Entire home

A Diamond in the Rough

A Diamond in the Rough

Photo gallery for A Diamond in the Rough

Morning sunrise
Cottage
Living area
Living room with fireplace for those chilly evenings
Lobby

Overview of A Diamond in the Rough

Reviews
9.4 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 681 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • WasherWasherWasher

Explore the area

Map
Fox Lake, IL
  • Popular LocationJet Funn18 min walk
  • Popular LocationChain 'O Lakes State Park10 min drive
  • Popular LocationVolo Auto Museum12 min drive
  • AirportRacine, WI (RAC-John H. Batten)65 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining Area

About this property

A Diamond in the Rough

This diamond in the rough is a cozy 2 bedroom cottage perfect for a weekend getaway, family vacation or a romantic retreat. This great escape will provide you with a little piece of paradise while giving you the feeling and comfort of home! And because pets are family too, we welcome them; but must be cleared with the owners first. No cats please, as the owners are allergic.
This adorable cottage is nestled on a quiet residential street behind the main home. Water, pier and boat slip access are only steps away by walking down the lighted path on the side of the main home where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating; and in winter snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. A boat slip to dock your boat and 3-person canoe & 2 paddle boards are available at no extra charge your use. The cottage is fully air conditioned and heated with ceiling fans in bedrooms, kitchen and living room; making it perfect for year-round suitability.
When staying in this home away from home, you can start off your morning soaking up a little fresh air out on the front porch enjoying a cup of freshly brewed Starbucks Verona coffee. After an eventful day exploring all the Chain of Lakes has to offer, both bedrooms have queen size beds with 700 thread count linens and overstuffed pillows for your sleeping comfort. For those less than stellar weather days, cozy on the oversized leather sofa or kick up your feet on the reclining chair in the living room where you can also partake in some viewing enjoyment on the 40” LED television equipped with Xfinity TV or enjoy your favorite DVD by popping it into the DVD player. Feeling a little competitive? Stroll on over the utility closet where you can find several different board and card games to partake in. Secured WiFi internet access is also available. A little hungry? Quickly whip something up on the gas stove in the kitchen that is furnished with all appliances, utensils and dinnerware for your convenience, including an expandable kitchen island. Want make it a BBQ instead? Head outside to your own private patio to access the gas grill.

Your home away from home oasis is:
30 minutes to Six Flags Great America Amusement Park, where you can also make a stop into Gurnee Mall for some shopping
Walking distance to Fams for an ice cold beer and great steak or fish tacos or El Puerto restaurant for an awesome Margarita.
A Thursday night away from watching some thrilling drag boat racing at Blarney’s Island
A Sunday morning away from having an award winning Bloody Mary at Studio Roadhouse.
A click away from access to seeing some amazing live bands

*Staying with us again? Ask about our Preferred Guest Benefits. *
Ask about our discount for Great Lakes Naval Base boot camp graduations.
We look forward to sharing a little piece of paradise with you soon. Cheers!

Property manager

Jim & Rosemarie Nilson
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Young children must be properly supervised.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Do not throw butts on ground or in lake.
Fully executed Rental Agreement is required prior to arrival.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Fox Lake

Located in Fox Lake, this cottage is near theme parks and on a lake. Millennium Trail Trailhead and Hunter Country Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Six Flags Great America and Jet Funn. Volo Bog State Natural Area and Lake County Fairgrounds are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Fox Lake, IL

What's nearby

  • Jet Funn - 18 min walk
  • Chain 'O Lakes State Park - 10 min drive
  • Volo Auto Museum - 12 min drive
  • Gurnee Mills - 24 min drive
  • Six Flags Great America - 28 min drive

Getting around

  • Fox Lake Station - 3 min drive
  • Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • Culver's - 5 min drive
  • Antioch Pizza Shop - 4 min drive
  • Captain's Quarters - 15 min drive
  • McDonald's - 4 min drive
  • Pug Mahones - 5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A Diamond in the Rough pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at A Diamond in the Rough?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Diamond in the Rough?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Diamond in the Rough located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is 1 mi (1.5 km) from Jet Funn and within 6 miles (10 km) of Chain 'O Lakes State Park and Volo Bog State Natural Area. Volo Auto Museum and Stades Farm & Market are also within 9 miles (15 km). Fox Lake Station is 20 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 65 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 82 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Aimee C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great cottage!
Water was high so no beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Matt C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Private/Quiet Guest House
The rental is the guest home behind the A-frame home pictured at the end of the road. Very private and quiet! Although there are no water views, the water is just on the other side of the main home with complete access to the backyard, dock, and water. Everything was in great shape and it has everything you need and all the comforts of home. Definitely recommend getting a deep dish from Rosati's and checking out the boat races at Blarney Island!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The hosts Jim and Rose were friendly and helpful. The place suited our needs perfectly. We were attending a wedding in the area that my daughter was matron of honor for, so it was me and my husband, my daughter and son in law. The bedrooms are small but adequate, the kitchen and living areas are very nice. We also had full use of an outdoor gas grill, outdoor seating areas in front and back of the cottage. We also had access to the lake, with nice outdoor seating around a fire pit. The lake is scenic and there are stores, restaurants and bars nearby. Boats, kayaks, etc are available for rent nearby. It was a wonderful long weekend stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
PIR Boot Camp Graduation
Great time celebrating with our grandson and our daughter. Convenient to hiking, restaurants and the beautiful chain of lakes.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Janice M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a great 2 bedroom cabin. Everything you would need was provided plus extra great things !!
Easily found and easily rented
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Jim & Rosemarie Nilson

Host profile image
A love of boating, fishing and the outdoors has been embedded in us from our youth. I spent my teenage years on the Chain water skiing and boating with my family. Jim and I opted to live where we had many happy memories, where people are friendly and life is exciting and fun -- the Chain O’Lakes. We feel truly blessed to be able to live in a vibrant and historic community and most importantly, to be close to those that matter most – our family and friends.

Why they chose this property

Why Escape to Fox Lake?
The Village of Fox Lake is a vibrant community rich with history, wonderful people and just a short distance from many delightful attractions, such as:
• Chain O’Lakes State Park
• Downtown Chicago
• Great America
• Gurnee Mills
• Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
• Volo Auto Museum
• Wilmot Mountain
Fox Lake is part of the Chain O’Lakes that is comprised of 10 connecting lakes – Bluff, Catherine, Channel, Fox, Grass, Marie, Nippersink, Petite, Pistakee, Redhead as well as the Fox River. The Chain O’Lakes provides year round enjoyment for boating, fishing, snowmobiling, bird watching and ice fishing. In addition, the Chain O'Lakes allows for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities with special events throughout the summer sponsored by local businesses, including boat races, fishing tournaments, Venetian night, fireworks and live musical performances. Your Great Escape is just minutes from downtown Fox Lake – and moments from great memories.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

Premier Host
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