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Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath

Photo gallery for Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath

Great sunny deck for summer Barbeques
Spacious living room
Half bath near kitchen and living room is a convenient bonus.
Bunk room sleeps 6 and has flat screen mounted on wall. Great kid hang out!
Loft provides great overflow sleeping or play area for kids and adults

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8153.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pool
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Truckee, CA
  • Coyote Moon Golf Course
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Donner Lake
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Truckee, CA (TKF-Truckee Tahoe)
    ‪14 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bunk Room

2 Single Bunk Beds

Downstairs Queen

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

1/2 Bath in Living area

Toilet

Downstairs Full Bath

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath


Welcome to The Ralston Mountain Retreat, - a quiet, roomy 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom cabin with a loft for overflow guests in Tahoe Donner. It's located in one of the top ski towns in America, Truckee, CA. Easy access to many major Tahoe ski resorts for the winter and a private Marina/Beach club in the summer!

The main living area includes a fully equipped kitchen open to the dining area and living room. There is counter seating, as well as a dining area with seating for six to eight (10 if you squeeze). The living room is wide open with high vaulted ceilings and full-length windows offering lots of light with great sun exposure.
The front door is accessed through a covered walkway (perfect for snowy days and all your gear) or directly from the garage to the lower bedrooms. Upstairs is the living room, large kitchen, half-bath, and primary bedroom with a full bath and walk-in closet. Downstairs are two more bedrooms with a shared second bath.

On-site amenities include TV/DVD/Cable/Phone and high speed wireless internet. There is a woodstove in the living room for a cozy evening with friends. Newer furnace provides central heating with two heating zones to ensure comfort both upstairs and downstairs. The primary bedroom has a King bed, walk-in closet, and a full bathroom with shower/tub. Downstairs there are two bedrooms: one with a Queen bed; and guest room (the kids room) with two bunk beds and a queen. The guest rooms share a full bathroom with a shower/tub combo and single sink. In addition to the guest rooms, there is a loft overlooking the living room for additional sleeping on pads or just for some fun fort games.
The Ralston Mountain Retreat is only about one and a half miles to the Tahoe Donner downhill ski area. Tahoe Donner is a wonderful, mountain resort community with its own private downhill ski area, a fantastic cross country ski center, a sledding hill, small market/deli, and Recreation Center with all the workout spa and fun amenities.

The Recreation Center offers hot tubs, heated pool, fitness center, saunas, health spa, tennis courts, downhill and cross country ski resorts, equestrian center, Golf Club with 18-hole Champion course and driving range, a public restaurant (The Lodge at Tahoe Donner), and a private beach and marina on Donner Lake. In the winter there is also a sledding hill for inner tubing! Tahoe Donner is conveniently situated at the upper west end of Truckee and is just minutes to downtown shopping and restaurants. Ski area resorts including North Star at Tahoe, Palisade, Sugar Bowl, Boreal Ridge, Soda Springs, Donner Ski Ranch, and Royal Gorge Cross Country Center are just a short 15-25 minutes away.

Your rental of The Ralston Mountain Retreat includes access cards for the Tahoe Donner Recreation Center resident amenities for a nominal charge per person.

The driveway can hold up to 4 cars. There is a 2 car garage. A snow removal service will clear the drive way any time there is significant snowfall. The backyard is slightly sloped making for a great “ at home” sledding hill for the kids! Hot Cocoa courtesy of Mom and Dad!



