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Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!

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A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a black refrigerator, a large island with stools, and a view of a lake through large windows.
A wooden deck with a table and chairs, a covered grill, and a sliding glass door leading to a covered porch.
A grand staircase with a wooden railing leading to a balcony, a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and a dining area with chairs and a table.
A house with a red door, white porch columns, and two black lanterns.
A kitchen with a large island, wooden cabinets, and a view through the glass door.

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Entire home

3 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Sydney, NS
  • Place, Membertou Heritage Park
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Sydney Waterfront Boardwalk
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Centre 200
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, Sydney, NS (YQY)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Coxheath

This cottage places you within a 10-minute drive of Membertou Heritage Park and Petersfield Provincial Park. The cottage includes a private pool and a jetted tub.
View more Cottages in CoxheathOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Membertou Heritage Park - 9 min drive - 6.3 miles
  • Sydney Waterfront Boardwalk - 10 min drive - 6.9 miles
  • Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design - 11 min drive - 7.4 miles
  • Centre 200 - 11 min drive - 7.4 miles
  • World's Largest Fiddle - 12 min drive - 8.1 miles

Getting around

  • Sydney, NS (YQY) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Membertou Market - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬5 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!

Unwind or celebrate at this stunning lake view home in Cape Breton, NS. It's antique details give it a luxurious yet charming feeling. Enjoy the lake views with a bonfire by the water, take a dip in our grand indoor pool and relax before bed by taking a bath in one of our two jacuzzi tubs. The basement offers a great space for entertainment with a full bar set up. Check out ritasretreat.com for full property bookings or our IG ritasretreat
The cottage is air-conditioned and features 3.5 bathrooms and space to spread out with 3 bedrooms. The bathroom offers a jetted tub and bidets. Other standard amenities include a private pool and a washing machine.

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Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: WiFi

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Bidet
  • Jetted bathtub
  • Towels provided

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 3 pets total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Things to do

  • Heated pool

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • This property welcomes pets
  • Dogs and cats only
  • 3 total (50 lbs is the maximum weight per pet)
  • Service animals exempt from fees
  • Note from host: Pet fee of $50 per pet

Children and extra beds

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 99
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
  • Check-in: 3:00 PM
  • Check-out: 11:00 AM
Property Registration Number RYA-2023-24-06181612467353499-815

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 99.

Frequently asked questions

What's there to do close to this cottage?

This cottage is located in Coxheath, close to Membertou Heritage Park, Sydney Waterfront Boardwalk, and Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. You'll also find World's Largest Fiddle and St Patrick's Church Museum nearby.

How much does it cost to stay at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?

As of Sep 4, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! on Sep 6, 2026 start from $647, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is parking available on site at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?

No, there isn't parking at this cottage.

Is this cottage associated with a casino?

No, this cottage is not connected to a casino.

Will I find an indoor pool at this cottage?

Yes, this cottage has an indoor pool.

What do couples enjoy most about Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?

There are many amenities for couples at this cottage, including a private pool, a private pool in some cottage, as well as an indoor pool.

Does Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! have a hot tub?

No, but all cottage at this cottage have jetted bathtubs.

Does this cottage offer breakfast?

No, this cottage doesn't offer breakfast.

Does this cottage allow pets to stay for free?

Although cats and dogs can't stay for free, they are welcome at this cottage.

Does Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! have connecting rooms available?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this cottage.

How close is the airport from this cottage?

The closest major airport to this cottage is Sydney, NS (YQY), which is 13.7 mi away (19 minutes by car).

Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?

No, there aren't any cottage with balconies at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!.

Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 5 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 5 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 5 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 5 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kristen P.

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

We will definitely be back!!! Excellent night:). Thank you so much

:)
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Carol B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
We celebrated my parents 70th anniversary at Rita's. We had the entire place. This is a very large property and it was perfect for our event. Very clean and well equipped. Mike the maintenance man stopped by to ensure all was good and said to call at any time if we needed anything. The pool was amazing and was loved by all from my 8 month old great grandson to my 89 year old mom. The young adults loved all the room for lawn games and the fire pit at night. Everyone is already talking about the next time. Im aware that this is an investment property and it was heart breaking to see this grand house needing some updating. I truly hope the owners will invest in this property to maintain what they bought. It would be such a loss to continue to let it slide.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Stephen M.

Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

Fun Place to Stay, but Owners Need to Pay More Attention

Bottom line: this is a fun place to stay, and I think you will enjoy yourself if you stay here. House needs (and deserves) some TLC. The house could comfortably accommodate 8 guests, and maybe 2-4 more. We were not really familiar with Rita McNeil prior to our visit, but if you are, this place will be a thrill for you (it's her former home). The indoor pool is a lot of fun, and the backyard is vast and very nice. Its a quick drive to Sydney. The property is large but not isolated. It even has a piano. So I give this place 3 stars instead of 4 because 1: the owners were almost impossible to reach. I sent them 4 separate messages on VRBO and even a direct email to the address on their website just to confirm that they had our booking. I asked for advice on local activities and got a five-word response about kayak rentals. I didn't see the check-in instructions until the day before. 2: The bedrooms and bathrooms are nice, but much of the furniture in the house is dated and in rough shape. A lot of the trim pieces around the pool are missing or damaged. Swing by the waterfront needs to be fixed. 3: The kitchen needs a good cleaning with scratch pads. cabinet handles are gummy. It has plenty of pots and pans and utensils, but most of these were in bad shape. Appliances are dated. Outdoors, we saw cigarette butts between the deck boards and in the yard. I'd say this house could easily be a 5-star destination with a little work and investment.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025