“Where friends become family and families become friends” – that tagline alone makes lil ol’ Midwestern me want to go spend some time there. So we did. And we were greeted by – not only the owners – but an entire multi-generational family reunion of visitors from all over the country who annually rent out all the resort cabins to spend time laughing, catching up, and being in nature. What a perfect way to be together. It immediately gave me warm fuzzies and I was happy to be there, even if we weren’t part of their family. I already felt the vibe and was excited to spend a couple days relaxing and unwinding with my young kids and retired parents.
Gathering Place Resort is an ideal spot for all generations to enjoy being together.
Gathering Place Resort in Birchwood, Wisconsin – just 2 hours northeast of the cities – is a warm, welcoming, family-owned resort and lodge that truly DID make us feel like we were family. The atmosphere is wonderful for all generations, whether you’re looking to relax, hike, get out on the water, cook, play cards, or just BE together in a space that accommodates everyone. If you’re looking for a getaway for fall, or next spring or summer, look into spending a few nights basking in the forest, kayaking Red Cedar Lake, jumping off the swim dock, or sitting around the campfire. And when the day is done, a warm cabin awaits you. Check out all their cabin options here. Depending on the time of year and size of cabin, rates can range from $250/night to $500+.
Northwest Wisconsin knows how to do cabin and lake life right, and The Gathering Place was no exception. The resort is made up of six cabins varying in size (ranging from 4 to 12 guests) that sit on 23 acres of land. Each cabin has its own bathrooms, comfortable sleeping arrangements, fire pit, full kitchen, and views of Red Cedar Lake. The cabins don’t sit on top of one another and offer plenty of seating, which is something I always appreciate. There is plenty of space between the cabins with amenities sprinkled throughout, plus it’s a gated community which makes you feel safe and sound.
Amenities at the resort include:
- Paddleboats, kayaks, canoes, and life jackets
- Pickleball, basketball, badminton, and volleyball courts
- Playground, sand box
- Small beach with swimming raft and dock
- Nearby dog park
- Cute store with snacks and drinks
- Fish house (also filled with floaties, pool noodles, and other fun water items)
- Individual gas grills, outdoor decks, and firepits
- Yes, they have WiFi and Smart TVs
- Rentals are available for a fee: golf carts, pontoons and fishing boats, or dock space (if you bring your own boat)
Personally, when I want to “get outdoors,” I do like to come back to a space that has the comforts of home (I can tent camp, I swear. I just whine more when I do). So staying at the Towering Pine Cabin was an awesome fit for our family! To have dishes, towels, linens, kitchen supplies, and a grill with firewood ready and waiting for your arrival is how I “rough it.” The cabin was beautiful, with all bedrooms upstairs and on the main level was a huge dining table where all nine of us could sit and play board games, be loud, and eat breakfasts and dinners was lovely. The sitting area had more chairs than we knew what to do with, PLUS a piano where all the kids tried to learn the theme song from Halloween (creepy).
We packed our own beach towels and spent most of our time down by the water jumping off the swim raft, floating in floaties, and fishing from kayaks. The beach was a little rocky so consider bringing water shoes, but once you got out to the swimming raft area it was nice to soak and float in the lake. There is also a small beach open to guests over by the RV sites which we did not use, but it is supposed to be sandier. We loved the amenities on the water and didn’t want to leave. In fact, I set up my camp chair on the dock for about 3 hours and worked on blog stuff, beer in hand. It was the most relaxing blog-writing I’ve ever experienced, minus those stupid summer mosquitos 🙂
Our family also spent a few hours checking out the surrounding areas. Options included hiking the Ice Age Trail or golfing at nearby premier historic golf course, but we went basic and did some coffee sipping and shopping. Ed’s Coffee was a pleasant surprise, and if we had more time we would’ve loved to try out Paul’s Pizza Den or The Birchwood Cafe. I also wished we had brought our bikes to put in some miles on the Tuscobia State Trail. Oh well, there’s always next time.
The owners Deanna and Michael Hessling are proud of what they’ve built and work hard to keep it clean, comfortable, and calm. They are expanding their services to include events like Tuesday on the Terrace in the summertime, which brings in live music from local artists. They are Midwestern too, so they know how to treat friends like family and they do it so well. The whole experience felt refreshing, woodsy, inclusive, happy, and super duper memorable.
Resort owners Deanna and Michael Hessling proudly show their rentable gathering space
No Comments