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TOT RCN 468

Property manager

Chris Ralston

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
Breakfast available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
No Parties No Events
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Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted
Cleaning fee $50 perPlease keep pets off furniture
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No , no, no!
No Smoking,Supervise children on ladder to loft, do not jump from the bunk beds. Please obey the HOA rules make sure all outside lights are off by 10
Please use CDC Rules cleaning home during your stay. https://----------------
During COVID-19 Pandemic if you are high risk wash items used for food consumption using extra care.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No Parties No Events
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Truckee

Located in Truckee, this cabin is in the mountains and near the beach. Palisades Tahoe and Northstar California Resort are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Donner Lake. KidZone Museum and Olympic Valley Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Truckee, CA

What's nearby

  • Coyote Moon Golf Course - 5 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area - 6 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Donner Lake - 9 min drive - 6.7 km
  • Old Greenwood Golf Course - 15 min drive - 14.2 km
  • Northstar California Resort - 26 min drive - 23.9 km

Getting around

  • Truckee Station - 10 min drive
  • Truckee, CA (TKF-Truckee Tahoe) - 14 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Wild Cherries Coffee House - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Panda Express - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Tacos Jalisco - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Friends, Family, Fun and a Loft!. 3 Bed/2.5 Bath located?

Situated in the mountains, this cabin is steps from Tahoe National Forest and within 3 mi (5 km) of Coyote Moon Golf Course and Tahoe Donner Golf Course. Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area and Tahoe Donner Tennis Center are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 53 out of 66 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 66 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 66 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 66 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 66 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ellen C S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun weekend in Truckee

The house is in a great location, lots of sleeping space, nice kitchen and appliances. Garage is a bit of a tight fit but lots of room in the driveway. Manager was very good at communicating.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Teri C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fam bam

It worked for our family and snow was great after a small storm
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lisa C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome Truckee house

We had a wonderful stay at this awesome Truckee house. The kids had a great time playing in the snow in the backyard. The house was spacious. The kitchen well equipped and the hosts gracious and responsive. Would definitely recommend and would stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ian M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy comfy cabin

We stayed here over the holidays and enjoyed this comfortable and well-appointed home. We had a small hiccup getting the heat to work, and the owner Chris was very helpful and available and fixed it in a jiffy! Highly recommended.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Noelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rob H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy house in a beautiful setting

A brother, a cousin, and a nephew stayed here for a family reunion. Aside from an initial difficulty unlocking the door (the electronic key pad is dark until you press it, so they didn't realize it was there), they very much enjoyed their stay. The house has a nice feel to it,and the neighborhood is a beautiful mountain setting, that's convenient to shopping and to the highways.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Esti I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay for our family

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Really convenient, super-clean, well-equiped cabin

The property is very nice. Chris is extremely organized and communicated well with us throughout. The house is well-stocked and kept extremely clean. We'd rent with Chris again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tamara G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home with lovely forest view

We stayed here with friends and found it really well appointed. The back deck has lots of seating and is shaded so a great place for morning, afternoon and evening relaxing!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alex W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house and gracious hosts

Very good neighborhood. There was snow around here although it wasn’t in the lower places. Glacier way trailhead is only a few minutes drive away for snow play and hiking. Safeway is few minutes from the house as well. Hosts were responsive and accommodating. We felt very welcome. Thank you!
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tony R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Summer 2023

Perfect place for us to stay with our family and 2 dogs. Close to Donner Lake to take the jet skis out. Hosts were excellent communicators and the house is spacious and very well equipped. We will be using this VRBO often in the future for winter and summer travel.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Liliana m., San Francisco

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Great stay for families.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erica G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thank you for a great week away from home.

We had a great time, house was huge and so nice to have all the amenities of home.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Ruth C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter cozy cabin

Great spot! Totally dog friendly- even water bowls provided! Beautiful fireplace and excellent master bedroom accommodations!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wayne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Snow House 6

We had a very good experience. Chris was easy to communicate with and returned messages promptly. Plenty of opportunity for snow play close by the property. Downtown Truckee is very close by with a lot dining options. We would come back again.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

6/10 Okay

Paulette S.

Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Check-in

Just OK

The cabin was very nice. Had some issues with the door code not working upon arrival, water not turned on, stove burner not lighting. So there was some frustration. The VRBO site was down, so communication was difficult. Had to fold towels in the dryer from last occupants and was required to wash mine before leaving and make sure everything was clean and garbage taken out, etc. But make sure you're out by 11:00 when the cleaners come. ??? In my opinion, when paying these prices I should not have to do housework. After all, I'm on vacation.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beyond our expectations!

