General Guidelines and Expectations

 

Please take a few minutes to read through this guest book. It contains lots of local info to help you enjoy your time in Mercer and Iron County.  Also read the property rules and info!  Each aspect is important to your safety and stay. You are responsible to know and follow the rules and expectations.  Any violation of a house rule is grounds for immediate termination of your stay (with no refund)!

 

You are on vacation, so we don’t want to inundate you with tons of fine print, but this is a family home (not a hotel), so we want to make sure the property is respected and stays in great condition for future guests (hopefully that’s you). 

 

Northwood adventures often involve nature, inside and out. You might encounter whitetail deer or geese roaming the property, loons on the lake, or even the rare black bear sighting (though some have been seen in the area, none have been reported on the Lazy Bear Lodge grounds).  Though we do work hard to control unwanted pests, it’s the Northwoods and sometimes unwanted critters and bugs are unavoidable. Keeping the doors shut should help with this.  

 

Our goal is to provide a great landing pad for all your Northwoods adventures, as such we expect guests will come in full of dust or snow, and maybe even mud.  In the interest of keeping the property in great condition, we ask that all trail-worn items (boots, bibs, muddy shoes, dusty clothes, etc.) be left at the door, the laundry room, or in the garage. There are racks & shelves (for helmets), and boot dryer available for your use in the garage. 

 

Final expectation is “please pardon our dust” … like nearly all Northwoods family cabins, we’re continually in the process of improving and renovating.   Our aim is to exceed your expectations, so please let us know right away if our aim is off, or there is something we can do to make your stay even more amazing!

 

 

Property Rules (the dreaded fine print):

 

It is very important for you to read ALL of these rules, as failure to follow

them could result in an immediate termination of your stay (without refund).

 

NO SMOKING

For the health and enjoyment of all, the Lazy Bear Lodge is a smoke-free property. Smoking outside is permitted 25’ from any entrance. Smoking inside the home, garage, or just next to the entry, could result in additional cleaning charges deducted from your deposit.

 

SORRY, NO PETS

While we love our animal companions, the Lazy Bear Lodge is not a pet-friendly space. There are various pest mitigation systems in place, including an ultrasonic system that could cause distress to your furry friend.  If you are traveling with a “service animal”, we will make every accommodation possible as required by law, including turning off the ultrasonic pest control system. We recognize and appreciate that service animals are not pets. However, we do not allow “emotional support animals”, as they are not covered under the ADA.

 

SNOWMOBILES/ATV’s/PARKING

We are snowmobile and ATV friendly! However, absolutely NO Snowmobiles are allowed on the Concrete: While there is an attached 2 car garage for your use, snowmobiles with carbide runners and studded tracks are EXPRESSLEY prohibited on all concrete surfaces. These WILL cause damage to the concrete.  Concrete surfaces incorporate the garage and apron. There is plenty of space to park your sleds outside.  There is no riding of any vehicle across the lawn (snow covered or not). There are buried septic and well access ports and underground propane tank valves that stick up above ground. You will be charged for any damage caused by riding on the concrete or lawn, and it will not be cheap.

 

DAMAGE

Any damage to the property will result in that cost being withheld from the security deposit. Any evidence of intentional damage will result in immediate termination of the stay without refund, and the guest will be charged for the full cost to correct the damage or loss. Damage could include (but is not limited to): broken electronics; holes in the walls; broken windows; damaged furniture and upholstery; gouged or scratched wooden floors; missing or damaged kitchenware; lost or damaged watercraft; stained or soiled upholstery, flooring, or other cabin features; missing or damaged tools; missing or broken decorations; or damaged concrete due to snowmobiles. If something breaks or an accident happens, please contact us right away. We are reasonable and will work with you.

 

CAMERAS

There is a camera system in place that captures the exterior and garage portions of the property. There are absolutely no cameras in the home’s living spaces.  Any attempt to intentionally dismantle, damage, defeat, or cover any of the cameras will result in immediate termination of your stay without refund. If these systems go out, the owners or onsite property managers will attempt to contact you. If you are unable to be reached, the Iron County Sheriff’s Office will be dispatched.

 

RESPECT FOR NEIGHBORS/NO PARTIES

Only registered guests are allowed on the property. This is a home, and large enough to accommodate fun gatherings. However, any evidence of an event taking place (with more than those registered) will result in immediate termination of your stay (with no refund, and likely additional cleaning charges withheld from your deposit).

 

MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT & 3^rd PARTY BOOKINGS

You must be at least 25 years old to rent the cabin, and the person renting the cabin MUST BE one of the guests who remain with the rental group throughout the stay. If this rule is not followed, all occupants will be ejected immediately with no refund of rental monies paid. Guest who initiates the rental will remain responsible for all other guests, children, or visitors during occupancy of the property.

