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A Diamond in the Rough

Fox Lake accommodation with kitchen

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Outdoor dining
Exterior detail
Interior
Interior
Dining

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 681 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Fox Lake, IL
  • Place, Jet Funn
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Six Flags Great America
    ‪28 min drive‬
  • Place, Naval Base Great Lakes
    ‪34 min drive‬
  • Airport, Chicago, IL (PWK-Chicago Executive)
    ‪53 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Fox Lake

On lake.You'll be within 2 miles (3 km) of Jet Funn and 6 miles (10 km) of Chain 'O Lakes State Park with a stay here. Spring Grove Fen Nature Preserve and Thomas Memorial County Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).
View more Cottages in Fox LakeOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Jet Funn - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Gurnee Mills - 24 min drive - 27.6 km
  • Six Flags Great America - 28 min drive - 30.1 km
  • Naval Base Great Lakes - 34 min drive - 41.0 km
  • Schaumburg Convention Center - 48 min drive - 55.7 km

Getting around

  • Fox Lake Station - 3 min drive
  • Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Antioch Pizza Shop - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Domino's Pizza - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

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

A Diamond in the Rough

This diamond in the rough is a cozy 2 bedroom cottage perfect for a weekend getaway, family vacation or a romantic retreat. This great escape will provide you with a little piece of paradise while giving you the feeling and comfort of home! And because pets are family too, we welcome them; but must be cleared with the owners first. No cats please, as the owners are allergic.
This adorable cottage is nestled on a quiet residential street behind the main home. Water, pier and boat slip access are only steps away by walking down the lighted path on the side of the main home where you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, fishing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding or kayaking and in winter snowmobiling, ice fishing and skiing at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. A boat slip to dock your boat, 2 kayaks & 2 paddle boards are available at no extra charge your use. The cottage is fully air conditioned and heated with ceiling fans in bedrooms, kitchen and living room; making it perfect for year-round suitability.
When staying in this home away from home, you can start off your morning soaking up a little fresh air out on the front porch enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee. After an eventful day exploring all the Chain of Lakes has to offer, both bedrooms have queen size beds with 700 thread count linens and overstuffed pillows for your sleeping comfort. For those less than stellar weather days, cozy on the oversized sofa or kick up your feet on the reclining chair in the living room where you can also partake in some viewing enjoyment on the 40” LED television equipped with Xfinity TV or enjoy your favorite DVD by popping it into the DVD player. Feeling a little competitive? Stroll on over the utility closet where you can find several different board and card games to partake in. Secured WiFi internet access is also available. A little hungry? Quickly whip something up on the gas stove in the kitchen that is furnished with all appliances, utensils and dinnerware for your convenience, including an expandable kitchen island. Want make it a BBQ instead? Head outside to your own private patio to access the gas grill.

Your home away from home oasis is:
30 minutes to Six Flags Great America Amusement Park, where you can also make a stop into Gurnee Mall for some shopping. Or, the Volo Museum which has a vast collection of classic, custom and movie cars including The Fast and Furious, Knight Rider and Blues Brothers.
Walking distance to Dingy’s for an ice cold beer, a Dingy burger or sloppy joes and homemade chips-and or El Puerto restaurant for an awesome Margarita and fajitas.
A Thursday night “Thunder on the Chain” to watch thrilling drag boat racing with Northern Illinois Drag Boat Association at Blarney’s Island - “The Greatest Boating Bar in the World” known for live music and is a major destination for summer.

*Staying with us again? Ask about our Preferred Guest Benefits. *
Ask about our discount for Great Lakes Naval Base boot camp graduations.
We look forward to sharing a little piece of paradise with you soon. Cheers!

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Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Ski

  • Close to skiing
  • Ski lift privileges
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

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

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Games
  • LED TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Dock
  • Firepit
  • Gas grill
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: Do not throw butts on ground or in lake.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Boat
  • Golf
  • Kayak
  • Paddleboard
  • Ski lift privileges
  • Snow sports gear
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Canoeing nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Theme park nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks 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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 869 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

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:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 1 (weight limit: 50 lbs per pet)
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Young children must be properly supervised.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Do not throw butts on ground or in lake.

