone for an uncomfortable stay. The smoke detector battery was chirping at 1:30 am the first night. We replaced the batteries at our own expense to fix the issue since this type of thing can happen. The gas grill is not for guest use and we mistakenly uncovered it to take a look. We did not use the grill, but the host became very upset with us. Our apologies fell on deaf ears. Guests may use the charcoal grill, but only lighter fluid is provided. You need to get your own charcoal. We did not grill during our stay. Owners were present in their basement unit for much of our stay seemingly unaware of the boundaries they established. The deck is for guest use yet each time we left the property, the deck furniture was re-arranged. The owners do not seem to want to host as minimum effort is put into maintaining the property or making the stay comfortable for guests. The lake was very nice, but we will not be returning.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Cheryl P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Meh...

Positives: Beautiful location on small quiet lake Easy to find and close to town for extra gas and groceries Rental well cared for with kitchen easy to cook in Concerns: Extra restrictions and rules that were not stated at time of booking. Lack of privacy due to owners dining on patio, coming and going throughout the day, using the dock for their own pontoon boat, and constant questioning of guests during their stay. No place for safety should a tornado warning be announced (which it was). The owner’s residence in lower level is not available even if they are present. Aluminum dock does not have any protection for landing boats which makes scratches almost inevitable.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Michael L.

Good Place in a Quiet Setting

We enjoyed the fully stocked kitchen. The dining table is not very practical at bar height, it's extremely small, and there are only four chairs in the whole house though the house rents for six people. The mattresses are comfortable. Thanks! The AC is not adequate to the house. Certain rooms are comfy while others get little air. Ceiling fans would help a lot too. The bathtub is terribly slippery and grab bars are needed. There are not enough towels supplied for a week's stay when one is not provided a washer/dryer. Nice place overall; fit our needs quite well. Way too many silly rules in a book that people don't read. Shorten the notes to the important things - bullet them - and move on. Quiet neighborhood; good for walking.
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Jennifer W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Have you ever seen the VBRO commercials with Nick Saban and the list of rules. That is this place. They had 5 pages of rules!!!! EXTRA PERSON CHARGE - Even with all of there house rules, they do not follow the law!!! MN has a price transparency law where even in a VBRO additional fees must be listed in the advertising (which the owner writes). As you will see the listing sleeps 6, the first line in the description of the property states for a couple or family up to 6. NO WHERE does it list any fees. I was charged 400 for extra guests!!!! When asked I was told they charge 50 night per person over 4 people!!!!! * They list air conditioning; however, they do not have central air. They have room units. One of the guest rooms with the queen bed has no unit. It’s also listed in one of their rules although they have these they prefer that don’t use them because they cost money so just open a window.*The couches were very used up. One of the couches had boards under the cushions. Between people sinking into the cushions and the couches being so low they were very difficult to get out of even for middle aged people.*The house is on a lake, that is true; however, there is a very steep hill to get down there and when you do get down there is so much goose poop. As you will see in reviewing other reviews these are not new concerns it’s just how this property is - lots of rules, hidden fees, and an inaccurate listing. Not worth the trip.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Wendy F.

St. Joe rental home

The property is the top part of a family home. There is a private entrance, full kitchen, great room, bedrooms and bath. The owners were in the private lower part of the home for part of our stay and we were notified of when they would be there. This was not a problem for us since we left by mid morning and didn’t return until later in the evening. The neighborhood is very quiet and this property is quite lovely with a large yard, fire pit and dock. There are no laundry appliances available, since we were there for a week, we did not have fresh towels for the whole of our stay. There is a large tv in the great room but no instructions on how to connect to their service. I received a quick response when I sent a request for assistance. Unfortunately, it wasn’t specific enough and we never were able to get it to work. Didn’t really matter to us, but I suggested a written, detailed instruction sheet be left with the remotes. If you haven’t experienced well water in the past, the slight odor of the water maybe offensive. Overall, we were satisfied and would consider staying there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

Chris S.

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

Not As Described

First: There are some misleading things about the property post. I will fully admit; I didn't read the whole thing, so I missed the last couple sentences which read: "Owners have a private residence in the lower level of this property with a private, separate entrance so as not to disturb your visit and respect your privacy. They are rarely there." I would not have rented this property if it would have been more obvious that the owners are on site. This should be listed as a duplex, not "quiet, relaxing home." It seems that the owners are saying just enough to not be entirely false, but they're not being entirely forthright either. Other notable differences: The pictures of the home make it seem like all bedrooms have AC units. They don't. The owners say "separate entrance." There is an entrance to their "entirely separate space" within the unit. There is also an entrance to their space at the back of the house. You will see them walk through. The flag pole and number of flags flying has changed from the front picture. There are pictures of a concrete patio, a grill, and chairs; those are off limits for renters. The Ring cameras at the front and back of the house aren't pictured or aren't pictured clearly. There wasn't a tarp on the house in the pictures; when we stayed there, there was a tarp over what seemed like a broken roof which kept 1 guest awake. (I have pictures.) The gas grill is off limits. There is an un-pictured charcoal BBQ for guest use.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Steven D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Stay on Watab

Property was clean and appointed nicely. Check in and getting in to the property was easy enough. Other than no bottle opener, the house was well supplied. Property manual was thick. Owners stay on the lower level. We could hear their tv in the evening and I am sure they could hear the crying baby overnight. Main gripe is the large damage deposit (over $3500), which has not been refunded 10 days later. We probably will not choose this property again because of the need for damage deposit.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

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

Nice solid place

Cute little spot, nice set up. A little bare bones on the amenities/essentials (ice trays, 1ply tp etc )
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Kelsey S.

