LAKEFRONT,private boat slip,RV hookup,kayak,paddleboard,bbq,firetable,horseshoes
Great for visiting Yellowstone Park (32 mi.) while also enjoying a lake vacation! On the shore of beautiful Island Park Reservoir, with your own dock & boat slip. (Rent boats, ATVs, etc. nearby.) 1 child kayak & 1 paddle board provided. propane firetable. Near ATV Trail System. Swim off the dock or shore, fishing, boating, hiking, biking; day-trips to Mesa Falls, Harriman State Park, Teton Park, and more. WIFI provided. and don't forget the breathtaking beautiful sunsets viewed from property!
Sleeps 13 max. in the house. The entire 4BR/2BA house is available for your use; including plenty of parking, 2-car attached garage, and our private dock and boat slip. You can also use the quiet local roads for biking and walking.
ALSO available: and more than 13 people are allowed to stay on the property IF you bring an RV The full 50 amp RV hookup (located next to the driveway) with a potable water hookup plus dump station, costs additional $50 per night.
Lakefront Retreat is located in the private gated community of Bills Island. The island is surrounded by the huge Island Park Reservoir. (You drive on a connecting causeway to access the island.) The Island Park Reservoir was created many years ago by a dam along the Henry's Fork of the Snake River, a world renowned trout fishing river. Swim and fish right off our private dock. (Catch Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Catfish and other fish species--Idaho fishing license needed for adults if you venture off the dock, not needed for younger children.) Use our boat slip for your own boat or one of the many kinds of watercraft that can be rented only 1/4 mile away. They also rent bicycles, and other water craft. You can also rent ATVs and snowmobiles in Island Park. [You can ride ATV's (and snowmobiles in winter) directly from this cabin onto the local trail system that connects for hundreds of miles and goes all the way to the border of Yellowstone Park! See the winter paragraph below for more winter info.] We provide the following items at the house: one paddle board, one angler's kayak and one children's kayak; with 2 dozen life jackets of various sizes. Additionally, there are two sets of snorkeling gear. There is always deep water in the reservoir right behind this cabin, even in years when water levels may be reduced for the use of farmers downstream. Our west-facing deck borders the water and connects to a floating walkway to the dock and boat slip. The deck is a great place to enjoy beautiful sunsets as you relax and discuss all the amazing possibilities for the days to come. The west entrance of Yellowstone Park is only 32 miles away. Horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing are available in nearby Harriman State Park. Amazing and powerful Mesa Falls is also a short trip away. An all-day trip to visit Grand Teton National Park is also possible from this home.
We keep this vacation home clean, sanitary and safe for you and your loved ones. This 1900 sq. ft. cabin has many upgrades the most recent renovation being the addition of the second bathroom in 2018 and all new appliances and cookware in 2023. You'll love the lodge pole features in the living room, which add to the rustic charm. It has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and sleeps up to 14 people: on three queen size beds, a single/double bunk bed with double pull-out trundle bed, plus a queen size pull-out sleeper couch, a queen size air mattress and a twin futon for the floor. (All bedding, linens and towels are provided.) This property also offers a 50 amp RV hookup at the side of our driveway for an extra $50/night plus tax, which would enable you to bring more people, who would sleep in the RV. (Only 13 are allowed to sleep in the house.) Potable water and a dump station are provided at our RV hookup. The two-car garage is also available for your use.
The living room features a wall of windows with views of the lake in the northwest/west direction, enabling you to enjoy breathtaking summer sunsets and also keep an eye on the kids playing outside. You'll find the kitchen well equipped with cookware, and new appliances as of April 2023, and everything you need to cook, prepare and serve your meals. This cabin has Chromecast TV (watch from any device) and 2 Roku TV's. Washer and dryer are also provided for your use.
There is a 50,000 BTU propane "fire table" in the side yard with comfortable seating and a view of the lake, for quality family time. (Propane provided.) This partially wooded property offers coolness among trees or sun out on the deck and dock. Views are amazing.
