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Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB

Rekindle memories by kayaking on calm waters or unwind around a warm fire pit under starry skies.

Photo gallery for Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB

Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Interior
Property grounds
Exterior

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Entire home

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6177 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Outdoor Space
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB

Quiet location and lake home for a couple or family of six or less to discover the beauty of a crystal clear lake less than an hour and a half from the Twin Cities. Full kitchen, living room, home theatre system with cable and internet access, three bedrooms with two queen beds, extra long bunk beds and the blackout curtains are just perfect for a good night’s sleep. New appliances and remodeled bathroom will impress. Hundred feet of shoreline with dock and firepit. A boat launch access is available for a fee of $25 from the Rod and Gun Club. Minutes away from St. John's University, the College of St. Benedict, and St. Cloud State University. Enjoy the Lake Wobegon Trail, a 63-mile great hike and bike pathway, or wonderful fishing with bass, walleye, northern, and sunfish. Great golf courses are available nearby in St. Cloud, Sartell, Cold Spring, Richmond and Albany.

This lake is not heavily populated - so the atmosphere is very peaceful. There is no public boat access. There are few jet skis on the lake; kayaks and pontoons dominate. Bring your kayak or paddle boards, if you would like. There is also very good fishing, with walleye, northerns , and sunnys. Also in the winter months, great cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Pretty of great restaurants and bars in St. Joseph which is a five-minute drive away, including Obbnicks, a wonderful new whiskey distillery.

No pets, no smoking.

Off-street parking is available for two large vehicles.

Owners have a private residence in the lower level of this property with a private, separate entrance so as not to disturb your visit and respect your privacy. They are rarely there.

Property manager

John Welsh

Languages

English, German

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach towels
  • Beach sun loungers

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking includes off-street options
  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Toaster
  • Electric kettle
  • Blender
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Music library
  • Stereo
  • Games
  • Video library
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit
  • Dock

Laundry

  • Near laundromat

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • No elevators
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • 1 stairs to reach property
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: No smoking on property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board
  • Local meal delivery service

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • On the waterfront
  • In a rural location
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Golf privileges
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Golfing on site
  • Winery tours nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Recycling
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products provided
  • Local artist showcase
  • Unit size: 1900 sq ft (177 sq m)

Similar properties

Exterior

Relaxing Country Log House on 65 wooded acres

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  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, 65 reviews
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Children defined as 16 and under

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
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Quiet Home Lake Watab Beautiful Central Minnesota SJU CSB House
Quiet Home Lake Watab Beautiful Central Minnesota SJU CSB
Quiet Home Lake Watab Beautiful Central Minnesota SJU CSB House
Quiet Home Lake Watab Beautiful Central Minnesota SJU CSB House
Quiet Home Lake Watab Beautiful Central Minnesota SJU CSB
Vrbo Property

About the neighborhood

Map
St Joseph, MN

What's nearby

  • College of Saint Benedict - 6 min drive
  • The Ledge Amphitheater - 13 min drive
  • St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center - 19 min drive
  • St. Cloud State University - 19 min drive
  • St Cloud Hospital - 19 min drive

Getting around

  • St. Cloud Station - 20 min drive
  • St. Cloud, MN (STC-St. Cloud Regional) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪H R Pesty's Saloon & Eatery - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB located?

This St. Joseph vacation home is on the beach, 3 mi (4.8 km) from College of Saint Benedict, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Mississippi River and Saint John's Beach. Quarry Park and Nature Preserve and The Ledge Amphitheater are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Quiet, relaxing home on Lake Watab in beautiful St. Joseph, MN near SJU and CSB Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Hayden S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
GREAT LAKE ESCAPE
The stay was amazing. The home was close to all the great things central minnesota has to offer. It was a homey space, and the backyard was stunning. It was peaceful and quiet, nd the lake was very clean. The beach was a huge bonus. Great place. Great area. Even better hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Tiffany D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Serene neighborhood
The view from back deck was beautiful! The hosts were very nice. The neighbors were all friendly also. We enjoyed our first visit to MN and plan to come back. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

mike s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place to stay.
Stayed with a group of work friends. This place was great place.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gary L., Little Suamico