Nice Weekend Getaway

Booked this place back in March. We are from the St. Cloud area, which is only about 20 minutes from this property. I was due with our second child in June, and wanted to be close to home in case we forgot anything or decided to leave early. Took a long weekend at the cabin. It was very nice, clean and cozy. The owners were home during our stay, but it did not interfere with our activities. They were very friendly and welcoming. The slope down to the lake was more steep than we were expecting - it was difficult for our 2 year old and my parents to get up and down it. There wasn't an easy way to access the lake from the shore (only the dock) for our son to play in the water, but there was a park on the lake very close by that we used a few times - it had a nice beach and was very quiet.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
Verified

4/10 Poor

David C.

Ask more questions before booking

Booked the house for a 2 week stay. We had no idea that we would be sharing the house with the owner. Upon arrival we noticed that the house was split in two. When we arrived at the house we could not get the T.V. to work for us. We contacted the owner and he was quick to reply. He had said that they would be by in a couple of days to fix it. After a few days he had said that he could not get the Apple TV to work but we were able to watch Local channels. So we decided to hook up our lap top to be able to at least watch Netflix. This worked fine until the owner showed up with the wife and kid to stay for the weekend and several other days periodically. All of their devices would connect to the WiFi and it would kick us off. I messaged the owner and he had said that he called the internet company and they were having the same problem downstairs. The owner was very friendly but dose not understand that his stay there greatly affects his tenants stay. The one other thing that made our stay less desirable was the Water that came out of the plumbing had a very bad smell to it. The smell is hard to describe as it smelled like rotting metal pipes or something along those lines. from what I could tell the house has very hard water. When we showered it would take forever to rinse the soap off. if I was asked if I would stay here again I would say NO. The house and surrounding area was Absolutely beautiful! I just think the add posted should give you more info so your not surprised like we were.
Stayed 12 nights in Apr 2018
Verified

8/10 Good

Sara S.

Nice quiet place, good location

I stayed in this home in February, which is probably not when most people are seeking the peace and quiet of Lake Watab. It's a nice home, with a surprisingly well-stocked kitchen. All the pots and pans you need to do all your home cooking with!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018
Archival

8/10 Good

Bonita C.

Peaceful place on Lake Watab

Really enjoyed having a bonfire out by Lake Watab before the snow fell. Charming neighborhood, close to St. Cloud and the freeway. Easy to find. Needed help with the 4 TV remotes and getting the house to the right temperature, but owners were easy to get ahold of to assist. Clean and kitchen was well stocked with appliances and kitchen utensils and dishes.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2017

About the host

Hosted by John Welsh

Host profile image
John and Cici's lake home is located in St. Joseph, Minnesota, United States. They know the area very well as Cici went to St. Ben's and John is a Johnnie. And their daughter is a Bennie and two sons were Johnnies. John and Cici both grew up in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul and have lived in Minnesota there entire lives. They have a warm and welcoming atmosphere here on this quiet and peaceful lake for you to enjoy!

Welcome!

Why they chose this property

Located in St. Joseph, this lake home is in a rural area near the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and horse riding nearby.

You will arrive in a quiet lakeshore neighborhood that is just 3 miles off Interstate 94 in St. Joseph, MN. At the St. Joseph exit, turn right and proceed 2.5 miles to Hwy 75. Turn right. After 0.5 miles, turn left on Hwy 2 (at Holiday Station). Proceed approximately 2 miles, then turn right on Crestview Dr. (Pleasant Acres wooden sign). Go approximately 1 mile to 9275 (green home on the right). Please park on the right side of the driveway. There is no public transportation.

What makes this property unique

As you enter the Pleasant Acres neighborhood in beautiful St. Wendel Township with your windows rolled down, you'll smell the pines, birch, oak, and maple trees and see the gorgeous Lake Watab. This private & comfortable 1900 sf lake home has a separate entrance and is filled with calm, quiet, and peacefulness. Deer, loons, ducks, cranes & mallards return to their favorite lake, for you to enjoy. A peaceful place to swim, canoe, read, rest, relax, and reflect!

About your lake home stay:
• Full newly remodeled kitchen with new, high-quality appliances with high-top seating with dishes, silverware, glassware, and many extras, for your convenience.
• Living room stays cozy with leather L-shaped sofas to watch movies, sporting events, and the news on your 65 in. home entertainment theatre with cable and internet access.
• Three bedrooms, two with a one queen bed, one with extra long bunk beds.
• Beautifully decorated with deck and lawn furniture and BBQ grill for your use.
• and remodeled bathroom.
• Hundred feet of shoreline with dock and firepit for a quiet bonfire.
• Off-street parking.
• Full bathroom with shower/tub combo and two large vanities.
• Gorgeous views of Lake Watab.
• Prices listed are for up to 4 adults and two children 12 and under
• Each person after 4 will be charged an additional $50 per night.

The Neighborhood:
• Quaint local shopping, farm markets, bakery, coffee shop & antiquing.
• Local restaurants within 5 minutes, in all directions, serve everything from delicious pizza, authentic Italian Cuisine, Craft Beer, Whiskey Distillery, and trendy Cider Mill.
• The College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University are just several coffee sips away!
• A public boat launch access is available.
• Enjoy the Lake Wobegon Trail, 63-mile great hike and bike pathway, or wonderful fishing with bass, walleye, northern and sunfish.
• Great golf courses are available nearby in St. Cloud, Sartell, Cold Spring, Richmond, and Albany.

Languages:

English, German
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