New owners and lots of rehab on these historic cabins! https://wamboltscabins.com/read more

Will not be returning to this place. The seasonal guests are cranky old people. The water at the…read moredock is so shallow and full of weeds it was a pain to park the boat. In the photos on the VRBO ad it mentions a beach and I was really looking forward to swimming with my kiddo and building sandcastles. The beach is totally overgrown with weeds and covered in duck poo. Spend a little more money and go somewhere else on upper bottle lake.

What a beautiful space! We were there over an incredibly cold -20 degree weekend for a theater…read moreperformance and the Canopy was such a warm and cozy spot to come back to. Traveling with four kids and we stayed in Balsam. They LOVED the extra long bunks with privacy curtains and their own shelves and reading lights. Best shower I've had while traveling! They enjoyed all the games downstairs and we had plenty of counter space for food prep. We were a big group but with so much space everyone got plenty of rest. The view of sunrise over the lake was stunning. This would be such an ideal spot for a family reunion!

From the owner: Pine Cone Lodge is a family-owned lakeside resort on the clear waters of Big Sand Lake, offering a…read moreunique blend of vacation rentals and a private event venue in northern Minnesota. With multiple cabins and homes across the property, the lodge comfortably hosts groups of all sizes—from intimate getaways to large gatherings. At the heart of the property is the newly rebuilt central lodge, designed as a warm and inviting space for connection. Available in the off-season (mid-October through Memorial Day), the lodge serves as a private event space exclusively for overnight guests with a two-night minimum stay. This all-in-one setting allows groups to stay together, cook together, and gather in one place. The main lodge features a spacious dining and gathering hall, cozy lounge areas with fireplaces, and a fully equipped commercial-style kitchen—perfect for DIY meals or catered events. Guests can arrange the flexible space for weddings, family reunions, retreats, business meetings, and celebrations of all kinds. Known for its peaceful lakeside setting, historic charm, and thoughtfully restored materials from the original lodge, Pine Cone Lodge offers a memorable “Up North” experience. Whether planning a relaxing vacation or a meaningful event, it’s a place where traditions are honored, and lasting memories are made.

Newest Minnesota scrapbooking retreat. Also great for quilting, crafting, knitting, and girls'…read moregetaway. Comfy beds and great office chairs.

We have been enjoying Sandy Beach Resort every week of the Fourth of July for the past 25 years…read more Very relaxing and beautiful spot on Gull Lake. Yes, the beach is sandy indeed. One disappointment is that a year ago they changed their store hours to close at 6:00 PM. Short on milk at supper time? Sorry you are out of luck. Want an after dinner frozen treat -- nope! I hope the owners will see this post and add go back to their previous 8:00 PM closing time -- a little customer focus will help keep your business healthy.

Sandy Beach Resort makes it feel like you have your own cabin for the week. The family who owns the…read moreresort is highly responsive and very welcoming. Would definitely recommend this resort for anyone looking for the classic up north Minnesota feel!

We happened upon these lakeside cabins by happenstance during an up and back biking trip on the…read morePaul Bunyan Trail. We were winging it as far as accommodations since we also had camping gear with us. A last minute phone call to a very accommodating owner made for a happy night with a warm shower, hot meal, cold beer and soft bed possible. The cabins are right off the trail so super convenient. They are clean, well stocked, and very comfortable. Access to the lake is as good as it gets! We would definitely stay here again.

The hosts were very accommodating, made the weekend special for our group! Beautifully furnished…read morecabin with everything you'd need for a great weekend at the lake. We will be visiting again!

We highly recommend staying in the cabins or the campground! There are 6 cabins, house and 12…read morecampsites. The lake and sandy beach is only 10 steps away from your cabin. We just spent 4 days here. We rented a pontoon for the day for $120 plus gas. We stayed in cabin #4. It had air conditioning, stove, refrigerator with a freezer, microwave, toaster and coffee maker. Everything is in good working condition and clean! It is not a 4 star hotel but we were not expecting that. Each cabin has a gas grill and fire pit. You can buy firewood, ice and bait. The resort is on Lake Wabedo, which is a good sized lake. We saw eagles, deer and loons. We loved hearing the loons call each other . Maggie and Jerry were excellent hosts and take very good care of you.

Great resort and getaway. I have been a fan since the 1970's. This was my family's go to resort…read moreduring the summer for many, many years. Visited here not too long ago and the cabins and grounds are in great shape, Maggie is the best host. Hoping to come back soon.

If you're looking for a place to Vacation with your family with lots of disappointments then look…read moreno further. Rude staff that took no responsibility for the many things that went wrong during our week stay. My family and I rented 3 cabins 10 months in advance with Lakeside views. However, one of the cabins rented was tore down last fall. So instead of a 2 bedroom on the lake they gave us a one bedroom furthest from the Lake. So we were no longer all together. No apology, and no discount on the cabin. The owner(Tammy), just said, "it's not my fault." She tried to blame it on the fact that they are waiting for "State" to come out and approve the new cabin being built in its place. The new cabin wasn't even finished and we all had to listen to saws and construction the entire week. Basically it was just a huge lie. Day 2, our plumbing in Oak and Balsam was backing up into the sinks. We informed staff of the situation and it took several hours before someone came to take a look at it. Turns out the plumbing has been an issue for several weeks and they had to get an excavator in to fix a busted pipe. We went without sewer and water for 1.5 days. Once again we were given no apology. When asked if we would get a discount Tammy's response was, "No, it's not my fault this happened." The cabins were filthy. Floors were not even cleaned. Mouse poop in the bathtub, cobwebs everywhere, doors don't shut, windows do not stay open and soooooo many dead bugs everywhere. Cabin Little Moose was infested with ants. For a whole week's stay we were given one roll of toilet paper per bathroom, and 2 trash bags. Everyday I had to go down to the office to get more toilet paper and trash bags. Not to mention there is no one in the office to help you ever. You have to search to grounds to find them. We were told to place our trash outside the cabin and staff will pick it up during the day. So as you would assume I woke up several mornings with trash everywhere from the animals and rodents getting into it. A barrel would probably be appropriate to prevent this from happening. On our last day Tammy came over to our cabin and told us our boat was in the wrong spot and made us move it for someone else. The boat was in the same spot all week and it was in a spot they assigned to us the first day. When we checked out Tammy accused our group of going into another cabin when our plumbing was out to shower. To which we never did and find that to be so bazaar. Very unprofessional, poor customer service, rude, and clearly don't care about their guests. PLEASE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DONT STAY HERE.

Cabin was beautiful and CLEAN! Owners/managers/employees were all very kind, helpful, and…read morecheerful. After our rental boat broke down they were very accommodating and tried their best to make our stay a relaxing fishing vacation. Chris Whitney (218-820-4819) is a great fishing guide who operates out of the resort. We caught our limits of walleyes with Chris.

Just an observation: "Greatest Service" ever from a boat rental company, charter service, or any…read moredock or launch lakeside services. More than expectations; Larry trained us, entertained and serenaded us (well it felt like that-lol). Busy Season priceless services. Beyond your anticipated service request and/ or requirements. An idea you may practice that will be useful. "Be Minnesota Nice". Larry does the deal professionally for sure! "Larry's The Man" to quote other customers! Enjoy... 5 Star