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Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage

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The Apple House
The Apple House sign on the road
The driveway
The driveway under the pines
The great room: living area, kitchen, dining area, and mud area

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% based on
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 61100 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Alanson, MI
  • Place, Burt Lake
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal
    ‪36 min drive‬
  • Place, Boyne Mountain
    ‪48 min drive‬
  • Airport, Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Common area 1

1 Single Bed

Common area 2

1 Single Bed and 2 Double Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

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

Spaces

Kitchen

About this property

Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage

The Apple House is in a private location on 15 acres of woods and pasture land, set about 500 feet off of the road. The space is light and airy with skylights and ceiling fans, and central heat and air for your comfort. Enjoy the pastoral view from the sunroom, cook in the fully updated, well equipped kitchen, and enjoy your beverages from the wine fridge. There is a 55" Smart TV, a Xumo streaming device, and Spectrum TV and WiFi. This house is perfect for a small group or a family looking for an escape, but with all the comforts of home! There is a bedroom with a queen bed, a day bed in the living area, and in the sunroom full/full bunk beds and a sofa that converts to a twin bed. There is one bathroom with a tub/shower.
You will be 20 minutes from quaint downtown Petoskey, and the beautiful beach and dunes of Lake Michigan at the State Park. Indian River is 10 minutes away, as is Burt Lake State Park.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 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

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Please leave beds that were slept in unmade so that cleaning people will know what needs washed.
If fire pit was used, please make sure that fire is extinguished.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
No wood burning fires
No hunting

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

Frequently asked questions

Is Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage ?

As of 1 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage on 17 May 2026 start from £121, 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 at Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Secluded hideaway in the woods! Renovated, well appointed 1928 cottage located?

Located in the heart of Burt Lake, this golf cottage is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Burt Lake and within 6 miles (10 km) of Seasons of the North Winery and Crooked Vine Vineyard and Winery. Pickerel Lake and Crooked Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jon Y.

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

Fun stay

Great stay and enjoyed all that northern Michigan has to offer!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jul 2022
Thank you, Jon! I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay at the Apple House, and I hope you’ll come back!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice stay. Very secluded. Some minor issues with the AC.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John G.

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

Wonderful Getaway

Updated, cozy cottage in the woods that was incredibly welcoming and enjoyable.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathy D.

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

Burt Lake area

Great property!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug 2022
Thank you, Kathy! I’m glad you enjoyed the Apple House!!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah D.

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

Perfect getaway

Everything from start to finish was great. The place was clean, well stocked, and had a nice homey feel. Zero complaints about this property and we would rent it again for sure!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tim V.

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

Family get-away

Wonderful place with lots of little touches to Jake our family stay more like home away from home. Hosts were excellent communicators. Excellent home base for the entire area from Indian River to Mackinac to Petoskey….only 15-30 minutes from everywhere.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul 2023
I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed your stay at the Apple House! I hope you will come back next year!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Batina B.

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

Beautifully decorated and clean

We enjoyed our stay. The accommodations were very clean and everything we could have needed was available plus some nice surprises. We saw deer outside the back windows 3 fawns and a doe! The property is set back in the trees and feels very remote. Overall very nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Sept 2022
Thank you very much, Batina! I’m so pleased you enjoyed your stay! I hope you’ll come back to the Apple House in the future! Best, Kathleen
Verified

8/10 Good

Andrew P.

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

Quiet location

My wife and I stayed at the Apple House along with her parents for a couple nights. It was plenty of room for the 4 of us and no one had any complaints. It was exactly as described and there were no surprises. Beds were comfortable and the amenities were exactly what we needed. It served as a great location for our trips to nearby destinations. Would recommend the Apple House for an upper lower peninsula getaway!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul 2023
I'm so glad you all enjoyed your stay at the Apple House and found it convenient to all the local attractions. I hope to see you back next year!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matthew O.

