Stay at Train Bell Resort, a kid-friendly lakefront hotel near Paul Bunyan Trail in Merrifield, MN. Enjoy cabins, on-site tourist train, and nearby outdoor activities.
Guests consistently highlight the resort’s welcoming atmosphere, family-friendly amenities, and well-maintained accommodations. While the setting offers plenty of outdoor activities and a scenic waterfront, some practical notes on safety and seasonal considerations are mentioned.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Train Bell Resort is a basic, year-round lakefront property situated between the Paul Bunyan Trail and North Long Lake in Merrifield, Minnesota. Offering both cabins and condos or villas, the resort provides a straightforward lakeside stay complemented by a range of kids' activities and an on-site tourist train. Its location, approximately 10 miles from Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, makes it accessible for visitors seeking a quiet retreat near natural attractions.
The resort is known for being family-friendly, with amenities and programs geared toward children. Guest reviews highlight the attentive and accommodating staff who frequently organize events and ensure a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. Outdoor features include a swimming area equipped with floats and a waterslide, as well as access to fishing and boating with a nearby public boat launch. Some guests have noted the importance of water shoes due to occasional debris in the lake’s shallow areas.
Accommodations range from spacious lakeside condos to larger cabin-style units like the Grand Lodge, which suit extended families or larger groups. Feedback emphasizes cleanliness and recent updates to furnishings and facilities under current ownership since 2018. Visitors seeking a relaxed setting with access to water activities and local attractions like Gull Lake or the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area may find this resort a practical choice.
While the resort maintains a solid reputation among long-term guests and families, its overall rating suggests a basic offering rather than a luxury experience. The property’s appeal lies in its simplicity, lakeside setting, and family-oriented environment rather than extensive on-site amenities or upscale accommodations.
The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.
Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
My extended family and I (8 people) spent the last week of August at Train Bell. We had never been, but have been aware of the resort for many years, as friends of ours own a cabin on the lake. We had an absolutely wonderful time. The staff/owners went SO far above and beyond what I was expecting, especially when it came to the kids. There were activities and games and prizes pretty much daily. They checked in to see if we needed anything and were very generous with the resort's resources. We stayed in the Grand Lodge, which was probably too large for our needs, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely and have already book a week for next summer. The swimming area was beautiful and loaded with activities/floats as well as a slip n slide! My son did find a large piece of broken glass in the sand of the shallow water - this isn't a complaint - just a warning to other folks that water shoes are a good idea in any lake! Besides that, the resort was immaculately clean and we had zero issues during our stay. Really looking forward to next summer!
Jane and Pete are the best resort owners. Friendly, going out of their way to ensure we all have a great time. We've been going there about 25 years and every year has been full of fun memories. Long live the train Bell! It is the perfect resort for families and extended families.
It was wonderful staying over the winter (2024-2025). Very Beautiful Sunsets. Just gorgeous. Had no problems with anything there. Everything was so clean. It was kept up and if you needed something they would stop what they were doing to help you. So I recommend if you need a place .. Go to TRAIN BELL RESORT. YOU WILL LOVE IT. Thanks again, love Jodi Christenson ;)
We stayed in the Lakeside Condos in July 2024. I booked a couple months in advance for a group of 17 and they were so helpful and had good communication. The condos (lower level) were new, clean, spacious, comfortable. The covered porch was where we spent almost all of our time, it was so nice and had a lake view and breeze. We were steps away from the beach which was perfect for our group with adults and toddlers. Lots of fun toys and water activities. We brought our fishing boat and it was super convenient to use the public launch right next door, and the resort dock was very nice. The hosts were always available and super friendly. This place felt like a family cabin, it was beautiful. Will come back and recommend!
Hi! We took over the resort in the summer of 2018. We have updated a lot of the cabins. All beds have new mattresses, new bedding, curtains, couches, futons, etc since we took over. We have replaced floors, painted, replaced carpeting also. The beach has been cleaned up and is the nicest around! Some of these bad reviews are prior to us taking over. We rent our year round units from October 1 to May 1. Applicants must pass a background check and credit check. We have guest that have been coming for 85 years. We want everyone to have a great experience here - that is our goal!
Loved our stay at train bell! The staff was super friendly with awesome little events for the kids throughout our stay!
I have been coming to Train Bell since 1942. The current owners are excellent. This is a wonderful location for families to spend time together, A great lake for fishing and water sports. Then there is the Train Bell Water slide. And the very best item is their prices are very competitive for that area of Minnesota.
Fabulous place and the owners are wonderful! We had a ladies weekend and stayed in the Grand Lodge. They have bikes to use, a tiki pontoon, water trampoline and paddle boats to use. Excellent place to relax with family or friends. Thank you!
Between Paul Bunyan Trail and North Long Lake, this basic, year-round resort is 10.2 miles from Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport.
Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Minnesota. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.
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