Meet your Friedenswald hosts
We’re Laura and Bob. We’re glad you’re here.
We never set out to create a vacation rental or a campground. We simply wanted a cabin up north—a place to spend time with our kids and grandkids.
What grew from that little dream is Friedenswald, our peaceful woodland getaway near Merrill, Wisconsin. Today, we get to share it with guests looking for a unique barn stay or a cozy glamping cabin.
At its heart, this is still a place for slowing down, being together, and making memories. We feel blessed to share it with you.
A little dream that kept growing
Our story here began in the summer of 2018, when Bob went to look at a dome house tucked in the woods. We weren’t planning to buy a second home, but we fell in love with the place.
When we arrived, the main dome house, a smaller dome used as a workshop, and the garage were already here. Bob built the spaces that joined them together—first our office and living room between the domes, then a large family room connecting the main dome to the garage, along with another bathroom and a utility room.
And then came the barn and silo.
Bob loves creating, and Friedenswald has given him plenty of room to bring his ideas to life. From those larger projects to the waterfall, his handiwork has helped make this place our own.
How we became hosts
The lower barn started as a workshop. Upstairs, we pictured an open space for gatherings, with room for my sewing and crafts.
Before it was finished, our son and his family needed a place to live while preparing to head to the mission field. We finished the upper barn for them, and it became their home for six months.
As their departure approached, we began wondering: What if we tried offering it as a vacation rental? We figured that if we didn’t enjoy hosting, we could always stop.
That was the summer of 2023. And here we are!
From playhouses to glamping cabins
Bob kept creating and built two cabins as playhouses. Later, we decided to welcome guests into those, too. They became our campground’s first glamping units—a simple way to enjoy the outdoors with a cozy cabin waiting at the end of the day.
Our upper barn vacation rental and campground cabins each offer a different kind of stay, with the same peaceful woods all around.
Family is still at the heart of it
Our seven children, their spouses, and our 17 grandchildren still enjoy Friedenswald with us. When it’s time for a family gathering, we simply reserve those dates for our family.
We know how much it means to have a place to be together. That’s part of what makes sharing Friedenswald so special. We hope your time here gives you room to reconnect, enjoy the outdoors, and make memories of your own.
Our faith, our home, and a welcome for you
Our faith is part of who we are. Through the joys and challenges of life, God’s love and grace has given us hope. We see Friedenswald as a blessing, and sharing it is one way we get to share that love with others.
For us, hospitality means treating people with kindness, making room for connection, and caring about the little things that help you feel welcome.
Whatever your faith, background, or season of life, you are welcome here. You don’t need to share our beliefs to share in the peace and beauty of this place. Our hope is that you’ll feel comfortable being yourself, find room to breathe, and leave with memories you’ll treasure.
Come make a few memories of your own
Whether you choose our upper barn retreat or a glamping cabin, we’d love to welcome you to our little corner of the Wisconsin Northwoods.