House 1: Stainless kitchen w/ living room/dining room; 22 ft ceilings; spacious!
Location: Cassopolis, Diamond Lake, Southwest, Michigan, USA (Close to many golf courses, Notre Dame, & Michigan Wineries) View Map
Accommodations: Home, 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 7-16)
Get a taste of the good life with one of the best holiday retreats southwest Michigan has to offer at the "Sheppard Chalets". Cass County is blessed with the largest lake of southwest Michigan's Lower Peninsula, Diamond Lake! Just 2 hours from Chicago and only 25 minutes from Notre Dame!!! Enjoy the game, the lake and a round or two of golf all in one weekend!
House 1: Our first home is custom built with that "up north cabin feel" and is smoke-free!! It features over 3000 square feet, with sleeping for 9-10 in beds and a professional stainless kitchen for the gourmet cook! With 22 foot ceilings in living room and dining area, and a 30x40 family room with a 35 inch TV/Stereo with DVD/VCR and movies, this home has lots of room to roam. There's a king size bed in loft, room w/ a set of bunk beds and a sleigh twin bed, a third bedroom w/ a queen size bed, and the 30 x 40 family room has a couch/loveseat plus two twin day beds! Home has knotty pine and cedar throughout the entire house!! Two full bathrooms, 1 with relaxing steamer unit w/ dual shower heads. Enjoy the 150x150 manicured lot for outdoor fun and games. Sit on the front porch and swing and enjoy the professionally landscaped yard and pond, or cook up a barbecue on the back yard deck and awesome outdoor kitchen!!! Roast marshmellows out by the fire on those chilly Michigan nights!
House 2: 3 Bedroom/2 full Bath w/ jacuzzi, approx. 1600 s.f. home, that sits on the first hole of the DIAMOND LAKE GOLF Course!! Will sleep 7 in beds; master bedroom suite with king size bed and twin, fireplace, ceiling fan, tv, walk in closet & masterbath with jacuzzi and walk in shower; 2nd bedroom has 2 twin beds and 3rd bedroom has a full size bed. Blow up full size mattress, available upon request. Nice outside sitting area with amazing views of the Diamond Lake Golf Course. Walk to Dussell's farmers market, our private beach, or just walk out the backyard to the DL golf course!
Diamond Lake's shores have sandy beaches and a public marina with a boat launch and various water sports to offer. Be sure to check out the Park Shore Marina for all your boating pleasures!! The marina offers all types of water sport rentals, boat launching, and pier rental. Enjoy the newly remodeled Cafe!! Explore the lake with a ferry ride to Diamond Isle and view the beautiful lake front homes all around the lake. Even golf lovers will have a grand time at your choice of 2 spectacular golf courses, either the new 18 hole Park Shore Golf Club or the 9 hole Diamond Lake Golf Club. Bring your bikes for a scenic tour around beautiful Diamond Lake!
The historic town's downtown area and neighboring Dowagiac has all the amenities with plenty of options for gourmets and shopaholics alike. The town of Jones in St. Joseph County has the spectacular Swiss Valley Ski Resort (just 10 miles) with several lifts and tall skiiing peaks for all the fun of skiing or snowboarding. And those with a taste for wine will enjoy the fact you are staying in the Michigan Wine Country and most wineries offer fabulous wine-tasting tours! A 25 minute drive will get you to Notre Dame and South Bend, Lake Michigan, and Amish Country in Shipshawana. Enjoy a fun day of shopping or enjoy the brand new water park!!
Absolutely one of the best kept secrets in the mid-west....Diamond Lake is only two hours from Chicago!! Make yourself at home...you will absolutely fall in love with either of these romantic Michigan get-a-aways and want to come back year after year!! Recreation apart, simply relax and enjoy looking at the sunset and sip on a sparkling wine while hanging out at the park wondering which of the two - the Michigan wine or Diamond Lake's waters - glisten and sparkle more!
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning: House 1 - Window units; House 2: Central Air
- Washer: Both houses have washer/dryer
- Dryer: Both house have washer/dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Gas Fireplace: Both homes have gas fireplaces
- Beds
- King Bed: Both homes have King beds
- Queen Bed: Home 1 - Queen Bed
- Double Bed: Home 1 - Double Bed
- Twin/Single Bed (3) : Home 1 - 3 twins & 1 sleigh bed Home 2 - 3 twins and blow up full size mattress
- Bunk Bed: Home 1 - Set of Bunk Beds
- Child Bed: Home 1 - Antique Sleigh Bed Home 2 - Love Seat in Master could be converted to child's bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Both homes offer cable
- TV (No Cable/Satellite): Both homes have TV's
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library: we have some DVD's and VHS movies on hand.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Jetted Tub in Bath: Home 2
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: Home 1 - outdoor kitchen/gas grill Home 2 - gas grill
- Deck/Patio: Home 1 - outdoor kitchen with gas grill & large front porch Home 2 - outdoor backyard patio and front porch
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Lake View: Home 1 - You can see the lake from our family room windows! Just a few blocks away. Home 2 - You can see the lake from the front yard! Just a few blocks away!!
