Located approximately seven miles north of Melrose, Minnesota, this 14-acre country property offers the unique opportunity of a combination of residential living, wooded acreage, recreational opportunities, and proximity to two of the area's notable lakes. Situated between Big Birch Lake and Little Birch Lake, the property is surrounded by the rolling, wooded landscape characteristic of this portion of Stearns County. Another notable feature of this property is its location, offering the opportunity to enjoy a rural setting surrounded by rolling wooded terrain and nearby recreational lakes, while still being approximately 40 to 45 miles from both Alexandria and St. Cloud. This provides access to the shopping, dining, healthcare, employment opportunities, and other services available in these larger communities, while maintaining the character and recreational opportunities associated with country living. With Birch Lakes State Forest directly across the road and public lake accesses just minutes away, the location provides opportunities to enjoy hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities without having to travel far from home.

Built in 1997 and offered by the original owners, the home features more than 5,000 square feet of total space, including approximately 3,700 square feet of finished living area. The property is accessed directly from a paved road by an asphalt driveway that the owners have maintained with seal coating on an approximately three-year rotation.

The main level features a galley-style kitchen, combined living and dining area, and a four-season porch that provides additional space to enjoy the surrounding landscape throughout the year. Sliding patio doors lead to an elevated composite deck overlooking the property's rolling, wooded acreage, providing an outdoor extension of the main living space. The primary bedroom includes a private full bathroom and a large walk-in closet. A second bedroom, an additional three-quarter bathroom, and main-floor laundry complete this level, providing the convenience of having the primary living spaces on one floor.

The lower level is a walkout design with a spacious family room that includes a Murphy bed for additional sleeping accommodations. This level also features a third bedroom, a three-quarter bathroom, a dedicated office area, a mechanical room, and another finished area currently configured and designed to accommodate a fourth bedroom if desired. The lower level is equipped with three zones of in-floor heat, including separate zones for each bedroom area and a third zone serving the main living space. The home also offers forced-air heating and a wood stove as additional heating options.

One of the home's notable features is an approximately 40-by-16-foot insulated bonus room located above the main house area. This approximately 800-square-foot space offers flexibility for future finishing or conversion to additional living, recreational, hobby, or other uses. The sellers believe water and septic connections may already be stubbed into the floor. An additional unfinished and uninsulated bonus area above the attached garage provides further storage space.

Outside, the approximately 26-by-8-foot upper-level composite deck overlooks the property, with a concrete patio located below. The home also features a LeafGuard gutter system and an attached 24-by-24-foot insulated two-stall garage.

For those needing additional space for equipment, vehicles, woodworking, mechanical projects, or other uses, the property includes two substantial outbuildings. The approximately 48-by-32-foot shop has one half insulated and heated by a wood stove. A propane line is also stubbed outside the building for a possible future propane heating installation. The shop features two 10-foot-wide overhead doors, one measuring 8 feet tall and the other 12 feet tall, allowing access for a variety of vehicles and equipment. An additional approximately 60-by-30-foot pole shed provides substantial covered storage for tractors, trailers, recreational equipment, and other machinery.

Beyond the home and buildings, the 14 acres offer recreational opportunities of their own. The area's rolling wooded terrain provides habitat for whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and other wildlife, with opportunities to hunt directly on the property, essentially right outside the back door. The backyard also features an open area with sufficient space to potentially establish a wildlife food plot, adding another element to the property's hunting and wildlife management opportunities. Existing apple trees provide an additional feature to the landscape and a potential food source for wildlife. For shooting enthusiasts and hunters, the property also offers the established target backdrop, allowing 100-yard distance for sighting in firearms, subject to applicable regulations and safe shooting conditions. The surrounding mix of timber, rolling topography, and nearby lakes further contributes to the property's recreational character.

Directly across the road lies Birch Lakes State Forest, a public forest encompassing approximately 630 acres and offering additional opportunities for outdoor recreation and hunting. The forest includes approximately five miles of trails, access to Big Birch Lake, and swimming opportunities. Public accesses to both Big Birch Lake and Little Birch Lake are also just minutes from the property, providing opportunities for fishing and boating on lakes supporting a variety of fish species.

While the home, acreage, and outbuildings are impressive on their own, an equally important consideration is the property's location within this rolling, wooded lake country landscape. Properties offering this combination of a spacious country home, wooded acreage, multiple outbuildings, on-site hunting opportunities, and immediate proximity to public forestland and recreational lakes do not frequently become available. This presents a unique opportunity to own not only a home and 14 acres, but also to enjoy the recreational opportunities and natural surroundings that characterize this portion of the state.

For buyers considering a country home in Stearns County, this property brings together approximately 14 acres, a spacious walkout home, multiple outbuildings, on-site recreational opportunities, and convenient access to the surrounding Birch Lake area, all approximately seven miles north of Melrose.