Photos by Jason Ehrreich
Cuyuna Country just got a serious glow-up. The husband-and-wife team behind Cuyuna Cabin Collection, Jake and Meghan Zoesch, have officially opened Minnesota’s first-ever mirror cabin—a secluded, design-forward retreat that reflects (literally) the beauty of the Northwoods. Set on a private mine lake near Crosby, the new Mirror Cabin blends high-end design with Cuyuna’s signature outdoor spirit: think hot tub and sauna, a private beach, stargazing net, and uninterrupted lake views that redefine “peace and quiet.”
We recently had the chance to visit the Mirror Cabin ourselves—and trust us, it lives up to every bit of the hype. From the mirrored façade that melts into the landscape to the cozy, thoughtful interiors and incredible attention to detail, it’s the kind of place that makes you slow down and savor every moment.
What started as a renovation of a forgotten miner’s home in 2022 has evolved into a hospitality brand spanning five properties—and counting. With the recent purchase of True North Basecamp and the launch of this extraordinary new cabin, the Zoeschs are transforming Cuyuna into Minnesota’s next great destination for rest, adventure, and reconnection.
We caught up with Jake and Meghan to talk about the inspiration behind the Mirror Cabin, what it’s like to build a hospitality business from the ground up, and how they’re reimagining what a Northwoods getaway can be.
Q: What first inspired you to create the Cuyuna Cabin Collection?
MEGHAN ZOESCH (MZ): We started visiting the area when my parents bought a cabin in Crosby. Jake especially fell in love with the mountain biking lifestyle and eventually bought an old miner’s house that needed major repairs, hoping to turn it into a vacation rental someday. That one home turned into a collection of properties across the area, offering a variety of options from cozy cabins for couples to larger spaces for groups.
Jake has always had an entrepreneurial drive and an eagerness to run his own business. I had no intentions of becoming a business owner. I thought I’d retire from my career as a news anchor, but life has a funny way of redirecting you. Now, we get to work together and create places where people can make memories and have fun. Best job ever.
Photo by Sarah Bostrom
Q: What sparked the idea for the Mirror Cabin in particular—was there a specific moment, place, or feeling that led to its fruition?
MZ: Yes! We went on a road trip and stayed overnight in a mirror cabin in Tennessee. Stepping inside felt surreal. Even though you’re indoors, your eyes are outside. The walls disappear, and the surroundings reflect back at you. That experience stayed with us. We left thinking, Minnesota needs this.
Q: The Mirror Cabin is strikingly unique in its architecture and setting. What design elements were most important to you in bringing this vision to life?
MZ: We wanted the Mirror Cabin to feel like it had always been there, set in place without disturbing the natural landscape around it. We worked hard to keep every possible tree and to use natural landscaping so it truly blends into its surroundings.
The setting itself is spectacular, with beautiful elevation changes that were shaped decades ago by mining. The lake the Mirror Cabin sits on was once an exploratory mine lake, and now it’s this peaceful, hidden gem left behind, like a little piece of heaven.
The interior is modest in size, but the panoramic windows make it feel open and expansive. Jake came up with the idea for the elevated wellness deck, and together, we designed spaces that flow naturally from one to the next. The hot tub, sauna, outdoor shower, spa bucket plunge, lakeside lounge, and play zone all connect so guests can move effortlessly between relaxation and exploration.
Everything we did here was intentional, from the way the cabin is angled for the best views to the different outdoor zones that invite guests to slow down and savor every part of the property. It’s easily been our most fun project to date because we went all out, creatively and thoughtfully, on every single detail.
Q: Were there any unexpected challenges or creative breakthroughs during the design or construction process?
JAKE ZOESCH (JZ): Finding the right property was one of the biggest challenges! I called over a hundred landowners asking if they might be interested in selling, and we looked at dozens of parcels before discovering the 5-acre site on a secluded mine lake that finally felt right. Ironically, we had already purchased the mirrored structure, the ÖÖD unit, before we even had land for it.
