The Shire in the Woods

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Welcome to the Shire in the Woods, where the natural surroundings will nourish and rejuvenate your soul! Located 18 miles east of northern Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, we are tucked away at the heart of the Solana State Forest and have the Soo Line South Trail running right alongside us. Relax with a good book in front of a fireplace or take a stroll in the beautiful woods. The Shire can serve you, your family and friends, facilitate special groups, workshops, and meetings, host a wedding, hold a family reunion, and more! No matter where you are at in your writing practice, the natural beauty and tranquility of the Shire is perfect for a writers retreat. The outdoors and especially the circle drive would be great for demonstrations with horses for example, or you can come and just be a hermit! Whatever your event or occasion, we will work with you to best serve your needs.

Our private, wooded retreat has Seven, year round dwellings and more. There are four smaller cabins, two deluxe, (the Cedar House, and the Tree Lodge) and one special multipurpose lodge (the Octagon). Additional facilities include a screened-in gazebo, a wood burning sauna, 5 miles of groomed trails, a rose garden, a labyrinth, a beaver pond, a frog and turtle pond, tree swings and hammock, outdoor fire pits, indoor fireplaces, access to the Soo Line Trail, access to many miles of trails in the Solana State Forest, and much more including our horses, a miniature donkey, and a miniature horse. As a guest, you can experience their antics and social systems, observe them, and with prior arrangements have guided interactions.