Waterfront Cottage on Magnificent Rainy Lake: Completely Renovated in 2024-25!

This rustic cottage perched on the shore of Rainy Lake in the village of Ranier is the perfect basecamp for exploring the natural wonders of Northern Minnesota and Voyageur's National Park—or just kicking back, unplugging and hanging out with the locals. In the Davis family for more than 100 years (the original homestead was built in 1910), this waterfront cabin has been completely renovated and updated with the original Western red cedar paneling, new bathroom, entryway and kitchen, new windows throughout, and much more. A deck that opens off the porch will be your new favorite spot for catching spectacular Sand Bay sunsets from spring to fall. A wide lawn runs down to the breakwater, where you can swim in the cold, clear water of the Rainy, enjoy an outdoor meal on the picnic table, or sit around the fire pit right on the shoreline. The Davis House is a great place to relax and spend time with your family, fish the Rainy (there’s NO DOCK ON THE PROPERTY, but there are several public boat-launching ramps nearby), snowmobile (a groomed trail about one block away gives you access to a network of routes running all over the Borderland) or rent long-term for local area work. Kids love the nearby beach, swimming off the breakwater and exploring the shoreline. A wide selection of water toys are yours to use at the house, as well as a picnic table, gas grill, garage (perfect for our winter guests), two vintage Schwinns and almost anything else you'll need to enjoy your stay in the Rainy Lake Country. The friendly municipal liquor store (the Ranier Muni) is just a three-block walk away. There's an ice cream parlor just down the shoreline at Tara's Wharf, along with fresh-brewed beer at Loony's Brew, a public boat-launch ramp on the river side of Ranier, the new Cantilever Distillery with hipster bar and restaurant right across the street, the lightly used quarter-mile sand and play area of City Beach, numerous restaurants and resorts in nearby International Falls and eastern Rainy Lake, and the constant activity of the Canadian National Railway. The entire expanse of Rainy Lake—with its hundreds of islands, Voyageur's National Park, renowned walleye, pike and bass fishing—is right outside your door. And if you just want solitude or a quiet place to write your memoirs, Ranier has long been a haven for writers and painters and artists of every kind— not to mention the occasional gin-runner.