The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland

Photo gallery for The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland

A wicker sofa with cushions and a glass coffee table with a vase of flowers.
A cozy living room with a wooden ceiling, a fireplace, a television, and a large window overlooking a deck.
A modern kitchen with a central island, stainless steel appliances, and a decorative ceiling.
A grassy area with a white fence and a view of the sea.
A cozy living room with a black sofa, a glass coffee table, and a wooden staircase.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Lake Michigan

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Balcony
  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
South Haven, MI
  • Place, Deerlick Creek Beach Park
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Place, Pilgrim Haven Natural Area
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Place, Porter Legacy Dunes
    ‪2 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 13)

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Queen Beds

Dormitory

1 Single Bunk Bed, 1 King Bed and 1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bath for 2nd and 3rd bedrooms

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Main floor bathroom

Toilet

Master bedroom Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Sleeping Chamber Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (58 reviews)
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About the area

South Haven

Located in South Haven, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. Lake Michigan and Pilgrim Haven Natural Area reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum & Gardens and South Haven Center for the Arts. Michigan Maritime Museum and The Fun Park are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging and snowmobiling.
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Map
South Haven, MI

What's nearby

  • Deerlick Creek Beach Park - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Pilgrim Haven Natural Area - 1 min drive - 1.4 km
  • Porter Legacy Dunes - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • South Beach - 5 min drive - 4.6 km
  • North Beach - 6 min drive - 5.3 km

Getting around

  • Bangor Station - 19 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪South Beach Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Clementine's - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Sandcastle: An Artistic Haven! Private Beach, Family-Friendly Wonderland located?

Nestled on the beach, this South Haven holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Pilgrim Haven Natural Area and Lake Michigan. Porter Legacy Dunes and Deerlick Creek Beach Park are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 73 out of 82 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 82 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 82 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 82 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 82 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
amazing property and amazing hosts!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
The Sandcastle was a gorgeous setting in a terrific location, close to all our South Haven & St. Joe favorites. The property itself was very unique with artistic decor, fun & unusual outdoor venues and lovely hosts.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent place for family vacation with lots to do for all ages. We had grandkids from 6 to 20 in age and everyone had a great time, Activities included bicycling to town, kayaking, enjoying the beach, eating on the porch with a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan, walking to the nearby blueberry farm and ice cream shop and making pizzas in the pizza oven. Hosts who are artists stayed in a separate facility/art studio on site and are just delightful to deal with. Their little dog Pinky was the official greeter and our young grandsons absolutely loved him..
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The best family vacation overall ! The only drawback was the cleaning service. They need to hire another company to do a through job.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Jul, 2026
Thank you Tammy for the feedback on the cleaning crew. We have replaced the service. I greatly appreciate the comment!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were concerned when we learned that the owners lived on the property but we couldn't have been more wrong. John and Wendy were tremendous hosts, we have 2 new friends. You would have to see this place to believe it! From the fires on the beach, the cool pizza oven, the stocked kitchen, the bicycles, the puppy, and the outdoor entertaining areas.....couldn't have been much better.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Couldn’t have dreamed of a better location for a family experience. Everything was spectacular, from the grounds with so much to do for the kids, the private beach, provided boats etc, plus the accommodating hosts. Plus the best view of Lake Michigan we have ever enjoyed!
Stayed 11 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very kid-friendly, with plenty of beds, an arts and craft area, swings, games and more. We loved the art everywhere and Pinky the dog was a favorite.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely exceptional. Wendy and John have a magical property that provides a peaceful getaway with everything you may need for a perfect vacation. Everything from the property, beach access, wood fire pizza oven and puppet theater just blew us away. We will be back for another visit!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Sandcastle

Great location, beautiful sunsets, great hosts.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family Vacation

Wonderful home and wonderful host. Highly recommend this property. Such a unique setting and beautiful views. 10/10
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing view

Beautiful, highly recommend
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Absolutely Perfect

Couldn't have asked for a better stay.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing stay

We had a lovely stay at The Sand Castle. Beautiful and creative house with amazing views of Lake Michigan. The sunsets were incredible! The hosts were so nice and very attentive to all the details
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is an amazing home with a great beach! The beach has a sandbar just off of the shore so even the smallest of kiddos could play safely. My family loved the art and personal touches in the home. The outdoor space was absolutely magical as well.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The outdoor spaces are amazing. We enjoyed eating outside and our children had lots of places to play. The beach access was so convenient and very private. The inside of the house needs a little updating and we would have appreciated locks on the bathroom doors. The hosts were very helpful and we really enjoyed our family art lesson.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

