Large living room with fireplace and open air ceiling to loft area Dining room has large table with seating for 8 - 10. There are also four barstools at the kitchen counter. Kitchen area has stove, microwave, fridge/freezer with icemaker and filtered water, and dishwasher. We have tried to keep our cottage a place for our family to concentrate on the outdoors and each other, not technology... meaning there is no cable. However wifi is available so if you have your own streaming accounts you can use the Roku to watch on the TV in the loft bedroom. There is also a DVD player and lots of DVD movies. We have a ton of books and games available in the living room bookshelves. For outdoor eating and relaxing there is a large deck with 2 tables, umbrellas, and chairs on the main level, and if you want a little more secluded shady area for sitting or reading etc. you can move down to a beautiful cement patio below. The basement of the cottage is closed off, and not included in the rental. A short walk down the hill leads you to the fire pit (bring your own marshmallow sticks), tetherball, horse shoes, and waterfront/dock area. If you bring a volleyball/badminton net, there is even a nice area to set that up by the dock area. The dock is a 40' x 3' that you can tie up to (bring boat bumpers), and there is a boat lift that can hold a small 16-18' bass boat or outboard powerboat. We provide 5 kayaks, a peddle boat, and a row boat. Hamlin Lake is a wonderfully large 5000 acre lake, so feel free to truly enjoy it by bringing a powerboat that you can launch at either the public access 3 miles from the cottage off Nurnberg Road on Forrest Road 5540 (caution, this is a faster option but this section of the lake can be quite weedy, and challenging to navigate) or Wilson Hill Park on Barnhart Rd. north of Ludington (this is a 30 minute drive, but is right across upper Hamlin Lake from the cottage). You can also rent a pontoon boat from various locations, including Barnhart's Marina, and Sunset Bluff Resort, which are right across Upper Hamlin Lake from the cottage. You can go on about an hour hike right from the cottage through the Manistee National Forest to the Nordhouse Dunes and its pristine undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline where you can swim, picnic, and even tent camp if you want to!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Private Hamlin Lake Water Front Cottage Perfect Family Retreat
Ludington
Private Hamlin Lake Water Front Cottage Perfect Family Retreat
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the neighborhood
Free Soil
Located in Free Soil, this chalet is on a lake. Big Sable Point Lighthouse and North Breakwater Light are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Manistee National Golf Course and Hemlock Golf Club. Amber Elk Ranch and Sandcastles Children's Museum are also worth visiting. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking nearby.
Ludington Waterfront Park - 49 min drive - 53.1 km
S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry - 51 min drive - 52.4 km
Getting around
Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 47 min drive
Restaurants
Stix Bar - 39 min drive
The Perch At Hobby Crest - 46 min drive
Barnhart's Marina Resort - 46 min drive
Goodtime Charlie's - 37 min drive
Pirate's Pub - Hamlin Lake - 46 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest?
As of Jun 10, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest on Jan 3, 2027 start from $633, 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 Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest?
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest located?
Situated on a lake, this chalet is steps from Huron-Manistee National Forest and 2 mi (3.3 km) from Lake Michigan. Nordhouse Lake and Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness are also within 2 mi (3 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Beautiful Home and property. Well taken care of and had plenty of amenities. All you need is food drinks and firewood! We had an amazing time with lots of great memories.
We spent a wonderful week at Rupert’s Rendezvous. The home was clean and beautiful. It had all the amenities we needed to make for an enjoyable stay for our entire family of eight. The owners were very gracious and welcoming. This was our third time staying at this home and will definitely look forward to future trips.
Julie P.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 25, 2024
Glad your family had a wonderful time. Thank you for commenting on the cleanliness and upkeep. Our cleaning folks work hard, and we always like to relay positive feedback to them 😀. We look forward to hosting your family again soon!
The house was fully equipped with everything we needed for our stay. We came after 2 days of extreme rain so the road leading up to the property was a bit of an adventure but the location and house was worth it! Everyone was comfortable and our 2 families had a great time.
Verified traveler
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 25, 2020
Yes, Nurnberg Road can be a challenge when it rains! Thankfully the road commission has been doing a great job maintaining it lately :)
We are glad you found the location of our cottage enjoyable, and the accommodations comfortable!
We had a wonderful time and everything about the house was great. Mark was really helpful and the one issue with a kitchen cabinet we had, he dealt with right away. Thanks so much for letting us use your house!
Gregory C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 25, 2020
Yes, we are lucky to have Mark as our administrator, he does great work!