A true Island Park experience is awaiting you at Lakefront Retreat.
If you love outdoor recreation and like a safe community where children can have fun, then you'll be sure to enjoy quality family time at Lakefront Retreat!
Winter at Lakefront Retreat:
If you plan on staying at Lakefront Retreat anytime between between mid-October and mid-May there is usually some degree of snow throughout that period. You could experience this Winter wonderland at its peak between mid-December and the end of March. During the peak of winter, we get 4 to 7 feet of snow in Island Park staying on the ground, and getting mounded high by snow plows on the roadsides. The winter time is truly a beautiful thing! Come prepared with serious snow clothes and snow boots to stay warm and dry. Inside, stay cozy by our propane fireplace! (The cabin also has a good heating system throughout.) Due to all this snow, Island Park is a popular destination for plenty of winter activities including snow shoeing and cross-country skiing at Harriman State Park, and snowmobiling on the 500 miles of groomed trails throughout Island Park and West Yellowstone. In fact, you can snowmobile on snow-packed roads directly from this cabin to connect with the official trail system at our Bill’s Island security gate area. Free maps of the entire trail system are available at gas stations throughout Island Park. You can rent snowmobiles locally or bring your own. There is space to park your vehicles and trailers at the cabin. The west entrance of Yellowstone Park is closed to normal vehicles from mid-November to mid-April, but you can book guided snowmobile and snow coach adventures that take you inside Yellowstone Park, going all the way to Old Faithful geyser, which erupts year-round. (Book trips early. Space is limited.) Ice fishing, on the Island Park Reservoir and Henry’s Lake, is also popular! (Be sure that the lakes are frozen solid and proceed with caution. Snowmobiling on the lakes is illegal and can be dangerous.) In December/January you can enjoy the local Winterfest that includes horse drawn sleigh rides and fireworks, among many other family activities, happening at various times and locations in Island Park every year. (Check with the Island Park Chamber of Commerce for a Winterfest schedule.)
Please note: For safety reasons, due to the large amount of snow, there is no access to two of the side doors of the cabin during winter. You’ll have access to the overhead garage door, the personnel door next to it, and the sliding glass door of the house only. Warning: Be aware of the potential for heavy snow sliding off the garage roof, especially when things warm up above freezing. This is dangerous! Park your vehicles at a safe distance from any roof slopes and don’t venture below them on the ground. Due to the thick ice on the Island Park Reservoir, the floating walkway from the deck to the dock is removed in winter. These are reconnected when the ice has melted fully, usually some time in May.
We consider April our mud season due to melting snow. Watch out for potholes on dirt roads at that time of year. The roads get repaired when things dry out.
Enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking right off your own private dock. The fishing off the dock is free for house guests. No Idaho fishing license needed. Winter guests can ice fish right in front of cabin or leave from cabin to ride the over 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Summer time: Rent a boat at the local resort, and spend the day playing in the water, exploring the whole majestic lake(upon returning to cabin, look for the large antennae above the tree line to find cabin). Past guests have done some crawdads fishing in the rocks right below deck on water, Even grilled up their own rainbow trout caught that day. Be aware the this is a damned agricultural lake water recedes differently every summer Mid July to Sept. Depths will differ. This cabin happens to be located at one the deepest sections of the lake allowing for continuous water. Enjoy the sunsets while dining on the private deck at waters edge. Take an afternoon nap in a hammock. Read a book in the shade of the lodgepole pine trees. Enjoy coffee in the morning on the dock with a gentle wave breaking against it. Best of all try stargazing while on the dock. Unforgettable. If the weather is rainy, you still have an amazing view of lake from the floor to ceiling windows, wall to wall, AND a pleathera of movies, and games to choose from for some quality family/friend time. The island road is circular and aprx 2 miles to walk the whole around the whole island, what a great after dinner activity. Be aware: There is no lifeguard on duty. and supervision of fire table is a must at all times. Be bear aware.