Then came the logistics. Delivering and installing a mirrored cabin deep in the woods wasn’t simple. It took multiple cranes, cross-country transport, and a lot of patience to finally set it in place where it sits now.
We also struggled for quite a while to figure out where to put the stargazing net. We probably considered five different spots before finally deciding on its home overlooking the lake at the lounge area. Now it feels like such an obvious choice, but we just wanted to get it right.
In the end, those challenges are what shaped its magic. They reminded us that building something so deeply connected to nature means working with the land, not against it.
Q: What does the Cuyuna area mean to you personally, and how do you hope your cabins contribute to the community or local tourism?
MZ: We love Cuyuna Country and can’t imagine starting a business or raising a family anywhere else. Before we got married, Jake was working in his family’s auto body shop, and I was a morning news anchor in Milwaukee. When the pandemic hit, we postponed our wedding and took a step back to really think about what we wanted for our lives. That pause changed everything.
Jake was meant to be an entrepreneur. He’s one of the hardest-working, most creative people I know. And I love refining his big ideas and making sure every detail of the guest experience feels thoughtful and elevated. We work hard to be a great team for our guests.
As for what we hope our cabins bring to the community, we want people to slow down and reconnect with what matters. We both grew up spending weekends on lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and those memories are some of the best of our lives. If our cabins can help families, couples, and friends make their own up north memories, then we’ve done what we set out to do.
Q: The Mirror Cabin feels deeply intentional—from its materials to its privacy. How do sustainability and mindfulness play into your approach?
JZ: We focused on minimal site disturbance, preserving as many trees and natural features as possible so the cabin feels truly woven into the forest.
The Mirror Cabin has a small footprint, just around 200 square feet, but it feels expansive thanks to its open layout and panoramic glass. The unit uses high-performance triple-pane glass, mineral wool insulation, and an ultra-efficient heat pump heating and cooling system to reduce energy demand and increase comfort year-round.
Mindfulness guided the layout, too. The pathways, reflection zones, and the cabin placement are all designed to slow you down and encourage transitions between indoor comfort and outdoor stillness.
We want guests to be present. We include high-speed Wi-Fi for safety and flexibility, but the spirit of the cabin is all about drawing your attention outward to the lake, the trees, and the light.
Q: What’s been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received so far?
JZ: One guest story stands out clearly. A woman booked a last-minute stay at Little Rabbit Retreat, sharing later that she’d been going through a really difficult season in her life. During her stay, she told us it was the first time she’d slept through the night in weeks. She left the kindest note in our guest book and even reached out afterward to thank us for creating a space where she could truly breathe again.
Moments like that remind us why we do this. It’s not just about design or amenities. It’s about creating places that hold people when they need rest the most. Knowing our cabins can help someone find peace, even briefly, is the most meaningful feedback we could ever receive.
Moments like that remind us why we do this. It’s not just about design or amenities. It’s about creating places that hold people when they need rest the most.
–Jake Zoesch
Q: How do you see the Cuyuna Cabin Collection evolving in the next few years? Tell us about True North Basecamp, your latest acquisition.
JZ: I’m sure the Cuyuna Cabin Collection will continue to evolve in ways we can’t even predict yet. We’re always dreaming, refining, and finding new ways to enhance the guest experience so people want to keep coming back, not just for the cabins themselves, but for how they make them feel.
And yes, we’re so excited about True North Basecamp! We’re in the dreaming phase right now, tossing around ideas and exploring what’s possible. It’s such an honor to carry forward the legacy of this special place that’s been part of the Cuyuna region for years.
This has been months in the making, and we’re thrilled to officially be the new owners. We spent a day recently walking the property, talking through ideas, and soaking it all in. Last week was our first full week on-site, and I dove right into landscaping and a few other projects. There’s so much potential there, and more to come for sure.
Q: If you could describe the Mirror Cabin in three words, what would they be?
MZ: Peaceful, private, and transformative.
