Location: Northport, Northwest, Michigan, USA (South Northport Bay, Michigan)
Accommodations: 4 Bedrooms + Sleeping Porch, 2 Baths (Sleeps 7-8)
Keywords: Water Front Cottage
Indian Beach Lodge construction was completed in 1997. It is a large timber frame cottage (2200 square feet) designed and built for personal use by the artist owner. The interior is unique with large exposed timbers similar to western mountain ski lodges. There is a large field stone fireplace in the center of the living room that hides the Russian furnace which provides heat in winter. There are hardwood floors through out with tribal Afgan and Native American rugs. The high front windows, that look out on Northport Bay, light the open floor plan that includes the kitchen, dinning and living room under a 25 ft pine paneled ceiling. The walls through out the lodge display a collection of contemporary and traditional art from the owners private collection. The large cottage is a romantic and beautiful home that has been featured twice for it's character and design in the local slick living style magazine, Traverse Magazine.
The upper level has three pine paneled bedrooms with large beams overhead and a full bath that opens into a workout area that doubles for TV viewing with a large surround sound sound system. This open room looks over the downstairs living room and is cordoned off by a black walnut, structural timber, railing with custom installed black ash sapling spindles. Off the kitchen/dinning room, through French doors, is a large screened in porch perfect for breakfast or elegant evening entertaining and dining. During the day we use it for lounging, board games, jig saw puzzles, reading, watching the ducks, geese and swans out front and listening to music from the large stereo system wired from the living room location. The porch has roll down, clear plastic curtains for dinning in chilly or wet weather and is furnished with rustic antique furniture including a long table that seats ten. There is also a day bed that doubles as an extra sleeping bed. The large private sauna bath is a private, stand alone building on the beach with cold water shower. It's perfect for an evening bath and plunge in the water during the long summer twilight evenings.
IBL, on the southern end of Northport Bay, is quiet and private . During summer months the sun rises over the water directly in front. The lodge is 2 miles south of Northport, 12 miles north of Suttons Bay and Leland and 23 miles from Traverse City at the northern end of the Leelanau Peninsula.
IBL is situated on a beautiful shallow, warm water bay with a 100 feet of sandy beach front. The warmer, shallow water near shore is ideal for children to play and rubber raft floating for sunbathing. The shallow water is about 100 yds wide and is sandy with some small stone before getting into the deeper, colder water of Lake Michigan. The water is crystal clear and nice for snorkeling, sail boarding, kayaking, and fishing. Additional photos of specific rooms in the lodge interior or exterior are available via email request. Please contact me with any questions.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Entertainment
- Sauna
- TV (No Cable/Satellite)
- DVD
- VCR
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Lanai
- View/Location
- Beachfront
- Lakefront
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Large screened in front porch for lounging and dinning with roll down plastic curtains for warmth and weather. Sleeps one.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Hiking
- Restaurants
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
June weekly rate commencing 6/12, Sat to Sat. is $1,800. Two weeks consec $3,000.
July/Aug weekly rental is Sat. to Sat commencing Sat 7/3 to Sat. 8/28.
The weely rate for July and August is $2,400. or 2 consecutive wks at $4,200.
Reduced September rates begin on 8/28.at $1800 per week or two consec weeks $2800
There is a $400. refundable security deposit and possible $100.00 cleaning fee
that will be charged to the security deposit at departure, if necessary.
Please contact me via email for reservations, deposit and rental information.
There is a flat $300. discount for returning guests from the 2009 season.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
The original Indian Beach Lodge (1924 to 1994) was constructed by my late grandfather George Winans , an early resort developer, on property adjacent to its present location. IBL was a rustic summer resort for summer vacationers traveling to the area on the great lakes ferry boats from Chicago and Detroit. In 1942 it was sold to become Indian Beach Camp for girls after a short time serving as the University of Michigan Speech Camp that still exists near Omena. George Winans, 1858 to 1926 , who lived in Kalamazoo was also the founder of the exclusive Northport Pointe around 1900 but by 1920 had moved his operation south of Northport starting again with the subdivision of Indian Beach. He died suddenly in 1926 leaving four children one of whom was my mother, Harriet. In 1966, returning from four years service as a U S Naval Flight Officer, with a small savings, all alone I began building a cottage while living in a tent. By 1969 working summers, the cottage was done and I moved in. Having just completed a master of fine arts degree in California I was fortunate to immediately find a teaching job with the art department at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. By 1973 that job ended forcing me to became an alpine ski instructor during winter and carpenter in the summer. By 1979 I had changed my life by moving to Sarasota Florida to reinvent a career eventually becoming a Neuromuscular Therapist and a successful 15 yr. practice treating pain during winter months, returning to Indian Beach each summer. By 1997 I had built and sold three cottages at Northport and moved into a fourth one. The new one, a beautiful, large cottage was given the resurrected name Indian Beach Lodge. My wife and I have lived in the cottage seasonally since then. This is the second year this unusual cottage is being offered for weekly rental during June, July, August and half of September. Craig Brigham, January 2010.
Why the Owner Chose Northport
The leelanau peninsula is the perfect setting for any one who loves the natural environment of the lakes and woods of north western lower Michigan. It’s a one of a kind destination on the planet that never stops being a unique, wonderful place to live summer and winter.
The Unique Benefits of this
Indian Beach Lodge, on Northport Bay is surrounded by a rural neighborhood of rolling hills, cherry and apple orchards and grape vineyards that produce some of the worlds greatest wines, especially the whites. It’s proximity south of Northport makes it close to everything wonderful Leelanau county has to offer like golf, tennis, boating, hiking, bicycling, wine tasting, unique shopping and excellent dinning. Not departing from the property is also an option due to its serene setting for reading, partying, sun bathing, swimming, boating and walking around the neighborhood. Interlochen Music Camp, with it's many summer concerts is about a 45 minute drive.
Property Photos
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- Indian Beach Lodge from rear looking toward bay. - Beachfront Vacation Cottage - Enjoy Fishing & Snorkeling In Northport, Michigan
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- Living room looking down from second floor. - Beachfront Vacation Cottage - Enjoy Fishing & Snorkeling In Northport, Michigan
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- The large screened front porch with rustic furniture. - Beachfront Vacation Cottage - Enjoy Fishing & Snorkeling In Northport, Michigan
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- This is the kitchen/dinning room porch entrance is to the left.
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- This is the outside of the porch with the beach sixty feet in front.
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #240286
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This listing was first published here in 2009.
Date last modified - Saturday, April 02, 2011
