Lakefront Cottage Made for Family Memories - Epic Games Room - Near Sandbanks

STA License: ST-2019-0250

Some dates may appear blocked while our family finalizes plans of our own.

If you're interested in booking, please use the "Contact Host" button. The "Request to Book" feature starts a 24-hour countdown, which can sometimes rush the conversation.

Many past guests have told us that connecting first helped make sure the cottage was a perfect match for their vacation plans.

A three-night minimum usually applies, though we can sometimes make a two-night stay work with a small short-stay fee.

This is our family’s waterfront cottage on beautiful West Lake. It is a place full of memories for us.

Guests often tell us it feels more like staying at a close friend’s place than a typical rental. And that is exactly how we want it to feel.

We have filled it with the things we actually use and love, not just what looks good in photos. The kitchen is stocked with our go-to tools, the beds are the ones we sleep in ourselves, and the little touches are there because they matter to us.

It feels personal because it is.

Many of our guests are families. Parents, kids, siblings, and cousins reconnecting around the water.

Some are grandparents bringing everyone together under one roof. Others are lifelong friends catching up over shared meals, long conversations, or games in the evenings.

This is a house designed for gathering. There is room to spread out when you want quiet, and space to come together when it matters most.

Whether you are celebrating something or just taking a break, the cottage has a way of slowing things down.

Most of our guests are looking for more than just a large, good-looking house. They want a place that feels warm and real, somewhere to spend time with the people they care about.

One of my favourite memories is the night our kids sat by the firepit with their grandparents, roasting marshmallows and telling stories. Later they went inside and started sketching what happened on the white wall beside the games room. We did not think much of it at the time, but it is one of those small moments that stays with you.

The cottage sits on Sheba’s Island with west-facing waterfront that is perfect for swimming, paddling, and simply relaxing by the lake. The water is shallow and gentle, making it easy for both kids and adults to step in and enjoy.

As the sun goes down, the sky changes a little differently each evening. Every sunset feels like its own quiet event.

The wide, private dock is a favorite spot for morning coffee, reading in the sun, or just drifting on a float. You will find floating islands, a canoe, a paddleboard, and beach toys all ready to enjoy. And yes, the Wi-Fi reaches the end of the dock.

Sandbanks West Lake Dunes are just four kilometres from the cottage, an easy bike ride or a quick drive.

We include two day passes with your stay, so you will not need to pay any park entry fees. You will still need to book your visit through the reservation system, but the passes make the process smoother.

Inside, the cottage is immaculately clean, welcoming, and set up to bring people together.

The chef’s kitchen looks out over the lake and is stocked with everything you need to cook, bake, or host with ease. Guests often say it’s the best-equipped kitchen they’ve ever rented. Even professional caterers have commented on how complete and intuitive it is. You’ll find a commercial Jura coffee and cappuccino machine (Lavazza beans provided; we are a bit obsessed with coffee), an induction cooktop, convection oven, wine fridge, ice maker, Le Creuset cookware, an air fryer, a waffle maker, lobster pots, baking pans, and more.

Whether you are making slow breakfasts, baking with kids, or setting a table for twelve, we wanted the kitchen to feel like part of the experience, not just a place to cook.

You can gather outside at the rustic table for twelve on the covered balcony or share meals at the large indoor dining table overlooking the lake.

We keep the cupboards stocked with table linens, candles, china, handmade platters, and oil lamps to help every meal feel relaxed and special.

Just outside is an extra-large BBQ and a gas pizza oven that we brought back from Denmark. Both are perfect for relaxed family barbecues and make-your-own pizza nights.

These simple traditions often become the moments families remember most. Honestly, they are a big part of why we bought the cottage in the first place.

The living spaces are bright, welcoming, and designed for comfort. There is an upstairs living room with an extra-deep, goose-down-filled sofa. A lake-facing family room downstairs for games and movies. And a cozy media nook tucked among classic arcade games.

Different groups can spread out and do their own thing. Some can watch a movie, others read or play a game. There are Smart TVs with streaming and satellite, a big DVD library, puzzles, cookbooks, and strong Wi-Fi throughout. Even a printer and scanner if someone needs to check in with work.

Our games room is truly one of a kind and a guest favourite. It includes collector-level pinball machines, including Jurassic Park Premium and Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Edition, as well as shuffleboard, a tournament dart machine, foosball, air hockey, a pool table, and ping pong. There is also a retro gaming setup connected to the TV, featuring authentic arcade controls and over 3,000 classic games, including favourites like Pac-Man and Galaga. You will also find Virtua Cop 2, an all-time classic light gun game that is rarely found in working condition in private collections.

No other property in the County offers a games room experience like this. It is often the highlight of a multigenerational stay.

One of our family’s favourite features is the Giant Family Memory Wall beside the games room. Guests sketch the day’s adventures, keep score during tournaments, or play full-wall games of Pictionary.

On rainy afternoons or after the sun goes down, this is where our family has shared some of our biggest laughs and made memories that stuck. From what guests have told us, it often becomes the same for them too.

The cottage has five bedrooms:

Primary upstairs bedroom (1) with a king-sized bed, private balcony facing the water, and an ensuite bathroom. Upstairs bedroom (2) with two double beds. Upstairs bedroom (3) with a queen bed and water views. Lower-level bedrooms (4) and (5), each with a queen bed, shared living area, and bathroom. (Occupancy limits and STA regulations apply.)

The fun continues outside. There are bikes for island rides, croquet and horseshoes on the lawn, a trampoline and tire swing for kids, and a historic County canning bucket firepit down by the water. It's perfect for sunset bonfires, sharing stories, and roasting marshmallows.

Hidden among the trees is the Tree Fort, a two-room, two-level hideout with Wi-Fi, perfect for kids’ adventures, including breakfasts on the balcony.

We welcome non-shedding dogs with prior approval.

No smoking is allowed inside the house.

The cottage has central air, full laundry supplies, firewood, candles, and even bug spray ready for your stay.

Check-in time is 4:00 pm. Check-out is at 10:30 am.

Unlike a commercial rental, this is our family’s gathering place. A place to slow down, enjoy time together, and reconnect with what matters most.

From the cookbooks on the shelves to the art on the walls, everything here tells part of our family's story. We added these details slowly over the years, not to impress but to make it feel like home.

More than anything, after their stay, guests often text my wife and me to say it felt good to stay here.

If this sounds like the kind of place your family or friends would love, I’d be happy to chat.

Thanks,
Greg

(Just a heads-up: VRBO does not calculate the County’s required 4% Municipal Accommodation Tax.)