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Gem House

House in Hovland, MN

8 guests·3 bedrooms·2.5 bathrooms
4.7 · 12 reviews

Property details

It's hard to talk about Gem House without first pointing out why it's called Gem House. Sure, the home, located near Naniboujou Lodge just a few miles outside of Hovland, Minnesota is truly a gem. It is a lovely home located on a sandy stretch of Lake Superior shoreline and located just down the street from two of the North Shore's most unique destinations. But, that's not why it's called Gem House. Nope, it received that name because of the incredibly beautiful amethyst fireplace that acts as the centerpiece to this Lake Superior home. Gem House is not just the one-of-a-kind fireplace, though! Even though we do believe the amethyst fireplace is, in fact, one-of-a-kind! The home features three spacious bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and it sits on a large stretch of sandy Lake Superior shoreline (a rare find along the North Shore). Gem House is located near Naniboujou Lodge, offering what is arguable the most unique dining room in all of Minnesota. The home also sits just across Highway 61 from Judge C.R. Magney State Park, which features the famous Devil's Kettle Waterfall. Clearly, unique does not just describe Gem House's fireplace! The entire area is filled with so much beauty you might find it overwhelming. But, don't worry! After a long day of exploring the North Shore, you can return home to Gem House, and relax your worries away in the private sauna or in front of the lakeside firepit. The lakeside fire pit features seating for six and a smores/drink prep table. Gem House is open year-round, so you can enjoy everything the area has to offer in different seasons and have a truly unique North Shore experience no matter the time of the year. Oh, yeah... did we mention that this home is pet-friendly? That's right! For a small fee you can bring up to two pets with you for your stay at Gem House! EV Charger: This property is equipped with a private OK2Charge Level 2 Smart EV Charger. The charger is located on the west side of the house, right in front of the garage. Once you arrive, scan the QR code on the charger, choose your payment method, and you are ready to charge! *Tesla drivers require a J1772 adaptor. Note: The pictured garage is not for guest use. There is also a hot tub at the home that is not for guest use. Bedrooms/Bed Sizes/Locations Bedroom 1 - King Bed* - Upper Level Bedroom 2 - King Bed* - Upper Level Bedroom 3 - Queen Bed - Lower Level Family Room - Queen Sleeper Sofa - Lower Level *The king beds are two extra-long twin beds that have been joined together. Bathrooms/Locations Bathroom 1 - Separate Shower and Tub - Upper Level Attached to Bedroom 1 Bathroom 2 - Shower/Tub - Upper Level Attached to Bedroom 2 and Hall Half Bathroom - Lower Level Area Information Gem House is located just down the street from Naniboujou Lodge, a unique lodge built in the late-1920s as a private social club with famous members like Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, and infamous gangsters like John Dillinger. The dining room is truly beautiful and unique, painted with inspiration from the ornate Cree Indigenous style. We consider visiting the Naniboujou dining hall a must-do during your stay. Just across the street, you will find Judge C.R. Magney State Park. With miles of hiking trails and several waterfalls, the park is a great place to visit. But, a state park in this area would not be complete without an ecological mystery of its own. That's where the Devil's Kettle Waterfall comes in. This waterfall splits into two parts- one part flows over the cliff's edge as waterfalls usually do. However, the other half falls into a mysterious formation known as The Devil's Kettle and simply disappears. To date, no one knows for certain exactly where the water goes, though many have tried to find out! If that wasn't enough, at Gem House you are just a short drive to many other North Shore attractions. The town of Grand Marais is just under 15 miles away. Grand Marais is home to many ma and pa style stores and restaurants not found elsewhere. Going up the shore you are just a short drive from Grand Portage which is home to both the Grand Portage National Monument and Grand Portage State Park (as well as the Grand Portage Casino!). There is so much to see and do you can easily stay at Gem House for a week or even two and not even see half of it! So come on up and enjoy an adventurous stay at one of the most unique homes on Lake Superior's North Shore. the property manager requires a Rental Agreement to be filled out Minimum age to book this property is : 18

Sleeping arrangements

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Common space

1 Sofa Bed

What’s included

  • Self check-in

    Self check-in

  • Parking

    Parking

  • EV charger

    EV charger

  • Washer

    Washer

  • Dryer

    Dryer

  • Heating

    Heating

  • Fireplace

    Fireplace

  • Kitchen

    Kitchen

Guest reviews

Star icon 4.7 | 12 reviews
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Gene

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October 2024

It was a quick trip for us, the Cabin is as described. The lake is so close, opening the windows and hearing the waves was amazing all night! Plenty of room for crafts, the table in the back is something to be seen. :)

M

Mark

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August 2022

Great location with all of the extras that make it feel like home. Modern tech across the board including a Sonos system, lots of board games, fully furnished kitchen with everything you could need. Great fire pit and hammocks with outstanding beach. Incredible place, would highly recommend.

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Audra

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January 2022

The house is gorgeous with updated kitchen and decor. It's worth a visit for the art collection alone - don't miss the Bowie posters in the dining room! It's a spacious home and so comfortable around the fireplace this winter. We'll definitely be coming back in warmer months!

R

Recent Guest

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October 2026

My husband and I loved our stay at the Gem House. It's located about 15 minutes north of Grand Marais, and being right across the street from the lake was amazing - you could listen to the waves from the house! The semi-private shoreline was fun to explore, and while we didn't use it, the outdoor fire pit and seating area were so nice! Pictures are very true to what you get, both inside and out. We loved that this place was pet-friendly, and the EV charger really made things so convenient! There was fun art all over the walls and an instruction manual if you needed to learn how to operate anything in the house. Truly a gorgeous place with nice amenities. Seeing how bright the stars were at night felt so surreal - don't miss stargazing on your visit!Nitpicky things, but I didn't love that the king beds are not 'true' king beds, but two mattresses pushed together. The doors could also use some WD-40, as they were quite squeaky if you were trying to be quiet. Otherwise, we truly enjoyed our time here! Highly recommend.

Know before you go

Self check-in

House rules

Check-in: 4:00pm

Checkout: 10:00am

Pets allowed

Min. age to rent: 18

No smoking

No parties

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