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Beautiful Waterfront Cottage

Photo gallery for Beautiful Waterfront Cottage

A room with a large window overlooking a lake, a wooden bench, a sofa, and a wooden chest.
A living room with a red leather chair, a grey sofa, a wooden dining table with chairs, a wooden door, and a floor lamp.
A sign for Schwandt Cottage, a vacation rental, with contact information and logos for VRBO and Airbnb.
Two Adirondack chairs facing a lake with a forested island in the background.
A two-story house with a green roof, surrounded by trees and a grassy yard.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the sand and sea.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
Ellison Bay, WI
  • Place, The Clearing Folk School
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Linden Gallery
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Newport State Park
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Twin Bed

Convertible bed(s)

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful Waterfront Cottage

The Sweet Cottage on the Bay....

Schwandt Cottage, in beautiful Gills Rock, is the perfect place for rest, rejuvenation and relaxation. The cottage was once owned by one of the fishing families of Door County and it was built in the mid 1920’s. It has been painstakingly restored to one of the quaintest, most delightful cottages in the area.

Gills Rock is in northern Door County, away from the hustle and bustle of some of the other towns in the County. It is significantly quieter, with less traffic. It is certainly possible to come to Schwandt Cottage and stay a week without leaving....it is just hard to leave after you get there, regardless of the season.

The view is outstanding! From the living room, the deck, the kitchen, and the private beach, guests can watch the changing moods of Green Bay, local fisherman coming and going, the incredible sunset which always provides an outstanding skyscape at the end of the day, and an occasional glimpse of a freighter passing the Door.

Please also note that the cottage is small. It has two bedrooms.....one with a queen size bed, the second with a twin. There is a hide-away bed in the living room. It will be rather tight for five adults. If it is two adults and three kids, it would be fine.
A 3-day minimum is required beginning on Sept. 14-Nov. 6. Please check our calendar for availability. A 3-day minimum is also required in April and May 2021. One-week rentals in June, July and August are required, beginning on Saturday.

Please note that pets are not permitted. While we understand that your pet may be an important part of your family, we respectfully ask that you not bring your pet. Since many people stay at our cottage, we cannot risk having a pet that may cause someone who is allergic to dogs and/or cats be uncomfortable.

Keywords: Cottage, Waterfront, Quaint, fully-furnished, private beach, fire pit, fireplace, Internet, cable television, garden, decorated, garden, private, quiet, away from the crowds, beautifully decorated, private beach, swimming, sunset,
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 133165
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the neighborhood

Ellison Bay

Located in Ellison Bay, this cottage is on the beach. Linden Gallery and Frykman Studio Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Deer Run Golf Course and Sister Bay Marina. Trueblood Performing Arts Center and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
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Map
Ellison Bay, WI

What's nearby

  • The Clearing Folk School - 6 min drive - 9.4 km
  • Linden Gallery - 7 min drive - 9.8 km
  • Europe Lake - 7 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Newport State Park - 8 min drive - 10.8 km
  • Ellison Bluff State Natural Area - 9 min drive - 11.6 km

Getting around

  • Green Bay Austin Straubel Intl. Airport (GRB) - 117 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Charlie's Smokehouse - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Island Orchard Cider - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Blue Bear Ellison Bay - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Cuesta Coffee - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Uncle Tom's Candies - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Waterfront Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful Waterfront Cottage?

As of Aug 18, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful Waterfront Cottage on May 7, 2027 start from $399, 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.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Waterfront Cottage?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Waterfront Cottage?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Waterfront Cottage located?

Nestled on the beach, this Ellison Bay cottage is within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Michigan, Europe Lake, and Northport Pier. Newport State Park and Ellison Bluff State Natural Area are also within 6 mi (10 km).

About the host

Hosted by Mike and Georgiana Schwandt

Host profile image
Georgi and Mike Schwandt are pictured with their grandchildren near the garden at their cottage in Gills Rock. We love spending time at our cottage. We can't be there all of the time...so, we are pleased to share it with you. Guests have been coming since 1999....the comments in our Guest Book reflect satisfied visitors.

Why they chose this property

We looked and looked for the perfect location to purchase our Door County vacation home. Finally, when we found our cottage in 1998, it seemed to be the perfect place to spend time with our family and friends. However, it needed lots of work because it was quite distressed. So we rolled up our sleeves...and began the overhaul! Gills Rock is peaceful...and beautiful. In 1999, our first guests came to visit and since we have many guests each year from all of the United States....some returning year-after-year. We hope that you will consider our cottage your for your next Door County vacation.

What makes this property unique

Our cottage is on the end of the peninsula...a stone's throw to everything that you may want to do while visiting in Door County. The beauty of Gills Rock, however, is that it is much, much quieter than the other Door County villages....with all of the beauty and recreation at your fingertips!

Languages:

English
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