500' to Torch Lake & the park- Walk to quaint Alden-Reduced Fall & Spring rates

About Rich and Karen Brown

Rich and Karen are just the third family to own this historic home. In the early 1900s, it was a guest house and even had a 2-story addition off the back to take summer visitors who would come to Alden by train from Chicago and along the west coast of Michigan. Its history is found in every room, including being preserved in those we've renovated and updated from what the Chapelle family originally built. We bought this as a family vacation home when our kids were young, and would make regular visits from 'downstate'. Now we still make regular visits (as do the adult 'kids' and now the grandkids!) and we are pleased to share the home with others.

Why Rich and Karen Brown chose Alden

Alden is an ideal get-away, a small town with features we've come to enjoy -- inviting shops, friendly shop owners and nature trails and Torch Lake shorelines to explore. The home, whose original rooms date to the 1870s, is a similar ideal get-away. We've treated 'her' gently during the over 30 years we've owned her, and know that our guests will do likewise.

What makes this House unique

Relax on the front-porch swing, and sip that wine (stemware provided) and enjoy. Watch those SUNSETS from your porch. Ceiling fans in all bedrooms and most other rooms will comfort when needed. Enjoy the selection of board games and DVDs; also bring your favorite CDs and DVDs. The fully-equipped kitchen is for your dine-in pleasures. Formal dinners (they are allowed and fun, even on vacation!) in the dining room and casual at the kitchen table. Please use the maps we've provided in your living room to decide what to do around Alden and the area. Wineries are particularly special, we thing, and the enternainment in Traverse and toward Shanty Creek and Charlevoix and Petoskey. For outdoor pleasures, walk along Spencer Creek or the Torch Lake shoreline. Or, hike the Indian Trails up Coy Mountain, whose path virtually begins at your doorstep, on Valley street. This 17-acre preserve (thanks to the Coy family) has a wonderful array of wildlife, bird species and several native wildflowers. Benches welcome you to rest along the one mile maintained trail. For local history, be sure to take in the Alden Depot and Park Museum. Located in the authentically restored Alden Depot, dating to 1908, this part of Alden's history (open Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend) features photographs and memorabilia recalling the community's past, including model trains and related items and many photographs of the area through the years. ENJOY all these reasons to be 'up North'. When other entertainment has been exhausted (that may not happen), TV may be your or your children's option of choice. Cable service is provided with basic 'network' channels. Work or emails calling you? That happens, we all know. High Speed WiFi internet is here for you. Or connect via Ethernet. If you did not bring your own connecting cable, please borrow ours.