500' to Torch Lake & the park- Walk to quaint Alden-Reduced Fall & Spring rates
- House2000 sq. ft.
- Sleeps: 6
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 2
- Min Stay: 3–7 nights
House, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, (Sleeps 6) Two story historic older Alden Victorian
Bedrooms
Owner
Rich and Karen Brown
- Languages:
- english, french
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.
Rich and Karen Brown purchased this House in 1984
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.
Amenities
Featured
- No Smoking
- Children Welcome
- TV
- Satellite or cable
- Internet
- Parking
- Heater
Bathrooms
- Bathrooms: 2
Safety features
- Deadbolt lock
- First-aid kit
- Exterior lighting
- Fire extinguisher
- Smoke detectorDeadbolts on front door and French doors in back. Window locks. Multiple smoke detectors. Exterior lighting in the front of the home.
- Carbon-monoxide detectorOn both floors
Location Type
- LakeWe are 500' from Torch Lake & the access to Torch (& the Train Depot park). They can be seen from the home. Over the years, trees have grown between us and the lake & block some of the view.
General
- HeatingForced air furnace -- for the cooler nights in early and late summer.
- ParkingThere is parking space for 2 vehicles on the property in the area in front of the small fence at the side of the home. Also, one car can park in front of the home off the street. Room for a boat, too
- InternetFree secured WiFi
- Wireless InternetWifi via a Netgrear router and Charter cable. Starter toilet paper and paper towels.
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Paper Towels
- Shampoo
- Toilet Paper
- Living RoomCouch and chairs for your comfort, and TV / DVD/VHS combination, if you or your children prefer that for entertainment.
Kitchen
- Refrigeratortop freezer.
- StoveNatural Gas
- OvenNatural Gas oven and 4-burner gas range
- MicrowaveCountertop microwave
- Grill
- Coffee MakerConventional drip-type coffee maker. Please remember to bring your coffee and any needed cream and sugar.
- Toaster2 slot toaster that is kept in the kitchen island cabinets
- Dishes & UtensilsAll that you will need for your stay. Plastic ware for young children, too. Wine and beer glasses for the adults, of course.
- KitchenCasual Island seating in the Kitchen area, and table seating in the accompanying dining area in this large kitchen / entry room. Please see "Bedroom details" re bringing or renting towels and linens
Dining
- Dining Room
- Dining Area
- Child's Highchair
- DiningFormal dining room when you want to enjoy dinner that way, including your guests. French doors lead to the backyard. This was the access in early 1900s to a 2-story addition where guest rooms were
Entertainment
- Television3 televisions, Charter Cable reception. 32" flat screen HD TV downstairs. 24" flat screen TV in downstairs master bedroom. Also 24" flat screen TV in the upstairs larger bedroom with the queen bed.
- Satellite / CableBasic Plus Charter HD cable service.
- StereoMulti-disc CD player and FM / AM radio in Dining Room with speakers in Living Room Also a single CD player and i-Pod player in the Living Room.
- DVD Playerfor the TV in the living room. Combination DVD and VHS player that has its separate remote.
- GamesSeveral board games for your relaxation - or to challenge you.
- Games for Kids
- ToysCheckers / Chess and several children and family board games provided.
- Video LibrarySeveral family / children oriented DVDs and VHS cassettes are available for your enjoyment.
Outside
- Kayak / Canoe4 nearby rentals as well as Pontoon and other boat rentals in Alden, Clam River and Torch River -- all just short drives
- BoatCan be rented at local marinas. Contact information in the VRBO listing or provided on request. Pontoon and other boat rentals in Alden, Clam River and Torch River -- all just short drives.
- Beach Chairs
- Porch / VerandaLarge from porch with a swing-for-2. Enjoy your glass of wine and the view of the lake and the park and beach-front deck in the historic train and depot park! Enjoy the sunsets & cool evenings there
- Deck / PatioSmall flagstone patio pathway outside the French Doors from the Dining Room
- Water Sports GearLife jackets provided. Also beach chairs.
- TennisTennis courts are in the village of Alden
- GolfSeveral courses nearby at Shanty Creek and around Traverse City and up to Charlevoix and Petoskey.
Suitability
- Long-term Renters Welcome
Notes
- Long and covered front porch - the old-fashioned type with a railing and a swing, High Speed WiFi (secured) or cable internet access to keep in touch with the outside world (please bring your connecting cable or you may borrow ours), enjoy our cable 32' HD TV. Also, if you do not have your laptop, there is WiFi internet access with available PCs at the local library (1/2 mile through town). Folding lawn and beach chairs are provided for your enjoyment in the yard and at the beaches.
House Rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
No parties/events
No smoking
No pets
1 mature dog under 20#.$50 added rent;$50 cleaning
Children allowed
Very welcomed. Double lot/quiet street. Highchair.
Minimum age of primary renter:25
Max guests:6
Will consider a pet: 1 mature dog under 20 pounds.Tell us about your pet-type, age and weight. Added rent of $50 & cleaning of $50. No cats.
Children VERY welcomed; lots of room to play on the double lot. Home is on a quiet no-outlet quiet street. Highchair provided.
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date.
36 Reviews
Brown Terrance
This was the comforts of home. Surrounding Area, quiet, Nature, Across street from Torch Lake. The owner acknowledges you , appreciates you. Great family.
Perfect Getaway
Our first visit to Alden and Torch Lake area. Home is in perfect location and just minute(s) literally from Torch Lake with easy Lake access. Quiet, peaceful and PLENTY of room. Town within walking distance. Alden Muffin Tin has the BEST coffee and muffins and you cannot miss stopping into the Alden's Mill House, so cute! Great ice cream in town too. We recommend, it was perfectly peaceful.
Ron and family,
Karen and I are pleased for you and your family that you had such a great time in your relatively short (4 days) in Alden. We do hope that you will consider a longer return sometime in the future. "Little" Alden and Big Torch Lake make a great combination for a family vacation.
Now, get ready to enjoy your Fall season back home or in Northern Michigan where the color season is so beautiful around the lakes.
We appreciate great family renters like the Jones'
Rich and Karen Brown
Fantastic Location
Great little spot in a tucked away town. Easy to access from many routes. Close to multiple large and small town attractions. Short walk to downtown Alden, short drive to Rapid City and Bellaire and Traverse and so much more.. if you are an outdoorsy type, plenty of options for you too! The owners are great to work with. Highly recommended, 5/5, A+++, you can’t go wrong.
Jonathan and family
You were great guests and we welcome you to return any time. Karen and I really appreciated your communications with us before and during your stay.
From your review, you sure used the week to get around to some of the great places nearby, too.
We're always glad for families that enjoy themselves as much as you did! Now it's time to also enjoy Fall here in Michigan.
Rich and Karen Brown
Lovely
A lovely home near a lovely little town. Very relaxing but also close to amazing tourist spots.
Julia
Karen and I appreciate the review of the home and the village of Alden, as well as all that there is to do in the area. We're glad that you and family enjoyed their week in that part of Michigan.
Great experience
Great location Fit our needs perfectly. We have stayed a t quite a few older homes like this one over the years and have learned to bring and probably place box fans to keep air moving though the house at night which is the only time we are not out enjoying Torch lake!!
We would definitely recommend staying here.
Lewie
I apologize for it taking me a few weeks to reply to your very appreciated review. We've added an additional box fan, based on your comment. The ceiling fan in the kitchen stopped working during another renter's stay and we replaced that while they were still there. We do want our renters comfortable, and know that moving air is part of that. The cooler nights there bring wonderfully fresh air into the homes overnignt, we agree.
With regards and wishes for a great fall, Rich and Karen Brown
Beautiful Historic Home
This home is just beautiful. There is no central air but you do not need it. With the windows open and fans on it is very pleasant. Only thing I wish they had was a washer/dryer and a fire pit would be nice. Kitchen was fully stocked which was nice. We had internet issues upon arrival that the owner took care off ASAP. We also had a kitchen fan/light that quit working and was replaced within 24 hours. Owners truly care about their renters/home. Thanks so much!
Linnia, we thank you for such a quick review -- you just returned home yesterday! We know the importance of WiFi and internet access to renters -- we share that importance when we rent! I'm glad that it did not require a service call and that you discovered that the router needed a reset. As to the fan and light failing, it sounds as though the light switch in the housing that the pull cord operates just wore out and failed. I'll look into that this fall. and it looks like the upgraded replacement is an overall improvement in any case. Newer and better fan and light. We're glad that you enjoyed your week and look forward to you considering our Alden Victorian for a future vacation. Regards, Rich and Karen
Map
Petoskey Stone hunting is along the shore of Torch Lake, including on the beach by the historic Train Depot and museum and accompanying play-park, which are all across the main street, a block from your vacation home. Trail walking is on 17-acre 'Coy Mountain' a block from your home - please see more on this under 'unique benefits' below. Winery visiting and tasting are just 1/2 hour west on Old Mission Peninsula or just a bit further in the Leelanau area. Alden now has a local winery tasting room, too. Petoskey, Charlevoix, and Harbor Springs and their pleasures are to the Northeast.