Nestled into a hill, this enchanting home offers a serene retreat with expansive views of the surrounding forest and open southerly landscape. Vaulted ceilings, large wooden dining tables, and cozy nooks invite you to unwind in comfort. Savor meals prepared in the fully-equipped kitchen or enjoy al fresco dining on one of two decks.
Reviews
8.68.6 out of 10
Excellent
Entire home
5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12209 sq m
Popular amenities
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free Wi-Fi
Add dates for prices
About this property
The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.
It is built into a hill with the east and north sides facing into the forest and the other sides facing into an open southerly view. The main floor is vaulted and has a large, open kitchen with full size gas stove with oven, full refrigerator/freezer, coffee pot, crock pot, toaster oven, coffee grinder, and all the necessary utensils, pots and pans, and dinnerware to serve 15 or more. There is a large wooden dining table in the dining area off of the kitchen which seats 8. A small table in the kitchen seats 2 to 4. There are also three 6 foot folding tables and another 18 folding chairs to expand the dining area into the living room if you want, or you can take your meals outside during a beautiful Shire day or night. The north facing deck is accessible through the kitchen which allows convenient access to the grill. There are views out into the woods and Shire lawns. The vaulted living room has a queen size futon couch located in front of the full, built-in fireplace so you can relax or sleep in perfect comfort. A rocking chair and a coffee table are also located in the living room. A south facing deck is accessible through a door behind the futon. Also off of the living room, a stairs leads up to the lofted sleeping area. This large space has six single beds and another rocking chair. It overlooks the living room and kitchen. The space is partially lit by a skyway window. There is an air conditioner on this level for summertime use, and the east window faces out into the forest for a beautiful, elevated view. As you venture further back into the house, you will encounter a full bathroom with a shower and a Jacuzzi tub and then 3 bedrooms. The first bedroom has a full size bed, and it has access to the wraparound east/north deck through a sliding glass door. This part of the deck faces out into the forest. The center bedroom also has a full size bed. The last bedroom has two single beds and a lofted bed. It also has a sliding glass door which leads out onto the wrap around east/north deck. This portion of the deck is screened in. The lower level has a laundry room, a bathroom with a shower, a single car tuck-under garage, and two car tuck-under garage. There is table tennis and a dart board available in the smaller garage. The larger garage is used for the Shire’s maintenance equipment which we occasionally need access to. A CD player, two air conditioners, floor/table fans as well as ceiling fans, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor grill are also available.
Property amenities
Ski
Cross-country skiing nearby
Pool/Spa
Massage
Sauna
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car required
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Bedrooms
5 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Sofa bed
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Hair dryer
Jetted bathtub
Shower
Towels provided
Living spaces
Fireplace
Living room
Wood stove
Entertainment
Games
Smart TV
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
One pet total
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a rural location
Near a hospital
On a lake
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Table tennis
Birdwatching nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Hunting nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
1 total pets
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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 (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 77
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Mc Grath, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Mille Lacs Lake and Banning State Park, while Culver Museum and Moose Lake Depot Museum are cultural highlights. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling. Visit our Mc Grath travel guide
Is The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches. pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 1 total).
How much is parking at The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches.?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches. located?
This family-friendly Mc Grath holiday home is located on a lake, 3.1 mi (5 km) from Snake River, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Mille Lacs Lake and Kettle River. Banning State Park and Cedar Lake are also within 20 miles (32 km).
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The Cedar House Is Uniquely Set In The Forest Surrounded By Decks And Porches. Reviews
Reviews
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
You need to like animals. Surrounded by horses chickens turkeys and ladybugs. Was no hot tub even though was in listing. The trails were nice a little rustic but enjoyable. Friendly people and clean place. But not exactly what I expected from pictures on listing. Much smaller and surrounded by other cabins.
Michelle P.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Archival
10/10 Excellent
JOY L.
19 Aug 2017
Great Place for Girls Weekend!
Plenty of room for us to play and sleep. Very comfortable.
Our family: mom, dad and 4 grown children-2 with spouses, met here to celebrate a late Christmas. There were 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and living room large enough for all of us to play games in. Also, it was dog friendly so we could include our pets in the gathering. The owner used a snowmobile to mark hiking trails which was a great afternoon activity.
