Small Northwoods Resort Caretaker Couple

Northern Minnesota Small seasonal resort Caretaker couple needed in exchange for housing/utilities/great high speed internet.

Hi, we’re the newish owners of a small 5 unit resort in the majestic MN Northwoods. 4 cabins are not winterized and only one unit is rented year round.

We are looking for a nature loving couple that has experience in hospitality, home maintenance, adept at social media with a desire to take care of small property and wonderful guests.

Multi level background check on both applicants

3 recommendations needed and rental history.

7 months out of the year there is very little needed at the resort. We’re looking for someone to make social media posts, take reservations and keep an eye on the place.

Actual time would be less than 5 hours a week October-February. We’re giving March “off”.

In April and May the resort work will pick up with spring cleaning and our first guests during fishing opener. Average about 10 hours a week for those 2 months.

Once June arrives the workload increases to about 25 hours a week with cabin turnovers, guest check in/out. Reservations being made. Boat rentals/maintenance, mowing, general upkeep, like beach raking, fish house cleaning(emptying gut bucket) trash collection etc. There is still plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous Northwoods summer! We will also be up much of the time as well to connect with guests and the daily work.

Fall winds down back to about 10 hours a week in September/October when the cabins are winterized.

Back to November and low hours.

I hope this gives a good idea of the expectations and what would be expected in exchange for the apartment. The apartment is in our main, year round building. It is large efficiency apartment currently furnished. It is well behaved dog friendly(must be leashed while guests are on site) or cat welcome. Small child ok too, it’s still an efficiency though not a good fit for a family with more than one child or older child. There’s a little patio area with fire pit and picnic table that feels private and away from guests. Beautiful views of the environmental lake across the road. Resort has a beach, dock, rental boats, canoes, kayaks available for you to use when available. It’s basically a small fishing resort, nothing fancy just fantastic, little historic cabins that are clean and well kept and well known for offering great customer service. Lovely Northwoods environment with everything you’d hope for, wildlife including loons out in our bay, hiking, biking, water sports and adorable small town within walking/easy biking distance. Bemidji is less than a half hour away.

This is a trade we’re offering housing worth at least $900 a month (more actually because we get $150 a night to rent it out to guests) for the resort work. One of you will need a job outside for income. My husband and guests have been able to work remotely with no problem. There are job opportunities in the small town close by and lots of opportunities in Bemidji.

You can also make 25% of any rental you book of the main lodge during November-April. It has only been rented a few times and has great potential to be rented during the winter months. This would increase the hours worked in the winter because of booking, prep and cleaning of the lodge but you would also have another stream of income. It has a lot of potential and many people reached out to rent it this winter. It rents for $200-250 per night so there’s definitely earning potential!

In the summer months when it’s busy with turnovers, you will receive the small cleaning fee we charge and any tips.

We will require a $1500.00 deposit to ensure you stay through the busy season and will get the deposit back if you stay through September and the apartment is left in good shape, the full deposit will be returned.

The deposit will not be refunded if you leave before September.

We are hoping it’s a good fit for all of us and you choose to stay. This is a great opportunity for the right couple!

This is an opportunity my husband and I would have jumped at when we were young! It’s the stable version of #vanlife ;)

Please reach out with a text (612-990-1523) text only to start, no calls please with any questions then we can set up a call. If that goes well a visit/tour and maybe a new adventure

Thanks for reading this manifesto of a post, hopefully it will weed out anyone who’s not up to it and excite anyone who is!

What is expected

Cabin cleaning, landscaping, zero turn mower, basic boat maintenance, basic home maintenance, assist bringing the dock out and in, spring cleaning, fall closing, social media posts, taking reservations, using reservation system, garbage collection, goose poo removal, guest care, firewood stacking and distribution. Checking guests in and out, processing payments, helping boomers work the TV’s, talking fishing. Enjoying sunsets, eating s’mores, kayaking to the island on the lake, eating most meals at a picnic table, picking berries, morning swims, time for hobbies, making woodfire pizza, eating at the local bar and restaurant. Hiking, biking, birdwatching, fishing, relaxing on the beach.