The Cabins and Cottages

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THE CABINS AND COTTAGES AT SHALE LAKE

The Cabins

The Log cabins are located at the South end of the lake where the old Mine Road used to run into Route 66. Just steps away from the lake, all of these cabins have a screened in porch, air conditioning and an open floor plan. The cabins have a full kitchen with stove and microwave and a 3/4 bath (full size shower).

Each cabin is different in size and style. All of the cabins have televisions in the bedroom and living room. The living room T.V.s have a DVD player.

The Cottages

The Cottages sit atop a 60 foot tall hill overlooking the country side, the vineyard and the lake. Flanked by woods and pasture, the view is breathtaking. The cottages are each unique in size and style. Three of them have open porches and low rise ramp entrances. The larger ones have full kitchens and all have a 3/4 bath. All of the cottages have televisions in the bedroom and living room. The living room T.V.s have a DVD player.

Rates and Pricing

All rates are considered base rates and based on Double Occupancy. There is a $20 charge per night for each additional guest (after the first two). The additional $20 per person charge is applied to the credit card on file at checkin. Changes made in the number of additional persons must be reported at / or prior to check in. Unregistered cabin guests onsite after 10:00 p.m. will be asked to leave or incur additional charges.

Pets

There is a $25 non-refundable pet fee (per pet) per stay if the pet is REGISTERED at the time of the reservation. Non-registered pets reported after check in and not registered by 9:00p.m. the same day of check in will be charged $40 per pet per stay. Damages caused by a pet are subject to our damages policy (see terms and conditions). Cabin 6 and 7 plus Cottages 10,11,12,13 &14 are pet free cabins. For the comfort of our guests with allergies please do not take a pet into these cabins/cottages.

Just being honest...

We have some of the BEST and some of the WORST cabin guests. More than 60% of our guests are repeat customers. That says something! We are a small business. If a guest tears something up, violates our policies or doesn't pay for the extras, it costs us a lot of time and money. We do not believe in charging everyone for the actions of a few.

Please, register all of the guests! We charge extra for more than 2 people and hiding your kids for the weekend makes for a lousy vacation. Our pricing structure is designed so that 2 people can enjoy a larger unit without having to pay a 6 person rate. Not so 6 people can use 3 beds and only pay for one!

Please register all pets! There is a really good chance we will see your pet on one of the security cameras. If not, we will definitely see the pet hair when we vacuum the unit.

Please do not smoke in the units! Any non-smoker can detect cigarette smoke when they enter the unit.

Please do not put soap or shampoo in the hot tubs. The chemicals that we use do not create bubbles that last longer than the air bubbles! It takes days to fill and refill the hot tub to get rid of the soap. The hot tub is a spa not a bath tub! Shower first and enjoy.

When all is said and done.... THANK YOU TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WHO SUPPORT US AND RESPECT OUR PROPERTY. You make it fun for us! We hope you will come back!

If you intentionally violate our policies, we won't allow you to come back. Honestly speaking.

Disclaimers

Due to the inability to control what the numerous search engines display as "our policies", the policies displayed on this page and in OUR terms and conditions will be the policies used. Reservations made via other search engines are not confirmed until an email confirmation is received from us. A cabin cannot be booked for the same day via any booking site including our own. You must call for availability if you wish to stay with us TONIGHT! The Cabins and Cottages are open March 1st to Dec 15th (Floating units open April 1st to Nov 1st).

ALL OF OUR CABINS AND COTTAGES ARE NON-SMOKING. Smoking or Vaping inside any unit will result in a $200 cleaning fee. Smoking is permitted on the porches. Please use an ashtray (provided).

WHICH UNIT WORKS BEST FOR YOU?

#1 CABIN The Shale Lodge

This family cabin sleeps 2-6 people. There is a King sized bed in the Master Bedroom, a Queen bed in the back loft (staircase access) and a Queen bed in the front loft (ladder or staircase access) The bathroom is in the hallway. The cabin has a back door and central heating and air conditioning for all rooms except the porch.

Pets Allowed with fee

#2 CABIN The Lazy Shanty

#1 CABIN The Shale Lodge

This three room cabin sleeps 2-6 people. There is a King bed in the bedroom, a Queen bed in the loft and a Full sleeper sofa
in the living room (not recommended for adults). The loft area has a small staircase and short ceilings (4'). The bath is located in the Bedroom. The cabin has central heating/ air.

