Escape the city to our 1920s vintage riverside cottage. Nestled among centuries old Oaks, enjoy your own private sanctuary with over 100 feet of waterfront. Relax with a bonfire under the stars, sip coffee watching wildlife up close or unwind after a day kayaking from our waterfront.
Perfect for couples, travelers, or business persons -- come and enjoy the scenic countryside, all with the convenience of location: we are a quick 25 minutes to Madison or a short drive from MKE + Chicago.
The space
Rock River Rest is an updated 1924 river cottage designed as an escape from everyday life. Enjoy your own private riverfront (125’ direct frontage) with outdoor amenities like fire pit, gas grill and kayaks; and indoor space to relax and unwind with a good book, good coffee, vinyl records, games or movie night. The cottage is well stocked for plenty of options for unplugging (while fast wifi ensures quick connection to any online needs).
The cottage is cozy with low ceilings and 925 sq ft of living space: think of it as a step back in time or a big tiny house! We have used local Wisconsin and Midwest sourced products and furnishings (Fairbault Wool blankets, Lüsa Organics soaps, etc), as well as some fantastic vintage thrift shop finds and family treasures.
Well stocked kitchen with gas range, microwave, toaster, immersion blender, pour over or Italian coffee pot and retro refrigerator. Views of the river from many rooms. Small downstairs bedroom with half bath is right off the living room and has a double bed, a writing desk and view of the river. Up a short staircase is the upstairs bedroom with full bath and queen bed with our favorite luxurious made in Chicago natural latex mattress (note: full bathroom is accessed via the upstairs bedroom).
The living room boasts beautiful river views, electric fireplace, 40" smart TV, vinyl record/CD/bluetooth player with vintage vinyl collection, a well stocked games cupboard and a curated selection of books for all ages. (We highly recommend grabbing a good book and curling up on the couch in the summer porch for a relaxing day of reading!)
**Please note there is NO Central Air. The upstairs bedroom has a window AC unit in summer and all rooms include fans/ventilators. The cool and fresh country air from the river is refreshing and we encourage opening the windows for the cool evening breeze from the river.
This location is special in that you feel somewhat remote, yet are only a 5 minute drive to restaurants, Lake Koshkonong and Interstate I-90; and approximately 30 minutes from Madison, 60 min from Milwaukee or 2 hrs from Chicago.
We are child friendly and have a few special kid amenities--like the toy/book shelf in the downstairs bedroom closet--we just ask that they are used with care and returned to its place after use.
As a rural riverside location, we get our fair share of insects nearby. Our windows are equipped with screens to help keep them at bay, and we highly recommend keeping outdoor light use to a minimum in order to avoid attracting them to the house.
Only 5 minute drive from Lake Koshkonong, a 10,000 acre lake great for summer and winter water activities, and 2 minute drive from the free public boat launch. Or paddle to the lake easily by putting in your kayak or canoe at our shoreline (or ask us about renting one nearby). *Please note, on summer weekends our shoreline does get busy with boat/skiing traffic going by on the way to Lake Koshkonong.
In an effort to help conserve the beauty and habitat on the Rock River, $10 from each booking is donated to the River Alliance of Wisconsin and the Rock River Coalition. Thank you for helping us support our local watershed protection and restoration!
Note: Parties and events of any kind including photo shoots are prohibited unless officially arranged with the host. Make sure your reservation accounts for every person staying. Please don't invite extra guests other than those included in your reservation.
No dogs, pets or animals of any kind.
Guest access
Guests can access the house, patio, yard and pier.
Please DO NOT access garage, basement or pump/well house (small white house by the red water pump near the river). *Note, red pump is an artesian well and as such is continually flowing, not broken.
Other things to note
>> Please ensure that all members of your group are made aware if our house rules. We expect you to return the property to us in the same condition in which you received it, aside from the bedding and towels, which we will turn over. You’ll find our full check out procedures printed in our guest guide.
>> Our cleaners work hard to ensure the property is clean and ready for each group. Please respect their time by checking out promptly at 11am.
>> Please be mindful that this is a 1920’s cottage, rich in character. The staircase leading to the upper level (consisting of queen bedroom and full bathroom) is original and has a rather steep and narrow incline. Also, the retro refrigerator is smaller than standard American size and includes a small freezer about the size of a shoe box.
>> Expect to encounter wildlife. We regularly see fish, ducks, and eagles at the river. Chipmunks are always scurrying around the property. If you’re lucky, you might see an otter. There will be bugs! A cost of being so close to the river. Consider packing big spray in summer and please keep all screens to the house closed and outdoor lights off to avoid them coming inside to join your stay.
>> Permitted by Town of Fulton and
Rock County Health Department License No. MWEN-BWXQ8N
