Marine School-house Garden Cottage apartment unit converted to VRBO. This bright 1 bedroom/1 bath second story apartment (with additional sleeping on a queen-sized hide-a-bed couch) has an up in the air, birds nest feel, as it overlooks the cobblestone court surrounded by woods and nature below. Walk to the historic General Store, Brookside Bar and Grill, Village Scoop ice cream (summer), St. Croix Chocolate Company, Stonehouse Museum (summer), local Lutheran Church, or bring your bike to ride some of the Saint Croix Valley's scenic roads and trails. In summer, bring your kids to a really great beach on Square Lake (just minutes away), to any of the river accesses to explore cliffs and river along the St. Croix. Or, bring your kayak or canoe to check out the beautiful river (access just below the General Store, William O'brien State Park, and many other places along the river). On weekends in summer, enjoy live music at the Brookside Bar and Grill (very short walk, see their website), visit Stillwater for antiques, riverfront parks, and additional restaurants (10 minute drive south). To the north check out the Gammelgarden Museum in Scandia (see website), Franconia Sculpture Park (see website), or try the zip line at Trollhaugen Aerial Adventure Park (northeast on Wisconsin side of river). During winter, cross country ski William O'brien Park's trails, venture to Trollhaugen Ski Area (17 miles) for tubing, snow boarding and skiing, or head ten minutes south to Stillwater for shopping and antiquing, great wine (Domacin Wine Bar), food (take your pick of many unique restaurants), or locally brewed beer (Liftbridge Brewery).
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
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
Parties and events are allowed on site
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
Marine on St. Croix
Marine on St. Croix is home to this apartment. The area's natural beauty can be seen at William O'Brien State Park and Big Marine Park Reserve, while Warden's House Museum and Somerset Amphitheater are cultural highlights. Ice Castle and Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway are also worth visiting. Kayaking and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and rock climbing nearby.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - 51 min drive - 59.0 km
U.S. Bank Stadium - 57 min drive - 68.2 km
Target Field - 58 min drive - 67.5 km
Getting around
St. Paul, MN (STP-St. Paul Downtown) - 47 min drive
Restaurants
Not Justa Bar & Cafe - 32 min drive
Meister's Bar & Grill - 8 min drive
Pottings - 27 min drive
St. Croix Chocolate Co. - 3 min walk
Brookside Bar & Grill - 2 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5 pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5?
As of 1 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5 on 31 Dec, 2026 start from S$138, 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 Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Marine Cargo at Ret Crown St Croix Unit 5 located?
Situated in Marine on St. Croix, this apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of Saint Croix River and William O'Brien State Park. Rustic Roots and Big Marine Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a lovely long weekend away in Marine in St. Croix. The accommodations were clean and quite cozy. The town has everything you might need during a short stay. The area is quiet within easy distance of some wonderful state parks. Great hub to go out and enjoy the fall colors.
The one downside is that the town has a loud siren that sounds anytime there is a medical or fire emergency in the area. Not too disruptive from the apartment, but pretty intense when sitting outside at the Brookside Pub.
Elizabeth E.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified
6/10 Okay
Chris M.
30 Aug, 2020
Liked: Check-in, location
Great location;unit needs updating
The location & cute town were excellent. Unfortunately the first impression was entering through a musty & dirty hallway that looked like it had not been cleaned in quite some time. Bedroom, & dining room were good. Bathroom linens and bedding were good.The living room carpet had stains and needs more lighting to allow for evening reading. The kitchen was adequate, but needs a mixing bowl, measuring spoons and more silverware. There were only 2 butter knives. Wine & coffee were a nice touch !The bathroom needs some major updating. It was generally clean, but had a stained bathmat covering spots and the tub surround had stains that were really unpleasant. There are few options for rentals in the area, so hate to be negative, but with some improvements and attention to detail this could be a great rental.
Cute town close to a lot of fun outdoor activities, within walking distance of property, rental decorated nicely but building is Older and not in the greatest shape
We were pleased with this simple and clean apartment. This place is all about location as you can walk across the street into Marine on St. Croix. It also served as a great home base for a weekend of river fun.
Our stay was easy and conveniently located. The property was very clean inside, although the building itself is dated and it’s a very basic set up. Property owners were extremely nice, responsive and easy to deal with.
The property was very comfortable and exactly as pictured. The air conditioning worked well and kept us comfortable, and the hosts were very helpful and responsive. Would definitely recommend it.
Exactly as advertised. Totally enjoyed our stay, and would recommend to anyone looking for a vacation spot with plenty of activities to choose from close by, this is the perfect place.
Marine on St Croix with its variety of small galleries and shops will take you back in time. And, all within walking distance.
rob b.
Verified
8/10 Good
Mackenzie B.
31 Oct, 2018
Cute place. Great location.
Cute place. Great location. We had a fun girls weekend!
Mackenzie B.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Mary J.
25 Oct, 2018
Nice and comfortable accommodations!
The accommodations were great! We so enjoyed spending time in St Croix and Stillwater! The location was the best!
Mary J.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Jane J.
4 Oct, 2018
Cozy, cute apartment
Very clean, well kept apartment! Close to restaurants, shops, and awesome state parks. The apartment had everything that we needed plus some fun extras that weren't expected but were lovely! We had a great time thanks to exceptional hospitality!
Jane J.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Alexander C.
19 May, 2018
Wonderful getaway in a cute place in a lovely town :)
We really enjoyed our stay :) The wine that was included was quite a nice bonus!
