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Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit

Photo gallery for Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit

A two-story building with a brick facade, large windows, and a curved wooden section near the top.
A staircase with a checkered floor leading to a door with a window above it.
great room
A pool table with a chalkboard in the background, a sofa, and a window with a view.
A living room with a leather sofa and ottoman, a kitchen with wooden cabinets and stainless steel appliances, and pendant lighting.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Foosball onsite
    A rare find — the foosball table is waiting for you.
  • At the center of it all
    Stay in a top rated central location, steps from the best attractions, dining, and entertainment.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to South Beach
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Garage parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
South Haven, MI
  • Place, South Beach
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, North Beach
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Place, Warner Vineyards
    ‪13 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Music Room

1 Queen Bed

Nautilus Room

+1
1 Queen Bed and 4 Twin Bunk Beds

Principal's Office

1 King Bed

Secret Garden

2 Double Beds

3 bathrooms

Garden Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Guest Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Master Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit

The Indiana School will be your home-base for family fun. The schoolhouse is 2 blocks from Kids Corner park, 3 blocks from the blue stairs access to South Beach, and 7 blocks from downtown restaurants and shopping. The lower unit has 4 themed bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, and sleeps 12 comfortably. The massive great room provides plenty of space for families to spread out, play pool, or watch TV. The Detention room offers a separate space for the kids to watch TV and play board games. The large front yard gives your family more time to play in the sun. A propane grill and fire pit with seating is available for your use. There is plenty of parking at the property.

For large families, this unit can be combined with the upper unit for an additional 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, TV room, and another huge great room with foosball table. Rent the whole house for a week your family will never forget. See VRBO #858708.

Built in 1898, the Indiana School served as an elementary school until 2005. The schoolhouse underwent extensive remodeling in 2006. Many of the original finishes have been preserved including chalk boards, transom doors, wood paneling, and teacher's closets. Updates, painting, and all new furnishings were done in 2016. New windows, brick restoration, exterior painting, and heating/cooling improvements were made in 2023-24. The Indiana School has been designated as a historical site by the State of Michigan. The schoolhouse is truly a unique home.

Our weekly rentals run FRIDAY to FRIDAY. Check-in time is 4:00pm. Check-out time is 10:00am.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (77 reviews)
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 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
Repeat guest bookings are exclusively at the discretion of the host. Not all repeat guests will be approved and may result in cancellation.
Guests must answer a series of questions via the Vrbo inbox within 24 hours of booking. Subject cancellation if unresponsive.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 858557
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

South Haven

Located in South Haven, this vacation home is in the city center and near the beach. Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum & Gardens and Michigan Maritime Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Southside Municipal Marina and Warner Vineyards. Traveling with kids? Consider South Haven Center for the Arts and The Fun Park. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or check out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and ice skating.
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Map
South Haven, MI

What's nearby

  • South Beach - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • South Haven Center for the Arts - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • North Beach - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Warner Vineyards - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Michigan Maritime Museum - 17 min walk - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • Bangor Station - 19 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪South Beach Cafe - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Burger King - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Cafe Julia - ‬11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Indiana School: 3 blocks to beach?

As of Jul 23, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Indiana School: 3 blocks to beach on Nov 2, 2026 start from $581, 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 Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic Property close to South Beach and downtown - Lower Unit located?

This family-friendly South Haven vacation home is located near the beach, within a 10-minute walk of South Beach and Lake Michigan. South Haven Center for the Arts and Southside Municipal Marina are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 214 out of 221 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 221 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 221 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 221 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 221 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ricardo C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house and its hosts are a rare find. In an area full of rentals, we enjoyed all that this spacious home had to offer. We explored the area and came back to relax in the common area over meals. It is an ideal layout with great sound dampening. This meant that the younger people could stay up late without keeping the rest of us awake. Jenn is super helpful and responsive. Hope we can visit again soon.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The schoolhouse is our favorite place to stay in South Haven!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Harold/Kristine L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a lovely home with beautiful gardens. Very close proximity to Lake Michigan and South Haven restaurants and shopping.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carrie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic space and location for 9 ladies for a GIRLS weekend! Walk to town, walk to the beach. It has everything and the owners are super kind. We have stayed here twice now and will be back again. It's
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very family friendly. Large enough for all to be together and yet enough area for solitary moments as well.
Thanksgiving dinner
Large and spacious
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Max S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Have stayed here multiple times over the years and it never disappoints. Large and cozy at the same time. Great location.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sandra B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We all loved this property , it was a quick walk to the gorgeous beach. We explored the antique shops and other fun stores and restaurants . The house had everything, kitchen was well supplied , we all had fun playing pool table and video games on the giant TV. We had 8 adults total, and felt like we had room for togetherness and spreading . out. It was fun reading the history of the school with the original finishes that remain along with modern conveniences. The outside spaces were beautiful too! The hosts checked in with us right away to make sure we had everything we needed. Love the Indiana School house.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I stayed at this rental last year with friends and we all loved it. This time, I brought family along to share with them. This is a beautiful property with high ceilings and tall windows-so many nice touches throughout the unit, inside and out. We enjoyed the comfy beds, large great room with pool table, walks to the beach and downtown, dinner outside under the pergola, and an evening around the firepit. Everyone had a great time and went on and on about what a beautiful place this is. We hope to return next fall!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
perfect for our group - a guys' golf weekend
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeannette G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The location is really close to the beach. The accommodations were immaculate, i'm very comfortable
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nick M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent accommodations, 10/10 would recommend again. Close to downtown and the beach as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jamie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
As many others have said, the photos do not (maybe can't?) do this property justice. It's a truly unique place, with high ceilings and tons of room. There are many fun school-related details but everything is updated and modern. We had everything we needed to cook several meals for a group. Bathrooms are very clean and nice. We loved the pool table. The grounds are large and nicer than the photos show. Use of the two-car garage was a big plus. We were a little concerned about the proximity to the beach, having stayed closer on other trips, but it worked out great for us. It really is a seven minute (max) walk to the blue stairs. We had a great stay overall.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sharon L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Girls trip, walked everywhere and always enjoyed coming back to the schoolhouse. Also loved all the chalkboards
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Barbara K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love this place.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Teri F.

