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Circle the Lake | 5K, 10K, Half Marathon

September 21, 2022 derrick
Posted by derrick on September 21, 2022September 21, 2022
We were happy to support Circle the Lake half marathon this year as a sponsor. What a wonderful event.
circlethelake.com/

Reviews from our guests:

5.0
196 reviews
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Melanie D., Chicago, USA AvatarMelanie D., Chicago, USA
I regularly stay at VRBO’s throughout the US. The Shack was exceptionally clean, well maintained, provided excellent amenities as well as a beautiful private property for a retreat and getaway. I will certainly reserve again. - 8/24/2020 
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Steven L. AvatarSteven 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 
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Stanley AvatarStanley
We had an excellent stay at this beautiful location. Derrick was helpful in solving a problem that we had - 6/26/2024 
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James M. AvatarJames M.
Beautiful bluff top property! - 10/12/2020 
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Autumn Keune Fruth AvatarAutumn 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 
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Nicolle A. AvatarNicolle A.
AMAZING WE LOVED THIS SPACE! perfect for a girls trip!! great in every way! - 7/20/2020 
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Marla AvatarMarla
What a perfect place for our family of 12! Such a beautiful home inside and the views outside match it. Never have we stayed in a more clean place. SO, SO clean! WE enjoyed the surrounding towns and Niagara cave. Such nice hosts. We didn't need anything from them however because this house already had everything we needed! WE are making plans to stay here again next year. We would love to tube down the Root river and bike the trail! - 5/19/2019 
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Verified traveler AvatarVerified traveler
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. - 7/01/2020 
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Teresa AvatarTeresa
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 
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Thomas AvatarThomas
My wife and I had a wonderful stay in the shack at the Bluff Country Retreat. It must be a new structure because it was so immaculately clean that it had to be new. Communications from the host were friendly and helpful. I gave five star ratings across the board. If we travel back to the area we will certainly look to book at the Bluff Country Retreat again. - 8/05/2021 
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Tonia Scanlan Boysen Fix AvatarTonia Scanlan Boysen Fix
positive review  beautiful home, the owners have thought of EVERYTHING! - 10/19/2019 
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Lee AvatarLee
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Derrick’s cabin. The cabin was absolutely beautiful and very well done. It was extremely clean and well proportioned with all the comforts of your very own home. Derrick provided great communication and instructions for everything from check in to check out. I highly recommend your stay at his cabin. - 9/17/2023 
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Todd Lori Henderson AvatarTodd Lori Henderson
positive review  Bluff Country Retreat worked great for our family get together. The views were beautiful, there was more then enough room for people to spread out and spend time together and relax. The place is very well stocked and when we had an issue with the pump on the well not working and we ran out of water, they went above and beyond to get it fixed, even in the middle of the night! Thanks for providing a great place for a large group gathering. - 8/06/2018 
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Sarah K. AvatarSarah 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 
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Sa AvatarSa
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 
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 Avatar
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 
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Beth AvatarBeth
We like to bike on the Root River Bike Trail and it was our first time at an Airbnb. Such a wonderful cabin with everything you would need. Very peaceful and cabin fully equipped. We will definitely be back !! - 7/09/2020 
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Dana B. AvatarDana 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 
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Keith AvatarKeith
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 
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Corinne D. AvatarCorinne 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 
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Jody Houghton AvatarJody 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 
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Steve L. AvatarSteve L.
This was our second time staying in this spot. We were here last September as well but this time we stayed for 3 nights instead of 2. We love coming to the Lanesboro area in September. We highly recommend this spot and this host. Derrick is great to work with. - 9/18/2024 
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Bao AvatarBao
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 
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christopher K. Avatarchristopher K.
Great base for exploring Lanesboro The bunkhouse is very nicely situated at the top of a hill overlooking a number of farms which provides for some great views. There are also a lot of trails cut into the surrounding land which are fun to explore.

There's not a lot of privacy in the bunkhouse since everyone is sharing the same sleeping/living quarters, but we found it easy enough to just head outside to the porch (or use the firepit) after the kids went to bed, to create some separation. All in all, this was a nice, affordable place for our home base as we explored Lanesboro, Whalen and Preston during the day. - 8/10/2020 
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Tracy Jacobson AvatarTracy Jacobson
positive review  - 3/02/2018 
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Nanette G. AvatarNanette 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 
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Sarah D. AvatarSarah D.
Excellent by every measure! Highly recommend. - 10/12/2025 
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Kenneth N. AvatarKenneth 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 
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Jill M. AvatarJill 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 
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Tart Farms AvatarTart Farms
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 
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Janet C. AvatarJanet C.
Beautiful, clean properties with all the amenities we needed! Will definitely be coming back to this place another time! - 8/07/2022 
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Peggy Merkel AvatarPeggy Merkel
positive review  Had a great long weekend at Bluff Country Retreat. Beautiful scenery and a great place to relax and craft with friends. See you again next fall! - 10/30/2018 
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Kim AvatarKim
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 
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Joe L. AvatarJoe L.
Very nice accommodations located in the beautiful countryside. - 9/01/2025 
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Janet Swenson AvatarJanet Swenson
positive review  Beautiful, comfortable, spaceous, homey, clean and welcoming! - 10/22/2018 
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SUSAN D. AvatarSUSAN D.
Wonderful Very nice and spacious home in a beautiful country setting. Perfect for a family gathering. - 6/23/2021 
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Roxanne B. AvatarRoxanne 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 
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Kenton P. AvatarKenton P.
Gorgeous cabin with an even prettier view of the river valley. - 8/15/2021 
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Dana B. AvatarDana 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 
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Brian AvatarBrian
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 
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Susan M. AvatarSusan M.
Great place to be away from all the hub bub of everyday life. Peace of heaven. - 5/19/2024 
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Suzanne AvatarSuzanne
An excellent getaway with a cute bunk house and friendly owner. The cabin is very clean with everything you need. Over 4 miles of walking trails with awesome views. - 6/14/2020 
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Michelle Karjala Torrey AvatarMichelle 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 
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Brian C. AvatarBrian C.
Wonderfully relaxing Fantastic, quiet, clean, and central location to so much! We loved our stay!! - 10/12/2021 
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Melinda Selchow AvatarMelinda Selchow
- 12/15/2020 
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Marilyn J. AvatarMarilyn J.
Very clean and organized bunk house! Gas fireplace was perfect to sit by and read early in the morning, watching the sun come up. Great bedroom with lots of open space. Location was also perfect to travel to and from various towns. I would highly recommend this place for couples or family with using the 2 twin beds. - 3/01/2026 
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Tammy Iverson Schoppers AvatarTammy Iverson Schoppers
Excellent retreat home for a relaxing get away! Highly recommend!! - 11/13/2017 
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Shawna AvatarShawna
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 
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Wayne AvatarWayne
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 
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Jessica AvatarJessica
Beautiful spot over looking the valley. Clean, provided everything we needed, and quite. Perfect spot for a nice peaceful get away! - 6/08/2025 
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Laura AvatarLaura
Derrick had superb communication and was overall a great host. We took advantage of the bike path's in Lanesboro and Derrick's place had everything we needed after a long day on the trails. Thanks for the accommodating stay! - 7/14/2024 
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Christina AvatarChristina
We enjoyed staying at the Bunkhouse! It is hands down the cleanest Airbnb we have stayed at. It felt just like home and was well stocked. It was close to Whalan and Lanesboro to bike the trail, eat pie and enjoy a fantastic play at the Commonweal. We would definitely stay here again! - 7/07/2025 
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Rachael AvatarRachael
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 
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Tammy Schoppers AvatarTammy Schoppers
Breathtaking views, gorgeous home with every anemity you can think of! Highly recommend to everyone! - 4/15/2019 
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Kristie Brunsvold Curtis AvatarKristie 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 
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Brian C., Iowa City, IA AvatarBrian C., Iowa City, IA
Fantastic, quiet, clean, and central location to so much! We loved our stay!! - 10/11/2021 
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Stephanie K. AvatarStephanie K.
Great place! We really enjoyed our stay in the bunk house. The owners were really easy to communicate with, the property was incredibly clean and well stocked of all the necessities. The property was quiet and just what we were looking for. - 10/08/2022 
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Alex AvatarAlex
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 
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Terry K. AvatarTerry K.
Wonderful place. Trails on property to walk and enjoy wildflowers. Near the root river trail. Well taken care of. - 8/12/2024 
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Vrbo AvatarVrbo
Private setting on 80 acres overlooking the Root River Trail. The Bunk House is attached to the shed and includes heat, air, bath, and a Kitchenette. It is decorated with a log cabin theme, has tile, carpet, and granite counter tops. The Kitchenette has a full size refrigerator, microwave, hot plates, and coffee makers (Keurig also - bring your own k-cups). There is a charcoal grill available, stored behind the bunkhouse. We also supply firewood for use in the fire pit.

For single night rates you can make a request and we can evaluate.
The house on this property is also rented out. It is about 100 feet from the bunkhouse. Guests do not share common areas such a fire pits or patio areas. Trails are accessible to all guests.

The property is ~3miles from the trail access in Whalan, MN and ~7 miles from Lanesboro. We have several miles of mowed walking trails throughout the property that are available to all guests. Great opportunities for walks, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing.

There is a security camera mounted to south side of the house above the garage. It provides a view of the driveway as you enter the property.

Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees. - 4/01/2024 
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Jody Mack Key AvatarJody Mack Key
Wonderful place! Have been there fours times now, and never disappoints. - 12/12/2021 
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Marika AvatarMarika
Derrick was easy to communicate with and had a clean place on beautiful property. We had a few hiccups (WiFi, fireplace, construction workers) but Derrick was responsive and courteous. Overall, a nice getaway. - 10/23/2021 
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Jody AvatarJody
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 
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David AvatarDavid
Beautiful spot in the bluffs. About 6 miles from Lanesboro. - 4/24/2021 
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Patrick B. AvatarPatrick B.
great host, great property excellent property, quiet location.very well equiped.owner is excellent communicator .highly recommend - 8/20/2023 
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Douglas C. AvatarDouglas C.
Country charmer. Enjoyed our stay in this "shack" combining cabin-like country charm with modern conveniences. - 10/16/2020 
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Jenny Overby AvatarJenny 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 
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Debbe C. AvatarDebbe C.
This is an excellent rental property. We highly recommend it. Everything exceeded our expectations. We have zero complaints or suggestions. - 7/21/2022 
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thomas m. Avatarthomas m.
Clean, updated with nice amenities. Would stay again! - 9/07/2025 
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Fred O'Connor AvatarFred O'Connor
My first retreat and it was fantastic! This place is so cozy and relaxing. - 2/11/2019 
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Emily AvatarEmily
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 
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Edward T. AvatarEdward T.
We stayed for a long weekend that ended up being both snowy and cold outside, but it was nice and cozy inside. Derrick, the owner, went the extra mile in communicating since we were going to be having some weather, but it was fun to be able to hunker down here. The property is great if you are looking to get out for cross county skiing or maybe winter hiking, and we saw all sorts of animal tracks and deer several times. We’ll have to come back in the summertime. - 1/21/2024 
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Kim W. AvatarKim W.
Attention to Detail We had a wonderful stay at Bluff Country Retreat Bunk House. The attention to detail was amazing all the way down to the light switches being labeled, which I appreciated. The walking paths throughout the property we nicely mowed for evening walks. This place is truly a paradise! - 7/25/2022 
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Debra Z. AvatarDebra 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 
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Laura C. AvatarLaura 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 
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Heather McClellan AvatarHeather 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 
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Tanya AvatarTanya
The little 'Shack' is absolutely a dream to stay at!! For starters, communication with Derrick was great from the get-go....I got an immediate response (within 30 minutes, I'd say), and he stayed consistent with his great communication up til our check-in day, even texting that if we wanted to use the grill, he had some charcoal & fluid he'd leave out for us. How nice is that? The place itself is about an 8 minute drive outside of downtown Lanesboro, and the drive is just beautiful, along the river and then up a winding gravel road to the top of the bluffs, with a crazy pretty view. The little bunkhouse is on the same property as the larger cabin with a shared driveway, but it sits far enough away to allow for privacy. From the outside, it just looks like a little unassuming add-on space next to the large pole-barn shed, but inside, it's really pretty and cabin-y. A beautiful, large river rock gas fireplace off in the corner is a lovely main attraction of the room, with a very comfortable log bed (queen size, I believe?), great vaulted wood ceilings & awesome lighting, a beautiful kitchen with microwave, hot plate, full fridge/freezer, and really nice ceramic tiling throughout (including the backsplash). The bathroom with shower is just as nice. The entire place is just really pretty & classy, with a lot of beautiful details. There's also a bunk-bed off on the side of the living/bed room (it's kind of a large studio area), so it'd really be nice for a family with a couple of kids. And I need to add, it is *immaculate.* They have clearly taken lots of extra precautions in this crazy Covid time, and it shows. Oh! I almost forgot to mention the trails!! He has mowed an incredible, extensive network of trails on his property, winding through the grasslands, through the woods, overlooking the huge bluff and down into the valley, and winding back around again. Absolutely a must-do when you visit. One of the paths winds down to a pond, which we didn't have time to go down to, but will on our next visit back -- and we will be back. Lanesboro itself was a great place to do some shopping and kayaking down the river, and Bluff Country Retreat was a great place to come home to to unwind. - 10/08/2020 
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Lisa AvatarLisa
Great stay in the clean and cozy Bunkhouse. Stunning setting atop a bluff, quiet and away from it all yet conveniently located near Lanesboro where we enjoyed cycling on the Root River Trail. Outstanding communication from Derrick from start to finish. Recommend without hesitation. - 10/14/2021 
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Thomas AvatarThomas
Derrick’s bunk house was great! It’s a great rural setting. Very private. The bunk house was very clean and as advertised. Very comfortable and they have everything you need. Already planning a return trip for next year. - 5/18/2025 
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Tammy Iverson Schoppers AvatarTammy Iverson Schoppers
positive review  Everything! Beautiful home with all amenities amongst the serene , beautiful bluffs of Fillmore County. Gracious owners too! - 4/06/2019 
