Family Waterfront Cottage | Private Beach, Hot Tub & Game Room

Welcome to the Crowe River Retreat!
Find us on IG: @croweriverretreat

Bring the family together at a private waterfront cottage designed for easy, activity-filled stays in every season. Children can play by the small private beach, families can explore the river using the supplied kayaks, canoe and paddleboard, and everyone can reconnect around the firepit, in the hot tub or over games in the recreation garage. With extensive baby and children’s equipment already provided, you can pack less and spend more time enjoying the cottage.

PLEASE NOTE BEFORE BOOKING: An external guest verification process is required prior to check-in through our secure, Vrbo-approved property management system. After booking, you will receive a secure link to complete the required verification, including signing the rental agreement, providing the names of all adult guests, uploading a valid government-issued photo ID, and authorizing a refundable security deposit hold. Please see House Rules #7 and #8 below for full details.

THE WATERFRONT & OUTDOOR PARADISE
You’ll enjoy private, direct access to 16+ km of the crystal-clear, swimmable, and fishable Crowe River. The river is a vast 200 feet wide, expanding to an incredible 800 feet wide (and 35 feet deep) just a quick 5-minute paddle away. Our unique, gradual shoreline is incredibly shallow and features a gentle slope—perfect for easy water entry and safe splashing for the kids!

The Fleet: Guests enjoy complimentary, unlimited use of a 16-foot canoe, 2 stand-up paddleboards (SUP), 2 adult kayaks, and 1 child kayak. Life jackets ranging from toddler to adult sizes are fully provided.

Waterfront Beach & Dock: Guests have access to a private riverside sand play area. Due to varying spring water levels, the beach is replenished by the end of June and available until winter. Our seasonal dock is fully installed by the around mid-June through the first weekend of October. Because this is a natural river ecosystem, the shoreline can have occasional sticks or zebra mussels. We recommend bringing water shoes for little feet!

Premium Fishing: Cast a line right off the dock or the water! The Crowe River is an angler’s paradise, teeming with smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, and more.

Outdoor Living: Unwind in our luxury 6-person hot tub nestled under a covered pergola, gather around the fire pit (firewood is complimentary!), swing in the traditional and chair hammocks, or set up a tent for a fun backyard camping experience. With a highly sought after Blackstone BBQ with propane provided and 8-person outdoor dining, you are ready to enjoy the beautiful weather.

The Games Garage: Step into the detached garage (not temperature controlled) to find a pool table, dartboard, mini ping-pong table, and a basketball shooter game! Also have badminton, croquet, chipping, bocce ball and bean bag toss.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
We comfortably sleep up to 8 guests (with a recommended maximum of 6 adults for optimal comfort). Sleep soundly on our premium selection of down, cooling, and plush polyester pillows with all luxury linens included.

Bedroom 1 (The Primary Oasis): Queen bed, small couch, small cot, 50" Smart TV, workspace desk, dresser, full-length mirror, USB bedside lamps, and two robes.

Bedroom 2: Queen bed, 45" Smart TV, comfortable chair, dresser, full-length mirror, and two robes. The closet holds a premium foldable crib with a mattress and fresh linens.

Bedroom 3: Twin bunk beds, a dedicated toddler bed, two kid-sized dressers, and a kids' lamp.

Rec Room: A massive, cozy modular pit couch that can sleep 2 adults or 4 children.

Note for Light Sleepers: In the early spring, the property's sump pump may cycle on and off. It is only slightly louder than a standard furnace, feel free to bring earplugs if you are a sensitive sleeper!

INSIDE THE HOME
Fully Equipped Kitchen: Features a dishwasher, stove, oven, fridge, microwave, toaster, crockpot, countertop ice maker, blender, and all necessary cookware. We provide basic spices and cooking oil to save you packing space.

Coffee Bar & Lounge: Start your morning at our dedicated Keurig station and kettle (stocked with pods, ground coffee, tea, and sugar) and relax in the intimate seating lounge built for two.

The Sunroom: Boasts floor-to-ceiling sliding windows with panoramic views. Cozy up in the swinging egg chair by the electric fireplace. In the summer, open the sliding walls to let the breeze transform the room into a covered patio!

