Wildernest Cabins Turns a Perfect Opportunity into a Luxurious Summer Getaway

Sometimes, things just fall into place.

“My in-laws, Clinton and Joan [Little], are business partners in this … they bought their retirement cottage, little one-bed, one-bath cottage, on the lake in Duluth a few years ago,” says Sarah McKee, cofounder of Wildernest Cabins. 

“There was a property nearby that came up for sale,” McKee continues. “As soon as my mother-in-law Joan drew attention to it, you know, I work in residential real estate here in Minneapolis, so I went to see the property with her.”

The property already had multiple structures and was in a great location across the lake from the North Shore Scenic Drive, McKee says.

“She [Joan Little] initially thought this would be a good option for friends and family to come stay. Since they just have a little one-bed, one-bath, they can’t host,” McKee says. “As soon as I saw it I was like, ‘Well this is a good idea, but, this is a really unique opportunity because we’re grandfathered into the number of structures here, and this is such a great location.’”

“It felt like every time my husband and I would look to go and visit them, we weren’t finding someplace that we were really excited about staying,” McKee continues. “We felt like there was this missing piece of the market, that there’s this demographic that wasn’t being catered to.”

To McKee and her husband, Ben Schuster, the opportunity was obvious. Clinton and Joan Little agreed, but weren’t sure how to approach making it a reality. 

“They [Clinton and Joan Little] are like, ‘Well, that sounds super cool, but we don’t know how to do any of that,’” McKee recalls. “And my husband and I were like, ‘Well, what if we do all the design and marketing and logistics, and you oversee the construction since you are in the area and we are in Minneapolis?’”

“All together, we got really excited about working on the project together and filling this niche that we felt like was missing,” McKee concludes.

And what is that missing piece of the market?

“We mostly see couples and group retreats,” McKee explains. “So, each of the cabins is designed to give a lot of privacy and this nestled-in-the-woods feeling, even though it’s 15 minutes to downtown Duluth. It’s super convenient, close to the water, it’s kind of the gateway to the natural wonders of the North Shore.” 

“It’s also super comfortable,” McKee continues. “It has a lot of design choices that we were really intentional about, and it has a lot of amenities that we felt would really appeal to people who just want a relaxing weekend away that feels a little more luxurious than what was being offered in the current market.”

The design of the cabins finds a happy medium between sleek, modern luxury and classic cabin comfort. It also maximizes the available space, packing in more amenities than one might expect from a one-bed, one-bath studio-style layout.

The cabins feature a queen-size bed, dining table (and chairs) and a gas fireplace. The kitchenette includes a sink, two-burner induction stovetop, drip coffee machine, toaster, pots, pans, utensils and, hidden inside a drawer, a dishwasher. 

“We put a little dishwasher drawer in there because nobody wants to wash dishes on their vacation,” McKee says.

Just outside, there is a gas firepit, chairs and a private sauna. The saunas are often cited as a favorite in guest reviews, according to McKee.

Despite everything packed into the space, there’s even more for guests to do outside the clearing in the woods that is Wildernest Cabins. 

“We are just in this perfect little trifecta of us, [The] Moon Market, which is a super cute boutique, and New Scenic Café,” McKee says. “I think the three of us in a row, for people coming up from Minneapolis for the weekend, are just the perfect little bougie trifecta.” 

For even more options, check out Lavender’s recently published story on Duluth’s queer spaces in our Neighborhoods issue. Plus, at the end of the summer, Duluth Superior Pride takes place September 3-6, celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Whether you’re looking to stay in and sweat out the stress of a long work week or head out and explore Duluth and the North Shore, Wildernest promises to provide a welcoming, luxurious and cozy home base. A nest in the wilderness, if you will.