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Discover 6 Big Sky Barnhouse barndominiums sleeping 20–40 guests with indoor pools, game rooms, movie theaters, and access to Wisconsin's best attractions from the Driftless Region to Lake Geneva.
At a Glance
Traditional Wisconsin cabins sleep 6–8 people, which works for a couple or a small family but forces larger groups into multiple bookings. The best cabin rentals for families are large-format properties — lodges, barndominiums, and group rentals — that keep everyone under one roof. Top features to prioritize: sleeping capacity for 15+ guests, multiple bathrooms, indoor amenities that work in any weather (indoor pools, game rooms, movie theaters, sport courts), a kitchen sized for group meals, and a location within a short drive of a state park, lake, or waterpark. The densest concentration of these larger rentals is in the Driftless Region (Spring Green and Arena), the Devil's Lake/Wisconsin Dells corridor, and southeast Wisconsin near Milwaukee.
Typical group: 15–24 guests · Price range: $800–$2,500+/night · Peak seasons: June–August and fall color (late September–October) · Book 60–90 days ahead for summer weekends
Wisconsin has over 10,000 lakes, more miles of trout stream than you could fish in a lifetime, and stretches of landscape — from the ancient bluffs of the Driftless Region to the sandy shores of Lake Michigan — that most people outside the Midwest have never heard of. It's one of the best states in the country for a cabin getaway, and families have been heading here for generations.
But here's the problem with most cabin rentals in Wisconsin: they sleep six. Maybe eight if you cram people onto a pullout couch. That works for a couple or a small family, but the moment you're planning a family reunion, a multi-family vacation, a bachelor or bachelorette weekend, or a friends' trip with more than a few people, you're either splitting across multiple rentals or settling for a property that doesn't have the space or amenities to make the trip feel special.
We built Big Sky Barnhouse to solve that problem. Our Wisconsin properties are barndominiums — restored and custom-built barn-style properties that sleep 20 to 24 guests with resort-level amenities: indoor pools, basketball courts, movie theaters, game rooms, hot tubs, and enough space for everyone to have their own bed and their own corner to disappear to. Whether you're bringing the extended family to the Merrimac property near Devil's Lake or gathering your crew at our Mount Pleasant property near Milwaukee, every property is designed to keep a large group entertained, comfortable, and together under one roof.
Here's your region-by-region guide to our five Wisconsin properties — what makes each one unique, what's worth doing nearby, and which one fits your trip.
In This Guide
The Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin is the part of the state the glaciers never touched. Instead of the flat farmland and kettle lakes you find in the rest of the Midwest, it's all rolling hills, limestone bluffs, hidden valleys, and winding two-lane roads that feel like they belong in the Ozarks or Appalachia. Spring Green and Arena sit right in the heart of it, about an hour west of Madison, and it's one of the most quietly spectacular corners of the state.
Spring Green — "The Zoo Barn"
Guests: 20 | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 4
Standout Amenities: Indoor zoo (llamas, ponies, peacocks, goats, sheep), pool, hot tub, indoor pickleball & basketball courts, movie theater, arcade, pool table, darts, shuffleboard
The Vibe: 100 private acres with trails, animals, and more activities than most resorts. Guests call it "the place where nobody needed to leave." Perfect for families with kids of all ages.
Check out the Spring Green property
This property earns its nickname. Where else can your kids feed llamas before breakfast, play pickleball before lunch, and watch a movie in a private theater after dinner — all without leaving the property? But Spring Green's surrounding area deserves your time, too.
Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, is a 10-minute drive and one of only a handful of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the US. The Riverview Terrace Cafe at the Wright Visitor Center is the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright–designed restaurant in the world — the seasonal menu leans on local ingredients, and the panoramic views of the Wisconsin River are worth the stop even if you skip the tour. House on the Rock, about 15 minutes south on Highway 23, is one of those places you have to see to believe — part architectural oddity, part museum, part fever dream.
For dinner, Arthur's Supper Club is the real deal — prime rib and steaks in a classic Wisconsin supper club setting, voted one of the top ten in the state. Homecoming, in a converted schoolhouse downtown, does wood-fired pizzas and locally sourced specials on Friday and Saturday nights. And Slowpoke Lounge in the village has craft cocktails and an outdoor beer garden for when the adults need a quieter evening. A 20-minute drive gets you to Wild Hills Winery, where 80 acres of vineyards sit in the Driftless hills.
For the outdoors crowd: the Lower Wisconsin Riverway is right here — a 7-mile canoe or kayak segment from Spring Green to Lone Rock with no rapids and barely a portage, perfect for families. Tower Hill State Park, 5 minutes from the Arena properties, has a quick bluff-top hike with panoramic views of the river valley and a historic lead-shot tower from the 1830s.
Arena — The Original & Arena #2
Just 10 minutes from Spring Green, the two Arena properties share the same stunning Driftless scenery and nearby attractions but each bring their own personality.
