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-> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!

Photo gallery for -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!

A small wooden cabin with a red door and a window, surrounded by trees.
Room
A forested area with a body of water and lily pads.
A hammock tied between two trees by a lake with a boat docked nearby.
Two armchairs with striped pillows, a small round table with a book, and a window with curtains.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • A quiet escape
    Guests like the location for the peace and quiet.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View in a map
Marcell, MN
  • Place, Jack the Horse Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Johnson Lake
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Place, Marcell Family Center
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

-> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!

Step Back in Time to this Tranquil & Historic 1930's Lake Cottage at Jack The Horse Resort! Listen to the Call of Loons from your Bedrooms Windows, Enjoy Coffee on your Private Dock, Explore the Lake or just Enjoy the Simple Life! Balsam Cottage is Private, Clean & Comfortable w/ FREE Shared Resort Amenities *Sandy Beach *Kayaks *SUP Boards *Canoe, *Pedal Boat *Campfire Pit/Firewood >>Conveniently Located Near Restaurants-Cafes-Bars-Playground-Tennis-Golf-Scenic State Park-Unique Hiking Trails!

Balsam is a Cozy, Historic, Northwoods Cabin only 50 Feet from Beautiful Jack The Horse Lake! *Warm Hospitality *Relaxed & Peaceful Atmosphere *Only Resort on the Lake *Family Owned & Operated for 3 Generations

-2 Bedrooms / 2 Queens separated by partial wall (no doors on bedrooms)
*Sheets, Comforters & Pillows Provided
-1 Bathroom
-FREE Wifi in Cabin
-Well Equipped Kitchen for Cooking & Baking
-Smart TV & DVD Player *Free DVDs in Resort Office
-Charcoal Grill, Outdoor Furniture
-A/C & Heat
-Private Dock & Hammock at Each Cabin!
-Guests can Bring Their Own Boat & Launch for Free
-Fishing Boats & Pontoons Rentals if Reserved in Advance

**FREE Resort Amenities: Sandy Beach w/Lounge Chairs & Swimming Floats, Campfire Area & Firewood, Kayaks, Canoe, Stand Up Paddle Board, Pedal Boat, Fish Cleaning House, Horseshoe Pit, Volleyball/Badminton Net, Books/DVDs/Indoor & Outdoor Games in Resort Office, Small Gift Shop On-Site**

->Sorry - No Pets, No Smoking (of any kind), No ATV/OHV use (must be trailed to another site to ride), No Hunting/Shooting, Guests staying are not allowed to Jet Ski, Water Ski, Tube, etc on JTH Lake

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
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

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Lock the doors
Wash & put away dishes
Clean charcoal grill (if used during your stay)
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Tobacco Use Allowed Outdoors Only - Smoking Marijuana is NOT Allowed Indoors or Outdoors - No Pets
No ATV/OHV/UTVs use on property - Items Must be Trailered to ATV Trails/Roads - No Jet Skis, Water Skis, Tubing, etc. on Jack The Horse Lake
Quiet Setting - Always be Courteous to Others Regarding Noise - No Playing Music that can be heard by Others

Important information

You need to know

Property # 726564vb
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
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Marcell

Located in Marcell, this cabin is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Scenic State Park and Jack the Horse Lake. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and cycling.
View more Cabin rentals in MarcellOpens in a new window
Map
Marcell, MN

What's nearby

  • Jack the Horse Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Johnson Lake - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center - 7 min drive - 7.3 km
  • Marcell Family Center - 8 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Bills Lake - 18 min drive - 14.9 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Hayslips Corner - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Timberwolf Inn Hotel - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Pine Cone Soup & Sandwich Shoppe - ‬8 min drive
  • Pizza Parlor
  • ‪Eagles Nest Diner - ‬24 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!?

As of 1 Jul, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included! on 27 Jul, 2026 start from S$246, 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 -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is -> Historic 1930's Cabin Steps to the LAKE! ~ FREE Resort Amenities Included! located?

