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Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.

Photo gallery for Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.

The deck offers a great view of the lake in any season.
Basement family room is the perfect gathering space.
October sunrise over the lake
Master bedroom overlooks the lake. Hard to beat the Sunrise when you awake.
Main floor living room with a gas fireplace, lake view and TV. Right off dining.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 163700 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Brainerd, MN
  • Paul Bunyan Land
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Horseshoe Lake
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Brainerd International Raceway
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)
    ‪19 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Alcove in Family room

1 Twin Bed

Basement Bunk/ Lego Room

1 Twin Bunk Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Basement King

1 King Bed

Main Floor 1

1 King Bed

Main Floor 2

1 Twin Bunk Bed and 1 King Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed and 1 Twin Bunk Bed

New Bedroom

1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Basement Bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Main Floor

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Hair dryer

Main Floor Full

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Master Bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.

Welcome to the Shady Crest. Gorgeous lakeside views at this spacious home located on peaceful, private Grave Lake. This home is perfect for your extended family get-together or a quiet get away with your own family. Conveniently located between Brainerd and Garrison. Enjoy the lake with kayaking and swimming, or relax and watch your favorite sports, play board games or a game of pool, roast s'mores by the bonfire, or just curl up with a book by the gas fireplace - this rental has everything!

The space
This lakefront home boasts many family-friendly spaces complete with a pool table and bunk room with a Lego table! Shady Crest is a two level home which can sleep 16 people. There are 5 bedrooms plus a Lego/ Bunk room, and 3.5 Baths. Everyone has a bed - 5 king beds and 10 twins. Enjoy the open floor plan, fireplace, wall of windows and deck looking over the lake and the peace and quiet you would expect with a property at the end of the road, next to the woods and on the lake. The yard contains a small apple orchard - late summer and early fall guests are welcome to pick and enjoy!

Fully stocked kitchen. Double oven and an extra full size fridge make cooking for a large group a breeze. A large island is perfect for cooking and gathering. There are plenty of place settings include drinking glasses, wine glasses, coffee mugs, kid friendly dinnerware, pots and pans, cooking utensils, mixing bowls, baking dishes, pizza pan, cookie sheet, toaster, crock pots, Instapot, can opener, wine opener, measuring cups/spoons, and coffee maker.

Indoor entertainment includes 5 smart TVs (family room, living room, both king bed-only bedrooms, and the new king/ twin bedroom in the lower level). These TVs are equipped with Rokus, Direct TV, Prime Video, and Disney Plus. Feel free to bring passwords to other accounts such as Hulu or Netflix - just be sure to logout when you leave! The high speed internet access is perfect for streaming as well as that work meeting you just can’t miss. The basement family room features a pool table and high top table for board games. The bunk room includes a well stocked Lego table for the kids and the kids at heart. We also have a large assortment of board games.

Outdoors you will have a taste of MN wilderness. Fox, turkeys, deer and the occasional bear will visit the backyard. The lake is great for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Kayaks and a canoe are stored near the lake, paddles and an assortment of life jackets are stored in the garage. Enjoy some S’mores around the bonfire after your day on the lake. The deck features a 6-person table and a gas grill. We have a spare propane tank onsite. If the tank runs out, please contact me and I will get you access to the spare tank.

To make traveling a bit easier with young children we have two pack-and-plays, a high chair, booster chairs, stools in the bathroom, toys (including Little People and Magformers). Guests have access to a full sized washer and dryer.

Guest access:
Guests have access to the entire house, yard and attached garage with the exception of the locked owner’s closet & utility room. The three car attached garage has many yard toys and is available for parking. The detached garage is not accessible to guests except by request.

Other things to note:
Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) has a 3-5 night minimum.

Labor Day - Memorial Day is a 2-3 night minimum.

Please note this house is in a quiet neighborhood. It is a private dirt road with a speed limit of 15mph. Please be respectful of our neighbors who are permanent residents.

Grave Lake is a private lake with no public boat launch. We have kayaks and a canoe for guest use May - Sept. Swimming is great for kids! The water starts out 10- 12 inches deep (no real beach) and get gradually deeper, it is 3.5 - 4 feet deep at the end of the dock. The bottom is hard sand with rocks and occasional weeds. The water in Grave Lake is tea colored due to tannins in the water. The tannins seep into the water from the roots of the trees around the lake and stain the water. It is safe to swim and boat. The water indoors is treated to remove tannins and iron to prevent damage to laundry.

There is plenty of room to park your boat if you would like to explore nearby lakes. Nokay Lake is just across Hwy 18. Upper South Long and Bay Lake are also near by. Mille Lacs, Gull and Pelican are popular options but a bit of a longer drive.

Home is located one mile from the "18 Run Trail" which allows easy access to many county trails on snowmobiles. There is plenty of room in the driveway and garage to store snowmobiles and trailers when not in use. Check out midweek pricing if your schedule allows in the off season.

The exterior of the property is monitored by three cameras. One monitoring the front entrances of the home (located on the detached garage), one monitoring driveway (located on front of attached garage) and one monitoring the rear entrance to home (located on back of attached garage). All cameras record audio and video.

