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2019 Winter Hosted Weekend

October 13, 2018 Chris Hongerholt

Posted by Chris Hongerholt on October 13, 2018October 13, 2018

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Reviews from our guests:

5.0

186 reviews

5

179

4

7

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Sa

This was perfect for our family of three! Very clean, kitchen had all the necessities, and it was actually bigger than we expected. We took several hikes and saw deer and other wildlife on the property. A short (less than 10 minutes) drive to the bike trail entrance in Whalen. We will definitely be back! - 6/02/2021

Mary Zimmerman

I have gone to several retreat destinations, but this one is top of the line! It is in located in a beautiful country setting with an awesome view of Bluff Country! The home is beautiful with spacious rooms for relaxing and working on projects. It has a very well stocked, organized kitchen making it easy to serve meals and snacks to your group. There are also several bathrooms and comfortable beds! I highly recommend this place for your quilting or scrapbooking retreat! - 1/07/2018

Briget Fields

- 10/09/2017

Nicci Songas

Chris is an amazing host! She went well above and beyond a typical host. It’s a bit tough to get to with fresh, not yet plowed snow and we got stuck. Chris came to get us in her truck, helped get us unstuck, and then found a place for us to keep the car until the plow came through. Then she and her dad went to get the vehicle once plowed so we didn’t need to go out in the bitter cold! The place is amazingly beautiful and comfortable. Great place for getting projects done! - 2/12/2019

Corinne D.

We had an amazing time and love the fact that it had so many twin beds so each of us had our own bed. - 9/24/2024

Suzi

If you want extra clean, beautiful, very comfortable, and totally delightful...consider this place! If you want it close to small towns with charm, character, beautiful bluffs, great food, art AND fun family outdoors, consider this place. This beautiful log home is just a few miles travel but when you're there, you feel like you are on top of the world! This was a GREAT place. We will be back! - 9/07/2020

Zach J.

Beautiful little spot on top of the SE MN bluffs. The cabin was very clean and cozy. The only thing it was missing was an oven. Close to lots of local attractions and a variety of opportunities for outdoor fun. The host was great, easy to communicate with and very accommodating. Would certainly stay again! - 4/26/2024

Laura C.

Peaceful It was the best! So fully stocked . Fully equipped kitchen . It was so peaceful and beautiful for our family to be together !! Very kind owners too! And homemade honey down the road ! We loved it all! - 7/05/2023

Jane

This house was a perfect place for our group of eight bicyclists to enjoy our annual trip. Incredibly clean and well organized. We loved the very well equipped kitchen and the comfortable places to hang out. We enjoyed drinks by the firepit with a beautiful view of the lush farmlands. Beds were very comfortable and the area is so quiet. Loved having four bathrooms, as cyclists need to shower!! Derrick, you thought of so many amenities. Thanks for a perfect getaway. - 8/06/2018

Tracy Jacobson

positive review

- 3/02/2018

Dyanne P.

Perfect for me for a fishing getaway. Had everything I needed. - 4/26/2024

Carolyn T.

Great weekend get away. Well stocked and maintained cabin on a beautifull bluff overlooking the Root River. Nicer than we expected...listing does not do justice. Close to Lanesboro and multiple trouts streams. We saw tons of wildlife and the views from the groomed waking trails were beautiful. Would recommend 👌 - 6/17/2024

Stephanie Jaeger Paulson

positive review

Great craft room, beautiful scenery, fully stocked kitchen, nice bathrooms. love a good crafting weekend with my girlfriends! - 3/10/2020

Shawna

This place is amazing! We loved our stay with my husband’s family! We were able to enjoy the outdoors, games and puzzles! We hope to be able to enjoy staying here next year!!! Thanks for making our stay amazing!!! - 6/30/2019

Tasa Deden

This place has EVERYTHING you could possibly need AND more. It seriously deserves more than 5 stars. To say this is "God's Country" is an understatement. Owners are FANTASTIC! We have stayed twice and foresee many more stays! - 2/25/2019

Rachael

My mother and I stayed in the bunkhouse for 3 days for her 73rd birthday. We chose the place because of the location (close to the root river trail and local hiking). When we got there, we were amazed at the beautiful property! Derrick had trails mowed for us to hike, the place was spotless and the wildlife was all around us! We look forward to coming back to stay here and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in taking in the beauty of SE Minnesota! - 6/18/2020

Mike

Excellent host and great property. Highly recommend. - 4/06/2021

Kenton P.

