Lakefront Retreat in Port Clinton-Private Beach & Unique Caboose Stay!

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Entire home

Standing at side of the house and shooting towards the beach

Our outdoor shower has Hot/Cold running water

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 122600 sq ft

Popular amenities

Beach view
Dryer
Fireplace
Washer
Kitchen
Parking available

Explore the area

Port Clinton, OH

Fisherman's Wharf
‪6 min drive‬
Port Clinton Public Swimming Beach
‪6 min drive‬
Jet Express
‪7 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Caboose

4 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Loft

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Shower only

Caboose

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Single-family home. Escape to a one-of-a-kind lakefront getaway in Port Clinton, Ohio. Nestled on a beautiful one-acre lot with breathtaking views of Lake Erie, our spacious rental offers the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're unwinding on your private sandy beach, enjoying a fire under the stars, or staying in our historic caboose, this property has something special for everyone.

The Main House

Our cozy 3 bedroom, two-bath home is designed for comfort and relaxation. You will love the loft that has a day-bed futon. With new central air conditioning, you stay comfortable no matter the season. The open-concept living space is perfect for gathering with family and friends, while large windows offer stunning views of the Lake. The kitchen has everything you need to prepare meals, including small appliances and cookware. The new Weber gas grill is oversized and perfect for a large family. Enjoy your meals in the dining area or take them outside on the patio or the screened room for a full dining experience.
Each bedroom is thoughtfully furnished with new oversized cozy beds, soft linens, and plenty of storage space. The two full bathrooms provide convenience, but for a truly special experience, step out outside and enjoy our enclosed outdoor shower. It's also perfect for rinsing off after a day at the beach.

The Caboose -A unique & Cozy stay

One of the most exciting features of our property is our real train caboose, which has been converted into a large oversized private bedroom with a half bath. This unique space provides a fun and memorable lodging experience for train enthusiasts, kids, or anyone looking for a stay outside the ordinary. The caboose offers a cozy retreat while still just steps away from the main house. It has a queen-sized bed and four berths. Its also air conditioned. Some people love sleeping with the doors open to the one-acre lot

We are close to all the area's points of interest, including Cedar Point and the ferries to the Lake Erie Islands. Put in Bay, the winery, Middle, and North Bass. Many of our guests spend the day on Kelley's Island. Many great golf courses are just a short drive away. Fishing charters are also close by.

Property manager

Michael Rath

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 35

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Our house is perfect for children

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Port Clinton

Located in Port Clinton, this holiday home is near theme parks and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Erie and Catawba Island State Park, while African Safari Wildlife Park and Cedar Point are popular area attractions. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Margaretta Stadium or Sandusky Speedway. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Port Clinton, OH

What's nearby

Fisherman's Wharf - 6 min drive - 4.8 km
Port Clinton Public Swimming Beach - 6 min drive - 4.8 km
Jet Express - 7 min drive - 5.5 km
The Watering Hole Safari and Waterpark - 12 min drive - 10.9 km
Catawba Island State Park - 20 min drive - 16.3 km

Getting around

Sandusky Station - 24 min drive
Toledo, OH (TOL-Toledo Express) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

‪Jolly Roger's Seafood House - ‬8 min drive
‪Bistro 163 - ‬8 min drive
‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
‪Wendy's - ‬7 min drive
‪Diana Deli Restaurant - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakefront Retreat in Port Clinton-Private Beach & Unique Caboose Stay! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Lakefront Retreat in Port Clinton-Private Beach & Unique Caboose Stay!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lakefront Retreat in Port Clinton-Private Beach & Unique Caboose Stay!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Lakefront Retreat in Port Clinton-Private Beach & Unique Caboose Stay! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Port Clinton holiday home is just steps away from Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. Port Clinton Public Swimming Beach and Fisherman's Wharf are also within 3 miles (5 km).

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

1 Dec, 2024

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

Perfect family vacation spot

We spent our Thanksgiving at this beautiful home. The quiet location on Sandusky Bay was a wonderful backdrop for our Thanksgiving meal. The layout of the house was perfectly cozy and spacious. One of our couples stayed in the train car and they loved the quiet and privacy. All of the beds were comfortable and we used the outside fire ring one night. The house was clean and had all that we needed during our stay. Our host was exceptional at communicating and making sure we were comfortable. We really enjoyed everything about our stay. We would highly recommend staying here anytime of year.

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Julie L.

