a real Minnesota winter
A village of ice houses on the frozen lake, trails in every direction, and a warm suite waiting at the end of it.
Most lake places board up in October. We don't. We're open all winter, and a Detroit Lakes winter getaway puts you in the middle of the season: the ice, the trails, the festival and the warm bars.
On the lake
The ice village
Once the lake freezes solid, a whole neighborhood of ice houses goes up on it: locals drilling for walleye and crappie, kids skating between them, trucks parked where the pontoons floated in July.
Never been ice fishing? Detroit Lakes guides rent heated ice houses by the day. You just show up. It's the most Minnesota thing you will ever do.
February · across the street
Sleep across the street from Polar Fest
The Polar Fest ice palace (locals call it the ice castle) goes up on the beach directly across from our front doors. The Polar Plunge, lantern-lit skating and fireworks over the frozen lake all happen within sight of your patio. No parking, no shuttle, no cold car: walk over, warm up in your suite between events.
Nine suites and one Polar Fest weekend a year. February books out early.
Book Polar Fest weekend
The season's shortlist
Things to do in Detroit Lakes in winter
Polar Fest
The town's signature winter festival: an ice palace on the beach, the Polar Plunge, lantern-lit skating, fireworks over the frozen lake. Most of it happens directly across the street from your door.
February
Snowmobile trails
Hundreds of miles of groomed trail fan out from town in every direction, and the frozen lake itself becomes a highway. Ride from breakfast to a trailside bar and back before dark.
From your door
Detroit Mountain
Skiing, snowboarding and tubing ten minutes away, with night runs under the lights and a chalet for the warming up. Rentals on site, no gear required.
3.5 miles
The warm side
The bars next door don't hibernate, downtown's brewery and restaurants are a five-minute walk, and your suite has a real kitchen for the slow mornings. Cold outside is the point.
All season
the ice palace, lit up after dark
groomed cross-country trails
kites over the frozen lake
trails in every direction
Detroit Mountain, ten minutes out
vintage sled rally on the ice
Open all winter
The lake doesn't close. Neither do we.
Winter rates run lower than summer: same suites, same location, a completely different lake out the window.