Gorgeous cabin with an even prettier view of the river valley. - 8/15/2021

Jody Houghton

positive review

Beautiful home located in the country with all the amenities one needs! our group loved the spacious, warm cozy concept. We enjoyed the natural light, comfortable beds. For crafting we enjoyed working on solid wood tables, having individual cutting mats and optional extra lighting for work areas. we had sewers and scrapbookers and plenty of space for all! Bluff Country really thinks of their guests so time can be well spent enjoying commeraderie! - 3/03/2019

Nicole

This place is fantastic - clean, tastefully decorated, well appointed. Great walking trails. We had an amazing weekend, thanks Derrick! - 8/30/2020

Dan B.

Communication with the owner was great and he even updated me on a road closure situation due to storms. It’s a small place, basically one room, which was just great for the wife and me.Everything was well maintained and clean. We would choose it again if we need a place in the area. - 7/02/2025

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Megan

This retreat was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we arrived, we could tell that there was an incredible amount of pride in ownership and hosting guests. The bunk house was welcoming and clean. We were impressed by Derrick's great communication so we could easily find everything we needed. The setting was breath taking! A true "retreat" from the chaos of everyday life. The drive in felt magical and the sunsets were the perfect end to both our days visiting. Everything about our experience was nothing short of 5 stars! Hoping we can journey back this way in the future for another stay at the Bunk House at Bluff Country Retreat! Highly recommend! - 5/23/2021

mary r.

cabin stay Great experience. Loved the bluff top trails. Cabin was well appointed and very comfortable. The bluff country is so relaxing. Caught my personal best brown trout in the Root River. - 5/03/2022

Beautiful quiet getaway. Thank you for sharing your property with us. The trails on the property are beautiful. We enjoyed our getaway to southeastern MN. - 8/01/2020

Sarah K.

Great place, great service! We had an amazing time! The home was beautiful and in amazing condition, and we had access to everything we needed. Thank you!! - 6/04/2019

Michelle Karjala Torrey

positive review

Bluff Country Retreat was a fabulous experience. Absolutely stunning views and an amazing work space. The owners have thought of everything. A full kitchen with almost everything you might need to cook a meal. Amazing accommodations including walk in showers and a jacuzzi tub. - 9/16/2018

Star T

This place is AMAZING! I recently spent a weekend at Bluff Country and was not disappointed. The lodging is comfortable, spacious, inviting, and extremely clean (and I'm a clean-freak so that's saying something). The kitchen is well equipped. There's even a nut roaster, which I realized after I toasted some on the range. I spent time on the walking trails which were very peaceful, private, and scenic....plus I saw 19 deer! The hosts are very accommodating and responsive to any questions. Bluff Country is the place to stay if you're planning a stay in the area. I'll definitely stay there again! - 3/01/2018

Tammy Price-Troska

What a wonderful place to gather and create. We will definitely come back! - 3/16/2020

Kenton P.

Gorgeous cabin with an even prettier view of the river valley. The owners were great throughout, the house was perfect for our group, and the views off the back porch/fire pit were as good as it gets in MN for a property that's not directly on a lake/river. Would definitely recommend this property to my friends and family! - 8/15/2021

Jeffrey T.

Great place, very remote The facilities were clean and modern, very nice. I was under the impression this was close to the bike trails. This is not the case. If you want a retreat from everything this is perfect. If you want cycling, you will need to commute to the trail. - 9/15/2020

Tasa Scanlan Deden

positive review

This place exceeded any and all expectations! Absolutely God's Country and the house has EVERYTHING you could possibly imagine! Highly recommend this house! ❤ - 10/22/2018

Kathy Tesmer

What a fantastic weekend. Beautiful views, fantastic accommodations, and a warm welcoming host. Definitely on the repeat list. - 2/12/2019

Fred O'Connor

My first retreat and it was fantastic! This place is so cozy and relaxing. - 2/11/2019

Micah

The Bluff County Retreat house was clean, well-prepared and in a beautiful location. It was a great experience for my friends and I. - 8/13/2023

Donna C.

