About Stay Northern

Wisconsin's most complete guide to lake vacations and cabin rentals.

Built by hosts, for guests — since 2015.

Our Story

We started with one cabin and a belief that it could be done better.

Stay Northern started with a single cabin and a simple belief: that vacation rentals could be done better — for owners and guests alike.

My wife and I launched Stay Northern in 2015 after seeing firsthand how inconsistent the vacation rental experience had become. Too many properties over-promised and under-delivered. Too many owners left money on the table. We knew there was a better way.

We built our management company around a performance-first approach — carefully curating a portfolio of high-quality properties across Wisconsin's northwoods and managing every detail to deliver consistent, five-star experiences. Today we manage 26 properties and have hosted thousands of guests across northern Wisconsin's best lakes and waterways.

That foundation is now driving something bigger. Stay Northern is Wisconsin's local OTA — a marketplace focused exclusively on professionally managed cabins. Every property listed meets a consistent standard of quality. No guesswork. No inconsistencies. Just reliable, professionally managed stays on Wisconsin's best lakes.

26
Cabins managed
2015
Year founded
15,000+
Wisconsin lakes covered
4.9★
Average guest rating
What We Do

More than a booking platform

Vacation Rentals

Hand-picked, professionally managed cabins on Wisconsin's best lakes. Every property meets a consistent standard — no guesswork, just great stays. Browse our full collection and book direct to skip the fees.

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Property Management

We manage cabins across northern Wisconsin for owners who want strong performance and hands-off ownership. Revenue optimization, guest experience, maintenance, and more — we treat your property like our own.

Learn about property management →

The Stay Northern Ecosystem

Beyond rentals, we're building Wisconsin's most complete northwoods resource — 15,000+ lake guides, waterfront real estate, and a growing marketplace for cabin owners and outdoor enthusiasts.

Explore the lake guide →
The Vision

A Better Way to Experience
Wisconsin's Northwoods.

Wisconsin has 15,000 lakes. Most visitors never make it past the same handful of overcrowded destinations. Stay Northern exists to change that — connecting people with the best professionally managed cabins on Wisconsin's most beautiful and least-discovered lakes. Every property on our platform is held to a consistent standard, so you can book with confidence and spend your energy on what actually matters: Stay Northern.

The Team

Meet the founders

Mark Brunner — Co-Founder & CEO, Stay Northern

Mark Brunner

Co-Founder & CEO, Stay Northern

⭐ Superhost5 years hosting406 reviews4.86★

Mark has been managing vacation rental properties in northern Wisconsin since 2015, building a reputation for high-quality, consistently managed lakefront cabins across Washburn, Burnett, and surrounding counties.

Before Stay Northern, Mark saw firsthand how the vacation rental experience had become inconsistent — properties that over-promised and under-delivered, owners who couldn't maximize their revenue, guests who had no reliable way to know what they were booking. Stay Northern was the answer to all of it.

Today, Mark oversees a portfolio of 26 cabins and is building Stay Northern into Wisconsin's most complete northwoods resource — combining professional property management with a lake guide covering all 15,000+ Wisconsin lakes.

Ready to explore Wisconsin's northwoods?

Browse our hand-picked lakefront cabins or reach out to list your property.

Browse Cabins

26 hand-picked lakefront properties. Book direct, skip the fees.

View All Cabins →

List Your Property

Own a Wisconsin cabin? We handle everything — from guest experience to revenue optimization.

Get in Touch →