Shady Rest Lodge Inc - Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Justin E.

Been coming here since I was 6 years old. Always have had a great time and it’s really hard to leave. Meals are cooked for you and tasty, Lake is beautiful, ski/tube boat drivers are excellent. Also if you have a little one who wants to fish, there is always a great panfish bite right off the boat dock.

Can’t wait to return every time we leave.

See you next summer Shady Rest!

Ann H.

This was a glorious visit! We have come 8 years with family, using several cabins and it is a delight to watch our grandkids frolicking in the water and sand, and out adult children relaxing and reconnecting - great family time! But my husband and I came again with a couple friends and found sweet peaceful time. I do think anytime at Shady Rest would be awesome, and that’s because the location is ideal and Brad and Amy are the epitome of resort hosts! Our family always starts talking about our next visit almost as soon as we leave!!!

Ann H.

Have brought our extended family here for 3 years, and find this the best way to reconnect and have a fun time!! So many activities for toddlers through teens! Kids can learn to waterski & even our adults love tubing behind the speed boat!|The ladies love the pampering of meals served in the lodge, and everyone loved the delicious & even kid friendly food. Salad bar at dinner and gourmet bakery items, too! |We like the individual cabins for each family's privacy. They are nicely rustic, with updated bathrooms! Don't want a commercialized feel!! The property is small enough and on its own peninsula, which makes it safe for even the little ones to explore & ride the provided bikes. A full tennis court (with equipment), a nice playground, a big recreation room (w/ pool table, ping pong, fooseball & air hockey). But their private beach is the star for activities, whether in the water, kayaking, or tubing, or on the sand playing with the provided toys, or relaxing in the abundant chairs & lounges = A beautiful vacation!|The Francis family are the perfect hosts and the staff they employ are terrific. |We have enjoyed Shady Rest in early, mid and late summer and always hate to leave!! Already booked for next year!!

Angela W.

Our family has been visiting this resort almost every summer since 1970 and each visit ends with us planning the next trip. Brad and Amy have done a great job carrying on the tradition that the Fease family started. ||This resort is exactly what you would hope for when visiting the north woods. The cabins are cozy, rustic, and each have their own special views. Our family particularly enjoys the screened porch on cabin 5 that is right on the lake. ||We are able to spend quality time as a family over excellent meals, hiking, tennis games, kayaking, and water skiing & other water sports.||The cabins are cleaned daily and the grounds are well maintained. Breakfast & dinner are provided daily and we love not having to cook! The staff are all friendly and hard working. There is a bald eagle nest on the property and it is amazing to watch the adults catching fish. ||There are no TVs in the cabins and cell service can be a little spotty. We love being able to unplug and just enjoy the fresh air & outdoor activities!!||The fees may seem expensive at first glance but include pretty much everything you will need for your trip. The only things we buy for the trip are snacks for mid day (you won't need a big lunch because the provided meals are so great) and alcohol. ||I can't say enough good things about this place. I have been lucky to be able to travel many places around the world but I always feel myself drawn back to Manson Lake and Shady Rest Lodge.

ptsullivan

We have been going to Shady Rest Lodge for over 10 years. I have 4 children and each of my 3 siblings have 3+ children. Since everyone is busy with their own lives, we only have the opportunity to get together during holidays unless we prioritize something. ||||Shady Rest Lodge is located near Rhinelander, WI on a private peninsula. The private beach offers a central location for all families and kids to enjoy time with each other and the individual cabins offer some time alone as a family when desired. The kids love running around the property being able to fish, ski, tube, swim, sail, kayak, play tennis, basketball...they love being kids. The parents love the peace of mind that kids are playing in a private/safe environment. ||||Although the cabins do have kitchens, we always sign up for the American Plan (includes Breakfast and Dinner). While the kids get to vacation, it's important for the parents to have a vacation as well. The American Plan allows the parents the freedom to not cook nor worry about breakfast or dinner. ||||Brad and Amy are the owners who take special care to ensure the staff is polite and involved with the guests by serving in the lodge, helping facilitate various activities throughout the stay and cleaning the cabins each morning.||||We continue to prioritize this trip annually because of the time we all get to enjoy with each other. The kids love seeing their cousins and they look forward to the trip all year long.

phoebe K.

This was our tenth year at Shady Rest! Our extended family of grandparents, parents and grandchildren (30 of us in total this year) meet every year for a week in July. Over the years we have gotten to know Brad and Amy and watch their kids grow up. They are a wonderful family and they attract a wonderful staff. Shady Rest has come to embody summer-- both for us and for our kids. My favorite part is not having to cook-- the meals are delicious, with lots of healthy options (although the deserts are deadly). We spend our days on the beach, in the water, running around the tennis courts and playgrounds, and kayaking or swimming out into the lake. The kids can really run free, with plenty of eyes to watch them. One of our children has special needs, and our week in Shady Rest is a great break for us. The cabins are nice enough-- and the daily housekeeping is a treat. There are enough activities planned (go-carts, softball game, ski show etc) such that the week is full of adventures, yet with plenty of time to relax or play on the water. On rainy days, the kids enjoy the large indoor room with space for rip-sticking, playing ping-pong, air hockey, etc. ||||We have already planned our trip for next year.

Tracy F.

The Shady Rest Lodge is a great place to disconnect and enjoy family time. So much to do for the kids and no work for Mom and Dad. We love the breakfast and hanging by the beach. The afternoon skiing is great for experts and beginners.

Holly C.

We spent a week here bit was a truly fabulous experience. Brad and Amy were very accommodating and organized. The kids loved hanging out at the beach and fishing. One of the kids in our group caught 60+ fish off the dock! There is water skiing, tubing, and wake boarding daily. It was very organized and fair. The boat drivers were great! They have calm, lazy river, rides to those who requested it, and fast bumpy rides for those looking for more of a thrill. It was also very helpful that they had one person off the boat to help the skiers. The kids enjoyed the water trampoline and kayaking. My son also had a blast catching frogs. ||Meal time was amazing. Great food, including freshly baked breads and muffins, as well as dessert after each dinner. Breakfast and dinner was included. One in our group has celiac disease. Amy was so accommodating. She bought a new toaster just for that one person. She had gluten free muffins and bread for each meal. Amy also showed us the ingredient list for the food to be extra careful. We really appreciated that!||The cabins were pretty basic. Older furniture and rustic. There is no tvs in the cabins. This was fine for us, because we were outside from sun up to sundown. It was nice to disconnect. We just slept, got up and started with a new fun day. ||The staff was also great! It was nice to have clean towels daily. They also got to know us, and not only knew all of our names, but even knew which kids belonged to which parents. It helped make us feel at home. ||There were some planned free activities as well. My son loved the softball game. My daughter enjoyed performing in the talent show. They also enjoyed smores on our last night. They suggested a free ski show a few minutes away that was a lot of fun. They also had some suggestions for activities that cost money. Go carting, mini golf, and horseback riding. Such fun! ||Overall this was such a fun and relaxing vacation. We will be back next year! Highly recommended.