Hayward Haus - A Well-Crafted Wisconsin Lakeside Cabin Full of Natural Light & gorgeous wood

Hayward Haus is a Scandanavian-style home about fifteen minutes outside of Hayward, Wisconsin. It sits on a beautiful stretch of land by the lake, and everything from the building design to the decor is well thought out by owner Cassidy Scheer. Cassidy is a professional lumberjack, coming from a family of lumberjacks, and his love for the sport and knowledge of quality wood is apparent throughout the property.

You get the experience of being in nature, while also enjoying luxurious comforts like the wood-burning stove, heated floors, luxuriously fluffy towels, a well-stocked kitchen, and incredible views. It’s easy to feel comfortable and at home here right away in the Haus’s cozy ambiance. We went with some of our friends to celebrate birthdays, and it was the relaxing getaway we all needed.

The Living Space

I’m a sucker for any space that has plants and lots of natural light. Pair that with gorgeous handcrafted wood furniture, an open floor plan, candles, and windows that make you feel immersed in nature and it’s easy to feel at ease here. and windows make you feel very much at ease and in the middle of nature. The candles throughout took it to the next level with incredible scents like ‘cedar and sage’ that tied in perfectly with the cabin.

Handcrafted Wood pieces

Cassidy has a very talented friend who handcrafted the gorgeous wood mirror, table, and benches. (Patrick Sheehan of Wildwood Mills, who uses salvaged wood from tree companies and homeowners.) To say that I’m obsessed with the table he created would be an understatement. I probably looked like the real-life heart-eye emoji staring at the way the light played on the table each day.

heated floors and a wood stove 

The heated floors will keep you warm, and the wood-burning stove creates not just warmth but a relaxing ambiance. The Haus is well stocked with fresh firewood, so curl up with a coffee, whiskey, wine, or beverage of choice and feel the stress melt off while watching the flames.

a Large wall of windows.

Besides letting a ton of beautiful natural light in from sunrise to sunset, the view of the lake is stunning, and you are likely to see so much wildlife during your stay. We saw deer, a family of otters, cranes, and eagles. There are also lights in the ceiling, but you won’t need to use them until the sun goes down. Or leave ‘em off and enjoy the cozy warm glow of the fire.

The Well-Stocked Kitchen

The kitchen is well equipped and really fun to cook in. The appliances, dishes, and glassware are all high quality, and there are even some extra fun copper mugs and a cocktail shaker. We had fun making everything from tacos to lemon ricotta pancakes and cinnamon rolls for a celebratory birthday brunch. It’s so nice to be able to have conversations in the open space with everyone while making meals.

• refrigerator and freezer, microwave, oven, and gas stove

• dishwasher made cleanup a breeze

• toaster, blender, and plenty of baking sheets and pots and pans

• cooking basics like oil and salt/pepper

• hot water kettle, coffee maker

• large butcher block (that we also used as a charcuterie board)

• lots of glass containers to put leftovers in - we often bring Ziploc bags and such as not many Airbnbs have these, so it was really nice to have!

• plenty of dishes, silverware, mugs, and glasses (several types of drinking glasses, and I loved the speckled design on the black dishes!)

Two Bedrooms

The beds are comfy and have super nice Pendleton bedding. The wood walls make the bedrooms feel extra warm and relaxing. While the main part of the house gets tons of natural light pouring in during the day, the two bedrooms have blinds to help keep out the light in the morning when you’re sleeping. I absolutely love how each of the bedrooms has local Hayward pride, history, and culture tied into the theme of the decor.

The master bedroom has a king-size bed, the only TV on the property (because who needs a TV here), and features decor from the American Birkebeiner, which is the largest cross-country skiing race in North America, started in 1973. One of the big events is the 55 km classic race from Cable to Hayward! I loved the vintage skis. It also has a closet and a large dresser to put your things.

The second bedroom has a queen bed, and features decor from Cassidy’s family of lumberjacks, including fun photos and a plethora of awards. There are also framed posters from the Lumberjack World Championships, which is another incredible event held right in Hayward! It’s an international competition for sawing, speed clinging, log rolling, boom-running, chopping, and more. We learned a lot about this event and the world of lumberjacks from our stay here, and even stopped by the location of the championships in town. I’ve added the Birkebeiner and the Lumberjack World Championships to my list of events I want to see in person!

Bathroom

The bathroom had great mirror lighting! (not that you’ll be doing your makeup much when relaxing here) I always appreciate it when bathrooms have counter space and drawers to put your things away in! Nothing is worse than when you don’t have a spot to set your toothbrush, toiletry bag, etc, and surprisingly there are lots of rental properties that don’t think of this when designing the space. The towels were really fluffy and soft, and there were plenty of spots for us to hang them. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided and the water was nice and hot!

Books & Games

There is a lovely shelf with plenty of books and games. We enjoyed putting a puzzle together while listening to music and the crackling of the fire. We absolutely love Catan as well and were thrilled the cabin had the game. There are plenty of classics too like chess, checkers, mancala, cribbage, UNO, Scrabble, card decks, and more.

The Wi-fi worked great if you plan to work remotely here, but with all of the puzzles, books, and games you might find yourself naturally disconnecting from your devices.

Spacious Deck and Outdoor Amenities

The cabin is located in a back bay on Upper Twin Lake, and currently, full-sized boats are not allowed at the dock. I think it makes this section of the lake extra peaceful and is probably why it’s so easy to see wildlife like the otter family by the dock. In the warmer months, you can take the Haus’s beautiful red We-noh-nah canoe out on the water, and even row yourself over to Blackiron Bar & Grill. Cassidy has great maps available for where to go on the lake for various activities. In the winter you can use the snowshoes out on the frozen lake or are trails.