Arena (Original): 20 guests | 6 bedrooms | 3.5 baths | 7,000 sq ft across 4 floors
Standout Amenities: 9-hole indoor mini-golf course, two pools (outdoor + indoor with sauna & shower), dual-level indoor park & playground (slides, hexagon dome, rock climb, tire swings), movie theater with balcony, home gym, arcade, billiards, skee-ball, basketball bunk room, boulder firepit with Driftless Hills views
Arena #2: 24 guests | 6 bedrooms | 4.5 baths | 2 separate living quarters
Standout Amenities: Indoor pool (open year-round) with rock climbing wall + sauna, indoor playground, basketball & pickleball court, batting cage, movie theater, arcade, pool table, horseshoes, shuffleboard, covered outdoor entertainment space, firepit, 2 remote office spaces
The original Arena property is the one with the indoor mini-golf course and the dual-level playground — if you have young kids, this is the one that'll make them lose their minds. Arena #2 is newer, sleeps four more guests, and its year-round indoor pool with a rock climbing wall built into it makes it a standout for any season. The two separate living quarters also make it a great pick for two families traveling together who want some privacy.
Both properties put you within a short drive of everything in the Spring Green section above. The Spring Green Preserve — sometimes called "Wisconsin's Desert" — is a 3.5-mile trail through prairies and cacti-dotted sand barrens that feels like nowhere else in the Midwest. And American Players Theatre, a professional outdoor theater set on 110 wooded acres just outside Spring Green, runs a summer season of Shakespeare and classics under the stars. It's a 15-minute drive and worth planning an evening around.
After a day exploring the bluffs and river valleys, come back to the boulder firepit at Arena or the covered outdoor lounge at Arena #2 and let the Driftless Hills views do the rest.
Guests: 24 | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 3.5 | 6,000 sq ft across 4 floors
Standout Amenities: Golf simulator, hot tub, sauna, tiki bar, sand volleyball court, disc golf, pool table, arcade, firepit, indoor swings, screen porch, turf patio, barn loft slide into the kitchen, basement beach
The Vibe: The one near all the big-ticket Wisconsin attractions. Devil's Lake, the Dells, wineries, breweries, and a golf simulator for the days you don't leave the barn.
Check out the Merrimac property
Merrimac sits in the sweet spot between Devil's Lake State Park and the Wisconsin Dells, which means you get access to the state's best hiking and its biggest tourist playground within a 20-minute drive in either direction.
Devil's Lake State Park is Wisconsin's most-visited state park for good reason: 500-foot quartzite bluffs, 29 miles of trails, two sandy swimming beaches, and views that rival anything in the Appalachians. The West Bluff Trail is the classic — challenging but rewarding, with scrambles over tumbled boulders and panoramic views at the top. For something easier, Parfrey's Glen is a 4-mile round-trip walk along a creek into Wisconsin's first designated State Natural Area, with mossy gorge walls rising on both sides. (Note: no pets allowed in the glen.)
The Merrimac Ferry is a trip highlight hiding in plain sight — Wisconsin's last free car ferry, pulling itself across Lake Wisconsin on submerged cables since 1848. It runs roughly April through November and carries over 250,000 vehicles a year. Take it across and drive up to Gibraltar Rock for 360-degree views of the Wisconsin River valley with a fraction of Devil's Lake's crowds.
For food and drinks in the Baraboo area: Tumbled Rock Brewery & Kitchen is right down the road from Devil's Lake, with wood-fired pizza, house-brewed beers, and a huge stone fireplace — perfect après-hike. Driftless Glen Distillery, on the Baraboo River, is an award-winning craft distillery with a full restaurant, tours, and tastings. And Balanced Rock Winery, perched on a hillside with Baraboo Bluffs views, does tastings, shareable plates, and live music on weekends.
The Wisconsin Dells are 20 minutes north if your group wants waterparks, go-karts, or the more touristed attractions — but the Merrimac property gives you the best of both worlds without actually being in the Dells.
Mount Pleasant — The Sports Bar Barn
Guests: 20 | Bedrooms: 6 | Bathrooms: 3 | 5,000 sq ft
Standout Amenities: Indoor basketball court, 24-foot barnwood sports bar, mini golf, pool table, arcade (shuffleboard, pinball, skee-ball, Pac-Man, darts, giant Connect Four), private movie theater, barnwood pergola dining area, tiki bar, hot tub, Weber grill, walking trail on secluded acreage
The Vibe: The one that feels like your own private sports bar and entertainment complex. Great for friends' trips, bachelor/bachelorette weekends, and groups who want to be close to Racine and Milwaukee.
Check out the Mount Pleasant property
Mount Pleasant is in Racine County, just off I-94 between Milwaukee and the Illinois border. It's the most accessible property in the BSB Wisconsin lineup — easy to get to from Chicago (about 75 minutes) or Milwaukee (30 minutes) — and the surrounding area has more to offer than most people realize.
North Beach in Racine has been voted one of the top five freshwater beaches in the country — wide sand, Lake Michigan views, and just a 15-minute drive from the property. The SC Johnson campus, also in Racine, includes Frank Lloyd Wright's Research Tower and Administration Building plus the Wingspread estate — tours are free and worth it for the architecture alone.
