Entire cabin

The Garage: A Historic Clear Lake Tiny Cabin with Hammock!

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A wooden deck with outdoor furniture, a covered patio area, and a building with a brown siding exterior.
A bedroom with a bed, a TV mounted on the wall, a desk, and a chair.
A compact kitchen with a coffee maker, a stove, and a refrigerator.
A room with a dark blue accent wall, a white door, a wooden side table, a blue sofa with white cushions, a round wooden table, and a ceiling fan.
A room with a dark blue wall, a wooden nightstand with a lamp, a chair with a cushion, and a window with white curtains.

Reviews

6.0 out of 10

Entire cabin

1 bedroom1 bathroom

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking available
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Clear Lake, IA
  • Place, Clear Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Clear Lake State Park
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Surf Ballroom and Museum
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Airport, Mason City, IA (MCW-Mason City Municipal)
    ‪6 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Clear Lake

With a stay at this cabin in Clear Lake, you'll be on a lake, just steps from Clear Lake and a 2-minute drive from City Beach Park. .This cabin is 1 mi (1.6 km) from Clear Lake State Park and 1.1 mi (1.7 km) from Clear Lake State Park Beach.

What's nearby

  • Clear Lake - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • City Beach Park - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Clear Lake State Park - 2 min drive - 1.3 miles
  • Surf Ballroom and Museum - 2 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • Clear Lake State Park Beach - 3 min drive - 2.2 miles

Getting around

  • Mason City, IA (MCW-Mason City Municipal) - 10 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Seven's 777 - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪PM Park - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Garage: A Historic Clear Lake Tiny Cabin with Hammock!

Step Back in Time (With a Modern Twist!)

Welcome to one of the most unique stays in Clear Lake! Our "teeny-tiny" cabin is a true slice of Clear Lake history. Originally built as a garage during the golden era of Iowa lake vacations, it was lovingly converted into a cozy retreat for our family and is now ready for yours.

Freshly updated for 2026, we’ve completely refurnished the interior to blend modern comfort with that classic "sailor" charm.

A Piece of Local History

This isn't just a place to sleep; it’s a story. Our neighborhood dates back to the days of "cabin courts," where families flocked to Clear Lake for the Surf Ballroom and summer sun. In fact, the brick cabin directly behind us was the original neighborhood bath house back in the day! While you now have your own private bathroom, we love keeping that historic spirit alive.

The Space & Summer Vibes

Vintage Charm: We’ve kept the original windows to preserve the cabin’s character. One of the best ways to experience a Clear Lake summer is to leave the front door wide open and let the breeze flow through the screen door window. There’s nothing quite like the sound of the lake wind and the distant laughter from the docks to make it feel like a real vacation.

Instant Hot Water: We’ve installed a modern instant water heater so you never have to worry about a cold shower. Because this is a historic conversion, it takes about 60 seconds for the hot water to make its way through the pipes—once it arrives, it’s endless! Just a small reminder to slow down and enjoy the "lake pace."

Tiny Living, Big Fun: Our kitchen is a fun game of culinary Tetris—compact, but fully equipped with all the essentials. It’s the perfect setup for prepping lake-day snacks or a cozy dinner after a day at the beach.

Explore Clear Lake:
You are perfectly positioned for the ultimate getaway:

The Lake: Just 1/2 block from the public dock. Catch a sunset that looks like a Bob Ross painting every single night.

The Surf Ballroom: A quick hop away from the legendary music venue and its rich rock 'n' roll history.

Downtown Magic: Minutes from the Sea Wall, City Beach, and the boutique shops and local eateries that make Clear Lake "Iowa’s Vacation Capital."

Guest access:
You will have access to the entire home!

Other things to note:
Pet Friendly
Your four-legged friends are family here! We welcome dogs with a $49 fee per dog. They’ll love the breeze through the screen door just as much as you do.

Nature’s Neighbors
Being so close to the water means we share the air with Iowa’s seasonal bugs. We have professional pest control on a strict schedule, but please keep in mind that the occasional spider or fly is part of the authentic lakeside experience.

Book your stay at the "Garage" and discover how big of an adventure you can have in a space so small!
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned cabin, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
This smoke-free cabin features kayaking nearby and water skiing nearby.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the cabin: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop

Bedrooms

  • 1 bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total (up to 20 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • 2 steps to reach entrance
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • No elevator
  • Thin carpet in public areas
  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Contactless check-in available

Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash

Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

Pets allowed

Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Welcoming dogs only

1 total (up to 20 lbs per pet)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

The Garage: A Historic Clear Lake Tiny Cabin with Hammock! Reviews

Reviews

6.0
Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 2 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 2 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 2 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 2 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 2 reviews

7.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cedric G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great little place close to the beach and within walking distance of all the attractions.
Stayed 31 nights in May 2026
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Molly B.

Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
I would not recommend staying based on my experience.The biggest issue was the air conditioning. During my stay, the outside “feels like” temperature reached 111F. Even with both the ceiling fan and a floor fan running, the bedroom never cooled down enough to sleep comfortably. After two nights, the AC stopped blowing cold air altogether, making the home unbearable during the heat advisory.There were also other maintenance issues. The toilet would not flush properly unless I manually pushed the plunger mechanism inside the tank after every use, and the power went out during my stay.Because of the conditions, I ended my trip two nights early and requested a refund for the two unused nights. I worked with the owner while I was there, but after an AC technician determined the AC unit was “working as designed,” I was told they would not provide any refund because the system simply couldn’t keep up with the extreme heat. While I understand that unusually high temperatures can challenge an air conditioning system, the fact remains that the home was not comfortable or reasonably habitable during my stay. I later reached out twice more asking them to reconsider a refund for the two nights I didn’t stay, but my messages went unanswered.What disappointed me most was not just the maintenance issues, but the lack of customer service afterward. Between the ineffective AC, plumbing issues, electrical problem, and the complete lack of follow-up, I cannot recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026