Alexander C.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Sue P.
30 Dec, 2017
Perfect for overflow family
Great place with wonderful owners. Quiet and comfortable with lots of goodies.
Sue P.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2017
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Jessica T.
13 Aug, 2015
Exactly what we wanted!
Just returned home after spending 5 days here and it was lovely! It was clean, well decorated and quiet. Yes, that bathroom is a little rough, but it did its job and it was clean! When we came in the AC was on, there was a bottle of wine and the electric candles were flickering. It was such a nice environment to come into after driving for nearly 3 days. It's far enough from everything to see the stars and hear the cicadas (a new thing for us) and close enough to everything to entertain the kids. I would gladly stay here again. Thank you!!
Jessica T.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Judith Johnson D.
1 Jul, 2015
A week to de-stress!!
This is a darling place with so much character, and a wonderful friendly community. Dave and Robin are awesome, and so accommodating, too! I came here by myself to get some focused work done outside the office and was thrilled with the experience. Some great walking down to the river and up the hills into old Marine -- loved the church bells at noon and the curfew whistle at 9 pm. The Marine General Store truly has everything you could need from organic buffalo to a swell deli, the library was great fun, the fish fry at the Brookside was terrific -- and yes, the special touches Dave and Robin bring make it perfect -- I didn't get into my car for 5 days and it had cobwebs on it when I got back in -- what could be better??
Judith Johnson D.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
1 Oct, 2014
We rode bikes and hiked near by trails
We came out to area for a couple days to ride bikes and hike the trails at O'brien State Park. We have stayed here several times before, in other units, and thought we would try this one as something different. We liked the bright and comfortable feel of it and slept well while there, but found carrying our bikes up and down the stairs each day a bit of an inconvenience -- not the end of the world but worth noting for people bringing bikes or ski equipment. We would happily stay here again.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Victoria W.
22 Sept, 2014
Perfect Accomodations
This is a perfectly appointed unit in quaint Marine on St. Croix. Truly, everything you could possibly need (and more) is at your disposal. We arrived to a warm welcome from the owner along with some surprise touches that were far beyond what I'd ever experienced when renting a property. This is a perfect place to recharge and rest after enjoying the area recreation and sites. It's within walking distance to the local Brookside restaurant and bar and the Marine General Store - not to mention the beautiful St. Croix River. And if you can't completely "unplug" - there is free WIFI.
Thanks for an awesome stay while we were in town for a wedding!
Victoria W.
Archival
4/10 Poor
Sarah C.
15 Sept, 2014
Not ready for prime time rental.
The photographed rooms are somewhat decent but what you don't see is the problem. A rough bathroom, sad kitchen, bad paint job throughout and poorly kept building.
The caretakers are nice folks and respond quickly. I was under the impression it was a nice modern Swedish style place for a getaway by looking at photos but was disappointed at condition of the whole place. Price was low so your expectations should be also. Good for getting out of rain if you were camping nearby possibly.
Sarah C.
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Mar, 2020
"The photographed rooms are somewhat decent but what you don't see is the problem. A rough bathroom." Specifically, the vinyl flooring is outdated light-green color from the 1970's, it's clean, in good shape and has been well taken care of... it is not marble, ceramic, or current in color/style.
"An ugly sad kitchen." No new or stainless appliances, no granite countertops, and cabinets are dated, and vinyl matches bathroom's in color and date, but as far as happy kitchen or sad, everything works and it’s well stocked. "Bad paint job throughout." On any historic building there's always a place where paint needs attention. In some of the common areas we have kept same paint as the historic town hall. Though there is temptation to change it, we are not sure it will improve someones vacation and have not had any complaints from any of the repeat visitors over the last 2 years so it is as is. "Poorly kept building." With the exception of foundation, walls, wiring, plumbing, roof, windows, heating, air conditioning, and unit furnishings (which were sourced from Macys (bedding), Pier 1 (chairs, tables, lamps, hide-a-bed couch, misc. artwork, headboard, decorative pillows, lanterns and candles), Lowes (plants, air-conditioners, iron, ironing board, dish rack), Target (46" led/lcd TV, plates and cups, coffee maker, wine bottle opener, pizza cutter), Kohls (towels and pillows), and Martin Mattress Company in St. Paul (local company makes great mattresses for hotels/lodging). "The caretakers are nice folks and respond quickly." OK, thanks. "I was under the impression it was a nice modern Swedish style place for a getaway by looking at photos." Marine does have a Swedish influenced past and present. They filmed part of the movie "Grumpy Old Men" two doors up the hill at the Lutheran Church. Unit artwork is mostly nautical or water themed to keep with river location of the town in National Scenic Waterway, though Sweden could be represented in one of the flag paintings. "But was disappointed at condition of the whole place." We have travelled the country and many parts of the world, stayed in all kinds of places and were sometimes disappointed with people and weather, never the place. "Price was low so your expectations should be also." Our goal is to do the best job we can at making the place enjoyable and available to people who want to visit the town and surrounding area, without gouging them financially out of their opportunity to visit.
About the host
Hosted by David and Robin
We are locals in the community and have made this wonderful apartment unit available to people in search of a place to relax, explore, bike, hike, ski, shop, or visit in the scenic Saint Croix River Valley.
Why they chose this property
Located in the heart of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, there is much to explore and do in every direction.
What makes this property unique
Short walk to local food and entertainment, short drive to everything else. Village has a New Hampshire meets Mayberry feel to it.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests