Hey, fellow Northwoods escape artists! We're over here high-fiving like we just aced a game of Golden Tee—because recently, Dalton Hessel (better known as The Northern Nerd, with over 35K followers dishing adventure inspo on Instagram and Facebook) picked our Cattail Chalet for his winter reset on Lower Holly Lake. And wow, did he deliver: a glowing 5-star Google review, a fresh blog post, and social reels across FB and IG that have us scrolling on repeat. (Pro tip: Go peek at his feed—the video is pure magic.)
Dalton brought his wife and their two-year-old daughter for a cozy family stay, complete with friends popping in for soup and games. It's the kind of real-life story that reminds us why we built these lakefront havens: for unplugging, laughing by the fire, and soaking in that Stone Lake serenity. Here's the scoop straight from him (with his photos—thanks for the green light to share, Dalton!).
The Cozy Main Floor Magic That Felt Like Home
Dalton nailed it in his blog: "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." That open-concept kitchen, dining area, and gas fireplace? Total invite for game nights and kiddo chaos—without the chaos spilling over.
From his Google review: "My wife and I absolutely loved our experience at the Cattail Chalet! We had friends over to enjoy a soup and game night while we were there and they loved the space as well. The fireplace made the space inviting and cozy as well as the view of Lower Holly Lake."
Basement Hangout Vibes (Ping Pong, Anyone?)
Downstairs at Cattail Chalet is where the fun levels up: full bedroom and bath, plus that hangout zone with the couch, TV, and ping pong table. Dalton shared: "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."
His 1-minute reel captures the energy perfectly. (Check it out here on Instagram or here on Facebook)
Loft Dreams & Those Little Details That Wow
Up top, the loft with its four twin beds is a kid (or extra guest) paradise—close enough for bedtime stories, far enough for some peace.
Dalton geeked out on the decor too: "One of the things I also loved about the Cattail Chalet was the decor... 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."
And yeah, he eyed the wood-burning sauna (bummer about the surgery timing!): "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)."
His Full Google Review
★★★★★ "My wife and I absolutely loved our experience at the Cattail Chalet! We had friends over to enjoy a soup and game night while we were there and they loved the space as well. The fireplace made the space inviting and cozy as well as the view of Lower Holly Lake. The beds were very comfortable as well. I would definitely recommend staying here to people looking to enjoy their time in northwoods! You're tucked away, but you're also not too far from things happening in Stone Lake and Hayward. Enjoy your stay!"
We couldn't be more thrilled Dalton chose Cattail Chalet for his fam's getaway—it's occasions like this that make hosting feel like the best gig ever. As he wrapped up in his blog: "Overall, I would say the Cattail Chalet is a perfect weekend getaway for couples, families or friends... Take the opportunity to live the ideal northwoods life." Spot on.
Ready to channel your inner Northern Nerd with a soup night, sauna steam, or ping pong showdown? A few cozy weeks just opened up for winter (and summer 2026 is peeking already)—check real-time dates at oconnellcabinco.com. Huge shoutout to The Northern Nerd for the love and those killer shares! Follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more Wisconsin adventures, and dive into his full blog recap here (we're linking back big time!).
Pro Tip: For that ultimate family reset like Dalton's, book a shoulder-season weekend (think fall or spring)—rates dip, the sauna's all yours, and you've got the lake to yourself without the peak crowds. Those dates are wide open right now—grab 'em at oconnellcabinco.com!