This historic 1911 summer cabin set along the saint croix river offers a quiet step back in time. Filled with original character, the home features a vaulted living room with a cozy fireplace, screened porches with sweeping river views, and quiet tree-lined grounds. Generations of family history are woven into its walls, creating a space that feels both nostalgic and deeply rooted in place. Simple, serene, and surrounded by nature, this is a stay for those who value authenticity and slow living.
There are two other family cabins on this property, although the trees separating them offer enough screening that you will be able to enjoy your privacy.
One of these cabins, "Vintage river cabin, the south house" is available to rent along with this listing to accommodate bigger family groups, or retreats.
Located in the quiet countryside of Scandia, this area is known for its Scandinavian roots, lakes and open farmland. Just minutes away from William O' Brien state park. The nearby historic village of Marine on the st croix offers a charming riverfront, local shops, and one of the oldest general stores in the state. A short drive north, Taylors falls is known for its dramatic cliffs, scenic overlooks, and access to Interstate Park along the St. Croix River.
Explore trails, local shops, coffee shops, farmers markets and the Franconia sculpture park.
There is a steep narrow road that leads down to the riverside cabins. Please honk your horn as you travel down the road or up the road, as it only allows one car to pass at a time.
This summer cabin, built in 1911 by our great grandfather, has seen 5 generations of the same family grow up within its walls. When you enter the house, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time, and you have, because this is the real deal. Most of the house is original, with old bead-board and painted wood floors. There is a central living room with a high vaulted ceiling, a cozy fireplace, and walls lined with classic lit, old and new. From the living room, you step out onto a large screened in front porch that overlooks a big lawn and the St Croix River. On the far end of that same porch is a sleeping area with a bunk bed and a separate, screened bedroom, where you'll be serenaded at night by the owls hooting and the occasional slap of a beaver tail. The porch bedroom then leads into three smaller bedrooms, each connected by doors in a fashion typical of many older houses, built in a time when hallways were considered wasted space. A large bedroom extends off the living room, and behind the kitchen is another cozy bedroom. On the opposite side of the house is a lovely, rustic screened in dining porch that also offers a great view of the river.
This is a seasonal house with no central heating or air conditioning, although a gas furnace and fireplace keeps the living room and adjacent bedroom cozy on chillier days, and another furnace readily heats the kitchen and bedroom behind it when needed.
This house is the glue that has kept our family together for over 100 years, and has seen its share both of weddings and funerals on the front lawn. It is a deeply cherished place that we offer to those who appreciate history, value nature, and understand that an old house like this will come with character.
This is a Peaceful Vintage Retreat on Pristine St Croix River near Marine-on-St-Croix
Amazingly, this peaceful, rustic family cottage is located less than a hour from the Twin Cities!
Please note that the low-tech nature of this cabin means that there is no air-conditioning. Its location in the woods and down in the valley means that it is usually cooler than the surrounding area. We supply electric fans. Most people find these, and/or dips in the river, to be ample for their needs.
Guests have use of a shared boat landing/swimming area with a dock. (A canoe and two sit-on-top-kayaks are also available for renters' use.) If you have a boat of your own to put in, there is a public boat-launch just upstream from us, and from there you may keep your boat on our shoreline. (Note that we are in a Slow/No Wake zone.)
The St. Croix is wonderful for swimming, fishing, paddling, birdwatching, hanging out on sandbars ... and just relaxing and watching the river glide by.
Although secluded, the house is one mile from O’Brien State Park with many kilometers of hiking trails; five minutes each from the historic villages of Marine-on-St.-Croix and Scandia (the first Swedish settlement in the U.S.); and twenty minutes each to Stillwater, Taylor's Falls/St. Croix Falls, and Forest Lake, which offer rock-climbing, antique shops, coffee shops, gourmet restaurants, paddlewheel river-boat rides, movies, and more.
Some guests have even commuted to the Twin Cities while staying here! There is no public transportation in the area — you must have a car.
If summer doesn't work out for you, consider post-Labor Day; that time of year is beautiful, too, as the leaves begin to change and the river is even quieter.
There are 2 other family cabins on this property, although the trees separating them offer enough screening that you will be able to enjoy your privacy.
*Please note that this is a vintage cabin and will show signs of age as well as the potential for occasional animal visitors.
This house is strictly non-smoking.
If you wish to have overnight guests over and beyond our limit of 10 guests, please discuss with us.
Pet fee is $100 .
Well-behaved, mellow, housebroken dogs are welcome, though we ask that you please: Pick up after your dog; Never leave your dog unattended, either inside or outside; Keep your dog off the furniture; Bring your own dog blanket or dog bed. There is often a friendly dog nearby who has been known to wander over to say hello to renters.
We DO have serviceable wifi. Though you may wish to thoroughly unplug.