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family time
Wonderful setting on Watab Lake. Full moon rising over the lake was gorgeous!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melanie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
We were in town to watch our son play for the Rox.
The property was quiet and nice. The dock offered a great spot to relax.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Patrick P.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Minnesota vacation with family
Nice quiet neighborhood. Nice lake property.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris R., Tucson, AZ

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Terrific Neighborhood
My family and I loved staying here, the house was perfect. Bedroom space was great, the kitchen was sufficient to cook while we were there, access to the lake was great, the yard was very well kept up. the neighborhood was really nice and full of friendly people. We will come back again next year.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shawn R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
SJU Reunion
Three fellas back for their 35th reunion from all parts of the country. Very comfortable and accurate description. Went for a swim and sat on the dock too. Great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing!
What a beautiful property. We had a little hiccup with the website so reached out to the owners, John and Cici we absolutely amazing! They were extremely helpful and quick to respond. I highly recommend this property and would 100% come back. Thank you John and Cici, you were awesome.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

6/10 Okay

niall c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Well kept.
Everything was good. The couches were very low , especially for people our age. I have had bth knees replaced and when I sat down I was only about a foot off the ground, but everything else was fine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Cheryl P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy
Meh...
Positives: Beautiful location on small quiet lake Easy to find and close to town for extra gas and groceries Rental well cared for with kitchen easy to cook in Concerns: Extra restrictions and rules that were not stated at time of booking. Lack of privacy due to owners dining on patio, coming and going throughout the day, using the dock for their own pontoon boat, and constant questioning of guests during their stay. No place for safety should a tornado warning be announced (which it was). The owner’s residence in lower level is not available even if they are present. Aluminum dock does not have any protection for landing boats which makes scratches almost inevitable.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

4/10 Poor

Chris S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy
Not As Described
First: There are some misleading things about the property post. I will fully admit; I didn't read the whole thing, so I missed the last couple sentences which read: "Owners have a private residence in the lower level of this property with a private, separate entrance so as not to disturb your visit and respect your privacy. They are rarely there." I would not have rented this property if it would have been more obvious that the owners are on site. This should be listed as a duplex, not "quiet, relaxing home." It seems that the owners are saying just enough to not be entirely false, but they're not being entirely forthright either. Other notable differences: The pictures of the home make it seem like all bedrooms have AC units. They don't. The owners say "separate entrance." There is an entrance to their "entirely separate space" within the unit. There is also an entrance to their space at the back of the house. You will see them walk through. The flag pole and number of flags flying has changed from the front picture. There are pictures of a concrete patio, a grill, and chairs; those are off limits for renters. The Ring cameras at the front and back of the house aren't pictured or aren't pictured clearly. There wasn't a tarp on the house in the pictures; when we stayed there, there was a tarp over what seemed like a broken roof which kept 1 guest awake. (I have pictures.) The gas grill is off limits. There is an un-pictured charcoal BBQ for guest use.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Wendy F.

St. Joe rental home
The property is the top part of a family home. There is a private entrance, full kitchen, great room, bedrooms and bath. The owners were in the private lower part of the home for part of our stay and we were notified of when they would be there. This was not a problem for us since we left by mid morning and didn’t return until later in the evening. The neighborhood is very quiet and this property is quite lovely with a large yard, fire pit and dock. There are no laundry appliances available, since we were there for a week, we did not have fresh towels for the whole of our stay. There is a large tv in the great room but no instructions on how to connect to their service. I received a quick response when I sent a request for assistance. Unfortunately, it wasn’t specific enough and we never were able to get it to work. Didn’t really matter to us, but I suggested a written, detailed instruction sheet be left with the remotes. If you haven’t experienced well water in the past, the slight odor of the water maybe offensive. Overall, we were satisfied and would consider staying there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Sean K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
SJU Football Weekend
Great location close to St. Joe and SJU campus! Enjoyed the weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Steven D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Stay on Watab
Property was clean and appointed nicely. Check in and getting in to the property was easy enough. Other than no bottle opener, the house was well supplied. Property manual was thick. Owners stay on the lower level. We could hear their tv in the evening and I am sure they could hear the crying baby overnight. Main gripe is the large damage deposit (over $3500), which has not been refunded 10 days later. We probably will not choose this property again because of the need for damage deposit.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice solid place
Cute little spot, nice set up. A little bare bones on the amenities/essentials (ice trays, 1ply tp etc )
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Kelsey S.