For food: O&H Danish Bakery is a Racine institution — their Kringle (a flaky, filled Danish pastry) is legendary and ships nationwide for a reason. Wells Brothers Restaurant serves what locals swear is the best cracker-thin-crust pizza in Wisconsin. And Sebastian's Fine Food & Spirits is the area's upscale hidden gem, with a sommelier-curated wine list and seasonal menus. For something more casual, Georgie Porgie's Treefort Restaurant has custard, burgers, local soda, and a quirky treehouse-themed dining room that kids love.
Lake Geneva is a 40-minute drive west if your group wants to add a day trip — lake cruises, the 21-mile Geneva Lake Shore Path, and a charming downtown packed with shops and restaurants.
Spring Green | 20 guests | Families with young kids | Indoor zoo + pool | Spring Green / Driftless
Arena | 20 guests | Families with mixed ages | 9-hole indoor mini-golf + 2 pools | Arena / Driftless
Arena #2 | 24 guests | Two-family trips, year-round | Indoor pool w/ rock climbing wall | Arena / Driftless
Merrimac | 24 guests | Outdoor adventurers, mixed groups | Golf simulator + barn loft slide | Devil's Lake / Dells
Mt. Pleasant | 20 guests | Friends' trips, bachelor/ette weekends | 24-ft sports bar + basketball court | Racine / Milwaukee area
If you're not sure which property is the right fit, browse our Wisconsin properties and filter by group size, dates, and amenities. Every property includes a full kitchen, multiple living spaces, and enough bedrooms that nobody's sleeping on an air mattress.
Summer (June–August) is peak season — warm weather for hiking Devil's Lake, swimming at North Beach, canoeing the Wisconsin River, and exploring Lake Michigan's shoreline. Expect the highest nightly rates and the most competition for weekends, so book early.
Fall (September–October) is arguably the most beautiful time to visit, especially in the Driftless Region. The hills light up with color, the crowds thin out, rates drop, and places like Parfrey's Glen and Tower Hill State Park feel like they belong to you. Apple orchards and harvest festivals pop up everywhere.
Winter (November–March) is when the indoor amenities really earn their keep. Indoor pools, basketball courts, movie theaters, arcades, and hot tubs mean your group stays entertained even when it's 15 degrees outside. Devil's Head Resort near Merrimac has skiing and snowboarding, and the Driftless hills are stunning under snow.
Spring (April–May) brings wildflowers to the bluffs, the Merrimac Ferry starts running again, and you'll have most trails and attractions to yourself. It's the best-value season for booking.
How many guests can your Wisconsin properties sleep?
Our five Wisconsin barndominiums sleep between 20 and 24 guests each. Arena #2 and Merrimac are the largest at 24 guests, and each property has 5–6 bedrooms with dedicated sleeping spaces so everyone has a real bed. Browse our Wisconsin properties to find the right fit.
What is a barndominium?
A barndominium (or "barnhouse") is a barn-style building that's been converted or custom-built as a living space. Ours are large-scale properties with resort-level amenities — think indoor pools, movie theaters, game rooms, and sports courts — inside a structure with the character, open layouts, and exposed beams of a working barn. They're not cabins. They're a completely different category of group vacation rental.
Are these properties good for family reunions?
They were designed for exactly this. Every property has multiple common areas so the whole group can gather, but also enough bedrooms, bathrooms, and separate spaces for people to have privacy. Arena #2 (24 guests with two separate living quarters) is especially popular for reunions where two families want their own space. Past guests have hosted everything from milestone birthdays and bachelor/bachelorette parties to corporate retreats and multi-family holiday gatherings. For groups larger than 24, we have additional Big Sky Barnhouse properties in Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, and Tennessee — including our 40-guest Bristol property in Illinois.
What's there to do near the properties in winter?
Plenty. Devil's Head Resort near Merrimac has downhill skiing and snowboarding. The Driftless Region has cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing. But the real winter advantage is the indoor amenities — pools, basketball courts, mini-golf, movie theaters, arcades, and hot tubs at every property mean your group stays entertained regardless of the weather.
Can we book directly or do we have to go through Airbnb?
You can (and should) book directly through our website. Direct bookings get you the best rates — no third-party platform fees — and direct communication with our team. Our properties are also listed on Airbnb (where they're Superhost-rated with hundreds of five-star reviews), but you'll always save by booking directly with us.
Whether your family fills 20 seats at the dinner table or 24, there's a Big Sky Barnhouse property in Wisconsin built for exactly your kind of trip. Pick your region, pick your dates, and bring the whole crew — everyone gets a real bed, the kids (and adults) get resort-level entertainment, and you get a trip that's actually easier to plan than splitting across three hotel rooms or two small cabins.
Planning a Wisconsin family getaway?
Big Sky Barnhouse operates five Wisconsin barndominiums from the Driftless Region to Racine County — indoor pools, private sports courts, movie theaters, and enough space that nobody has to share a bathroom. Browse availability and see what fits your group.
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