Langseth Lodge offers guests a place to rest with Lake Ocheda view

Jul. 5—WORTHINGTON — During the COVID-19 pandemic and since, the idea of escaping the stresses of daily life and relaxing in a secluded setting has become increasingly easy thanks to online options available through Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBOs) or airbnb.

Both websites ask you to select the location you wish to visit, the dates of your stay and how many are in your group. Then, simply watch as the options appear before your eyes, complete with photographs, a description of the property and available amenities.

You might choose to rent a whole house for yourself or a cabin in the woods, or perhaps a tiny house or treehouse sounds more adventurous. You could even roost with the chickens or take a break in a barn — the opportunities really are endless.

In February 2021, Paul and Leanne Langseth of rural Worthington took a chance on hosting guests at a lakeside cabin on their family property on Lake Ocheda's east basin. They listed their three-bedroom lakeside hideaway on VRBO and, while their property isn't booked every weekend, the peaceful setting is an option no matter the season.

"It's been a family cabin since 1995, when Dad, Charlie and Dean Langseth and I helped build it," explained Paul Langseth. His dad died two years later, and his vision for the cabin — to host itinerant missionaries who could stay with their families at the cabin, and then do day trips for mission work — died a short while later.

"The internet came along and the whole idea of itinerating disappeared," Paul said. "People raised their funds via the internet."

The cabin remained in use by the family, and it was made available for church youth groups, community gatherings and, for many years, hosted the Worthington Christian Church's Independence Day celebration. There have been weddings on the site, and even baptisms in the lake.

"We've had multiple family reunions," Paul said.

His mom, when she was living, never asked for a rental fee — she didn't need it with the rental income from the family's farmland. Yet she didn't put much into the cabin to maintain it.

"When we started looking at fixing it up, there wasn't enough funds for repairs," said Paul, who inherited the portion of the property that includes the cabin, his parents' home and marginal land along the lakeshore.

He and his wife, Leanne, have improved the site to generate their income, from Paul's tree farm to Leanne's greenhouse and garden center business. Fixing up the cabin and offering it as a rental property was another way to earn a living and invest back in the property.

Among the cabin's renovations are a new ceiling with wood repurposed from 2019 storm damage to the garden center, light fixtures that were rescued and repurposed, and the addition of decks to the east and west sides of the cabin to provide great views of Lake Ocheda in one direction and the prairie landscape in the other.

Their goal was to create a cabin feel, and a bison hide on the main floor wall — along with a horse hide on a wall upstairs — hearkens back to the old days, when bison roamed the prairie, and later, when horse-drawn sleighs and wagons brought settlers to the region.

Modern conveniences were added, including air conditioning, wifi and flat screen TVs. The kitchen includes a full-size refrigerator, stove, microwave and cupboards stocked with everything from coffee cups to dinner plates and utensils.

"We want this to be a place of healing; we want it to be a place of quiet," shared Leanne, adding that the cabin is designed for families and guests looking for a relaxing stay.

"We've had some marvelous people that we've met," she said of the guests they've hosted at their VRBO.

While one might not think of Worthington as a vacation destination, the Langseths say their cabin has served as a home away from home for those visiting family in the area.

"When the kids come home with their spouses and kids ... this makes it affordable for them, and it's close enough to town," Paul said. "We would like it to be an asset to Worthington."

They offer their cabin not just for long weekend stays, but for week-long gatherings and even single-day events.

"We had the Red Hat ladies that just came out for the afternoon," Paul shared of an event at the cabin last week. "We've had graduation parties out here too."

The three-bedroom, two-bath lodge has beds to sleep up to 10 individuals, with ample room to add an air mattress or two to accommodate a larger family or group. The attached dining hall offers even more space, and is currently being renovated. New windows will be installed this summer, and the goal is to eventually add air conditioning to it as well. Some day, Paul would like to build a yule log fireplace on the south wall of the dining hall as a showpiece for the room.

Outside, the VRBO offers guests a variety of choices to experience nature, from a pair of canoes and kayaks to bean bag boards. Guests have access to a beach area and walking trails as well.

"Sailboarding would be perfect on this lake," Paul said. "It's 4-foot deep; a mud bottom."

In the winter, guests can snowshoe, cross-country ski or snowmobile off the lake, or stay warm inside next to the woodburning stove or turn up the baseboard heat.

"It's close enough to places like the Round Lake winery and festivals that Worthington has going on," said Leanne.

The Langseth cabin is a non-smoking rental, and people do need prior approval to bring pets.