Pets Allowed with fee

#3 CABIN The Mine Shack

#1 CABIN The Shale Lodge

#4 CABIN The Mule Quarters

This Route 66 cabin is decorated in a 1970's retro theme complete with door beads and a lava lamp! This cabin sleeps 2-4 people with a Queen bed in the bedroom and a Full size sleeper sofa in the living room (not recommended for adults) Air conditioned.
Groovy Man! Pets Allowed with fee

#4 CABIN The Mule Quarters

#6 CABIN The Boat House (Open April thru October only)

#4 CABIN The Mule Quarters

This Route 66 cabin is decorated in an Americana theme and sleeps 2-4 people with a Queen bed in the bedroom and a Full size sleeper sofa in the living room (not recommended for adults). The screened in porch has curtains and lounge chairs. Air conditioned. Pets Allowed with fee

#6 CABIN The Boat House (Open April thru October only)

This unit has a 2 night minimum stay from Thursday thru Sunday.
This is the only unit with a weekend stay minimum. This unit can be booked for just one night on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This three room ADA cabin is floating on the lake! It is anchored to the shoreline and accessed via a 40 foot fixed ramp. NEW, HOT TUB ANNEX. Now you will be able to enjoy deck time in the heated 2 person hot tub. NO SOAP, NO PETS, NO FOOD. The cabin and hot tub annex are floating and have slight movement. The Cabin has its own private deck and an all season kitchen with an electric stove top, small micro/convection combo oven, and fridge. Watch the lake life or fish from the porch. Sleeps 2 (ONLY), in a King sized bed and features a walk in 2 person shower. This unit has a propane grill 15 feet from the unit and a fire ring on shore 350 feet from the unit. It has full plumbing with a marine toilet (poop-yes, tampons-no) Wall Heating and air. For safety, Maximum Occupancy strictly enforced. Sorry, NO PETS

#7 The Yacht (House Boat)

#6 CABIN The Boat House (Open April thru October only)

We will add additional stationary floating units to our reservation system as soon as we have completion dates. While they ARE under constuction and progress is being made, these projects are moving at the pace of two old people doing all the work themselves.

Some of our projects have been delayed due to the COVID years!

#10 COTTAGE The Shale Chalet

This 2 room ADA Compliant Cottage is decorated in a calming old world theme.
It sleeps 2-4 people with a Queen bed in the living area and a Queen bed in the 4' loft (no ADA access). The loft is open to the living area and is accessed via a staircase. This is the smallest of our units but it has the largest bathroom. The bathroom has transfer bars at the toilet and in the shower plus a fold down shower chair. There is a mini fridge, microwave and coffee maker (no stove). Wall heat and air. No Pets

#11 COTTAGE The Manor

#10 COTTAGE The Shale Chalet

We call this cottage our "ladies night out" unit but really it works well for any medium sized group. The cottage is set up for 2-7 people with a KING sized bed in the Master Bedroom and four separate beds in the large loft (3 twins and 1 full).The short ceilings in the loft are 4' in the front and 3' in the back. The living area has a large country dining table and a full sized kitchen. The private bath has an additional dressing area in the hall way. The porch has 2 porch swings and a breakfast bar overlooking the view of the lake. Central heating and air plus ramp access. No Pets

#12 COTTAGE Snob Hill

#10 COTTAGE The Shale Chalet

#13 COTTAGE The Lake House

This cozy cabin decorated in a tree house theme sleeps 2-6 people. Ideal for couples (the loft is semi private and the bathroom is located in the hallway). There is a King bed in the Master bedroom and a King bed in the loft. There is a sleeper sofa (not recommended for adults), a full size kitchen., a dining hall (drop down table to seat 6 in the "actual" hall way) open porch, ramp access and central heating and air. No Pets

#13 COTTAGE The Lake House

Our Honeymoon Suite. This beach themed cottage only sleeps two. It has a King sized bed, full kitchen, bathroom and Spa room. It has a large indoor shower, a Jacuzzi tub, electric fireplace, 2 TVs, and a Dining table. The enclosed and very private courtyard has an outdoor shower (April to October), Gas BBQ grill and bistro table. There is a fire ring just outside the wall.
No ramp. Central Heating and Air.

No Pets

#14 COTTAGE The Bungalow

#13 COTTAGE The Lake House

#14 COTTAGE The Bungalow

NEW IN April 2023. This unit has a two person hot tub located on the deck NO SOAP, NO FOOD, NO PETS in the tub. The cottage has a larger full size kitchen and larger bath with 2 sinks and lots of built in storage. It has a shower/mini half tub combo. The Living area has an entertainment center, walk out deck, dining area and private BBQ. The master bedroom has an adjustable SLEEP NUMBER queen size bed plus a sleeper sofa (not recommended for adults). Ramp access and central heating and air.

No Pets

a few more details

These are full service cabins and cottages. All of them are furnished with bedding, towels and basic dishes. Plus Coffee, soap and paper towels.

There are some units with smaller kitchens. Check the CABIN COMPARISON pdf for details.
There is no charge for any of the dishes however if the items are not left clean a $20 use fee will be charged.
We have firewood available.
$7.50 a bundle which can be added to your reservation. Due to Illinois State law regarding insects, please do not bring firewood from outside of Madison county.
We offer catch and keep fishing to our cabin guests. Yes, you can keep the fish you caught as long as;

You are a registered cabin guest
You only keep fish you intend to eat
You follow all quantity and size limits
You do not clean the fish in or near the cabins. Use the Pavilion Cleaning Station (located on the West shore)
You dispose of the fish guts back into the Lake per the instructions located in the Cleaning Pavilion
We have pack and play cribs available.

WE HAVE WEEKLY RATES and LONG TERM STAY OPTIONS (Call for pricing)

Ready to Reserve (or Check Availability)? Use the BOOK NOW