Northwoods Getaway: Cattail Chalet
- The Northern Nerd
- Dec 3
- 3 min read
If you ever find yourself up in the northwoods of Wisconsin, you don't have to look too hard to see that there are plenty of cabins. Our area thrives off of people coming up to their cabins to enjoy the many lakes, trails, restaurants and events. But what you have to be mindful of is selecting the right cabin. You don't want your northwoods vacation turning into a horror story because you're fighting off critters or can't get a fire started. Let the Cattail Chalet put your mind at ease because you found a great cabin to come and relax.
The Cattail Chalet is a place to find rest located on the shores of Lower Holly Lake in Stone Lake, Wisconsin. It's an open-concept cabin with the main floor complete with kitchen, dining room, two bedrooms, and a cozy fireplace. My wife and I spent a lot of time on the main floor entertaining our two-year-old daughter with toys and games. We also had some friends of ours come out to enjoy dinner together during our stay.
There is also a loft to enjoy! A space that would be ideal if you needed a place to put kids at night where they could hang out, but where they aren't too far away. It has four twin-sized beds that would make it perfect for a larger family or a weekend with friends with kids.
The basement also has a bedroom, bathroom, a ping pong table and hang out area. I recently had a surgery done, so my wife and I couldn't play our usual games of ping pong, but she took on one of our friends in a friendly match. (Okay, "friendly" depends on who you ask.) I could see the basement couch and TV area being used for watching a movie together with popcorn after a day on the water or taking in a sporting event while everyone rotates in at the ping pong table.
One of the things I also loved about the Cattail Chalet was the decor. There were some items that were pretty standard when it comes to the area with a "welcome" bear or saws to pay homage to the lumber industry heritage, but there were also a few unique items that I haven't seen before sprinkled in as well.
This "Birkebeiner Ski Patrol" sign in particular caught my eye. I love the Birkie and this is a sign that stuck out more to me than the typical Birkie posters one might see in most rentals.
One of the things I wasn't able to try because of my surgery was their sauna! I have a sauna of my own at home now, but it's always nice to fire up the sauna on a chilly day (especially with snow now).
Overall, I would say the Cattail Chalet is a perfect weekend getaway for couples, families or friends. You're not too far away from either Stone Lake or Hayward. Whether you're looking to ski, bike, hunt, fish, grab drinks or eat; it's a great retreat from the noise of everyday life. Unplug or work from the cabin with their Wi-fi, but I'm going to encourage you to lean into the unplugging. Grab a board game from their shelf, put the fireplace on, pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage and take it all in. These beautiful cabins are meant to be enjoyed more than your average hotel room. Take the opportunity to live the ideal northwoods life.
-Dalton Hessel