- Golf Course Front: Home 2 - Backyard faces DL golf course.
- Golf Course View: Home 1 - You can see the golf course from our front yard!! Just a few blocks away!!
- Other Amenities
- Home 1: Steam unit in upstairs shower!!
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Handicapped Accessible (may have limitations): Home 2 All on one level; shower unit in master is handicap accessable
- Kid Friendly: Both homes suitable for kids!
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Parasailing
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Snorkeling/Diving
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Sledding/Tubing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Racquetball
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Horseshoes
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Other Activities
- Many wine tours offered nearby
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Rates...Off Peak: Oct-April $275.00/night (3 night min); $1900 Week; Peak season:
May-Sept $295.00/night; (3 night min) $2050.00/wk. Holidays/Notre Dame Weekends:
$350.00/night. $295.00 locks in your deposit/non-refundable if you cancel.
Deposit returned within 2 weeks of stay, upon inspection. $150 cleaning fee.
Or if you clean to owners standards, full deposit returned upon inspection.
Credit cards accepted w/ small fee. Call or email me for more pictures or more
information about Diamond Lake and Cass County.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2002
Why the Owner Chose Cassopolis
We absolutely fell in love with Diamond Lake and from the moment we pulled up onto our tree lined street, we were sold! We bought our land in 1994 and started building our "cabin in the woods" in 1996. It was a great little rustic cabin and being only 2 hours from Chicago, it was our home away from home! It took about 4 years to build on the weekends, and off time, and by 2000 it was done!! But in 2001, the area was devasted by a tornado and we lost 14 trees on our property! The home was built so strong though that the only damage was a little roof damage and our porch. So we tore down the porch and in 2002 added a 30x40 family room, basement, front and back porch. Our little cabin turned into a big cabin and we actually lived there for a short time in 2003. But in 2004 we moved back to the Chicago area, and decided to rent it out so that others could enjoy our beautiful custom built home and the great Diamond Lake area!
The Unique Benefits at this Home
So, after a day of boating or fishing on beautiful 1029 acre Diamond Lake, sit back and unwind on the front porch swings, and listen to our private waterfall and pond, or enjoy a great barbeque on the back deck in our outdoor kitchen!! Or come on in and relax inside the cabin where you'll feel like your a million miles away from home!! You'll want to come back year after year, and soon our home will feel like your home! We hope you enjoy it!!
Dave, Terri, Drew, Natalie and Sarah Sheppard
Owner's Map of Cassopolis
We've always wanted to build our own cabin in the woods in 1994 our dream came true!!
Property Photos
- House 1: Stainless kitchen w/ living room/dining room; 22 ft ceilings; spacious! - Cassopolis, Diamond Lake, MI-Michigan Gorgeous Vacation Home With Lots to Do!
- House 1: living/dining area; 22 ft ceilings/cedar beams; leads to front porch. - Cassopolis, Diamond Lake, MI-Michigan Gorgeous Vacation Home With Lots to Do!
- House 1:30x40 family room; leads to outdoor kitchen/deck/music/backyard. Sweet! - Cassopolis, Diamond Lake, MI-Michigan Gorgeous Vacation Home With Lots to Do!
- Beautiful clean spring-fed waters of Diamond Lake!!!
- House 2: Stainless Kitchen/Living Area w/ TV/French Doors to Master
- House 2: Private Master Bedroom Suite w/ Fireplace/TV/Ceiling Fan/GORGEOUS!
- House 2: Amazing Masterbath w/ walk in shower/jacuzzi - SWEET!!
- House 2: Backyard sitting area facing DL golf course and lots of room to play!
Guest Comments (17)
First (10) of (17). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #45235
There have been 28760 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2004.
This listing was first published here in 2004.
Date last modified - October 31, 2009
Positive Rating
, Chicago, IL
Positive Rating
Mark Heinle , Chicago, IL
Homeowner Response:
thanks for the kind words Mark. And yes, that is one of the benefits of renting our home...you don't need to drive all the way to the public access! Our Howell Point Beach access is just a few blocks away! Thank you again...so glad you enjoyed your stay! Terri
Positive Rating
Bryan , Chicago, IL
Positive Rating
Donna Dobrovits , Frankfort IL
Positive Rating
Sue , Austin, TX
Positive Rating
The Gutman's , Cincinnati, OH
Positive Rating
Positive Rating
Dear Terri & Dave, Thanks for much for the use of your beautiful home again. It is so comfortable - truly a home away from home! And the new bathroom is awesome! We will definately be back next summer! Thanks again!
Positive Rating
Dear Sheppards, We truly enjoyed our stay in your wonderful cottage. We finished the 4th of July by renting a boat---the days were perfect! Thanks so much!!
Positive Rating
Dear Sheppard Family, We had an awesome ski weekend at Swiss Valley. We felt right at home in your home! Thank you.