We’ve been hosting families at our cabins since 2018 and during that time we’ve collected over 450 reviews. If all goes to plan, we'll hit the 500 mark sometime later this summer. A lot of these are 5-star reviews with guests saying, among other things, that they plan to come back again someday. I think this is pretty remarkable considering that when I got started with our first cabin, I really had no idea what I was doing. Early on, the review process was pretty scary. I was unsure of how our cabin would be received by our guests and the fear of negative feedback was tough to deal with. Fast forward to now, and reviews are a big part of how I manage. They often shape decision-making and provide feedback on not only what’s working, but where we lack too. Good or bad, they’re necessary. Truth be told, the glowing reviews do feel good. Reading about sauna sessions, family game nights, ice fishing adventures, and peaceful moments by the lake reminds me why we do what we do. Here are a few of those recent guest stories that really stood out to us — their words capture the real magic of staying at O’Connell Cabin Co. better than we ever could.
“The sauna is amazing…”
Brett B. – Cattail Chalet, March 2026 “Our group was able to enjoy a nice cabin weekend and enjoyed the sauna.”
“Another great stay at Cattail Cabin”
Chris G. – Cattail Cabin, March 2026 “This was our family’s second stay at Cattail Cabin. We stayed here last year at the same time and had such a great time we booked it again for our spring break. Everything in the cabin is so well thought out and it has such a comfy and relaxed feeling. Brad the owner is very responsive if you need anything. We will come back for a third time for sure.”
“We can’t say enough wonderful things…”
Hannah M. – Cattail Chalet, March 2026 “We can’t say enough wonderful things about Brad and his cabin! Brad was incredibly responsive and accommodating… Despite the heavy snowfall, the lake was stunning, and we loved relaxing in the sauna. The cabin had everything we needed—comfortable, tidy, and clutter-free… The cabin was the perfect retreat for four couples. We had an amazing weekend and can’t wait to come back!”
“Great family weekend!!”
Cheryl K. – Cattail Chalet, February 2026 “We had a great family weekend at the Cattail Chalet! We enjoyed time spent with our kids, grandkids and grand dogs. We spent the weekend ice fishing, fired up the sauna and had a bonfire outside with s’mores… The cabin was extremely clean and had everything we needed! Would highly recommend!!”
(Cheryl even sent us this photo of the huge fish she caught during their ice fishing adventure — what a catch!)
“This was our second year renting…”
Christine R. – Little Sand Lodge, February 2026 “This was our second year renting the Little Sand Lodge for the American Birkebeiner cross country ski races. We like the quiet and peaceful location of the cabin and a short drive to Hayward. The cabin is comfortable and well stocked. The kids loved the loft and everyone made good use of the ping pong table. I found the house guide for our phones very useful during our stay, any questions that we had we were able to find on the app.”
“We had a great stay!”
Stephanie L. – Cattail Cottage, February 2026 “We had a great stay! House was very clean and accommodating. Host was responsive and communicative!”
We’re so grateful for every guest who takes the time to share their experience — especially when you tell us you’re already looking forward to coming back. That means the world to us.
If you’ve stayed with us recently, we’d love to hear from you too! Your feedback helps future guests and keeps us focused on what matters most.
Spring dates are filling up nicely, but we still have some beautiful mid-week and shoulder-season openings left. Come experience the thaw, the loons, and the quiet magic for yourself.
Check real-time availability at oconnellcabinco.com — we’d love to welcome you soon.
Pro Tip: Mid-week stays in April and May are some of our favorites — quieter trails, peaceful lakes, and that wonderful “just us” feeling. Those flexible dates are still wide open right now!