So glad your family enjoyed your stay :)
Beautiful house on a naturally beautiful property. House had everything we needed for two families (4 adults and 4 kids). We were a little disappointed that the lake entrance was not swimmable for the kids, but we were still able to have fun on the kayaks and peddle boat. The host was very communicative.
Bruce H.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Brenda M.
Jul 25, 2016
Wonderful property!
Our family of 8 spent the week, and had a great time. Everything you could need is provided for you. We loved kayaking, it's the perfect setting for it. The home's open concept is perfect for time with family, but there were plenty of places to find a quiet spot to yourself, if you should choose to. The property manager is close by to help with any problems. Probably the most relaxing week we've ever spent on Hamlin Lake.
Brenda M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2016
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 25, 2020
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here.
We love hearing about families building memories on the North side of Upper Hamlin Lake. It truly is a unique experience.
Phil & Tricia
The home had all the immunities listed, was well kept and had a beautiful property. If you’re planning on calling it a night early, this place is great. If you want to stay up at the fire, you will have problems with the neighbors, regardless of the size of your group. In fairness to the property owners, they will warn you of this.
john w.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Apr 6, 2021
Thank you for your input John, based on our phone conversation and your suggestions we are in the process of moving the fire ring to an area that will not cause an issue with the neighbors.
This beautiful home is situated on Hamlin Lake within the Manistee National Forest. It is 10 miles from a main paved road. The house is welcoming and equipped with everything you need. There is a fire pit area and dock where you can use the kayaks, paddle boat and canoe. The beds are comfortable, just make sure you fit within the layout of the bedrooms. One is a full size. The other is a full size, and a bunk. The third has one full, one twin, and two sets of bunks.
I would reserve this house again.
renee r.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 26, 2024
So glad your family enjoyed our home! Yes, the 6 mile ride on Nurnberg Rd. through the Manistee National Forest does do a good job separating us from the busyness of town 😀. Your bedroom layout is correct, with the clarification that each room has a Queen bed, and the bunk beds have a full on the bottom and twin on the top.
We had a wonderful stay with our family. Accommodations were perfect for our group. I only gave the location a 4-star rating because we could not swim or play in the water right from the edge of the property. The neighborhood and view from the home was beautiful and relaxing. However, we had a 3 and 5 year old in our group. We had to drive at least 30 minutes to get to the Ludington City and State Parks. It would have been better for us if they could just go outside and play in the sand and water. This is just our preference. We did really enjoy the firepit, s'mores, and "just enjoying the fire" (per our 3-year-old).
Cecilia H.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 19, 2022
Glad to hear that the cottage accommodations were perfect for your family! The best swimming and beach in the area is a 5 minute boat ride west from the cottage through the narrows to "The Dunes". This wonderful gem is only accessible by boat and is kind of a Hamlin Lake secret 😀
We had a great time at the waterfront chalet. We brought our boat and put it in Lake Michigan for salmon fishing, then in Hamlin Lake to enjoy water activities with easy access to our boat from the chalet's dock. Check in was easy--their is a house manager that was very responsive to the minor issues we had. The kitchen facilities are great--we did lots of cooking and there was plenty of room for multiple cooks, and it's open to the living area, so the cook never felt excluded. WiFi was non existent really. The travelers with us that needed to work had to use a personal hotspot. It's a fairly remote location, so I guess that is to be expected. There is a long 6 mile dirt road to get the home, but it's truly very tranquil so worth the effort. There are kayaks, a row boat, and a paddle boat, which we enjoyed daily. We loved the beach at Hamlin lake (by boat), and taking evening boat cruises. The walk to Nordhouse Dunes is quite long, but so worth the expansive, pristine beach. On the weekends, the trailhead parking is full, and people are parking on the road, but wait until a weekday, and there was plenty of parking at the trailhead and the beach was practically empty (one day we were the only ones there!). The Meijer store is relatively close by (20 minutes) and downtown Manistee was accessible also. We did not have a mosquito issue the entire week. The A/C keeps the chalet cool, which is great since the bunk room is upstairs. Thank you to our hosts!
