Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
Highlights
Room to spread out
Enjoy spacious layout that give everyone more room to relax.
Arcade/game room
A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade and game room.
By the lake
Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 13
Popular amenities
Garage parking available
Dog-friendly
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue grill
Explore the area
Eagle River, WI
Dam Lake
Place, Dam Lake
2 min walk
Paradise Lake
Place, Paradise Lake
3 min drive
Little Saint Germain Lake
Place, Little Saint Germain Lake
6 min drive
Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County)
Airport, Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County)
41 min drive
Rooms & beds
5 bedrooms (sleeps 13)
Bedroom 1 - Master
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2 - Northeast
1 King Bed
Bedroom 3 - North Center
1 King Bed
Bedroom 4 - Basement
1 King Bed
Bedroom 5 - Basement #2
1 Queen Bed and 3 Single Beds
Living Room - Sleeper Sofa
1 Queen Sofa Bed
3 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 3
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far
Spacious dog-friendly private home on the north shore of Dam Lake with amazing sunrises, sunsets, fishing, and more
~ 3,500 square feet designed for gathering/socializing *and separating/recharging
~ Two dogs (no other pets) may be allowed upon express consent of Owner
~ Sleeping room for up to 13 guests
~ 5 updated bedrooms
~ 3 new full bathrooms
~ New and updated amenities - forced air heating, air conditioning, washer/dryer, stove/range, refrigerator, sink, furnishings, beds and bedding, flooring, trim, sliding glass doors and more
~ Lower level game room with second TV area
~ Very accessible to Bear Paw Resort & Campground, Maplewood Resort, and lots of camps! (Woodland, Towering Pines, and Chippewa are the closest)
~ Dam Lake is the largest of the 5-lake Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes, which is surrounded by the American Legion State Forest. The chain is known for its undeveloped shorelines and fantastic fishing with abundant populations of walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill and perch. You can explore 2,300 navigable acres of water - or you can stay home and catch keepers right off the dock.
~ In the winter there is snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. The Bo-Boen/Sugar Camp snowmobile trail crosses Dam Lake and provides access to hundreds of miles of groomed, well-marked trails right from your doorstep. The rest of the year enjoy the exceptional fishing, beautiful Northwoods forest, and bald eagles, osprey and loons along the chain.
~ From Memorial Day to Labor Day each year, there is a weekly rental policy, Saturday to Saturday, with a three-night rental minimum the rest of the year. Shorter and longer rental periods may be available; please inquire.
~ Rowboat with oars, kayak, and 2 stand-up paddle boards included at no cost; trolling motor and fishing/skiing boat available for rent.
~ The lake frontage welcomes you to sandy bottom swimming, shallow enough for wading and deep enough at the raft for diving. The private dock has plenty of room for your boats - even with ours there.
~ Great for a spring fishing trip, summer family vacation, fall getaway, or a fun-filled winter outing whether you're a solo traveler, extended family, or group of friends. There's something for everyone every season at Sprucewood - including convenient access to Eagle River, St. Germain, Minocqua, Rhinelander, and the UP.
We look forward to welcoming you to Sprucewood. We hope you find it very easy to get to and very hard to leave!
Liz & Jonathan
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Secluded 2 acre Lakeside Home, boat & motor included on 5 lake chain. free Wi-Fi
Eagle River
Secluded 2 acre Lakeside Home, boat & motor included on 5 lake chain. free Wi-Fi
Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Dogs only w/ owner approval
default
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is allowed outside the house only
Important information
You need to know
Property # 95638vb
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 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
About the area
Eagle River
Located in Eagle River, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Kemp Natural Resources Station and Dam Lake reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Elmer's Fun Park and Eliason Hardware and Lumber. Travelling with kids? Consider Eagle Falls Adventure Golf & Laser Tag and Kartway. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the ice skating and sledging.
Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County) - 41 min drive
Restaurants
Pitlik's Sand Beach Resort - 8 min drive
DJ's Northwood's Family Restaurant - 11 min drive
Pine Knot Tavern - 10 min drive
Kaig Stand - 6 min drive
The Timbers Bar & Grill - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
As of 17 Jul, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far on 16 Nov, 2026 start from S$2,310, 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 Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far?
Checkout is at 9:00 AM.
Where is Relaxing Refuge ~ Lakefront ~ Dogs ~ WiFi ~ AC ~ Remote but Not Far located?
This family-friendly Eagle River holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 2 mi (3 km) of Dam Lake and Paradise Lake. Elmer's Fun Park and North Nokomis Lake are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Fantastic lake views at this spotless vacation rental.The best stocked property we've every stayed at!
patricia l.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jul, 2026
Oh my gosh, thank you for your kind review, Patti!
We are so glad the property worked so well for you and grateful you took the time to share with us and others.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, and we hope to see you again sometime!
Take care and all the best,
Liz
Sprucewood is vacation nirvana for our family! If you are looking for the perfect canvas to create lasting family memories you have found it. You don’t even have to add water, it is already there!