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, a first aid kit, 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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Diamond Rough House Fox Lake
Diamond Rough Fox Lake
A Diamond in the Rough Cottage
A Diamond in the Rough Fox Lake
A Diamond in the Rough Cottage Fox Lake

Frequently asked questions

How close is A Diamond in the Rough to the airport?

This cottage is 27.6 mi (43-min drive) away from the Kenosha, WI (ENW-Kenosha Regional) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does A Diamond in the Rough have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this cottage.

How close is A Diamond in the Rough to the beach?

This cottage is 8.5 mi (16-min drive) from Lake Miltmore Beach and 10.4 mi (21-min drive) from Petersen Park Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does A Diamond in the Rough offer free breakfast?

This cottage does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at A Diamond in the Rough?

No, there is no casino at this cottage, but Lucky Strike Gaming & Lounge (19-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at A Diamond in the Rough?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at A Diamond in the Rough?

Free parking is not available at this cottage.

Does A Diamond in the Rough have a pool?

This cottage does not have a pool.

Does A Diamond in the Rough have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this cottage.

How close is A Diamond in the Rough to downtown Fox Lake?

This cottage is 0.9 mi away from Fox Lake.

A Diamond in the Rough Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 74 out of 94 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 94 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 94 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 94 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 94 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eileen J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was a perfect location for our visit with family while in town.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice and cozy cabin on the lake. Neighborhood quiet and peaceful, a perfect home away from home for a couple days.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to see fireworks!

Jim and Rosemarie were wonderful hosts and we had such a nice time!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Isabelle M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place has a nice large living area. The hosts are very kind. Also, Fox Lake has a fantastic playground that our grandchild, who lives near there, enjoyed.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joe M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Check in was easy and the host had birthday wishes for my wife. Great touch.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

eric g.

Great place!

I will be staying here again in the future. Great place at a great location.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Tracy N.

Great owners, fantastic place, great location

Owners were very flexible, place was great size, extremely clean, easy access to lake, house had everything you need for weekend, owners were generous giving us water, ice, and coffee to welcome us. Highly recommended and will stay again in the future!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Diamond in the Rough

Very cosy & nice. The backyard was wonderful. We enjoyed the privacy. The location was convenient to restaurants, etc.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Terry M.

Great location! Beautiful home! Super nice people

The rental home was the best kept and cleanest I've seen so far using VBRO. The owners left a hand written note for us and a welcome gift! Wonderful place to stay, highly recommend it to anyone looking in the Fox Lake area!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Michael L.

Perfect!

Great location for a relaxing getaway. The house is perfectly set up with dock access, restaurants are close by and even a good bar is walking distance. We had a 26 foot boat which was perfect for touring the lake chain. Overall, a GREAT , well-priced cottage! Would highly recommend.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth C.

Absolute Relaxation

The property is charming, homey and full of personal touches. The town (and surrounding communities) have a bunch of shops to explore.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Aimee C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great cottage!

Water was high so no beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great get away!

We enjoyed a great get away with our daughter & family and our son! Such a warm welcome with fresh flowers & champagne! And we loved the dock area, fire pit & the fact that there were hardly any steps to the lake for our toddler grandkids! Lots of fun to be had here!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

Hidden Gem with Great Hospitality

Loved this place and had a blast! Perfect for our girls' weekend (5 of us). The cottage is very nice and seems recently renovated. Great patio area under tent. Beautiful lake. We brought a big party raft and tied it up to the pier and enjoyed hanging out in the warm water. Owners were extremely nice and welcomed us with a bottle of sparkling wine and great suggestions for things to do in the area, although we just had a great time relaxing there.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Cassandra M.

Enjoyable Stay

My two sisters and myself rented this great cottage for 4 nights. We had a great relaxing enjoyable time! The cottage is very comfortable and accommodated the three of us very nicely. It's very spacious for the size of it. Jim and Rosemarie were great hosts welcoming us with a bottle of champagne and a nice card. They also left a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers on the dining room table which was a great added touch. We recommend this vacation rental highly and look forward to future visits ourselves!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Allison M.