Overall this place is very, very nice. The house is located in a secluded area on the north lake next to National Forest, short walking distance (around 1.5 mile) to trails. The inside very clean. Awesome fire pit, tether ball and horse shoes. Plenty of room for multiple trucks and boat. Great bunk room 6 full beds (great for our teenagers). Two baths. Overall a great place to stay and highly recommend. Few things to know. If you are bringing a boat, the boat dock is not the best but we made it work (17ft lund). Good part is the house is secluded in a cove, so you don't get many waves. Bring bumpers. The boat lunch is about 20 min drive. Luddington is about 30 mins. About 5 min boat ride to sand dunes. You will need to go to sand dunes or public beach to swim (which was no big deal to us). The boat lift does not work. All and all an amazing place, especially if you take your boat out of the water each day. We did leave it in overnight one night and it was fine).
Brian F.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 8, 2023
So glad the cottage's many unique features were a perfect fit for your family! Thank you for pointing out the issue with the boat life, it is working now.
We had a great trip. House was wonderful, plenty of room. Very quiet and peaceful - slept great! Loved the hummingbirds on the feeder. At night we enjoyed hanging in the upstairs loft area which we named "the lounge". It was separate from the bedroom and had leather chairs and a table so we played cards and games there. Wasn't mentioned in the ad so it was a nice surprise. Seen many deer, turkeys on road/drive coming in. Caught some rock bass, used the pedal boat and rented a pontoon boat - was too windy for the kayaks. Had many campfires and took a few walks through the trails to Lake MI - was beautiful. Went to Barnharts many times which we enjoyed (food was very good and service was good). Took day trip to Silver Lake dunes and rented quads. Also went to downtown Ludington - loved Jamesport Brewing company and enjoyed the new Ludington Bay Brewery. Mark was very responsive and helpful.
Feedback to improve on:
1. The oven needs to be cleaned (was smoking when we used it due to old burned food, etc.)
2. With the house sleeping 12 people, please provide more kitchen hand & dish towels (only 2 provided so we had to keep washing them). We mentioned it to Mark who was kind enough to bring a couple more .
3. Also provide more toilet paper & paper towels. Paying over $3,000 a week we shouldn't have to keep running to the store for these.
4. We were disappointed there weren't any marshmallow roasting sticks provided, we would have brought our own (you should mention on your site).
5. Lastly the Main toilet was not flushing properly, (we had to use the plunger on the first use).
Even with these items, we had an enjoyable time and appreciate you sharing your house with us. Would definitely come back. Thank you
Marsha W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 25, 2020
Thank you for your feedback, we learn a lot from the reviews we receive and value your input. We are happy that our cottage had plenty of room for your family and that you found the natural setting with it's peaceful quite atmosphere enjoyable! We recently added the leather soft seating chairs and glass top tables to "The Lounge" in the loft area, so it's nice to hear that it worked well for relaxing and playing games. Sounds like you really took advantage of the natural setting to see and experience the wildlife at the cottage. The hike to Lake Michigan is one of our favorite activities. The Nordhouse Dunes trails and the Lake Michigan waterfront there are truly wonderful.
!! Thank you for noticing that Mark (our property administrator) is amazing, we are lucky to have him :)
Sorry about the oven, we will work on making sure it is inspected/cleaned between rentals. Our policy for kitchen towels will be reviewed with our wonderful cleaning staff who sets up the cottage for new arrivals. Based on your input we will place additional toilet paper and paper towels in the pantry. We never thought about marshmallow sticks! We will make a note to bring your own on the site. The toilet issue has been remedied :)
Again, thank you for your input, and we are glad you had such an event filled enjoyable stay at the cottage, it sure sounds like you did tons of fun things!
This house is beautiful. Very spacious. You can tell the owners take great pride In this place. Great location. Very serene. I’d definitely stay again.
This beautiful home has it all. Very spacious with lots of room for our family of 5. We enjoyed many family cook outs on the large deck, caught fish in Hamlin Lake, and had a fantastic week.
The home was beautiful and clean. Spacious kitchen and dinning area. The children loved the tether ball, horse shoes and kayaks. The house was a perfect fit for our family of ten.
Julie P.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
About the host
Hosted by Phil DeVries
Why they chose this property
My wife and I purchased this land in 2006 and built the cottage in 2007. We chose the location and designed the cottage with family in mind. We were looking for something that would combine outdoors and lakefront living in one destination and we knew immediately that this was the place! Fishing, boating, swimming on the beautiful 5000 acre Hamlin Lake right out front, and thousands of acres of the Manistee National Forest right out back...
What makes this property unique
Our cottage is a natural setting, no manicured lawns or underground sprinkling. We think the deer, squirrels, pileated woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and chipmunks like it best this way.