First-Time family get away

My family (six adults and two dogs) had an absolutely wonderful time here at Sandcastle. The home is exquisite, comfortable, and exceeded our expectations. South Haven is just minutes away. We look forward to returning to Sandcastle.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wendy and John were so amazing. Their place was pure magic! We used the wood fire pizza oven two nights!! The yard is so pretty with all the flowers! The view of the ocean was breathtaking. We had fun at the beach with our kids and dogs…. Very private. I would love to come back
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Even better

Fantastic! Even better than the pictures.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lake Michigan serenity

The views were breathtaking, the home was perfect for our family and pets. We spent many hours outdoors around the campfires, cooking in the wonderful kitchen and enjoying the very impressive artwork of John’s and Wendy’s throughout the home. The pizza oven was such a treat too! Would love to return again!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome family lake vacation!

The property is huge and has tons of space for fun and activities. We booked this as our family vacation and let all 3 kids bring friends! There was plenty of room and tons to do. The kids loved the paddle boards and kayaks. We all loved the pizza oven and outdoor movie theater. The hosts gave instructions for both and they were easy to use! It was a great vacation space with private lake access. House is equipped with everything you need and has fabulous views of the lake!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing property, amazing views

What a special property! When you have views and lake access like this it’s hard to want anything more, but the amenities (so many bikes!), the grounds, the pizza oven and the amazing owners take this to the next level - thank you Wendy and John! Clean, well-stocked kitchen and plenty of room for our 8 adults and 2 dogs. Also close to a bike path that connects to South Haven on one side and the dunes in another direction.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful family gathering!

What an amazing property! My sister, brother and parents all stayed with our families! The house and property are magical. Lots of fun things to do outside. The kitchen was well stocked and we loved trying the pizza oven. Wendy and John were amazing hosts and even gave an art lesson which was a huge hit. We stayed in October for a long weekend and hope to come back during the summer to enjoy the beach more! Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Easiest review I’ve ever done. We miss it already. We have been on many upscale beach trips and this one is tops. We were 4 adult couples but would be great for kids too!We LOVED our week with Wendy, John and Pinky (sweetest cavalier doggie)The view is beyond description. The beach amenities are awesome.The pizza oven and outdoor dining and living areas are wonderful. The kitchen is great!The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable. The drive to S Haven is very convenient and the town is great— icecream, shopping, dining— easy! Also easy drive to Saugatuck— a MUST!We did the cruise on the replica 1800s tall ship— fantastic! We did Wendy’s art lesson— so fun. This is a special place and very special people own it. We really hope and plan to be back!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome place for a family!

We loved our stay at Sandcastle! We had four generations staying at the house, ranging in ages from 3 to 94, and it was a fantastic place with lots of activities, both indoors and outdoors for the kids. The private beach was amazing, and a new staircase from the property to the beach made it easy to use. There are lots of places to sit and enjoy the view of the lake. Our 6 and 11 year old granddaughters wanted to live there! The owner, Wendy, gave two of the kids drawing lessons, and she couldn't have been nicer. It is a very secluded place with tons of activities for kids. If you want nature and isolation along with a great adventure for everyone, Sandcastle is the place to go!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Artists Retreat

Good points: 1 Best view of sunset on the lake bar none from outside or inside the home 2 well maintained and cool throughout the home 3 Owner is very nice and helpful 4 lots of bedrooms and bathrooms and great living space and kitchen, dining room 5 property is great, especially for younger children. teetertoters, swing sets, play house. Great outside dining picnic table holds large groups Only Complaint (owners can't help this): The beach has eroded and is practically inaccessible
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun, 2023
We lost 2 stairways , one in May the other in June. we have a stairway available to the beach next door at my mom's house. There is also a nature trail path to the beach through the gate on our south lawn. We also have a public nature center one mile away and it is on lake level. We have plenty of bikes and it is a quick bike ride away. 2 weeks ago our guests from Air BnB preferred our beach to the public beach. Lake Michigan even though the levels are high is still so amazingly beautiful.
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