The Pond House was built in 1999 as an elevated round house on stilts. It overlooks the waterway that connects with Hamlin Lake and weaves around the surrounding forests, swamps and marshes. This is a great area for kayaking and viewing nature. A wide diversity of wildlife can be viewed from the windows, including muskrats and other mammals, and many species of ducks, herons and other waterfowl as well as nesting sandhill cranes.

The house is surrounded by over 200 acres of private property, permanently preserved as a natural area with the guidance of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. This includes over 1100 feet of frontage on Hamlin Lake, along with diverse forested and meadow parcels, marshes, swamps, ponds and streams. This provides natural habitats for a wide diversity of plants and wildlife. In addition, there are several miles of private roads and paths to explore on foot or by bicycle.