A great place to take a break from the bustle of the city. I love farming life, walked along forest roads and met a big kind dog of the owners. I think if everything works out to be back for Christmas
Anzhelika G.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Verified
6/10 Okay
Justin K.
12 Sept 2021
Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness
Weekend Stay
Pros: Communication and flexibility with the property owners. Quiet stay, despite there being animals on the property. Great privacy.
Cons: The “Cedar House” was not as well maintained as the photographs indicated. We did have one mouse also staying in the cabin with us. Something crawling and scratching in one of the bedroom walls for the majority of our stay. These things all aren’t a big deal to us; we understood that given the animals on the property, we could encounter these things. However, given the price we paid, we did wish there to be a little more attention to detail on the cosmetics of the rental. It isn’t a problem for us (we fully understand the amount of work the property owners and staff have put in to just maintain the property alone), but it may be a problem to others.
We very much enjoyed our stay at "The Shire".... the land is portioned off with many cabins of different sizes. We wanted to get our small children used to camping in an easy way, so some of us slept in tents while some of the colder or rainy nights we stayed in the cabin. The kitchen was very well supplied and there were ample camping chairs for bonfires. The hosts were so friendly and welcoming.
Malia B.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Verified
8/10 Good
Lenora W.
16 Nov 2020
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
November adventure
very convenient. the bathroom upstairs is a bit of a challenge for anyone over 5 feet tall and 100 pounds but we survived.
We had a great time during our stay. The kitchen had enough dishes/cookware for our purposes. It's a huge property and there are horses, chickens and swans we were able to see. Thank you to Michael and his family.
Rochelle R.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020
Verified
6/10 Okay
Nicole F.
11 Mar 2019
Great but....
It’s an amazing place!! However o did feel that it’s a little more expensive than you originally see when selecting it. You pay for each additional person. Also fireplace and bonfires are mentioned a lot but you have to pay for firewood. Not just per day but per handful. If you like having fires it could add up. The host is very nice and helpful.l (but hard to get a hold of) they live on the property and you have to find them or get a hold of them for firewood or concerns, which sometimes was hard. The land and trails were awesome and I also felt like they put a good deal of thought into making your stay comfortable. I want to give 4 stars but the owner living on the property and the surprise expense of people and fire wood made me reduce it. However if your expecting it and prepared I’m sure you would have a great time!
Nicole F.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2019
Verified
8/10 Good
Margaret N.
2 Nov 2018
It wasn’t exactly what we expected, wth office and horse barns right next to us, but it turned out v
We had a very nice family get together at the Cedar house. Loved the trails!
Margaret N.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Amy D.
11 Sept 2016
Magical place!
We stayed in the Cedar House over Memorial Day weekend with family.
We all had a wonderful time and enjoyed it very much!
The Shire has a magical feel to it and you can certainly feel the peaceful pull of the land, you can feel it in the house as well.
The house and cabins are all unique, the Cedar House accommodations were perfect, it's a very comfortable place.
We all loved the animals and being able to learn more about them. We enjoyed hiking in the forest. It's just serene and amazing. My boys loved seeing all the wildlife including turtles, snakes and frogs.
Michael and Teyja are very personable and friendly and go the extra mile to make your stay great. They have a beautiful family on a beautiful property! (We wish you guys wellness and peace and hope things are going well for you! 😃)
We all look forward to staying at the Shire again!!
Amy D.
Amy D.
Archival
8/10 Good
Rachel J.
9 Sept 2016
Relaxing Friend Get-Away
This was our first time at the Shire (The Cedar House). It was a great experience. We had about 10 people over 4 days - 3 nights. It was a very comfortable, accommodating place. We did bring outdoor game- which I would recommend. They have great space for you to use.
Rachel J.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2016
Archival
8/10 Good
Cindy F.
7 Mar 2016
Great Getaway!
We did a little girls getaway and this was a perfect spot to do so. Only a couple hours from the Twin Cities. The house was as nice as the pictures show, quiet and very roomy. We had stayed when we are in between seasons but we still found a lot to do. Walking, exploring in the woods and just handing out playing games. There is a beautiful retreat home on the premise as well. Highly recommend this to anyone that's looking to get away and meditate. We will definitely go back maybe in the fall.
Thanks Michael!