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

Family Trip

Everything about our stay was great. I think this may have been our 8 th visit to this property. It feels like home to all of us. The owners are extremely helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jan M.

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

Vacation was enjoyed by everyone!

This was a perfect place for our larger family. We enjoyed the large family room so we can all hang out together! Being within a few block to the park and beach was definitely a plus. We will definitely be returning.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle R.

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

Wonder week in SoHa!

We had a fantastic time at the Old Indiana School House! It was so cool to see the history of the property while staying in such a well done and very clean rented space. We loved the location-close to the beach and to downtown. We enjoyed walking to get coffee, meals, and of course, ice cream! Such a wonderful week long vacation in South Haven!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Can’t wait to come back

This rental property is absolutely amazing! This was our second time staying at this rental property and wow—just as incredible as the first time. The first time, we stayed in the top unit, which was immaculate. This time, we were lucky enough to book the bottom unit, and we absolutely loved it.The space comfortably fits 12 guests with plenty of room to hang out and enjoy quality family time. The photos honestly don’t do it justice—every detail in this home is thoughtfully done. It’s beautifully decorated, super clean, and incredibly comfortable.Another big plus: it’s just a short drive to downtown South Haven, which made everything even more convenient.We would love to stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a perfect getaway spot!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 7, 2025
Thank you for the lovely review. We think the schoolhouse is pretty special too.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Aaron S.

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

Great place to stay!

Our large family had a great time in this spacious rental unit. We would come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Connie P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We absolutely enjoyed our stay at the Indiana School House. Everything was clean. The kitchen was well stocked with pots, pans and utensils. The location is excellent for walking to the lake or downtown.What really surprised us was how much our adult children enjoyed the pool table. They had running competitions going on. They also enjoyed leaving messages on the chalkboards. With plenty of rooms for privacy and a huge common area to hang out, it's a great place to make memories.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heidi K.

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

5 Stars All Around!

When you see so many 5 star reviews, you question if it's really possible to have a VBRO that great. The answer is yes, it is possible! The pictures don't capture this beautiful space - it's bigger and more cozy than it looks. The owner has every detail thought out from blankets to snuggle with to fun games to play. The only thing you need to bring is the bathroom essentials (shampoo, soap, etc). This was a girls trip and everyone said their bed was comfortable, there was plenty of space and it was great having 3 bathrooms for getting ready. The only caution I would have is that there are many stairs, and those with mobility issues would want to take that into consideration.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy H.

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

Family memories

Always enjoy coming here for a family together time for Thanksgiving. This place is large enough for our entire family to be together but also enough areas for privacy or to rest and relax.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melody S.

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

Girls trip

It was an awesome weekend. We Have stayed here three times. Always enough room for everyone. Nice and clean and well stocked. Easy walk to the lake/pier and downtown is a cute little town. Movie theater is a great deal with newer movies as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James Y.

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

perfect for our group

guys annual golf trip - this is perfect for us with the main area to hang out and plenty of beds for everyone.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

We love this place!

We have been coming here for a week each summer for several years now (except during COVID), and we have loved it. My family and friends have enjoyed this location and have appreciated that the spaciousness of the location has enabled us to enjoy inviting several friends to join us This has ensured that my grandchildren have had friends to enjoy the experience with. And we have watched them grow up together. You can choose to delete this comment from the review you publish: Unfortunately, this will be our last year. We have loved it, but it has reached the point where I cannot afford it any longer. I am retired with a fixed income, and I have stretched as far as I can. Because my family loves South Haven so much (my granddaughter says she loves it more than DisneyWorld), we will look for a smaller rental and invite friends for one day at a time - fortunately we have friends in Kalamazoo who will be able to manage a day trip rather than overnights. I am not complaining about the cost. I realize costs have gone up dramatically over the last few years. I just want you to know that we have loved it, and appreciated the comfort of the property.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 30, 2024
Barbara, I'm glad that you have enjoyed your stays a the schoolhouse these past years. We love South Haven too, and are glad that you will continue to choose our lovely city as your summer destination. A NOTE TO FUTURE GUESTS: we do not allow additional overnight guests, and were unaware that this had happened. Please abide by the occupancy limits as determined by city ordinance. Failure to comply could result in city fines or limits upon future stays.

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer Wiley

Host profile image
Kirk and Jen have been spending summers in South Haven for more than 30 years. We recently retired and moved into the schoolhouse full time. We hope you enjoy experiencing a piece of history by staying in our schoolhouse.

Why they chose this property

We love the family focused south beach neighborhood. It's close to the beach and close to town. There is a variety of full and part time residents, second home owners, and visitors. We love the energy that this diversity gives our neighborhood.

What makes this property unique

The Indiana School is an historic property on the state of Michigan's register of historic places. It is the perfect place for families to gather and spend time together.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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