Gregory W.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jul, 2026
Hi Greg, Thanks so much for your warm and wonderful review! We love that you love the house and are so glad to share it with you. Let us know when you want to come back - winter, spring, summer, and fall are all great. ;)
Great place to stay! The layout of the house was perfect for multiple families, giving everyone plenty of privacy and space to spread out. The boat and fishing dock were the best — tons of space with beautiful furniture right on the dock to relax and enjoy the view. Communication with the host was always prompt and friendly. We had a wonderful stay and would definitely come back!
Edita S.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 27 May, 2026
Thanks so much for your warm review, Edita! We are grateful you took the time to write and are so glad the property was a good fit for you and your family. As you know, I really appreciate your communication and would give you 10 stars on that if I could! Thank you again for your booking and your review and we hope to host you again sometime!
All the best,
Liz
We had an absolutely incredible stay here while coming to town to snowmobile. The house was extremely comfortable and easily had enough space for our 13 person group. The kitchen space was well equipped and the adjoining dining room made it such a fun place to cook and hang out. The guys absolutely loved the pool table downstairs! It’s super easy to get to snowmobile rental shops and you there are some cute restaurants/bars nearby.The only thing we regretted is not staying much longer!!
Liza G.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Mar, 2026
Oh Liza, thank you so much for this warm review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay and grateful you took the time to share your experiences with us and others. Thank you again, happy spring, and we hope to see you again next year! Take care and all the best, Liz
Liz is very responsive and the house is set up well for large groups, we enjoyed our stay and would stay here again
Tracy G.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jul, 2025
Hi Tracy,
Thank you very much for your kind review!
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and that you would like to stay again. We hope for that opportunity - in general and so you get to enjoy the new oven specifically! ;)
Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Liz
A relaxing winter escape to Sprucewood! Awesome to see the north woods snow covered and back in business again. Great base for snowmobile trails with groomers out in force. Couldn’t ask for better family time in such a comfortable and well stocked place. Sprucewood never disappoints and we are so happy to be able to enjoy it in the summer and winter! Only complaint is it goes by too fast.
Gregory W.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jan, 2026
Thanks so much for your warm review, Greg!
We are so glad you and the fam are able to enjoy the house and area all year round and are happy to share it with you. We'll talk soon about the summer - which will be here before you know it!
Take care and all the best,
Liz
Beautiful, comfortable home on the most relaxing lake. Spend a week there this August with our kids and in laws (and 4 legged family!) and we remarked several times how ideal everything was!
Katie E.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug, 2025
Thanks for your kind review, Katie! We are so glad you and your family enjoyed the house and we look forward to hosting you next year!!
We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and will be in touch soon.
All the best,
Liz
Hi Chuck,
Thanks for your generous review and so sorry for the delay - I just realized I never replied. We appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts and are so glad you enjoyed your stay.
We hope you will consider Sprucewood for your next visit to the Northwoods. Check out our updated VRBO listing to see the changes we've made since you were there last. We think you will like the improvements you see. They are what we expected you to see last winter!
All the best,
Liz
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Matt E.
26 Jul, 2018
Great experience at a wonderful location
Perfect location for our family and friends. Beautiful weather during the day and stunning views of the stars at night.
Matt E.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
We are really glad you had a great time. We would love to have you back!
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Jeni T.
5 Nov, 2018
Always love being at Sprucewood!
It’s our home away from home and we love it!
Jeni T.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
We love having you stay with us for all these years. Thanks Jenny
Beautiful lake, roomy house for family, loved being able to bring our little dog:)
Timothy N.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Hi Tim and Laurie,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review! We are glad the house worked for you, appreciate your booking, and hope to see you again sometime.
All the best,
Liz
As always Sprucewood had us relaxed and enjoying our vacation!
Jeni T.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Thanks so much for your kind review, Jeni! As always, we love being able to share Sprucewood with you and appreciate the care you show the house. All the best to you and yours, happy holidays, and we'll see you in 2023! Liz
Property very clean and well stocked. Owner communicated very well with us. We really enjoyed our stay.
Sue D.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Thanks so much for your generous review and kind words, Anonymous D! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and it was fun talking to you along the way. We hope to welcome you and your friends again another time - and for a longer stay! All the best, Liz
We have been to Sprucewood many times in past years. The new improvements are wonderful. This home has everything you need for a magical vacation!! Beautiful property,lake frontage and home are everything needed for a great vacation!!!
David S.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May, 2025
Hi Dave,
Thanks so much for your kind words and generous review! You they mean that much more coming from you. ;)
We hope you and the fam enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again very soon!
Take care and all the best,
Liz
We had our family vacation in this house and it worked well for all 4 families. Great view and well laid out so each family had a separate space but room to all be together for meals and games.
Mandi J.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Thanks Mandi,
Glad to hear you had a great time! Hope to see you again next summer.
Beautiful home that’s perfect for a large group! Plenty of parking and lots of room inside for everyone to be comfortable. Host was very helpful and informative.
Ethan M.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Feb, 2025
Thanks so much for your stay and your review, Ethan - we appreciate both so much!
It was fun working with you every step of the way, you were a great guest (and host - we can tell!), and we hope to see you again!