 

 

Property Specific Information & Expectations

 

TV/INTERNET

The TVs are Roku TVs, so you will need your own streaming subscriptions (such as Netflix, Amazon, or Hulu) to view content. One of these TVs does have a DVD player, with an assortment of DVD’s on hand. You are responsible for lost/missing DVD’s. Do not unplug or disconnect any wires to electronic devices. Free wireless internet is available; however, this IS the north woods and internet/Wi-Fi access is rare and a privilege. Several devices can access the Wi-Fi at the same time, but there is not enough bandwidth to stream video content at the same time on multiple devices. The TVs are in “guest mode” and you will need to enter in your end stay date upon arrival. This will ensure your personal passwords and accounts are not usable by the next guest.  The Wi-Fi password is posted in the cabin. 

 

FIREPLACE

The fireplace is operable during colder months, October through March. The fireplace is a gas fireplace and has controls located on the lower access panel. Please do not leave the fireplace on while you are not in the living room area.

 

WATER AND SEPTIC

This cabin is on a septic system.  The septic system is very effective; however, it will clog up if improper materials are flushed.  DO NOT FLUSH anything other than the toilet paper supplied, including, but not limited to, feminine products, paper towels, baby wipes, flushable wipes (they are NOT flushable for septic no matter what the package states).  If it is found that anything other than toilet paper has been flushed and clogs the septic system, you will be charged for damages. Septic systems are not cheap to repair.

 

THERMOSTAT

The home is heated by propane forced air and cooled by central air. In winter months, the thermostat should not be raised above 74°F or lowered below 55°F. In summer, the temp should not be set below 70°F.  The lower level stays a few degrees cooler than the upstairs, and often times guests enjoy snuggling up under an extra blanket at night. However, there are nice space heaters in the lower bedrooms if needed.  The garage is insulated and stays warmer than outside, but the garage heater is NOT to be used by guests.

 

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT/CANCELATIONS

The Lazy Bear Lodge’s Check-in is at 4pm CST and check-out is 10am CST. There is NO early check-in without prior arrangements, and late check-outs will incur a fee of $100 per hour. Our cleaning crew needs time to ensure the Lazy Bear Lodge is ready for the next guests.  For cancelations, guest receives 100.00% (less $40.00 cancelation fee) if cancelation occurs at least 14 days before arrival; Guest receives 50.00% (less $40.00 cancelation fee) if cancelation occurs at least 7 days before arrival; No refunds within 7 days of arrival.

 

MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY

The maximum number of guests is limited to eight (8) persons in and on the property. We are on a septic tank, and this is NOT negotiable.

 

CLEANING REQUIREMENTS

Though we do hire amazing professional cleaners to sanitize and restock the property between guests, you can help keep cleaning costs lower for your future bookings by generally picking up after yourself, cleaning up spills, making sure garbage & recycling gets placed into proper receptacles, and working to get used towels and linens into the laundry room at the time of check out.  You’re not expected to clean the house at the end of your stay, but if there are beer and pizza stains on the carpet, expect your security deposit will be charged accordingly for the extra cleaning costs.

 

WASTE/RECYCLING/BURNABLES

There are several waste cans throughout the property, in bathrooms, the lower kitchenette and the main kitchen.  Please use these appropriately.  In the garage, there are several large cans for garbage and burnable materials.  It is greatly appreciated (to reduce the amount of garbage needing to be removed by our cleaning staff) to place anything burnable into one of the two large burn bins located in the garage. This includes paper products (cups/plates, cardboard, etc.).  Anything that is soiled or has food that might attract bears, mice, or other pests, should be placed into the garbage cans.  You are welcome to use anything in the burn bins for your next firepit starters (as that’s what we will do).

 

SAFETY/SNOW

There are no child safety gates in this house, and the house is not baby or child-proofed. Guests must exercise extreme caution and monitor minors and themselves while in or around the cabin. All recreational activity on or off the cabin property shall be done at the guest's own risk. This shall include, but is not limited to hiking on the property, using stairs inside or outside the cabin, approaching or viewing wildlife, or any activity in or around the lake, etc.

 

Major snow is removed by a service, but the back patio area and very short front walkway are the responsibility of guests. These areas will only take a couple of minutes to clear with the supplied shovels. The back patio need only be cleared to allow for emergency egress. There is salt/sand in the garage if needed. 

 

WEBER LAKE

Weber Lake is a 40-acre lake with a max depth of approx. 18’. The water is moderately clear with plenty of pan fish and largemouth bass. One of the best fishing spots and deepest parts of the lake rests right off the property’s pier.  Winter use of the lake is not advised unless you are competent in determining the safety and thickness of the ice.

 

There are kayaks and stand-up paddleboards on a rack by the shore (for summertime use). There are also life jackets and paddles supplied. Weber and other nearby lakes are wonderful places to explore by self-propelled watercraft. Please only use the watercraft equipment if you are competent on their usage and willing to accept all risks. Please return all watercraft equipment when done using it, as guests are responsible for lost or damaged items.