We loved this house and grounds. It was spacious and well equipped. We had a great time and hope to be back! - 7/08/2025

Jody

The Bunk House was even better than we expected! Derrick thought of many details that made our stay pleasant and comfortable like shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower, ziploc bags to take home leftovers, plenty of extra blankets, comfy chairs to sit and have a chat. The grounds were beautiful with lovely views. Derrick was particularly considerate by texting me about a forecast storm with hail. He gave me the code to put our car and bikes in the garage. So thoughtful! - 5/16/2021

Tamai

You won't be disappointed with this place! It is everything that is advertised to be. You do travel on gravel roads to reach this destination which didn’t bother us because we are from Iowa and have gravel roads. There is a house on the same property that can also be rented which it was while we were at the Bunkhouse. There was no problem or noise from the people who rented the house during our stay. Also, a good place to watch the sun set! - 9/10/2022

Roberta

Derrick’s place is amazing, beautiful and scenic. Hospitality the best. He gave us all kinds of information and ideas of things to do locally. Would recommend to anyone looking for a peaceful place to relax. - 7/07/2019

Tammy Iverson Schoppers

positive review

Everything! Beautiful home with all amenities amongst the serene , beautiful bluffs of Fillmore County. Gracious owners too! - 4/06/2019

Debra Z.

We thoroughly enjoyed this property. It was clean and well-stocked with everything we could imagine. We found it to be comfortable and cozy with all the amenities we needed. The front door was difficult to open and constantly stuck. You might want to see about making a change to it. Otherwise, we had a fabulous stay and would definitely return again. - 8/05/2024

David

Beautiful place on top of the bluffs. Derrick is an excellent host. - 6/19/2021

Roxanne B.

The home was well equipped and was close to the bike trails. We had fun on the trails and in the towns near the home. - 7/13/2025

Heather McClellan

This place is so great. There’s more than enough space here to have a big group of crafters. The house is stocked with so many supplies, the owners thought of everything. The view is amazing also. - 2/10/2018

James M.

Beautiful bluff top property! Centrally located and a comfortable clean cabin. Would use again! - 10/12/2020

Brent V.

Summer Fun Great spot. Will stay again if available. - 7/25/2023

Jane

Very clean and comfy accommodations! - 5/29/2021

Steven L.

We were only able to stay for 2 nights, but it was perfect. It's a very nice quaint & quiet place in the country. The home is like new and very well maintained. We liked the fact that it was a quick drive to the Root River trail in Whalan. We really enjoyed the trails around the property. Our only issue was the charcoal grill (because I've never been able to master grilling with charcoal). It would have been perfect if there had been a gas grill, but that's our personal preference. We hope to come back next year and stay 3 nights next time. - 9/26/2023

Brian C.

Wonderfully relaxing Fantastic, quiet, clean, and central location to so much! We loved our stay!! - 10/12/2021

Katrina

Beautiful home, great walking trails on the property. The perfect weekend getaway! - 1/01/2019

Beautiful house and gorgeous setting. This house is beautiful! It is immaculate and is so well stocked with absolutely everything you might need. The outdoor areas are great for hiking, grilling, and campfires. It’s also close to biking trails, tubing, and shopping. We had a great time! - 7/29/2019

Joe L.

Very nice accommodations located in the beautiful countryside. - 9/01/2025

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Susan M.

Great place to be away from all the hub bub of everyday life. Peace of heaven. - 5/19/2024

Jody

The grounds and the house are awesone the Host has thought of everything you might need on your stay. Kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, outside.......Derrick has created an awesome experience. You will enjoy yourselves! - 5/27/2019

Robert G.

Great Getaway - Has everything a group would need My group was very impressed with this beautiful home. It was clean, organized, big, and there is a lot to do. This is a great retreat. We really couldn't ask for anything more. We hope to be back next summer. The hosts were also great and communicative.