A lot of thought went into the large 800-square foot deck, which is open on the lake-facing side, and covered when it wraps around the side of the cabin. It’s the perfect spot for outdoor lounging, reading a book in the hammock or the lounge chairs, grilling out and eating around the patio table, and sitting together chatting on the big outdoor L-shaped couch.

The grill is gas, and there are plenty of barbecue utensils and bamboo skewers/iron skewers, etc.

Pull up one of the big beautiful red Adirondack chairs after a long day and enjoy a fire as the sunsets. Make some s’mores, or even a birthday cake of s’mores if you’ve got someone with you to celebrate!

We absolutely loved our stay here, and it is one of my favorite Wisconsin properties! The owner Cassidy is an incredibly hospitable host, and I loved how he designed and decorated the Hayward Haus with such intentionality. When you are in Hayward, you can even spot Cassidy painted in the “H” of the beautiful mural downtown. The mural is located on the corner of W 2nd St and Main.

Things to do in Hayward, Wisconsin

• Check out Scheer’s Lumberjack Village, the location of the Lumberjack World Championships July 28-30, or attend a show from late May through early September.

• Go golfing! With 9 golf courses in a 30-mile radius of Hayward, it’s been dubbed the “Golf Capital of Wisconsin”. If you’d rather go mini-golfing, head to the Lumberjack Village Mini-Golf Course. (open seasonally)

• Head down the road from there to the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, check out the museum, and then climb up into the GIANT leaping muskie fish that is four stories tall and fits about 20 people in its open jaw! From its mouth, you can also see a panoramic view of Lake Hayward.

• Head an hour north to explore Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

• Paddle the Namekogan River on the stunning St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

• Walk around downtown Hayward and see the cute shops and historic buildings.

Where to Eat and Drink in and around Hayward

Many places close or have limited hours during off-seasons, so be sure to look up hours before your trip so you know what is available during your stay. You can grab groceries and liquor at MarketPlace Foods. Miller’s Market is a great spot to grab meats, cheeses, pies, soup, deli sandwiches, and more.

• Tavern at White Stag Farm - (4-minute drive from Hayward Haus) I have not personally eaten here, as it was closed during our time at the cabin, but my friend Rana Monet raved about it during her stay. This is one of the nicer restaurants in the area, and reservations are recommended!

• Blackiron Bar & Grill - this is an easy 2-3 minute WALK from the cabin, or you can even canoe over. Pizzas, bar food, game room, casual vibes. The bartender was so nice, and she happily chatted with us about the Hayward area spots.

• The Ranch Supper Club - a family-owned steakhouse in Hayward that serves supper club style with steaks on metal plates and classic cocktails. Usually packed, so get a reservation ahead of time.

• If you’re feeling pizza in downtown Hayward, Coop’s Pizza is a popular spot in a cute log cabin style building. There is also Frankie’s Pizza on the outskirts of town that also has good specialty pizzas.

• Farmstead Creamery & Cafe - This cute farm is a 15-minute drive from Hayward Haus. They have a delicious creamery that has gelato, and on Saturdays, they serve wood-fired pizzas with ingredients fresh from the farm. You can order bakery items a day ahead, as well as grocery items online to pick up.

• Backroads Coffee - a cute coffee shop in town with a front and a back seating area, bakery items, tea, and plenty of gift items for sale. I purchased a really fabulous macrame hanging pot holder for only about $14. Their chocolate chip banana bread was absolutely divine.

• Riverdeck Restaurant - on the water in the Lumberjack Village. Can sit inside or out! Opens seasonally, and is on my list to try out next time I’m in town.

• Out of the Woods Winery - cute spot downtown to grab wine, small bites like baked brie, and charcuterie boards. It was an unseasonable cold day when we visited, so I got a hot spiced gluhwine and it hit the spot.

• Moccasin Bar - The oldest building in Hayward hosts this fabulous dive bar. While just about every bar in Wisconsin has some taxidermy on the walls, this bar takes it to a whole other level with animals gambling, boxing, and so much more. Some of the taxidermy is really old, as far back as the 1930s. The drinks are cheap and the staff is fun.

• Twin Lakes Tap - just a short drive from the Haus, and right next to Tavern at White Stag Farm, this local bar is a casual spot to grab a drink. They really love fireball shots here.

• West Dairy - On busy summer days, you are likely to find a long line for this popular ice cream spot!

Shops

• Hayward Gourmet - I wanted to buy ALL the popcorn here. We got Kettle Drizzle, Chocolate PB, and Turtle.

• Lynne Marie’s Candies - A great candy, chocolate, and fudge shop. I love the chocolate peanut butter fudge!

• Tremblay’s Sweet Shop - nostalgic style candy shop with lots of options. They have a huge selection of salt water taffy, and even some sugar-free candy options.

• Riverbrook Bike & Ski - excellent shop for all your bike and ski gear needs, rentals, apparel, etc. They also have trail info here

• Outdoor Ventures - outerwear, hiking apparel, accessories, games, items for your dog, and so much more. We loved the ladies working when we stopped in, as they were quite witty. I usually get a sticker from everywhere I visit and they had the best ones!

• Hole in the Wall Books & Records - small little shop jam-packed with, as you guessed from the name, books and records.

We had such a fun time in Wisconsin at the Hayward Haus. Can’t recommend this spot enough, and hope to come back to see the American Birkebeiner or Lumberjack World Championships in person! Have you been to Hayward? Let me know if there are any spots I need to check out on my next visit!

If you loved the big windows and natural light of Hayward Haus, you might also love another great stay in Wisconsin, Nordly’s MetalLark Tower. Click below to learn more about our stay here.