Lake City resort owners build a peaceful, welcoming tiny house community

Sep. 5—LAKE CITY, Minn. — Between reservations at Bending River Cove Resort, Tom and Stephanie Rothering walk down a gravel road and weave through their seven tiny houses.

While wandering in the tiny houses, Stephanie smiles at the reclaimed wood in the bathroom, old crate labels plastered on the walls and the peaceful view of the Mississippi River. They're creating their "personal touches" with the "funky," fun houses and plan to add a common room for guests. The couple purchased the resort in April 2023.

"We want to be embedded in the community and meet a lot of people and be part of kind of what's going on in both Wabasha and Lake City area," Stephanie said. "We've been met with nothing but just awesomeness, people have been so good."

At the resort, Tom jokes there's only one room that matters: his new office space in the River Queen, a gem with views of the Mississippi River.

It's the river that's "in his blood," after all, and one of the reasons they love running the resort, Tom and Stephanie said. They'll move into the River Queen, the main cottage, in November. For now, the couple, their daughter and two dogs relish in the "amazing" river views and their 800-square-foot, bit too-small trailer.

With the last of the summer's heat rolling in, Stephanie points to a clump of leaves turning orange. As fall approaches, she can't wait to see the river full with autumn's colors. Tom, too, hopes the resort will be "screaming busy" in September and October.

People will want to experience the feeling of living in a caboose in the Love Train or kicking off their shoes to soak in the sand at the beach vibes of No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem, the couple says. Every room is cozy. Every guest is invited to chill and relax.

"We're far enough out that people don't bother us but we're close enough that if people want to see us, they come see us. It's very nice," Tom said.

Stephanie finds herself drawn to Bohemian Rhapsody, a chic orange and gray space with a wrap-around deck, and the relaxing blues and greens of the Birch Studio where she escapes to read. The Birch Studio, with room for two guests in 200 square feet, is the only room open year-round. The houses, except the Birch Studio, require a two-night stay. That's enough of an experience for some people, Tom says.

He also enjoys conversations on helping people find their own tiny houses. He regularly connects buyers to their campground and resort plans as a Realtor, mostly in Wisconsin and now expanding into Minnesota.

The Bending River Cove Resort navigates the Rotherings into their first tiny house ownership. Tom says the resort fulfills a "genius idea": having a one-bedroom house for him and Stephanie and separate spaces for their five children. The family previously lived in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Fountain City, Wisconsin.

"Honestly, we had the big like we're both almost 50, so what are we going to do with the rest of our lives? Our lives are more than half over, most likely, and so what are our big things?" Stephanie said.

Their big things: travel and fishing. And the tiny houses, above the start of the Lake Pepin stretch of the Mississippi River, offer them ways to serve people and enjoy their pastimes.

"It's a special place," Stephanie said.

Between stacks of wood pulled from old structures, Mike Burke sits comfortably in his sawdust-covered chair at his garage shop in Kellogg. Friends spot his car on the gravel stretch of road and stop by to chat — and check on their reclaimed projects. They also try to solve societal issues.

"If I had a spot that had a beautiful little tiny house, you had your own little parking spot, you had your own little yard looking at the river and it cost you $600 a month, would that be a better alternative (to an apartment)?" Burke asks the youngest guest.

Burke describes the "whimsical" tiny houses at the Bending River Cove Resort as "my children." He loves the guests seeking peace, the building crew's "goofy discussions" and friends finding their creative outlets. He built and owned the resort from 2017 to 2023.

"People would keep coming and say, 'Oh geez, we want to stay because you have such good reviews,'" Burke said. "One day they finally show me and here there's 100 five-star ratings but I never knew and I treated everybody the same."

Over their morning cup of coffee, Burke's crew of friends and family built their plans for the day: custom make the frame, build a deck and match the wood blends on the interior. They formed the tiny houses from their reclaimed projects, including the Winona State University bleachers and parts from churches, schoolhouses and railroads. And when the sun had yet to peak over the bluffs, the crew transported the tiny houses.

"There was all these things to make this eclectic (resort)," Burke said.

"I put every bit of blood, sweat and tears," Burke said. "I mean did all the infrastructure, designed everything, build everything."