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

Wonderful place to stay

The house is very clean, well maintained, graciously stocked with amenities, and has a livable feel. The remodel from the previous use of the house was expertly done and provides a great ambiance. The skylights and large windows at each end of the house provide lots of natural light. The property is tucked away far enough from busy areas that it seems a world away, not to mention all the trees to explore and prairie to walk, and close enough to be an easy drive to area attractions. Highly recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Sept 2024
Hi Matthew, I’m so happy you enjoyed your stay at the Apple House, and that you appreciated all the special things about it that we do. I hope you will visit again! Best, Kathleen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Erin R.

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

Perfect place!

We had a wonderful stay at the Apple House. It is the perfect escape while still being centrally located for day trips. The grounds are beautiful. A doe and two fawns were right outside the front door one morning. The home is well appointed and spotless. Everything is brand new, comfortable and stylish. Kathleen was an excellent host, communicative and accommodating. We hope to return!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jul 2022
Thank you so much, Erin! I'm so pleased you and your family enjoyed your stay at the Apple House, especially as you were our first guests!! I hope you will visit again! Kathleen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donald C.

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

A gem of a place!

The Apple House is a gem of a place: delightfully quiet, tastefully decorated, wonderfully comfortable—we could not have imagined a more perfect setting and stay. Kathleen is a wonderful host and very accessible; it was a delight to correspond with her, both as a host and as a person, throughout the process and during our stay. Both Kathleen and the Apple House exceeded our expectations; it was hard to leave! We left looking forward to our next visit. Thank you, Kathleen!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2022
Dear Don, It was a pleasure corresponding with you also, and I'm so happy that you had such a positive experience at the Apple House! It is indeed a special place, in a lovely setting, and I look forward to hosting you there again in the future. All the best, Kathleen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly S.

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

Petoskey stone quest and kayaking adventure

The cottage was fantastic! Lots of room and so many amenities. Very peaceful and quiet. I don't think I've ever seen pine trees that big. We went kayaking on Burt Lake and took day trips to Petoskey. Enjoyed food in some of the local restaurants. Took the Port Hopper ferry to Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs. Overall, a very enjoyable getaway. Thank you so much!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Jul 2023
Thank you, Kimberly! I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay at the Apple House! I hope to see you back next year!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patrick M.

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

Open and inviting

Nice home. Open and inviting and enough room for a few kids and parents with two large spaces to gather and socialize . The back room has large picture windows looking out on a little meadow and we got treated to a visit by two fawns in the morning. Great stopping spot for the price to go and spend the day at the Fort or Mackinac Island . We spent the day there riding bikes around and it was lots of fun. Connectivity was spotty with ATT and T mobile but to us no big deal . Great place to disconnect and unwind and see some sights .
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2022
Dear Patrick, I'm so glad you had a relaxing weekend at the Apple House and saw some of the nearby sights! It's a great location for day trips and trips to the beach. I'm glad you got to see the fawns! I have Spectrum mobile service and had good luck when I was there. I'm sorry your service was spotty. Please come back if you're in the area again! Best, Kathleen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah R.

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

A lovely family time.

My daughter and I had a great time at the Apple House. This was our compromise between my 8 year old’s wish to “camp in the woods” and my desire to sleep in a bed and take hot showers. We were both satisfied! The house was very cute, spacious, and clean. It is set back from the road (I totally missed the driveway the first time, but just look for the apple sign), which makes it feel very private and surrounded by woods. It is well furnished and stocked with necessities. I would definitely recommend this property to others, and would stay here again if we come to the area!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Aug 2022
Dear Sarah, I'm so happy you and your daughter enjoyed your stay at the Apple House! It means a lot that you would stay there again, were you in the area. Thank you, Kathleen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rachel W.