Nice Weekend Getaway
Booked this place back in March. We are from the St. Cloud area, which is only about 20 minutes from this property. I was due with our second child in June, and wanted to be close to home in case we forgot anything or decided to leave early. Took a long weekend at the cabin. It was very nice, clean and cozy. The owners were home during our stay, but it did not interfere with our activities. They were very friendly and welcoming. The slope down to the lake was more steep than we were expecting - it was difficult for our 2 year old and my parents to get up and down it. There wasn't an easy way to access the lake from the shore (only the dock) for our son to play in the water, but there was a park on the lake very close by that we used a few times - it had a nice beach and was very quiet.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Michael L.

Good Place in a Quiet Setting
We enjoyed the fully stocked kitchen. The dining table is not very practical at bar height, it's extremely small, and there are only four chairs in the whole house though the house rents for six people. The mattresses are comfortable. Thanks! The AC is not adequate to the house. Certain rooms are comfy while others get little air. Ceiling fans would help a lot too. The bathtub is terribly slippery and grab bars are needed. There are not enough towels supplied for a week's stay when one is not provided a washer/dryer. Nice place overall; fit our needs quite well. Way too many silly rules in a book that people don't read. Shorten the notes to the important things - bullet them - and move on. Quiet neighborhood; good for walking.

4/10 Poor

David C.

Ask more questions before booking
Booked the house for a 2 week stay. We had no idea that we would be sharing the house with the owner. Upon arrival we noticed that the house was split in two. When we arrived at the house we could not get the T.V. to work for us. We contacted the owner and he was quick to reply. He had said that they would be by in a couple of days to fix it. After a few days he had said that he could not get the Apple TV to work but we were able to watch Local channels. So we decided to hook up our lap top to be able to at least watch Netflix. This worked fine until the owner showed up with the wife and kid to stay for the weekend and several other days periodically. All of their devices would connect to the WiFi and it would kick us off. I messaged the owner and he had said that he called the internet company and they were having the same problem downstairs. The owner was very friendly but dose not understand that his stay there greatly affects his tenants stay. The one other thing that made our stay less desirable was the Water that came out of the plumbing had a very bad smell to it. The smell is hard to describe as it smelled like rotting metal pipes or something along those lines. from what I could tell the house has very hard water. When we showered it would take forever to rinse the soap off. if I was asked if I would stay here again I would say NO. The house and surrounding area was Absolutely beautiful! I just think the add posted should give you more info so your not surprised like we were.
Stayed 12 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Sara S.

Nice quiet place, good location
I stayed in this home in February, which is probably not when most people are seeking the peace and quiet of Lake Watab. It's a nice home, with a surprisingly well-stocked kitchen. All the pots and pans you need to do all your home cooking with!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Bonita C.

Peaceful place on Lake Watab
Really enjoyed having a bonfire out by Lake Watab before the snow fell. Charming neighborhood, close to St. Cloud and the freeway. Easy to find. Needed help with the 4 TV remotes and getting the house to the right temperature, but owners were easy to get ahold of to assist. Clean and kitchen was well stocked with appliances and kitchen utensils and dishes.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Susie J.

Nice neighborhood, lovely view.
We were able to make a last minute reservation when our original plan didn't work out. This home is conveniently located near shopping and eating out. Well furnished and very clean. The lake is beautiful and we had a great view from the deck. Overall, a very nice place to spend a long weekend.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017