A few months into the contract sale with the Rotherings, Burke says, "I miss them every day." He adds it was the "hardest, painfulest" decision to let the tiny houses transition to the next owners. He's grateful to have shared his one chance of a resort on Lake Pepin with guests from all over the world.

"There's a lot of missing," Burke said as his eyes misted over with memories of the resort. "I really hope Tom and Stephanie ... they'll have to put their own ... stamp on things, but it's tough because with the tiny homes, it was my stamp."

He holds to the statement that he never hosted a bad guest. Each guest could experience a baseball game over a 1960s radio. Each guest stepped away from their worries into "a place to get peace."

The guests' weddings and family events — plus his own family who helped maintain the resort — gave Burke "this huge extended family." He shared his family's farming history through magazines and offered cookies and jellies at Christmas time. He says through his resort and nonprofit construction work, "I was never in it for the money."

From its perch on U.S. Highway 61 with views of Lake Pepin, Burke says "the resort was my sanctuary." He hopes to find another beautiful spot for his next tiny houses.

"Everything I did there and everything I tried to accomplish was for tranquility," Burke said. "I wanted people to find some sense of peace."

A small amount of water traffic sails across the Lake Pepin channel on a recent Monday afternoon. The boat chugs past the resort on the bluffs and again the water stills to a soothing rhythm. In their first year as owners of the resort, Tom and Stephanie listen for the sounds of their new home.

Tom says his pull to rivers is "counting the waves." He's also looking for the "real compliment" of guests returning to the shores of their resort next year. One guest already returns for monthly visits to the "very classic" Homegrown Honey house. Stephanie plans to bring a revamped theme for the four-person house.

While they're adding "personal touches" throughout the resort, they're thankful for Burke's vision in creating and welcoming guests. From the reclaimed bleachers to church and schoolhouse pieces, the Rotherings say he built with his "heart and soul."

"I hope the seeds or the sapling ... that was planted there, I hope it continues to grow," Burke said. "That would be all I really want."

Through each guest visit, Tom says "if you need something, just ask." Each guest is offered "personal attention" and is given an outdoor space.

"I like making sure they're taken care of, that they have what they need," Stephanie said. "I want them to feel at home and be able to relax and feel like they get away even if they might not be that far from home."

Their next guest experiences build community with a dog park and common room for extra kitchen supplies, laundry and a pool table. It's also where locals can gather for corporate retreats, car clubs and church groups. As they increase the amenities, Tom hopes to host more guests Monday to Thursday.

"We're willing to do lots to help people's experience," Tom said.

While adventuring through the "awesome little river towns," Stephanie says people soak in the sailing, breweries, state parks and antique stores. She, too, breathes a love for Lake City, and is thankful their parents and the resort drew them here.

"Just hearing them experience the valley, it makes me happy, too," Stephanie said. It's her "nature" to welcome people and listen to their life stories, Tom says.

In July, the Rotherings hosted 83% occupancy. They had a slower August but they're glad a new reservation system combining requests from Airbnb and VRBO is smoothing out before a busy fall.

"There's so many people who think something like this is out of reach for them, and it's so expensive or it's so much work and there's no money in it. It is the absolute opposite," Tom said. The Rotherings worked on financing over nine months. "I would tell any young couple who's got a knack to serve or service-orientated who can swing it to do it because I think it's one of the fastest and securest ways to build wealth that there is."

Their next spots for vacation rentals: Wabasha or out on the water.

When the fishing rods hit the water for the

Dick Hiley St. Jude Bass Classic

in October, Tom and Stephanie hope to raise awareness about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and have guests donate to the fundraiser. It's one of the ways they see the resort giving back to the community, as well as partnering with FFA and 4-H chapters on projects.

"We're not really going to employ a bunch of people, I don't think, here ... it's not that big of a place to employ but if we can give opportunities to people and look for creative ways to give back those are all things that interest both of us," Tom said.

As the river life changes with the seasons, the Rotherings find the seagulls, pelicans and eagles welcome them home. "I just keep saying, 'I'm happy we moved here,'" Stephanie says. Eventually, the resort can flow into a legacy for their children.

"How many people ask us when they leave here, they're like, 'Do you just pinch yourself every day when you wake up?" Tom described. "You live on vacation all the time.'"