Grey Cloud House - A Vintage Aframe With a Glass Greenhouse
My sisters and significant others enjoyed the perfect weekend at Grey Cloud House! We absolutely loved the charm, the vintage fridge and furniture, and the gorgeous kitchen. We watched a group of about 8 deer in the morning and evening walking right by the front door. The greenhouse is such a fun spot, and we had a blast playing cards during the day with the beautiful sun shining in, keeping us warm and feeling like we were outdoors but protected from the wind and cold outside. Our last evening at the cabin we made homemade pizzas and enjoyed a fun candlelit dinner in the greenhouse. We enjoyed our weekend spent disconnecting from our phones and spending time with family!
The Outdoor Space and Stunning Glass Greenhouse
The Grey Cloud House sits on Grey Cloud Island on the Mississippi River about twenty minutes from downtown St. Park. It’s rare to find a property so close to the Twin Cities that feels secluded cabin in the woods. The aframe was built in 1966, and the outside features an open yard space and a gazebo and firepit off the deck. But our favorite outdoor space to enjoy during our winter visit was the beautiful glass greenhouse. It had a table with six comfy chairs, and we spent hours enjoying the space during a few sunny winter days.
The Charming Vintage Kitchen
The kitchen has authentic vintage appliances, including a fabulous old green refrigerator. In the rental listing info, the owners make it clear that some of the appliances have natural wear and tear due to their age. We loved that they kept the vintage charm and style. The natural light streams in from two sides and has a beautiful glow in the morning.
The kitchen is well stocked with pots and pans and everything you need. We brought groceries to the cabin and enjoyed making all of our meals at Grey Cloud House during our stay. We made tacos, homemade pizza, dumplings, and more. There is both a Keurig and a french press for all the coffee lovers and a hot water kettle for tea.
There are Four Bedrooms, Sleeping Up to Eight People
The bedrooms are large and cozy, and all six of us thought the mattresses and bedding were extremely comfortable. On the main floor, there are two bedrooms, both with king beds. One of the rooms has an open ceiling going up to the loft area on the floor above. There is a narrow spiral staircase that leads to the second floor. It would be difficult to get a suitcase up those stairs, I would recommend packing a duffle bag or backpack. At the top of the stairs are the two remaining bedrooms, one with two twin beds and another with a queen. The open ceiling king room might be my favorite, with the gorgeous bed frame and fireplace. Then again the floor-to-ceiling windows in the second-floor twin room let in the most gorgeous light in the morning.
The Bathroom
There is one bathroom in Grey Cloud House, on the main floor. It has a bathtub that sits below a beautiful stained glass window. There is also a large shower with shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. The hot water pressure worked great, and there was plenty of towels and washcloths for everyone.
The Cozy Living Spaces
The living room on the main floor is the first thing you see when you walk in. You feel your shoulders relax immediately as you walk into the charming and welcoming environment. The mid-century pieces and design of the space are so thoughtfully done. It’s the kind of space that belongs in a magazine.
I have now become obsessed with frame TVs thanks to staying at Grey Cloud House. I mean how beautiful is the ability to have what appears to be a painting on the wall, but it can be a TV when you want. While we didn’t use the awesome 43” TV to watch shows during our disconnected weekend, we did use it to stream Spotify and played music during many a card game. (Although you can easily log in to any of your streaming networks to watch a movie or show if you want during your stay!)
I loved all the vintage decor in the dining area, the long wooden table, and the mismatched chairs. But the shining star is the pampas grass chandelier above the table.
On the second floor, the loft space has a comfy chair to read a book and a table for four to play one of the many board games on the bookshelf.
We saw so much wildlife during our stay!
Things to Note
In the warmer months, there is just a short drive from the house to a public boat launch.
In the winter it’s best to have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, should it be icy out.
If you have mobility issues, it might be difficult to get to the second floor, as the spiral staircase is very narrow.
There is a security camera outside for safety, and to make sure parties aren’t being thrown at the house.
As with any old house, harmless box elder bugs are inevitable.
There is free use of the washer and dryer.
Check-in is a breeze, with a door code sent to you shortly before your self-check-in time.
The greenhouse has quite a few candles, but we brought a few of our own as well, as we knew we wanted a fun candlelit dinner with homemade pizza.
We had such a great weekend at Grey Cloud House, disconnecting from technology and feeling lucky to spend time at a place that has clearly been designed with so much love. All the sunlight and fresh air felt refreshing, we enjoyed great conversation over meals made together, and lots of laughter was had over many a card game. This cabin is a gem, and I hope we are able to return in the summer or fall for another stay!