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

Great little getaway house

The Apple House was comfortable, welcoming, tastefully decorated, well-appointed, and very clean. Kathleen was responsive and helpful. We would definitely stay here again! The property was very peaceful; the view from the sunroom was beautiful and we scared up a group of deer when we went for a walk. I also enjoyed being able to watch the night sky through the skylights. We didn't really visit Indian River, but did check out the Antiques Roadhouse (the owner was very pleasant and helpful) and got B.C. Pizza, which we enjoyed. Petoskey was just a short drive from the cottage and boasts a beautiful downtown for browsing and eating, and the state park has an iconic Lake Michigan beach with Petoskey stone hunting and sunset views. If you go, watch the flags for swimming conditions. Mackinaw City is half an hour away. If you're not going to the island, there are some cute shops and restaurants in the city. It's VERY touristy, though. If you've never been to the foot of the bridge, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, or Colonial Michilimackinac, these are a better way to spend a day. Burt Lake State Park is less than 10 min. from the cottage. It has a clean beach on inland Burt Lake. Would recommend this for families with younger kids as the lake was incredibly shallow. Makes for nice wading, and swimming for littles, but my teenage fish was disappointed. Overall, the cottage is a great jumping off point and also a pleasant place to spend time relaxing. It was hard to leave!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Sept 2023
Hi Rachel!, I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay at the Apple House! I hope you will come back next year!! Best, Kathleen
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Haley M.

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

Cozy stay in a lovely cabin in the woods

My husband and I planned an impromptu trip up north to escape the craziness and this was the perfect place to get away! The cabin had everything you'd need to stay in for your entire stay, was incredibly spacious, and had so many lovely details that made the stay & cabin feel unique + memorable compared to other rentals in the area (ie., The cute stained glass apple window, the skylights, the privacy, and more). 10/10 recommend to anyone considering! We will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by Kathleen Blomberg

Host profile image
My name is Kathleen Blomberg and I live and work in New York City. I co-own the Apple House with my older brothers Greg (Dallas, TX) and Eric (Tallahassee, FL). We grew up in West Virginia and then went our separate ways, but we always had summer trips to beautiful northern Michigan. We are excited to share our property with you and hope you enjoy it as much as we have and do!

Why they chose this property

The Apple House sits on 15 acres which used to be part of our great grandparents' farm. They came from Sweden, settled near Chicago, then moved to Alanson to manage the farm. Our grandpa and his brothers and sister grew up on the farm. The original farmhouse still sits on the adjacent property, but is owned by someone else. We were unable to keep it due to upkeep issues and not having anyone on site. When we were children, we would stay at the farmhouse in the summer for a few weeks. We would play in the old red barn that used to be there (see painting under TV credenza), pick red raspberries in the field leftover from the farm, swim in Burt Lake and Lake Michigan, and hunt for Petoskey stones. We always had a wonderful time!
Around 1980, our parents converted the Apple House into a cottage. There used to be an apple orchard on the farm, and this building is where they would store the apples in the basement during the winter, to then sell in the warmer months. The story goes that in 1934, there was a freak heat wave in February, and sap started flowing out of the apple trees. Then the temperature dropped suddenly to 40 below zero and the apple trees exploded! Our great grandpa was so frustrated that he did not replant the apple trees. Only two or so remain around the cottage. They are Northern Spy trees, and our mother used to pick the apples, make pies, and freeze them so she and our dad could enjoy them throughout the year.
Hence the name the Apple House!

What makes this property unique

The Apple House is conveniently located near all the attractions Northern Michigan has to offer, yet it is situated in the woods in a private, secluded location. You will be minutes away from downtown Petoskey, and yet you may see a family of deer or wild turkeys in the back clearing from the sun room! Enjoy the beaches at the State Parks of Burt Lake and Petoskey, then have a relaxing evening back at the Apple House playing games and making S'mores over the fire pit in the backyard. Take a morning stroll in the woods around the property, then head out for a day trip to Mackinac Island.
Stay busy with nearby activities , or just relax in the house. Cook in the updated kitchen, stream movies on the 55" smart TV, and watch the night sky through the skylights.

Languages:

English
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