Situated on a lake, this cabin is within a 15-minute walk of Jack the Horse Lake and Johnson Lake. Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center and Marcell Family Center are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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. 25 out of 27 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 27 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely LOVED this place and hope we can come back again sometime! Cabin was adorable, nice and quiet resort, beach amd boats were fun and great souvenirs! Kristen is so sweet and welcoming. Definitely worth staying at!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Tammy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice place perfect for our fishing trip. The only thing was the bedrooms don’t have walls to the ceiling. Not a problem for us. The Internet is pretty spotty.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Oct, 2025
Thanks for staying with us! :) We're sorry to hear the internet was spotty during your vacation. Please feel free to contact us any time during your stay as we could have fixed the issue. The internet is high speed, fiber optic & should be quite fast. Each cabin is equipped with its own modem & router as well which is beneficial because you're not sharing internet with any other cabins. Glad to hear you enjoyed fishing and hope you have a great autumn!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shelly S.

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

Up North

Small, quiet resort off the beaten path. Clean cabin just right for two. Either could bring your own boat or rent. Had a beach with a swimming dock and could use a canoe and kayaks.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephenie R.

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

4th of July weekend

The cabin was adorable. Right next to the lake with all sorts of things to do like kayaks, floaty devices, and paddle boat. They had a little store that had DVDs you could borrow and games to play. We even had three deer walk right by our cabin. Kristen and Josh were absolutely phenomenal host. One night the electricity went out. So we decided to go to get something to eat in the pouring rain and super dark out, ended up putting our truck in the ditch and couldn't get it out a nice couple gave us a ride back to the cabin. The next morning I told Kristen what hapened and Josh came over and helped my husband get his truck back. We tried to give money for gas and he wouldn't take it. Absolutely wonderful people who go above and beyond. Would definitely recommend staying here or any of their resorts!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rachael K.

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

Excellent - Serene and Peaceful

This resort is spectacular. Our cabin was very clean and kitchen well stocked. Loved that we had our very own hammock and dock. The cabins aren’t right on top of one another so you feel like you have your own slice of the outdoors. We spent a week over the 4th of July and while all cabins were booked it was very quiet. We rented a boat and spent hours on the clean lake catching fish (bass/northern pike) and swimming, watching loons and listening to nature. Parts of the lake we were alone with no other boats/cabins. There’s paddle boards, a canoe and kayaks to use free of charge. We brought food with so can’t speak to restaurants in the area but there’s a convenience store close where we purchased bait. The office has movies/games to use and a cute little gift shop too. Each cabin has Wi-Fi. Would highly recommend this resort if you’re looking to be immersed in nature with beautiful quiet surroundings. Be sure to bring towels (bath/kitchen/(sponge too)/beach), soap, spices). With so many places to explore we don’t go back to the same location twice but this is one we will for sure come back to. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leon L.

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

Pleasant

We had a very enjoyable time.The cabin was just as described
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia H.

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

Wonderful spot

Totally equipped cabin right on the lake. Owner was totally responsive (we are readers so requested an extension cord and bedside reading light, which she supplied). Kitchen had everything we needed.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Becky K.

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

Charming, cute, clean, beautiful wilderness location, and excellent/friendly property manager!

Definitely would recommend this place! Remember to bring your own towels, dishcloths, hand soap, dish soap, and food. Dishware, etc is all included. If you love the great outdoors, this is definitely an excellent place to stay. Enjoy!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine C.

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

Quiet to Unwind

Somewhat rustic, had everything we needed, and we had a wonderful, relaxing, and fun stay. Thank you to the resort hosts for taking such good care of the lake and property, and for sharing this special place with us.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gregory B.

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

Great Relaxing Stay in the Wild

First, off I have to say how polite and kind Kristen, the owner of the resort, was to me and my best friend who actually came up to MN to visit me from Berlin, Germany! He wanted to experience the true north and this trip gave him just that. She gave us both the friendliest warm Minnesota welcome. She's an absolute gem and went out of her way to ensure we both had the best stay ever! We forgot to bring a few essential things for the cabin and she was so kind as to offer us her own things without asking for any additional fee. Secondly, the resort, although remote, was quaint, well kept, and offers everything one needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city allowing you to connect to nature. Each cabin has a private dock, a hammock, grill, was completely surrounded by nature and is very quiet allowing you to get a great night's sleep. They have everything you need to take part in connecting with the beautiful nature surrounding this small resort (kayaks, small beach for swimming, fire pit, etc.), and on a good day, you might even see a deer roaming this peaceful resort. I recommend renting a pontoon or boat for the day to take in the lake views and catch a fish or two, which was the first time my friend ever went fishing and he absolutely loved it. The memories we made this weekend will last us both a lifetime. Thanks again Kristen for welcoming us to your resort and we hope to visit again very soon!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John A.

