Tosanak cabin could be ready for rental next week

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

The wait is almost over and soon the Tosanak four-season cabin will go “live.”

That means families or interested parties will be able to reserve and use the 1,100-square-foot cabin that overlooks the Shell Rock River at Tosanak Recreation Area.

“It’s not going to take long to fill it. They’re waiting to come,” said Floyd County Conservation Director Adam Sears.

The cabin is named Otter Lodge and Sears said signs pointing that out will be ordered soon.

The modular cabin was purchased from Avenue of Homes. The fundraising effort took almost two years and more than $120,000 was raised to build the modern, family-style home.

The fully furnished, three-bedroom, two-bath retreat is handicapped accessible and features a 20-by-30-foot deck. Just past a bluff from the cabin is a 2½-mile river trail that allows renters to walk along the Shell Rock River, fish or view wildlife.

“We want it to be more of an outdoor experience,” said Sears. “We want the inside to be just as comfortable and inviting.”

Sears said the cabin was transported to Tosanak in two halves and cost $90,000.

“Basically they seal it all up and put it all together on site,” he said. “It’s really simple.”

All appliances – refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, microwave – came with the home. Sears is still busy getting beds ready and other amenities before the cabin can be reserved by the public.

The deck was built separately and cost $20,000. Sears said it’s made of treated wood and took two weeks to put up. He mentioned the deck would be coated sometime next year.

There will be a table on the deck for 6-8 people to sit in reclining wood chairs. There is also plenty of grass and space near the river-side of the cabin where people can play games or toss a football or flying disc around.

The cabin offers a spectacular view looking down on a ridge near the banks of the Shell Rock River. Sears said there was a lot of chainsaw work done to clear trees and open up the vista. The cabin is roughly 100 yards from the river.

Sears also said the property will be seeded next week and soon there will be a lawn surrounding the front of the cabin.

Floyd County purchased Tosanak in 2012 and transformed the property, formerly known as the Winnebago Scout Reservation, into a popular nature spot for families or those wanting to experience the outdoors.

Tosanak encompasses 370 acres and two miles of riverfront. Tosanak is a Winnebago Indian Term meaning “slippery one” and refers to the Otter River.

Otter Lodge is the first cabin that Floyd County Conservation has put on site. Some of the other cabins that are able to be rented out at Tosanak have been converted from buildings that were used by the Scouts, such an old nursing station and smaller cabins.

Sears said the cost to rent the new cabin is $125 per night.

“There’s a lot of people calling and asking about its availability. They’re wanting in here pretty bad,” he said.

Sears said the cabin can soon be reserved for lodging at www.floydcoia.org or www.mycountyparks.com. Anyone interested can also call Floyd County Conservation at 651-756-3490.