-Robert - 8/06/2019

Kim

Beautiful location! The Bunkhouse was perfect, very clean and had everything we needed!! Enjoyed relaxing by the fire after a long day of biking. Close to town with good restaurants and the community was very friendly.
Derrick was a great host , very responsive and gave great instructions on staying at the bunkhouse.
Thanks for a great vacation!! - 5/21/2023

Terry K.

Wonderful place. Trails on property to walk and enjoy wildflowers. Near the root river trail. Well taken care of. - 8/12/2024

Julie Broadwtaer

Bluff Country Retreat is a beautiful home located on the bluff above the Root River in southeast Minnesota. The amenities are numerous and the description and pictures on the website do not do this retreat justice. Ample craft space on the main floor, large soaking tub, walking trails, fireplaces, TVs...it's just amazing! This is my fourth stay and I'm looking forward to the two weekends booked for 2019! This is the perfect get away! - 10/28/2018

Jill M.

Great stay Clean and spacious. Well stocked with the comforts of home. Garage parking was a bonus. Location was great and fit our hunting party amazingly. Wifi was not strong enough to work, was able to do low quality netflex. Wish the living room accommodated more sitting and had a bigger TV. - 1/08/2022

Jenny Overby

This place is well stocked! Kitchen has high end items, well organized, small scrap store even!!! Highly recommend it! Booked for November and April! - 11/12/2017

Maribeth L.

Excellent accommodations for a family getaway! Family vacation with 7 children five years and younger! Very spacious for the kids inside and outside! Adults also had plenty of room. The home was generously furnished from the kitchen, to the bathrooms, to the patio and everything in between! Owners great to work with! Highly recommend! - 8/08/2021

Samuel

Great place. The trails were really awesome and it was a thoughtfully constructed stay. - 9/06/2020

Kelly K.

The bunkhouse was perfect! The bunkhouse exceeded my expectations! It was perfect for our girls bicycling weekend. The hosts thought of everything to make our stay perfect. The location was beautiful and the bunkhouse was perfect! I’ll definitely be back!!! - 8/16/2023

Linda W.

Spectacular! The owners went to great trouble to be sure guests have everything needed for a comfortable get away. Beautiful location, beautiful little nest. We couldn’t have been more pleased. The owners are great communicators and followed through with a special request we asked for. You won’t be disappointed. We will book again. 😊 - 7/02/2022

David

Beautiful spot in the bluffs. About 6 miles from Lanesboro. - 4/24/2021

Ronalee H.

Secluded and cozy retreat near Lanesboro I was searching for a COVID friendly option for a short vacation near Lanesboro and found this cute bunkhouse which seemed to fit the bill. Boy did it ever! Impeccably clean, the bunkhouse was beautiful throughout, had a nice bathroom and beautiful main room with kitchenette. We were even able to check in remotely. The property is full of hiking trails and is about 6 miles outside Lanesboro. I would absolutely consider staying here again. The only cons are that the last mile of county road is quite steep and the queen bed is very firm. I found it better than advertised! - 9/23/2020

Bao

Held a sisterhood union with my cousins here and the place is amazingly peaceful and clean. Derrick is a wonderful host and provided great suggestions for what is in the surrounding area but we had so much fun just staying at the house and hanging outside with the beautiful view. We will definitely come back again. - 8/10/2019

Janet C.

Beautiful, clean properties with all the amenities we needed! Will definitely be coming back to this place another time! - 8/07/2022

Douglas C.

Country charmer. Enjoyed our stay in this "shack" combining cabin-like country charm with modern conveniences. - 10/16/2020

Deborah Ely

This is a super awesome place to go for a weekend scrapbooking retreat! Love it. - 2/06/2022

Nanette G.