Property manager

Lisa Houchins

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor Space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Pack-and-plays, highchair, boosters and step stool
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
3 Exterior cameras in use to monitor property. Located on detached garage facing front of house, on attached garage facing driveway and rear of house.
Septic system in use. Flush ONLY natural waste and toilet paper.
Quiet hours 10pm - 8am. No parties or events. Only registered guests on property. Private road with 15 mph speed limit.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

About the neighborhood

Brainerd

Located in Brainerd, this vacation home is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Mississippi River and Telef Paulson Wildlife Management Area reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Paul Bunyan Land and This Old Farm. Traveling with kids? Consider WonderTrek Children's Museum and Northland Arboretum. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Brainerd, MN

What's nearby

  • Paul Bunyan Land - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • This Old Farm - 4 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Lake Ossawinnamakee - 17 min drive - 17.5 km
  • Horseshoe Lake - 20 min drive - 18.6 km
  • Brainerd International Raceway - 26 min drive - 28.9 km

Getting around

  • Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Green Lantern - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Oak Lawn Tavern - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Green Lantern - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Log Cabin Arts - ‬20 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl.?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Shady Crest. Pool table, games, bonfire, Legos. Lake w/ kayaks. 5 kings - 16ppl. located?

This family-friendly Brainerd vacation home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Paul Bunyan Land, This Old Farm and Long Lake Upper. Portage Lake and Hanks Lake are also within 6 mi (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Joelle G.

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

Comfortable, lovely well organized home

This place was great for a family gathering of up to 12 people. Nice kitchen space for everyone to get around in and nice to have 2 full size refrigerators. Everything is so well labeled to find what you need. The bedding was extremely comfortable. Love my bed at home, but this was a 10 for 10 for sleeping. Great bonfire area and nice space to enjoy yard games. Hang out by nice deck and enjoy the great view to lake down the hill to the dock. Small quiet little lake to canoe or kayak on. Fun bonus was the apple trees which we got to enjoy in the September season. Very well equipped if you have little ones as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey H.

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

Incredible space for family reunion

EVERYthing was as advertised, and more. Incredibly clean, all drawers/closets, etc. labeled. Unexpected amenities like ziplocs, Tupperware, body lotion (Lubriderm) in bathrooms, plethora of kid toys and games. (Our daughter said she didn’t need to bring anything for her two-year old.) Communication with host was immediate and friendly. Definitely recommend this property!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah J.

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

Amazing home with attention to every detail

Absolutely beautiful home. Everyone loved the pool table, kayaking, the fire pit area and quiet location. Very kid friendly with all the toys and games, high chairs and booster seats, pack and plays, dishes for the kids, baby gate, outdoor toys, etc. The kitchen was the most well-stocked kitchen we’ve stayed in. Bathroom thought of as well- Shampoo, conditioner, toiletries, etc. It seems as though nothing was forgotten here. We loved having the lifejackets, beach floats, kayaks, bonfire necessities, etc. Can’t say enough about all the attention to every little detail. Our host was amazing! Great communication before and during to make sure we had everything we needed. You won’t regret staying at this beautiful property!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gina R.

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

Mom/Grandma's 80th birthday

The property was ideal for mom. She was able to enjoy everything on one level. There were many trips to the dock and lots of casual fun stories and memories of the past shared. Talks of doing it again next year.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

sheilah s.

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

Absolutely perfect

We rented the VRBO for a place for our family to stay for our sons out of town wedding. The home was beautiful, very comfortable and well stocked with absolutely everything you could ask for. Couldn’t ask for any better accommodations, owner is extremely nice and pleasant to deal with. Definitely a 5 star rating.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ron K.

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

Super house with large rooms and we’ll supplied amenities. Peaceful and refreshing!

Our host Lisa was great! The property was well kept, nice large bedrooms and king size beds were super. Plenty of amenities and things to do. Close to Brainerd for additional supplies and things to do as well. We were a group of 9 adults that really enjoyed the house and property.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

nathan s.

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

Disappointed

I was disappointed that the landowner watches the ring camera to see what is happening on the deck and outside.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

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

Nice Men's Getaway!

Shady Crest is a great place for a getaway. Very nice home with great accommodations. There is ample space to relax. Lisa is a great host with timely communication. The view of the lake from the house is pleasant. It is quite a walk down the steps to the lake - be ready for 87 steps back up! Good workout. Very clean and comfortable. Thank you.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa R.

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

Rose Family Vacation

An amazing property! The house is very comfortable and clean with great view of the lake! We enjoyed swimming, kayaking, fishing, campfire and just hanging out. The organization of the house itself was phenomenal with cupboards labeled, toys and games for children, high chair and pack and play (we needed two and the house had two). Loved it and highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Royann B., Bismarck, North Dakota

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

Shady Crest was a wonderful place for our family gathering!

