Xanadu Island Bed & Breakfast and Resort

Xanadu Island Resort is a 1920's wooded island estate accessed by a narrow causeway. Xanadu, situated on Elbow (Bass) Lake, the third clearest lake in Otter Tail County, provides peace, quiet and privacy. There is great swimming and fishing for bass, crappie and sunfish just waiting for you at the resort on this private island.

This Minnesota bed and breakfast is located near Battle Lake, Minnesota in Ottertail County. Families and lovers alike enjoy this secluded 1920's five acre island estate. Xanadu Island Bed and Breakfast is a spacious lodge style bed and breakfast which features massive stone fireplaces and five bed and breakfast rooms. Nestled among the oaks and maples on this Minnesota island are three cottages which were originally servants' quarters. They are now available as a mini resort for that special Minnesota summer family vacation.

Recent bed and breakfast guests wrote of the peace and tranquility of the place, the history of the island, the exquisite breakfasts, the magical sounds of the loons, the lovely view from the deck, reading, sleeping, talking, dreaming, hot-tubbing, canoeing, boating, exploring so many sweet memories. These comments are not at all uncommon. Come and experience Xanadu Island Bed and Breakfast with your sweetheart.

For years, Bubba and Margie Shivler have taken vacations staying at bed and breakfasts as a nightly destination during a two week vacation. When pain issues took Margie to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, with time on his hands, Bubba noticed an ad for Xanadu and suggested spending the weekend there. But, during our stay, and learning the B&B was for sale, Bubba decided one visit wasn't enough. Having previously discussed the possibility of owning a B&B after Bubba's retirement, Bubba decided this was the one! Perfect in every way. Location. Tranquility. On the water. Private. A resort and a B&B. Projects for Bubba. Retirement for Bubba. Putting Margie back to work. Entertaining for both of them. Owning an island. Sharing it with others. Making new friends. And with our vast experiences, it seemed a natural transition.

Bubba is a former architect, who retired (the first time) at the age of 40 and moved from his native state of Florida to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After a few years "in retirement" he opened a chain of barbeque restaurants aptly named Bubba's Barbeque. Serving two terms in the Wyoming state legislature led to a position working with the Governor of Wyoming as Director of the Wyoming School Facilities Commission, a school construction and maintenance initiative for which he helped write the bill during his term. Wanting to bow out gracefully during the Governor's second term, Bubba purchased Xanadu----and he was off----to his fourth career!

Margie spent eight years as a home economics and food service teacher, was the Director of the Jackson Hole Senior Center and expanded on her home economics background into interior decorating and sales of home furnishings. Entertaining comes naturally so running Xanadu is second nature. Having had a steady stream of house guests throughout the years, entertaining friends fits our lifestyle---it's what we've always done. We welcome each and every one of you to come and enjoy our new home with us.

10 Reasons to Visit Xanadu Island Retreat

1. You can rekindle tender romance with your sweetheart.
2. Learn to communicate again over soft music in the peacefulness that pervades this secluded island estate.
3. Feel the warmth of romantic fireplaces in the warm fir-paneled rooms that millionaires once called their summer home.
4. The island is quiet, peaceful and secluded.
5. The rooms are cozy, inviting, and decorated in classic summer home furnishings.
6. There is a full breakfast, the kind you think your Grandmother used to make. There is plenty of it and it is delish!
7. The views are wonderful. You can enjoy lake views from every room on the island.
8. You can drift around the lake in a canoe with your sweetheart and listen to the loons.
9. There are a lot of relaxing and interesting things to do in the area.
10. Add your own reason here.

A Gift Certificate from Xanadu Island makes a perfect gift. We personalize each certificate with the names of the gift givers and recipients. You may either purchase a certificate for the enjoyment of a specific room (in which case it would be room cost plus 6.5% state tax) or you may purchase a gift certificate for a given dollar amount and the recipients may choose their own room.