Full Bathroom: Includes a tub/shower combo with a luxury rain showerhead, vanity storage, hair straightener, blow dryer, and complimentary premium toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion).

Rec Room Entertainment: Features a 50" Smart TV, a warm gas fireplace, a foosball table, and a massive collection of vintage and modern board games.

Laundry Room: Full-sized washer, dryer, and laundry detergent, stain remover and dryer sheets are fully provided—perfect for drying off swimsuits daily.

PARENT-FRIENDLY AMENITIES
Travel light! To help reduce travel friction for parents, we proudly provide a complimentary pack of family essentials: a full crib, toddler bed, highchair, booster seat, baby bath, potty chair, plus toddler books, toys, and puzzles. A dining table that comfortably seats 7 ensures the whole family can eat together.

CONVENIENCES & LOGISTICS
Check-In/Out: Seamless, contactless self-check-in via a smart lock. Your unique code is active after 4:00 PM until your 11:00 AM check-out. Early check-in/late check-out may be requested for a small fee.

EV Charging: Equipped with a Level 2 ChargePoint J1772 electric vehicle charger (7.5 kW). Tesla adapter available for use.

Boat Access: Our street ends at a public Crowe River boat launch (perfect for larger boats you wish to bring). A larger Crowe Lake boat launch is just a 5-minute drive away. Please note there is no access to Crowe Lake from our property line.

Winter Adventures: Our road is municipally maintained and plowed all winter. Enjoy immediate access to the main OFSC District 2 snowmobile trailhead just 2 minutes away by sled, or head 5 minutes up to Crowe Lake for premium ice fishing.

BOOKING POLICIES & HOUSE RULES
To maintain our high standards of safety, cleanliness, and neighborly respect, all guests must review and agree to the following 8 rules before booking:

1. Age & Occupancy: At least one booking guest must be 21+ and present for the entire stay. Maximum occupancy is 8 guests. For peak summer (July & August), the limit is a max of 6 adults (the remaining 2 guests can be kids). Any daytime visitors must be approved in advance. No parties or disruptive events are permitted. Quiet hours are from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

2. No Pets Allowed: Due to severe family allergies, an unfenced yard with small children next door, and close proximity to the riverfront, we enforce a strict no-pets policy with zero exceptions.

3. Water Safety: Children must be supervised outdoors at all times. Life jackets are mandatory for all guests whenever leaving our shoreline to go onto the water.

4. Hot Tub Care: Please follow all posted hot tub safety rules. Guests must thoroughly rinse off river water or beach sand before entering the hot tub.

5. Smoking & Fires: Smoking is permitted strictly at the outdoor fire pit area. Guests must strictly obey all local fire bans communicated by the host (no refunds or discounts for fire bans).

6. Garbage & Recycling: Guests are responsible for taking their garbage, recycling, and beverage empties upon checkout. Friday is garbage curbside pickup, Tuesday recycling, or visiting the nearby town dump (open Sat/Mon, plus Thursdays in summer). You may leave your garbage for $25/bag if bagged neatly, or $50/bag if sorting/bagging is required by our cleaners.

7. Rental Agreement & Guest Verification: After your reservation is confirmed, you will receive a secure link to complete our required guest verification process through our platform-approved, API-integrated property management system. This includes signing our rental agreement, providing the names of all adult guests, uploading a valid government-issued photo ID for the primary booking guest, and securely entering a credit card through Stripe for the required security deposit hold. You may ask to see a copy of rental agreement before booking.

8. Security Deposit Hold: A refundable security deposit hold will be placed on your credit card 2 days prior to check-in. This is a pre-authorization only and is not a charge. The hold is automatically released within 5 business days of your departure, provided there is no theft, property damage, excessive cleaning, or violation of the rental agreement or house rules.

IMPORTANT: The guest verification process and security deposit hold must be successfully completed before within 48 hours of booking but definitely before check-in. If they are not completed, the door code will not be provided, the reservation may be cancelled, with no refunds issued. By making a reservation, you acknowledge and agree to these requirements.