This is a beautiful VRBO! Clean and spacious with a lovely view of the lake. Lots of choices for bedrooms including bunk beds which was very helpful for our family. We appreciated the multiple bathrooms. Kitchen/dining was ideal with everything you need and helpful labels on cabinets and light switches. Outdoor bonfire area was perfect. So great to have life jacket and flotation devices available for all ages and sizes. Access to the lake involves a multi level well maintained stairway so ability to do stairs is important. Lake was quiet and our younger kiddos loved swimming off the dock. Adults used the kayaks and canoes. Deck off the kitchen was helpful and allowed a nice outdoor seating option. Furniture and linens were high quality. A wonderful choice of toys and games for all ages. Our little ones loved the Lego room. It’s was a plus to have the billiard table and several TV’s available. The only issue that came up was when we noticed wasps under the stairway down to the lake. We contacted the owner and they responded right away and had pest control there the next day to eliminate the problem.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew K.

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

Fantastic place!

Place was above and beyond what we expected. Had 13 of us there for a get together for a nice 4 day weekend. Would absolutely recommend this place to anyone. Lisa is was awesome to work with through the whole process.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bharathi I.

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

Great place for families

We loved the home and had an amazing time at the lake. Kayaking and canoeing on the lake was great.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

David J., Minneapolis, MN

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

Great Place for a Relaxing Weekend

The house and property were perfect for a meet up of old high school friends. We enjoyed the firepit and the great spaces for "hanging out" and playing cards or pool and watching sports.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Krista D.

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

Winter Getaway

Great place to stay! Clean, great communication with property manager and they had everything there. Plenty of room for our large group of 8 adults and 10 kids.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kris W.

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

VRBO near Brainerd

It was an amazing time in this beautiful home. It had lots of room for our family of 13. Would go back there for sure.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adam & Stephanie A., Annandale, USA

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

Absolutely Wonderful Property & Owners

First off, the property is absolutely beautiful. We stayed in the winter and although we had a ton of snow and it was a lot of work, so we tried sledding and had a blast. Property was plowed and ready for us which was a huge plus. 3 garage stalls was so nice and convenient (a lot of places don't allow garage parking). Secondly, the amenities the owners had available were so nice. Who thinks to have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash readily available, as well as spices, condiments and ziploc baggies? I mean those alone were worth the stay because those are items that are always forgotten. Communication with the owner was impeccable and Lisa was so kind and caring. All the king beds were such a plus so that everyone got a big bed. We would definitely stay here again and would recommend this lovely VRBO to anyone with a larger family or friends that just want to relax.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

sharon l.

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

Just perfect!

This property is such a beautiful home and purposeful details that made it perfect! From stuffed animals on each twin bed, to Kleeenex in every room, coasters anywhere you might need one, throw blankets for curling up to watch movies, Disney + , 2 refrigerators. High quality furnishings and supplies. My husband had to work remotely while we were there. He had a beautiful space to set up, and the internet speed was faster than our house! We were able to park in the attached garage, which made loading and unloading so much easier and kept the car out of the bitter cold. Can’t say enough, the host was incredible too!!! 5 star + rating, we look forward to coming back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jackie K.

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

Private & spacious

Beautiful, private setting. Spacious & modern! Many extras for guests that were very welcome. To name a few; lots of towels, personal supplies, well stocked kitchen, two refrigerators, plenty of parking, firepit, games. Great location & close to Brainerd.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Char H.

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

MEA Family weekend

We went on a last minute family weekend at Lisa's beautiful VRBO. Each and everyone of has had a wonderful time. The pool table and Lego room were a hit with the kids and the entire house is beautiful! Lisa was a great host!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Niloy S.

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

Excellent property

We all enjoyed staying there. Specially canoeing we enjoyed mostly. The bon fire was good. We all wish to go back again
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shelley C.

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

A perfect stay

We spent a weekend at the lake for a birthday celebration. I’ve stayed at vacation rentals all over the world and this home is one of the most thoughtfully appointed places I have ever stayed. We did not have our kids with us but it has every amenity you could need for children of all ages. For adults it was incredibly comfortable with a fun space to play pool and games downstairs or enjoy the views from a comfy recliner upstairs. The deck and the fire pit were also wonderful for enjoying the perfect weather we had. The kitchen is stocked with everything you could possibly need for cooking. The beds are all so comfortable and everything feels brand new. The owner was so helpful and responsive. Overall a 5 star weekend at the lake. Thank you for sharing your lovely home!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Lisa Houchins

Host profile image
Andy and Lisa live in the twin cities with their 5 kids (elementary school through college). We love to stay in rental houses when we travel. This allows the kids have their own beds and we can do some laundry to minimize packing!

Why they chose this property

We were so excited to find the Shady Crest property! We were looking for a home were we could gather with family and friends. We love that we can enjoy the house with all our kids and their cousins. There is plenty of room for our extended family of 15 when we gather together. The kids enjoy the lake, the pool table and of course the Legos!

What makes this property unique

We have 5 kids and travel with a fair amount. We have thought of the little details that make traveling with kids easier. There are nightlights in every room, stools in the bathrooms, a highchair and booster seats, plastic dishes, the dressers are attached to the walls, games and toys. We want this to be a place where families can come to relax and enjoy the company.

Languages:

English