Entire home·Private host

The Rusty Anchor ★ Lake Home + Guest House ★

3.5 star property

Photo gallery for The Rusty Anchor ★ Lake Home + Guest House ★

Exterior
Living area
Private kitchen
Room
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 15260 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Outdoor space

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Rusty Anchor ★ Lake Home + Guest House ★

Sleeps 16 | Private Beach | Year-Round Fishing Paradise on Big Stone Lake
Two Complete Homes, One Unforgettable Experience

Welcome to The Rusty Anchor, where you get exceptional value with both a fully equipped lake home AND charming guest house - each featuring its own kitchen, laundry, and all the comforts of home. Step out your door onto your private beach on stunning Big Stone Lake, Minnesota's premier 12,610-acre border water stretching 26 miles between Minnesota and South Dakota.

The Ultimate Angler’s Retreat – Fish 365 Days a Year
Thanks to Big Stone Lake’s unique status as a border water, there’s no closed season — you can fish here every day of the year. While most Minnesota lakes have strict seasonal limits, Big Stone offers year-round access and more generous catch limits than nearly anywhere else.
Walleye & Sauger: 4 fish year-round (1 over 20") - restocked with 7 million fry every two years
Northern Pike: 6 fish continuously, plus winter spearing season
Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Perch and 30+ other species with extended seasons
12 public fishing accesses plus your private dock access

Whether casting from shore, trolling by boat, or ice fishing through winter, Big Stone Lake delivers trophy fishing that keeps anglers coming back season after season.

Accommodations & Amenities

Main House - Sleeps up to 12:

3 large bedrooms: 1 king + twin-over-double bunk, 2 bedrooms with queen beds
Loft with 2 twin beds for extra sleeping
Queen pull-out sofa bed
3 full bathrooms
Full kitchen with dishwasher
Large sectional and recliner in living room
Dining table for 7
Game/party room for entertainment
3-season porch with patio furniture and table for 6

Guest House - Sleeps up to 4:

Open floor plan with 2 sleeping areas: 1 queen, 1 double bed
Full kitchen and bathroom with laundry
Dining table for 5
Comfortable sofa and love seat
The exclusive lakeside "Pelican Bar" on deck overlooking the lake - crafted from our old steps to the lake

Multiple Dining Options for Large Groups:

Main house dining table for 7
3-season porch table for 6
Guest house dining table for 5
Cottage deck table for 6 with lake views
Pelican Bar with 4 bar stools - perfect for watching for pelicans while you dine!
Beachside picnic table for waterfront meals

Complete Property Features:

Private beach with dock access - tie up your boat or launch 0.5 miles away
Water toys: kayaks, paddleboard, lily pad
2 beach cruiser bikes for exploring the area
Games: foosball, hook and ring game, board games, yard games
Outdoor cooking: Blackstone griddle and grill
Coffee available in both houses
Dog friendly (sorry, not cat friendly due to severe allergy in the family)


Local Attractions & Dining
Just minutes from your door:

Lakewood Supper Club (0.7 mi) - Steaks and seafood with lake view patio, opens daily at 5pm
Six casinos in Big Stone City, SD (2 miles) - try your luck (but remember, they didn't build those fancy buildings by giving money away!)
Melts Ice Cream - locally famous for the best ice cream around
Sioux Historic Pavilion (0.7 mi) - Beautiful event venue available for rental
Coffee shop, boutique shopping, and thrift stores within walking distance
Big Stone County Museum - explore local history including the Muskegon disaster
National Wildlife Refuge - hiking and biking trails

Perfect for Every Group & Season

Ideal Groups:

Large family reunions and multi-generational gatherings
Fishing tournaments and angling expeditions
Corporate retreats and team building events
Wedding parties - Just 0.7 Miles from the Sioux Historic Pavilion and Lakewood Supperclub!
Multi-family vacations and friend getaways

Year-Round Appeal:

Spring/Summer: Prime fishing, water sports, beach relaxation, outdoor dining
Fall: Trophy fishing season, stunning foliage, cozy fireside gatherings
Winter: Ice fishing, winter sports access, indoor entertainment

Why The Rusty Anchor Stands Out

Located in charming Ortonville, MN, you get the best of both worlds: peaceful lakefront serenity with easy access to dining, entertainment, and recreation. The border water location means extended fishing seasons you won't find elsewhere, while two complete homes ensure everyone has space to spread out and enjoy their perfect lake getaway.
Book The Rusty Anchor and discover Minnesota's best-kept secret for the ultimate lakefront experience - where exceptional fishing meets comfortable luxury on beautiful Big Stone Lake.

Available year-round | Sleeps 16 | Private beach & dock | Ask about discounts for stays of 5+ days | Unforgettable memories await

Property manager

Andy Willenbring

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Music library
  • Smart TV
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Foosball table
  • Kayak
  • Fishing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Swimming 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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,796 square feet

Policies

Events/parties not allowed
Map
Ortonville, MN

What's nearby

  • Big Stone Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Ortonville City Public Library - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Central Park - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Ortonville City Hall - 16 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Big Stone Lake Museum - 3 min drive - 3.2 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Lakewood Lodge - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Liquor Store - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Pizza Ranch - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Pioneer Meat Market - ‬17 min walk

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The Rusty Anchor ★ Lake Home + Guest House ★ Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 3 out of 4 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 4 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 4 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 4 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Sharon F.

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

Family Time

We enjoyed our family time at the Rusty Anchor. My husband and I stayed at the cottage and our children//grandchildren stayed at the Big House. We had plenty of space for eating and games. It was difficult to play yard games due to the lack of level ground. We enjoyed the paddle boat, kayaks, pontoon, and lily pad. Andy and Nick are friendly and easy to reach. They responded to my questions quickly. They provided top notch appliances and beds/bedding. The only area we felt needed to be improved was the number of steps required to reach the house and the lake and the slope of the land. I would highly recommend staying at the Rusty Anchor and having a cool beverage at the Pelican Bar located at the cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cindy M.

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

Weekend Family and Friends Reunion

Really enjoyed the Lake House with the Guest Cottage! The property was super clean and looked even better in person! Plenty of extra blankets, pillows and room for our party of 6 teens/6 adults from 3 sets of families! The kitchen appliances are very nice and the kitchen is stocked with extra supplies and utensils. Everyone loved fishing, swimming and hanging out in the main house which included plenty of late nights playing games and watching movies. Perfect way to reconnect with friends and plenty of space for everyone! Would come back for another weekend getaway in a heartbeat!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Adam O.

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

Great Stay

Great place to stay. Steep property with a lot of stairs and limited parking but otherwise great.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary Ann T.

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

Memorial Day Weekend w/Family

This Cabin and Cottage duo is special and in my opinion, better than the photos. You can tell the Owners take great pride in their place. We had a family group of 11 spanning in ages 64 down to 7, and there was plenty of room to spread out. Both kitchens are completely updated and include everything you need (or don't need) -- plenty of dishes, utensils, small appliances, bake ware, etc. They even include both Keurig and regular coffee makers -- very nice. Beautiful bathrooms with lots of towels; very comfortable beds/pillows and really nice bedding. There is actually more living room and sun room seating than is pictured and again, all really nice and comfortable. As the Grandparents, we stayed in the Cottage and would love to come back to just sit and read. We enjoyed grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning and sitting outside catching the morning breeze. There were plenty of fish caught right off the dock and when the kids weren't fishing they were playing on the Lily Pad which is right there at the Cabin, or inside playing one of the (many) games downstairs. The kids even beat the adults at foosball a few times. Thank you Andy and Nick for sharing the Rusty Anchor with our family. We look forward to coming again!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022