Well maintained cottage with lake access, relaxing time away

The cottage is well maintained, clean, comfortable. The bedrooms are small but that wasn't an issue for my husband and me. We had our dog with us & had a wonderful, relaxing time away from the city. It is close to town (diving) which was so easy to get around for things we like groceries. Small grass yard to relax in by the water. Great recommendations from Rose on where to eat, things to do & boat rentals. Would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Rachel W.

Great place to relax for a long weekend

We enjoyed our visit very much. The cottage was well-stocked with everything we needed to cook indoors and out. Though the lake view isn't directly outside the cottage, it is indeed just steps away in Rosemarie and Jim's yard, and they gave us all the space in the world so it never felt at all weird. The cottage is a very short drive to a state park, several nature preserves, and more. We loved sitting on the lake in the evenings and drinking wine and watching the majestic blue herons.
Verified

8/10 Good

Matt C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Private/Quiet Guest House

The rental is the guest home behind the A-frame home pictured at the end of the road. Very private and quiet! Although there are no water views, the water is just on the other side of the main home with complete access to the backyard, dock, and water. Everything was in great shape and it has everything you need and all the comforts of home. Definitely recommend getting a deep dish from Rosati's and checking out the boat races at Blarney Island!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The hosts Jim and Rose were friendly and helpful. The place suited our needs perfectly. We were attending a wedding in the area that my daughter was matron of honor for, so it was me and my husband, my daughter and son in law. The bedrooms are small but adequate, the kitchen and living areas are very nice. We also had full use of an outdoor gas grill, outdoor seating areas in front and back of the cottage. We also had access to the lake, with nice outdoor seating around a fire pit. The lake is scenic and there are stores, restaurants and bars nearby. Boats, kayaks, etc are available for rent nearby. It was a wonderful long weekend stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Archival

8/10 Good

Cindy K.

Well-equipped, comfortable

We were there on the hottest days of the summer, and the cottage was a nice retreat. It was cool and cozy. The kitchen is very well-equipped for cooking, the beds are comfortable and the outdoor space is nice although you do have to walk through the parking lot and around the host home to get to the lake. The lake view is nice and would be a comfortable place to spend watching the sun set, although we didn't do so because it was so hot. The host is very responsive to requests. We locked ourselves from the cabin (when leaving, do NOT lock the lower lock!) but gained entrance within 10 minutes. The grill was dirty when we arrived but the host cleaned it nicely for us. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2016
Verified

4/10 Poor

Gayle

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
I don’t agree with all of these high ratings. The owners live in the house on the waterfront. Don’t be mislead that you’ll be staying there. You’re actually in a little cabin behind their house. It’s not a bad set up. Could be cleaner. Especially the fridge. I was really excited to be able to spend time on the waterfront property. Unfortunately, the owner’s deck overlooks the section designated to their rental customers. In the evening, you can see them watching TV. They were entertaining as well and it felt like we were the uninvited guests. Very awkward. I was really disappointed because I wanted to spend more time by the lake, but felt too uncomfortable. Another problem was my elderly parents were with us, and it was difficult for them to navigate in the dark from the cabin to the front waterfront property. They left us a bottle of champagne and a nice note and flowers. That seems to be their MO. However, when interacting with the owner, we didn’t feel welcome.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

lnda s.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property

Overall, this property is great. The house was very very clean and had all the appliances, utensils etc. you need for your stay. Everything is very modern and in working condition. The cabana area that was at our disposal the whole time at the lake was very nice. The only complaint I have is the lake. For one, you can barely see the lake from the small front porch. The way you get in and out of the lake is very dangerous—you have to go down a very steep ladder onto stones. If you had children, you’d have to be in the water first to help them in from the end of the dock. One day after it rained, the water was dirty where you go in from the ladder. If there was a ladder at the end of the dock, a lot of these problems would be resolved. Overall, though, I would highly recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

PIR Boot Camp Graduation

Great time celebrating with our grandson and our daughter. Convenient to hiking, restaurants and the beautiful chain of lakes.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janice M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

It was a great 2 bedroom cabin. Everything you would need was provided plus extra great things !!

Easily found and easily rented
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girls weekend retreat!

We had an excellent experience with this VRBO! Jim and Rosemarie were wonderful hosts. They offered local fish fry recommendations as well as nearby spots with live music! This was a very nice, quiet little house on a dead end street with beautiful lakefront outdoor space.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022