A beautiful, spacious home and surroundings! This rental property was comfortable, clean, and inviting. There isn't one thing we needed that wasn't already provided. We actually spent more time at the property then we have other years on our annual "Girl's Weekend" when we have rented VRBO's. This by far was the nicest and most accommodating place we have stayed at. Everyone loved it. Thank you Derrick and Chris for a wonderful experience. - 10/22/2018

Christina

This place is perfect for relaxing in such a beautiful area. Very quiet and has everything you could possibly need. Very clean and organized. We enjoyed it so much we are hoping to come back next year! - 9/26/2021

Peter Martin

What an absolute perfect find! We hosted a number of married couples at the Shack during the day and everyone was very impressed by everything. It is perfectly located and the trails were well-groomed allowing for many people to enjoy the scenery. Amazing! - 10/08/2018

Jenny Overby

What an amazing place to stay! Everything has been thought of! Cozy and fun! A Scrapper’s paradise! Loved everything about it!! Lots of space for all! - 4/15/2018

Jessica

Beautiful spot over looking the valley. Clean, provided everything we needed, and quite. Perfect spot for a nice peaceful get away! - 6/08/2025

Tammy Schoppers

Breathtaking views, gorgeous home with every anemity you can think of! Highly recommend to everyone! - 4/15/2019

Nanette G.

This rental property was comfortable, clean, and inviting. There isn't one thing we needed that wasn't already provided. We actually spent more time at the property then we have other years on our annual "Girl's Weekend" when we have rented VRBO's. This by far was the nicest and most accommodating place we have stayed at. Everyone loved it. Thank you Derrick and Chris for a wonderful experience. - 10/22/2018

Cara Wright

Bluff Country Retreat is amazing! The home is top of the line in every detail. It is lovely inside and out, with a well-stocked gormet kitchen, comfortable beds/bedrooms, excellent living areas for relaxing and crafting, most luxurious bathrooms I've ever seen, beautiful grounds to walk through, and a you of the valley to just sit and enjoy. Chris is great with communication and so helpful with every part of the stay! Very highly recommend! - 9/16/2019

Emily

Great place for my family of 4. It was clean and on beautiful property. After spending the day biking around the root river trail, we would walk the trails on the property. Close to the Whalen bike area and aroma pie shop. - 7/18/2021

Wayne

Nice, cabin like accommodations close to cross country ski trail and property to ski or snowshoe on.
Very clean and welcoming, Derrick’s hospitality is great, with frequent information before our arrival. - 2/21/2021

Keith

we very much enjoy our stay. The first thing we noticed when we walked in was how beautifully decorated it was, how clean it was and how nice it smelled. We loved the peacefulness and watching the deer out the windows. Derrick was quick to respond to booking or any questions we may have had. - 6/29/2023

Anna O.

Serenity The bunk house was immaculate! It was the cleanest VRBO I've stayed at. The property is beautiful and the house had everything we needed. The hosts were very quick to respond and answer any questions. We enjoyed the peaceful get away at the bunk house and when we wanted to explore, Lanesboro was the perfect town to adventure in. We enjoyed bike riding alongside the river and between the bluffs. I highly recommend the bunk house at Bluff County retreat. It was the perfect weekend getaway! - 8/09/2021

Todd Henderson

Bluff Country Retreat was a great place for our annual summer get together! We have people aging in range from Senior Citizens to 6 years old, including teenagers and they all enjoyed the atmosphere and location. It was very clean, very comfortable, spacious and overall and very relaxing fun place to be. The morning views of overlooking the fog in the valley below and seeing the wildlife added to the enjoyment of the weekend. Highly recommended by all in the Henderson family. Thanks for a great weekend!
My dad mistakenly gave it a 1/5 stars, he meant to leave a 5 : ) - 8/06/2018

Randy & Bonnie G.

Exceptional place to stay. Quiet and peaceful.
Further away from the Root River bike trails than we anticipated. - 10/03/2024

Kristie Brunsvold Curtis

Was an absolute gorgeous place for our Christmas! Very spacious yet so cozy and warm! Beautifully decorated for the holidays!! Felt like home! - 12/24/2017

Autumn Keune Fruth

This place exceeds all expectations! We are looking forward to our next retreat this Fall! Chris is super thorough with all the details of the home and is excited about sharing their beautiful, relaxing retreat with you! - 2/14/2018

Baylea

Derricks place was beautiful, clean, quiet. The shack has everything you need for a perfect get away. We wish we could’ve spent more time there but will definitely be back. Hospitality was amazing! We were more then satisfied with our stay! - 7/13/2020

Mary

What a great find in Lanesboro! Cabin was so welcoming and homey, had everything we needed. Very clean. Our host Derrick was reachable and timely in his responses. Wifi was very strong, including clear (Hidden by Airbnb) video calls needed for work. Wonderful mowed walking paths to explore behind the cabin, we greatly enjoyed our stay! - 5/23/2022