All the best,
Liz
Always enjoy our time at Sprucewood….when we leave at the end of our stay we do so anticipating our return…this was our 35th May at Sprucewood!
Jeni T.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Thank you so much for your kind words and review, Jeni! We love having you and your family and look forward to seeing you all again soon! Take care and all the best, Liz
We had a wonderful experience at this property for our annual Thanksgiving gathering. The house was spacious and comfortable with a beautiful view of Dam Lake. I highly recommend this property for a larger group of people. It was awesome!
Deanne W.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Thank you so much for your kind words, Dee! We are SO glad Sprucewood worked for your family for the holiday and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us and others. Take care, happy holidays, and we hope to see you again soon! Liz
Accommodations were perfect for our stay. Little features that made it stand out were the heated bathroom floors, the fireplace, Sonos sound system, and steam breathing dragon above fireplace.
Michael D.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Hi Mike, Thanks so much for your review and kind words. We're glad you appreciated the little details - we do too! Please come back anytime. Take care and all the best, Liz
This is our fifth year enjoying our family vacation at Sprucewood. Each year we look for something new that has been added for our enjoyment. And we are never disappointed! We enjoyed some beautiful days on the lake, and had fun with games and puzzles on a couple rainy days. We are already looking forward to next year.
Deborah S.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jul, 2025
Thanks very much for your kind review, Deb! We love hosting you and your family and are already looking forward to your visit next year as well!
The house was fantastic, great layout with thoughtful amenities for each guest. We spent a lot of time indoors due to the weather and couldn’t have asked for a better place to hang out,
Make meals and
Play games with the group.
Heather N.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Jun, 2024
Oh Heather, thank you so much for your kind words and generous review! We are sorry the weather did not cooperate during your visit but are glad the house did. ;)
We hope to see you again at Sprucewood and wish you all the best in the meantime.
Liz
Been renting this property since the late 1980’s….so happy to see the home and property getting some much needed love
Jeni T.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2023
Jeni,
Thanks so much for your review. You are our A-1 renter and we know if you like the work we are doing then we are doing it right.
Thanks again, take care, and see you next spring!
Liz
About the host
Hosted by Liz Kunkle
We always joked that if we opened a Bed & Breakfast, Liz would be the 'Bed' and Jonathan would be the 'Breakfast.' We are so excited to share our home and vision with our guests.
Our family has attended and supported Camp Woodland for Girls and Camp Towering Pines for Boys for three generations. We hoped to find property that would allow us to spend even more time in the area and were lucky enough to find Sprucewood in 2020.
The house has great indoor and outdoor space for relaxing, gathering (and separating!), and warm and wonderful southern lakefront exposure with stunning views. It is too perfect for us. We hope it is perfect for you and yours too.
Why they chose this property
We have enjoyed spending time in and around Eagle River for generations. As our kids started attended Camp Woodland and Towering Pines years ago, we spent more and more time here in the summers, appreciating the opportunities to relax and recharge on land and on the water. Sprucewood is conveniently located in the town of Sugar Camp, between Eagle River, St. Germain, Minocqua, and Rhinelander. The property has a stunning south-facing view of Dam Lake in the 5-lake Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes, which is surrounded by the American Legion State Forest. Most of the Chain's shoreline, including Dam Lake's 7-mile shoreline, is undeveloped.
The serenity and beauty of the Northwoods are unmatched. You are truly in one of the most peaceful places in the world. The lake is beautiful, great for boating and waterskiing, part of the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes, and has fantastic fishing (Dam Lake is a Class A muskie lake). Within just a few miles, you can find horseback riding, go carting, miniature golf, wildlife parks, laser tag, tubing or canoeing down the Wisconsin River, nature trails, cross country skiing, hiking trails, miles of paved bike trails, fishing guides & tournaments, many 18 hole golf courses, snowmobiling, and much more. Whatever the season, there is something for everyone at the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes.
What makes this property unique
We loved the home at first sight, but we also had a vision for how it could be improved. With luck, a lot of hard work, and a great local team, we are excited to make that vision a reality for us and our guests.
New forced air heating, central AC, electrical systems, ceiling fans, and sliding glass doors create a climate of comfort. 25mb of WiFi (ample for Zoom calls and movie downloads), flat screen TVs, and an updated cable TV service add modern convenience. Two existing bathrooms were entirely redone with generous step-in showers and updated accessories. A new laundry room and third bathroom were created in formerly unused basement space. Three beds were upgraded to king-size from full-size, and new bedding and towels are provided throughout for every bed and guest. The kitchen has a new pantry, refrigerator, range, microwave, hood, and sink, as well as new indoor and outdoor dishes, serving ware, glasses, and utensils. New hardwood floors, plank flooring, knotty pine, hickory, and other wood accents, and a fresh coat of paint add the finishing touches.
The home also has a great location, being south-facing on Dam Lake, which is part of the Sugar Camp Chain of Lakes & in the American Legion State Forest. The home has easy access by boat to 2,300 acres of navigable water and equally easy access by car and snowmobile to Eagle River, St. Germain, Minocqua, Rhinelander, and more.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests