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Photo from a guest, a perfect night for a fire

May 24, 2022 derrick

Posted by derrick on May 24, 2022May 24, 2022

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Reviews from our guests:

4.9

258 reviews

5

244

4

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Jess B.

Wonderful Getaway We had a great time in the "bunk house" over a 4-day weekend. Perfect location, within 20 minutes of all of each of the quaint small towns you want to see. Just a 3 minute drive in to the heart of Lanesboro and the beautiful Root River bike trail. The location is very private with great walking trails that are very well maintained if you want to stay on the property. The unit has everything you would need for a home-away-from-home. Even without an oven/stovetop, you have everything you need to make a great meal with the people you are with. The owners have thought of everything for you. We just can't say enough wonderful things about the stay we had and hope to be back! It was a weekend in the 90 degree weather, and the air conditioning worked great - kept up with the heat very well. The place is spotless, comfortable, and all we needed was there. My husband has an achy back on soft mattresses, and the Queen mattress was a little too soft for him, but he slept great in one of the twin beds. And I got the Queen to myself! haa. Wonderful place and very easy-to-work-with owners. Highly recommend if you are visiting the area. - 6/22/2021

Zachary

Beautiful, clean, quiet stay. Excellent communication, easy check in and check out. The trails are great for a walk and the room excellent for relaxing. Beware of the note in the description regarding the house next door being rented out. We knew that but expected a family or another couple there. It is actually a huge house, about ten cars and a pile of guys hanging out in the front yard made for an awkward first impression when we arrived. If you're ok with neighbors this is a wonderful place to stay, highly recommended. - 7/31/2022

John Smith

The location is fantastic with lots of activities nearby. The house was clean and well-equipped. Would definitely recommend! - 6/15/2023

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

Verified 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

Laura

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

Mike Johnson

Had a great time with friends. The amenities were top-notch and location was serene. - 4/22/2023

George

We had a great stay! We would stay again! It was very clean and relaxing! - 8/02/2026

Al 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

Sarah Davis

Great place for families. Kids loved the outdoor fire pit! - 7/23/2023

TravelFan123

The views and the trails are stunning. Perfect for a nature lover like me. Highly recommend! - 8/25/2023

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Pamela D.

Perfect Getaway We had a fabulous long weekend. We have rented many VRBO places and this was one of the best. The bunkhouse was very well equipped and was impeccably clean. There was plenty of wood for fires and mowed trails for exploring. It is only a few miles to access the Root River trails. The host was easily reached when needed. The property is very private but yet close enough to town in case you are interested in shopping or eating out. We hope to visit the property again. - 9/21/2021

Brian C.

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

Jody Mack Key

Wonderful place! Have been there fours times now, and never disappoints. - 12/12/2021

Andy J.

Cool place, will look to come again - 8/16/2026

Mark Johnson

This home exceeded our expectations. The kids loved the trails and the fire pit was a hit! - 7/10/2022

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

Anne Kuderer

What a great place! Every amenitiy you can think of is provided. Beautiful setting, great walking trails and plenty of space to craft! Highly recommend booking your next getaway with friends here! - 4/15/2019

Jane Smith

The house was perfect for our family reunion. Plenty of space and very clean. Will definitely come back! - 9/18/2023

Emma Brown

The perfect getaway! Comfortable and peaceful. Loved every minute of our stay. Will be back! - 5/10/2023

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Thomas

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

Ceil

We enjoyed our stay. Comfortable beds and clean. - 5/04/2026

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

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

Kim 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

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

Alice Johnson

This house is amazing! The views are stunning and it was the perfect size for our family. We loved the outdoor space and the fire pit! - 9/10/2023

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William T.

Great place near Lanesboro, secluded and very good for families. The kitchen is for chefs! We cooked up a storm. Nice fire pit with views of the valley.Needs a few double beds. - 7/09/2018

Jane

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

Samuel

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

Melinda Ritola Knuttila

- 5/09/2018

FamilyTraveler

This was a great spot for our family vacation. Lots of space for kids to play and explore! - 8/20/2023

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Chris L.

The Shack was such a great little getaway. Had a few walks on the beautiful trails, loved the fireplace and one-room feel although was even bigger than the photos appear. Will be back! - 4/07/2025

thomas m.

Would stay again! - 9/01/2025

Kristina Lynne

positive review

Awesome place for scrapping - 3/30/2019

Janet C.

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

Olivia W.

One of the best rental experiences ever! The owner was responsive and helpful. Highly recommend! - 1/10/2023

Stephanie 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

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

Marcia S.

Everything was perfect! The house was beautiful, spacious and well appointed. We brought our children, grandchildren and parents and had a great time! There were large areas to gather in inside and out. There was also enough space for people to have privacy if they'd like. The hosts provided everything we could have needed for bedding, towels, kitchen appliances, accessories, etc. We also enjoyed the outdoor area with the trails, grill, picnic table and firepit. Derek and Christine were very responsive. They proactively communicated with us but also responded to questions very quickly. We even got to meet them onsite and had some nice conversations. I'd rent this home again! Thanks! - 9/07/2019

Rachelle M.

Beautiful & peaceful Quiet and beautiful location in the bluffs. Extremely clean, comfortable bunk house. We'll stay again! - 8/13/2021

Joseph

Beautiful cabin on a beautiful piece of ground. Derrick was great to work with to rent out his cabin. - 6/07/2026

Melanie D.

Excellent Getaway Retreat. 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

Emily R.

This property exceeded our expectations! It was clean, well-decorated, and had ample space for our large group. The owners were very responsive to our inquiries. A fantastic experience overall! - 6/30/2023

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

Verified traveler

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

Emily White

A beautiful cabin with an amazing view! Perfect for our needs! - 9/27/2023

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David

Wow, both my wife and I were very impressed with this place - from start to finish! Excellent accommodations, very friendly hosts, newer place and so very well furnished! Thank you Derrick, I hope that many others will be able to enjoy this place like we did! - 6/04/2023

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

Tonia Scanlan Boysen Fix

positive review

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

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

Henry F.

The large, roomy facility was spotless, kitchen extremely well-supplied with everything, location remote and quiet with trails and birds. The kitchen faucet broke, but the host responded immediately and went to search for replacement part. This place was comfortable and scenic. - 5/13/2026

John Doe

We loved our time at this cabin! The views were stunning and the amenities were top-notch. Perfect for our family reunion. - 9/22/2023

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

Todd 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

Shelly Ochsendorf Herrmann

Best scrapbook retreat I have ever been too! Fantastic country setting, spacious for scrapbooking & relaxing! - 4/30/2018

Beth

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

Kate 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

Alex T.

We loved the trails around the house. The kids were entertained the entire stay! - 7/10/2022

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Elvis

Beautiful Location , Great Communication, Easy access , Plenty of pillows and linens. Very very clean . Great Place . Highly recommended. - 12/30/2023

Brent V.

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

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

Randy P.

The location and grounds are great, with just a short car drive to the bike trails. The bunkhouse was very nice, well stocked and very clean. The host communicated well and even offered an early check-in, which unfortunately we couldn't take advantage of. We hope to stay there again. - 6/07/2026

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

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

Sarah D.

Excellent by every measure! Highly recommend. - 10/12/2025

Vrbo

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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Lisa S.

The views were breathtaking! The kitchen was perfect for cooking large meals. Very clean! - 5/01/2023

Chris Lee

The owner was responsive and the place was well maintained. A great experience! - 11/14/2022

Chichong L.

Great getaway home This property is very well maintained and organized. The check-in process was easy and everything met our expectations upon arrival. The property felt very welcoming to us with everything we needed to enjoy our stay. It's a huge property with plenty of things to do in and out of the house around the property; plenty of games for the family and a long trail to enjoy nature with a beautiful view of the valley. We got to see the thick fog passing though the valley which was amazing. It was a great home to get away from the city and just enjoy quiet family time. Thanks. - 9/05/2020

Nancy F.

This is a beautiful and well-equipped property in a very peaceful setting. The host is wonderful! We had misplaced the instructions to get into the bunkhouse and Derrick emailed, texted, and called until we were able to connect and get in. We highly recommend it! - 6/13/2026

Stephan S.

Beautiful place! Had a great stay here with extended family! Thanks for the hospitality! - 1/05/2020

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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Emily Johnson

Lovely view of the valley and great amenities. Would recommend! - 9/15/2023

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

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

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

stanmary 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

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

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

Linda E.

The property was clean and ready for our use. Derrick contacted us prior to arrival to make sure the heat was turned on and the unit was warm before we got there. We had a slight issue with Netflicks but a quick call to Derrick resolved the problem immediately. We would definitely rent this again and are considering renting the big house and bringing our entire family. - 10/20/2022

Adam G.

Trout Heaven We had an awesome stay. The trout were practically jumping out of the water and we couldn’t have handled that if we didn’t have a great place to stay - 1/30/2022

Mike

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

Tom Harris

This beautiful home had everything we needed and more. The kids loved exploring the property! - 2/28/2023

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

Andy

Derrick is a great host, and again, did not disappoint! We love the place and would love to come back again next year, for our annual guys retreat! So much room for our larger group, and the amenities are all awesome! Everything is clearly labeled and extremely well organized. We love it. 10 out of 10 would recommend this place to anyone! - 2/09/2020

Dan B.

Everything was well maintained and clean. We would choose it again if we need a place in the area. - 8/02/2025

David

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

Jesse

As advertised. Great place, location, views, etc. - 3/23/2025

christopher 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

Edward 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

Emily Brown

Everything was perfect! The house was spacious and had all the amenities we needed. Thanks for a great stay! - 5/12/2023

Marika

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

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

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

Andy

This place was absolutely perfect. The views during the day and sunset were beautiful. I would highly reccomend planning a trip out to Lanesboro, and staying at this place. There's plenty of space for larger groups, everything is labeled and organized for ease of use, and its all-in-all just a perfect secluded getaway! I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could.

If you plan on coming out in the winter, I would recommend 4 wheel drive as the road out to the place got a little wild for some folks in our group when the winter storm came through in full force and gave us 8 inches of snow in a short period of time. However, this is most certainly not a complaint. The host had this road/driveway plowed in a more than sufficient amount of time. - 1/20/2019

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

James M.

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

Tommy

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

John D.

We had a fabulous family reunion at this spacious home. The kitchen was well-equipped, and the outdoor fire pit was a hit! - 8/01/2022

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