Brian

We really enjoyed our stay. The property is beautiful with lots of trails to walk. Derrick is great and provided information to all questions and very responsive for any questions. Probably the most detailed list of items, utensils, etc. we have seen at an ABNB. Makes it easy to plan for what to bring. The bunkhouse is attached to large machine shed and across the parking lot from the main house and is very nice inside, with beautiful touches to make it feel very homey. The small kitchen had everything we needed to make meals during our stay. It is 3 miles from the Root River trail at Whalen. We enjoyed the 4.6 mile bike ride to Lanesboro, where we spent an enjoyable afternoon. This was a 5 star stay! My wife and I are excited to go back again to enjoy what the area offers. - 9/19/2021

Amy

We absolutely loved our stay in the bunk house! We hiked the grounds on the trails and it was so beautiful, especially at sunset! The bunk house was decorated so well and had every single thing we needed. It was also one of the cleanest AirBnBs I’ve ever stayed in, so well cared for! - 9/09/2024

Janet Swenson

positive review

Beautiful, comfortable, spaceous, homey, clean and welcoming! - 10/22/2018

Alex

Had an Excellent weekend at the Bluff Country Retreat. The Bunkhouse was perfect for two people, and was exceptionally clean. The property is also fantastic to stroll around. Would visit again. - 10/25/2020

Dannette C.

This place is so beautiful and quiet and has mowed trails available to hike conveniently on the property. It’s about 5 min drive from the Whalen root river trail crossing: very convenient.. the host was very nice and provided prompt answers to my many questions. The patio out front is awesome for breakfast and just resting and there is a fire pit with wood available in the back. Very nice, very clean -And the washer and dryer were a bonus!!!! - 6/21/2025

Kenneth N.

Peaceful cabin in the country Wonderful cabin in the beautiful country. Everything was very clean on our arrival. It was just 2 of us that stayed. Don’t plan on watching muchTV as it’s Netflix only and kept freezing up. We came to bike the Root River trail which was pretty quiet and not much bike traffic during the week. If you want to get away from the world and relax this is the place. - 9/17/2022

Sandy Olson

positive review

Just spent our annual cousin's reunion at this fabulous location. This was our second year at Bluff Country and we are already planning on 2020! This property has everything you can possibly need, kitchen has everything you could possibly need, beds are super comfortable, it is quiet and peaceful and only minutes from Lanesboro. We all enjoy the large crafting room for our projects and love playing cards in the family room and of course the view is unbelieveable! Can't wait to go again next year! - 7/23/2019

Dana B.

The property is beautiful with great hiking trails. My friends and I stayed at this place to have a girls trip to lanesboro. The property is a perfect retreat. The owners were friendly and the cabin was clean and had the perfect amount of space. We will definitely revisit! - 6/14/2021

Teresa

I have stayed in numerous air b and b’s. This one has moved to the top of the list as my all time favorite! I have never stayed in one as well appointed as this one. Right down to kitchen drawers labeled what’s inside of them! Seriously! No searching to see where something is, and if it’s even provided! I guarantee it’s provided! Communication with Derrick was easy and prompt. The House manual was extremely detailed and greatly appreciated! If I had one complaint it’s that we only had 4 nights there. That’s our fault! If we ever need a large accommodation in the Lanesboro area again we will certainly look to book again! Thank you Derrick! - 6/19/2023

Kristina Lynne

positive review

Awesome place for scrapping - 3/30/2019

Adam and Mariah J.

Quiet Escape! Great place for our family of three to stay! Comfortable and very clean. We found the kitchen to have everything we needed and some nice additional items. Convenient to area sites, as well as restaurants for take out. Appreciated the ability to take hikes/walks right on the property! Very nicely maintained trails. Would definitely stay again! - 11/02/2020

Wayne

What a great place! It was easy to get into and very clean. Derek was a great host and we would definitely stay here again. - 6/23/2024

Tonia Scanlan Boysen Fix

positive review

beautiful home, the owners have thought of EVERYTHING! - 10/19/2019

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