Hard to get a photo of the house -- it's bigger than it looks from here
Location: South Haven, Southwest, Michigan, USA (Near St. Joe, South Haven, 35 mi to Saugatuck; 2 hrs Chicago) View Map
Accommodations: Cottage, 4 Bedrooms + Sunroom, 2 Baths (Sleeps 8-9)
Keywords: Year round 4BR cottage, 2-level house in the woods with footpath to low dune and big private beach down;
"Windy Ridge" is a unique year-round country place, tucked away deep in the dunes where even Google hasn't found it. Both charming and functional, it's located in a forest big enough to get lost in, amid hundreds of acres of untouched duneland. You can't see another house in any direction, even from the roof deck. Down a private path about 200 yards through the woods (about a 3 minute walk) is a very beautiful and empty Lake Michigan beach, on which you can walk for miles.
It's a great place to get far far away, and it's only 2 hours from Chicago and 2 1/2 hours from Detroit, midway between South Haven and St. Joseph. The house has all modern amenities except central air-conditioning, which you really don't need (there are a couple of window units in bedrooms if you hit a heat wave). Everybody who's ever been here falls in love with the place as we did 24 years ago.
While the owners use it most of the time, a few prime weeks are available in the summer, and many weeks the rest of the year. We generally like to rent by the week, but sometimes a minimum three-night weekend is available.
Please inquire via email, not phone.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : a couple of window units in two fo the bedrooms -- AC hardly ever needed
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Dryer
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- Queen Bed (4) : 3 BRs with Queens, plus one with a Queen and a Double
- Double Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Beachfront : House is about 200 yards from the beach in the forest -- you cannot see the lake through the trees
- Lakefront : Amazing sunsets
- Waterfront, not Lake/Oceanfront. Ask for details
- Communications
- Telephone
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- TV/VCR, Linens and towels provided, Charcoal and Gas Grills (BBQ)
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Kid Friendly
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Shopping
- Boating
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Fishing
- Antiquing
- Miniature golf
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Restaurants
- Other Activities
- We spend much of our time at the beach, but nearby are many activities including, skiing, fruit-picking, golfing, hiking and most anything else you'd want to do
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Summer Rentals .. $2000/week (usually by the week only)
Lower rates before Memorial Day & after Labor Day. Fall/Spring 3-night weekends
also available. Check our calendar, which we try to keep up to date; however, we
don't usually schedule for the summer until our family
schedules are set sometime in late February.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Secluded Deep in the Dunes + Very Private Lake Michigan Beach
Year Purchased: 1986
Property Photos
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- Hard to get a photo of the house -- it's bigger than it looks from here - Lake Michigan Cottage Getaway!
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- Part of the "greatroom" which opens to the deck; also has nice sunroom, 4 BRs - Lake Michigan Cottage Getaway!
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- From the back deck you can see forever through the forest in all directions. - Lake Michigan Cottage Getaway!
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- view from below (house is on a ridgetop - this is the start of path to beach)
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- footpath to the beach - it meanders through the woods then down about 25 steps.
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- one of the four bedrooms; two are at ground level, two partially below.
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- You almost never see anyone else on the beach, which goes on for many miles!
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- stone fireplace in the living room area
Traveler Reviews (3)
Great spot for family get-together
Guest: Sarah
(Ann Arbor, MI)
Date of Stay: 08/21/11
Review Submitted: 08/29/11
We had a great week at Windy Ridge in late August 2011. The house sits up high in the forest with amazing views off the two decks, We especially liked the path down to the beach and a few trails through the nearby woods that we found. The beach was beautiful and we had it almost all to ourselves most days. We walked for several miles along the beach in both directions too. The house had everything we needed including a great stereo with speakers out on the back deck and a fantastic grill for cooking out. We really enjoyed our week and hope to come again next summer--it's a beautiful place and we all recommend it.
Recommended for:Families with young children.
Great for a large family get-together
Guest: Jim
(Ballwin, MO)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10
Review Submitted: 08/09/10
Windy Ridge is a wonderful house with a two great decks - one off the great room toward the lake and another on the roof of the bedroom wing. When not at the beach, we lived on these decks. The place is in total seclusion and has the feeling of being in the treetops due to its ridge-top location. We were a family of six adults and two one year-olds who were joined daily by another couple and their twin three-year-olds who stayed in a nearby house. Everyone cooked and the kids could play inside or on the rooftop deck with minimal supervision. The walk to the beach is attractive, running out along the ridge top until it ends above the beach, then descending some rustic stairs to a very private beach (the nearest neighbor, beach-wise, was probably 300 yards away. One can get a good cardio-vascular workout carrying gear and/or kids back up the stairs, but it was worth it for the seclusion and the ambience. As the owner says in the description, it's hard to get a good overall photograph of the house because of its arrangement and the drop-offs on each side. We were able to park one car and three mini-vans at the house. The house is about a half mile down from the Blue Star Highway which gives easy access to I-196 or to South Haven to the north. We would all recommend it.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, pet owners, families with young children.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #8473
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