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Jenny Overby AvatarJenny 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 
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Todd Henderson AvatarTodd 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 : ) - 4/15/2019 
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Julie Broadwtaer AvatarJulie 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 
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stanmary henderson Avatarstanmary henderson
23 of us: 4 children and spouses, 12 grandchildren and one grandchild is engaged, that makes 24 of us that really enjoyed our stay at Bluff Country Retreat. Activities included touring the town of Lanesboro, talk around the fire ring, golfing, tubing down the river, Kiaking down the river, playing some yard games, playing cards, eating and walking the trails.Stan Henderson - 4/15/2019 
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Carol B. AvatarCarol B.
Great Stay We came to Lanesboro for a biking weekend. My mom, sister and I enjoyed the small, cozy bunk house. Everything was clean and working. The walking trails were great- lots of butterflies in the prairie. The owner communication was outstanding. Thanks for a great weekend! - 8/29/2022 
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Julie K. AvatarJulie K.
We had a three night stay with our group of sisters, husbands, cousins and grandparents. The home was great and had everything we needed. Plenty of beds, showers, and a wonderful outdoor fire pit with an exceptional view of the surrounding bluffs. The kitchen was well equipped. We made almost all our meals there and sat out at the picnic tables to eat. We played lots of card games, read books, took naps. The miles and miles of grassy pathways was a real treat. We took several sunset walks (and a few stargazing walks as there was a meteor shower happening.) We spent each night by the fire pit. In the morning, we drank our coffee out back and watched the fog lift from the valley.. breathtaking. The home is a short drive to Whalen to hop on the bike trail (gravel hilly road prevented us from riding to the trail, but that was not a big deal.) We also spent an afternoon floating down the Root River. The home was a wonderful place to come back to and relax after that adventure. You really do feel like you're away from everything. The home is very clean and well organized and the Hongerholts were super attentive and easy to work with. - 8/16/2018 
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Mary Zimmerman AvatarMary 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 
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Cara Wright AvatarCara 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 
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Micah AvatarMicah
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 
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Sara AvatarSara
This house is amazing. Our family of 11 , ages 7-86, stayed here for the long weekend for a fun family get together. The house and bunkhouse exceeded our expectations 100 fold. The entire house was immaculate. The kitchen is among the best equipped in the state of Minnesota, I dare say, if not the country. The beds are comfy and there are plenty of thick towels, extra bedding, pillows, etc. to fulfill the needs of groups of most sizes. My 7-year-old niece loved playing hide and seek in this expansive home. The extra number of bathrooms and closets made the game extra fun for her. The outdoor patio/fire pit area was lovely. We ate all of our meals outside. There are walking paths on the property, meandering through woods and prairie, and also a grill for guests to use, complete with charcoal provided by the host. I can't say enough nice things about this house. It is filled with beautiful artwork, comfy furniture, and tasteful decorations. And the bunkhouse is just as nice as the main house, only more compact! Derrick, the host, is an excellent communicator. He was always available to answer any questions I had. My family loved Bluff Country Retreat. We all hope to stay here again! - 7/05/2021 
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Roberta AvatarRoberta
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 
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Kristina Lynne AvatarKristina Lynne
positive review  Awesome place for scrapping - 3/30/2019 
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Nanette G. AvatarNanette 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 
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Kate Hoover AvatarKate Hoover
positive review  Definitely enjoyed my weekend! By far the nicest retreat I’ve stayed at. Beautiful house that is very well maintained, beautiful location and the workroom and workstations are large and comfortable. I will definitely return for another weekend of crafting! - 10/07/2018 
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Tammy Price-Troska AvatarTammy Price-Troska
What a wonderful place to gather and create. We will definitely come back! - 3/16/2020 
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Brian R. AvatarBrian R.
The review title tells it all. The only negatives. 1. Shower in master bedroom was too hot for use...even on lower settings of hot. 2 . There should be at least one double bed in each bedroom for couples. 3. The wall in one of the bedrooms on the main floor does not go all the way to the ceiling...thus those up early can easily wake up those in that bedroom. But MOST EVERYTHING was extremely positive. I would Surely stay there again . - 9/02/2018 
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Kelly K. AvatarKelly 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 
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Wayne AvatarWayne
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 
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Baylea AvatarBaylea
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 
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Al O. AvatarAl O.
The facility itself was excellent--well appointed and all small kitchen appliances and needs were very adequately met. Very comfortable with both heat and air conditioning accessible as needed. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was the road needed to get to the property (gravel and a little distance from the big trail). I would, however stay there again because of the tranquility and quietness. - 9/29/2025 
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