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

Long-needed vacation

Everything went smoothly. Wonderful experience. Helpful and friendly property managers.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa D.

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

Fantastic time - clean cabin, wonderful owners, beautiful lake with fish and loons.

Had a fantastic time. Check in and out was easy, cabin was clean and well cared for, area was lovely. The owners were really nice and a joy to work with! Would happily come back next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kari J.

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

Perfection

Jack the horse did not disappoint. Our cabin was very clean and well stocked. The lake and amenities were great. We were able to kayak whenever we wanted to. The paddle boat was fun if not a bit challenging lol. We rented a fishing boat which was at our private dock the entire stay . The area so so very beautiful and the lake just perfect. Our cabin was cozy and we loved it. Definitely would recommend and hope to return for another stay
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Greg C.

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

Beautiful spot

Really enjoyed our short stay on the lake. Very quiet both in the cabin and on the lake. Lots of loons, clean clear lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie J.

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

Private, quiet, beautiful resort.

Very clean, homey, quiet resort and lake. Loved our own private dock.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Amy L.

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

Jack the Horse Resort

This was an amazing week! The property was really wonderful and we loved the resort. There were a couple things we didn't expect, the cabins don't have any towels included for bath or kitchen needs so bring your own. There are 2 complementary roles of toilet paper in the cabin. There is absolutely nothing in the kitchen that is expendable, so bring dish soap and salt and pepper. We had to ask the resort owners for dish soap which they did happily provide. The cinnamon rolls on Mondays were FABULOUS! The fishing was GREAT and the overall resort was well kept and very quiet!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane W.

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

Beautiful fall color getaway.

We really enjoyed our stay at Jack the Horse resort. It was so peaceful and quiet! Beautiful fall colors in the whole area. Would have liked firmer beds, but other than that everything was great! Highly recommended.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

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

State Park Visit to North Central MN

Very nice and very clean cabin. We loved the lake front and access to a canoe.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

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

Peaceful

Such a peaceful week we had here! The cabin was so cute! Clean, well maintained, minimal and had everything we needed. The resort is well run with so much natural beauty. It was quiet and so relaxing. Having our own dock was wonderful. The little beach was great, for us and for all who were there- we enjoyed watching the children of other guests play here (brought back memories of when our own children were young). We never felt overwhelmed by people and activity though the cabins were full. Loved the kayaks, canoe and renting a boat was very reasonably priced. Love this place!!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

siri k.

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

Short Summer Getaway!

A few friends and I headed up to Jack the Horse Lake for a weekend getaway and it was amazing! Even with COVID precautions in place (which were great) our host Kristen was kind and courteous and extremely helpful. It was peaceful and had everything you would want in a cabin weekend. Plus, lots of loons!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

kimberly c.

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

Enjoyable & Relaxing

Had a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable stay at the Jack The Horse Resort. Quiet, the Balsam Cabin was completely stocked with everything we needed, and the beds and open windows were perfect. Nice to wake to the sound of calling loons. I would give this resort five stars.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann F.

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

Excellent fishing at this lake

We spent our vacation fishing on lake and it was fantastic! Weather was beautiful with exception to one day. The main office provided movies for us to watch while we stayed indoors the one day it rained. The cabin was a little small but it was comfortable. We didn't spend much time indoors. The beach was very nice and the owners were very nice as well. We would go back again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John L.

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

Happy we visited

Jack the Horse Resort is exactly as advertised. The lake is peaceful and beautiful. Kristen was extremely helpful and friendly throughout the booking process and responsive while we were there. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

chris d.

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

Nice small resort, very peaceful and quiet

My husband and I enjoyed our 2 nights and plan to stay longer next time!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ge M.

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

Our Mini Escape

We had an amazing getaway at Jack The Horse Resort. It was very peaceful and relaxing. We spent a lot of time out on the lake and was able to get in lots of fishing. We definitely will be coming back for some more. Highly recommended for any couple or family to get away and enjoy outdoors.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019

About the host

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