What an awesome experience! Before arriving I checked in with Chris on a few questions I had. He promtly returned my text and call, very pleasant and kind. The cabins kitchen was loaded with every gaget, and you name it, one could possibly use. The kids played in the snow, sledding and snow ball battles most of the daylight hours right behind the cabin. Everyone slept well in very comfortable beds and an extremely clean and well maintained property. I can't say enough how refreshing it was to have such a pleasant family getaway. Thanks Chris!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ruth L.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great weekend trip

We had a smooth trip at the cabin. The kitchen was spacious and clean. The beds were comfortable and there were very thorough instructions for check in and check out.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emanuel O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ralston Cabin

The Ralston Cabin is beautiful, many amenities and a quiet location. My family and I had so much fun. We visited the rec center pools and Donner Lake. I would love to come back and experience winter at the Ralston Cabin. Thank you Chris and Heidi for being such great hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Matt R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Tahoe Cabin!

Spacious and had everything you could need for a weekend getaway.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great cabin for bringing your dog to Tahoe

Property was great for our family and our dogs first trip to Tahoe Donner. We could walk out the back to the trails. House was great and beds were great. Thanks again for a great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Amy D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place in Truckee

Had a great time! Very close to Lake Donner and Lake Tahoe, we got to enjoy both! Chris was very easy to work with and I would stay here again :)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Covid Getaway

Great place in a great location. Very comfortable and felt at home. Enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Karen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfection in the Pines

This place exceeded our expectations! Our group was able to enjoy a much-needed get-away that included fishing, a rafting trip, and a beach day. And each evening we were able to come back to this amazing cabin and cook in the well-stocked kitchen, bbq on the spacious deck, play board games at the dining table, or walk the quiet neighborhood. I could go on: The two boys in our group loved playing in the woods behind the house. The fact that this place is pet-friendly is a huge bonus! Finally, the cleanliness of the cabin was exceptional - important during this Covid time. We will definitely recommend this cabin to friends, and will absolutely be returning!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Angelo D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Stay in Tahoe

My wife, dog, and I had an amazing stay at Chris' property. The cabin was in a great, quiet location and was well equipped for a nice, relaxing weekend away. My only bit of feedback would be for the cleaners. We did notice a fair bit of spiderwebs inside the house - in the hallways and stairwells. Not outrageous but enough to notice. We did also notice that the bed in the loft appeared that someone had slept in it and the cleaners had missed it. Overall, these were very minor and not a huge deal. Everything else was absolutely perfect!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by Chris Ralston

Host profile image
The Ralston family are Bay Area residents with a lifelong love of the Tahoe region. We have skied, mountain biked, and flyfished in this beautiful area for 30 years and finally decided to take the plunge and buy the mountain home we've always dreamed of. We're excited to offer others a chance to share in this experience.

Why they chose this property

Tahoe Donner and the Lake Tahoe area have been our choice destination for over 30 years now. Within 20 minutes of three major ski resorts and another 10 minutes to the lake, this is the place for those who love the mountains in any season. We love the historic town of Truckee, with its gourmet restaurants, bars, entertainment and collection of fun shops, is just minutes from the house. In the summer they have a street fair every thursday, called Truckee Thursday. Live music, shops, fun food. The Tahoe Donner area has so many amenities to offer -recreation centers, equestrian center, cross country skiing, and golf course, pool, music festivals, tennis, bocce ball.

What makes this property unique

The quiet is the first thing you notice in Tahoe Donner. No freeway noise or constant din of traffic interrupts you as you enjoy the beautiful setting. The smell of the pines fills the air and warm sunshine bathes the deck and streams through the large windows in the living area. A quick trip down the hill brings you to wonderful coffee shops, restaurants and shopping. A trip to Sunnyside at Lake Tahoe for brunch on the deck in the summer makes for the start of a perfect Sunday.

Languages:

English