Authentically Vermont Lake Cottage

Update: Booking requests now closed for the 2025 season, no additional guest stays for this summer lake cottage will be accepted this year. They are limited to only so many nights total annually.

An AFFORDABLE New England lake cottage experience offered by an experienced and highly-rated host: seasonal lake cottage/cabin at Neal Pond, which is actually a lake (settlers used terms interchangeably), in the Northeast Kingdom area of Vermont. Lake access via right-of-way.

First come, first served in booking the three popular holiday weekends of any season -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Host typically opens up the calendar for booking requests in the springtime.

FULLY-EQUIPPED COTTAGE: Built around the late 1920s, this charming white clapboard cottage with period green trim has a rustic interior downstairs, with plank floors and locally rough-sawn board walls, stone hearth in the living room, galley kitchen, and large screened-in porch that faces the lake. The more finished upstairs has the open bedroom area with full/double-size bed and a twin bed, other furnishings include an antique blanket chest to place your suitcase on and a wicker rocking chair, plus window unit A/C.

Fully-equipped galley kitchen: appliances include a propane gas range, large microwave, full-size fridge with upper freezer compartment, coffee maker and teakettle, and large toaster oven. The private springhouse supplies the water to the cottage (much nicer than lake water that most seasonal camps have, fine for cooking and bathing) plus Host provides a jug or two of drinking water.

Host provides basic coffee makings and tea bags. Guests are welcome to help themselves to any condiments on the door of the fridge (no sense y'all having to purchase them for a short stay) plus any seasonings and spices in the cupboard. Cooking basics such as vegetable oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper, plus powdered coffee creamer are provided.

PARKING FOR SINGLE VEHICLE: Cottage is on a small parcel and only has ONE parking space; a car, van, or pickup truck will fit. Due to close quarters of our clustered lake cottages, any parking here is limited and very much designated. No room to maneuver or park a boat trailer here, sorry.

THE LAKE: Neal Pond is an 188-acre spring-fed mountain lake, 35-ft at the deepest, shallower at our south-end cove where one can safely walk into the lake as it then goes from 5 to 7 feet deep several yards out from shore.

FISHING: Is worthwhile here; anglers can find a variety of fish including Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch; plus Bullhead and Chain Pickerel. This 2025 season it would appear that the fish are a jumping, we've never seen so many people fishing on the lake and especially right off our waterfront area is extremely popular. Host has some basic fishing gear available for guest. If you don't already have a current VT fishing license, you can purchase them in the village at Lunenburg Variety, even one or three-day passes are quite affordable vs the hefty fines if Fish & Wildlife wardens patrolling the lake catch you fishing without a license.

LAKE ACCESS: Via Right-of-Way (ROW). Lakeside cottage has a well-established right-of-way access to the dock down at the lakefront for swimming / fishing / boating / relaxing by the water; equipped with chair(s); explore the lake via vintage rowboat or two kayaks (with paddles and oars, and a couple personal flotation vests), plus inflated floaties for swimming available for guest enjoyment.

The lake is not so huge one can't tour the whole lake by kayak, possibly sighting our loons or herons along the way. If you are lucky, maybe you'll see moose up at the wetlands at the top of the lake where Neal Brook feeds into the lake. Enjoy the lake at your level of ability and your own risk. Sorry, but bringing your own boat here is not feasible, due to parking space constraints.

Our cove at the south end of the Lake has a wonderful fishing & boat public access area nearby, provided by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept, that one can kayak or take the rowboat over to quite easily, or walk or drive over to if you want. That public access has sloping gravel footing into the lake, minus the aquatic weeds (nice for swimming when not congested with people boating or fishing). There's a string of large boulders at this public access that anglers like to walk along for fishing.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROPERTY: Sit on the dock or the screen porch with your morning coffee or cold beverage; or gather around a fire in the outdoor chiminea on a cool evening. Plenty of outdoor seating around the cottage, plus a gas grill for your use. Hang your wet swimsuits and damp towels out on the clothesline off the small back deck. Dine or play cards at the indoor table and chairs or another set out on the screened-in porch, which is furnished with artisan-crafted rustic chairs, plus a hammock, and vintage chaise lounge for reading or snoozing.

Decor can be described as cozy cottage with period appointments, featuring collectibles, antiques, and original artwork (i.e., not childproof, and why we do not accept children with guest bookings).

Connectivity if desired: WiFi, with streaming content on smart TV (within Host's data plan limitations), and a VOIP phone line for outgoing calls.

This is a nearly 100-year-old seasonal lake cottage set in the woodlands of in a very rural area shared with various creatures. It is constructed of rough-hewn timbers. If you prefer pristine over more primitive lodgings, you'd best book a new structure or one that has been gutted and fully renovated. We love this authentically rustic cottage in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont just as she is. Guests will find it freshly cleaned and prepped for their stay: all floors swept and/or vacuumed; bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances plus table/countertop surfaces wiped down; fresh sets of towels and sheets on the beds.

WHAT TO BRING: All you need to bring are your apparel including swim togs and swim shoes, maybe your own well-fitting flotation vest for boating; sunscreen and bug repellent along with your preferred toiletries; plus food and beverage for your stay.

STORES: One can snag a few basics in groceries and beverages at any of the convenience and country stores along the drive to Lunenburg VT. Locals frequent Lunenburg Variety, located in the village on Main St across from the town green; other than basic groceries, they have gas pumps, a deli, and offer primo Vermont maple cremees on certain days of the week (typically Thurs-Sun). Major grocery/supplies shopping, services, and some restaurants are nearby across the Connecticut River in Lancaster NH (just 7 miles away).

Due to the single parking space on this small parcel, our cluster of cottages within close proximity, and a ROW to lakefront, this lake cottage cottage's guest bookings are limited to two adults, and no pets, no children. This cottage is not suitable for family gatherings or reunions with friends, nor parties or events by guests of any kind.

MODEST RATES & FEES: The base rate is for one guest, with an additional person at a low upcharge (for a two-person maximum), with a modest one-time cleaning fee (regardless of length of stay, which VRBO notes vaguely as Host Fee). Not to worry, the VRBO security/damage deposit is only invoked if actually any damage or loss occurs and is reported by Host.

SEPTIC SET-UP: New England states have strict environmental regs to protect our waterways. This seasonal cottage, as with many such camps and cottages along bodies of water, only has a septic holding tank, with limited gallon capacity that has to be pumped out periodically per season. Because the cottage sits on a jumble of ledge rock, it does not have the typical septic system with greater capacity that continues into a drainage/leach field. Host asks Guests to follow best practices to conserve water usage that ends up in the septic HOLDING tank. See our one-page FYIs & guidelines posted in the cottage.

Limited availability for guest bookings at what is Host's summer residence (bookings totaling up to only so many overnights in any given year).

Don't hesitate to reach out: highly rated Host does not do Instant Booking, yet responds to Booking Requests or inquiries promptly, along with addressing any Qs or special requests you might have, prior to finalizing a mutually agreeable booking. Use either the "Contact Host" link or via "Check Availability" and "Book Now" buttons. Thank you for your interest, keep us in mind for next year -- our 2026 calendar will likely be reactivated a month ahead of June of that year.

Enjoyable Stay: Please note that 25 is the minimum age of the adult booking the cottage. Guests are expected to be considerate of the peace and quiet we residents value at the lake (as noise travels within our cluster of cottages and also within our cove and across the lake), be accepting of the property's limitations, and careful of Host's personal belongings provided. This is no party pad.