21 Jul, 2024

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

Family Vaca on the Bay

We’ve been vacationing with our children and grand children for 8 years now, with every vacation being on Lake Erie which is pretty close for all of us. We’d outgrown our previous 2 spots and luckily found this place after another house fell through. We were extremely happy with our stay. This house was perfect for our family. The living area was a perfect size for the 9 of us to gather at night. The outdoor space was awesome, plenty of room. Even though the beach area was a little small, (we’ve come to learn that beaches can change sizes from year to year) we had plenty of room on the lawn and in the water. The children had a blast with our aqua pad and kiyaking on the bay which was something they didn’t have much of a chance to do on the lake. The outdoor gazebo was perfect and so homey. The caboose is such a great added area for sleeping. Our grandchildren absolutely loved it. Although we didn’t really have to use the great garage area because we had perfect weather, it was an awesome extra area for hanging out. And the outdoor shower was something we don’t ever want to be without again. Michael was a great host and always available for any questions that we had. We would definitely go back. The vote was unanimous!!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Bruce E.

14 Jul, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Disappointing

The property was really too small for our party of 6 adults and 5 kids. There was no hot tub/ spa as advertised? The sandy beach was very narrow and dead large catfish began washing up on it! When I told the owner his advice was to bury them. My granddaughters and buried 9 of them on this and adjoining beaches to try and eliminate the smell. The next day there were about 20 of them! We quit and did not use the beach or that side of the property because of the odor. The owner suggested using the outdoor shower. Some of our party did to reduce the congestion inside but found it somewhat dirty with no where to hang their clothes. There is no cable tv and we were not very knowledgeable in the use of streaming services .

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie B.

23 Jun, 2024

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

Incredible!

House and caboose were amazing, so clean and great layout for family. We had an issue with the AC in the caboose but the owner resolved it immediately. You can’t beat the location, wonderful beach our kids loved, lots of room to play on in yard, fire pit and screened in porch. Everyone loved fishing from the dock, we also rented a boat for the week and it was great! Highly recommend, will be back next year!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Staci V.

2 Jul, 2023

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

Quiet get away

Our family loved the property. Plenty of room to be outside or inside. We had 8 adults and 2 children. They children loved sleeping in the train. There was a cleaning issue when we arrived, but the owner says that is taken care of now. It is close to the local islands.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colette C.

8 Aug, 2022

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

Summer By The Bay

Cute house with all the amenities of home. Such a convenient location to all Lake Erie has to offer. Day trips to islands, nice restaurants with a beautiful home to return to in the evening!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

James L.

31 Jul, 2022

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

Family

Had a great time perfect location for boating on the bay and all the parks

Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Mindy F., Westerville, Ohio

29 Jul, 2022

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

Great property with a caboose

Michael’s home is beautiful and the caboose is definitely an added plus! Our family consisted of 2 older adults, (96, 94), 7 other adults, (34-69) and a 3 year old. The caboose is clean and the bunks and the bed in the caboose were very comfortable. The air conditioning worked VERY well, so the caboose was a great place for additional people. In the house the 3 bedrooms were clean, comfortable and had plenty of bedding and blankets. The loft is an extra space for sleeping, although no one in our party slept up there. The house and garage were clean and definitely well equipped, with anything we needed. We loved the extra space in the garage to have room to spread out. The additional refrigerator was a huge plus! The air conditioning in the house also worked VERY well. The green space in front of the house was perfect for the 3 year old to run, play, and blow bubbles without getting away from us. The outdoor shower was definitely a hit, almost everyone in our party preferred it to the indoor showers! We saw lots of bald eagles, both in the morning and the evening and launched our kayaks and rowers from the beach. Michael’s neighbor was very kind and gracious, encouraging us to use his lawn, steps and beach for additional space and access. It made looking for lucky stones even easier! Michael had people come to cut the grass and check the beach, all of whom were very courteous, pleasant and helpful. The location is great - private, but convenient to Port Clinton proper and not far from Sandusky and Cedar Point. The only item we missed was some kind of a binder with information regarding the house and local stores/restaurants. There was a storm one day during our stay and it knocked out the internet. We had to search for the router and although it was not hard to find, we were a little uncomfortable opening closets and cabinets as this is Michael’s home. On the plus side, we found a cabinet containing games, cards, crayons and coloring books! We had a great time as a family and have some wonderful memories that will last forever. Mindy Hemmelgarn

Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

John Z.

8 Aug, 2021

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

This is a great place to be with family

It is the most beautiful place we’ve stayed at since coming up to Lake Erie for our vacation there was no one around so the whole place was all to ourselves absolutely beautiful view of the lake and the birds were fascinating so many different kinds I would highly recommend this place to everybody

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Pete E.

25 Jul, 2021

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

Great location and bay view

Great property! We had a wonderful family vacation, the location was very quiet and still just a few minutes drive to downtown Port Clinton. I enjoyed my morning coffee while watching a bald eagle flying over Sandusky Bay. Highly recommend!!!!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly T., Downers Grove, Illinois

18 Jul, 2021

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

Family Get Away

Wonderful time - except the weather. Better luck next time. Have rented homes for many years throughout the world. Our family of 8 thoroughly enjoyed our time. Would definitely rent here again when in area. Thank you

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth P., Findlay, OH

5 Jun, 2021

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

Cozy- home away from home + a beach!

The home was everything we wanted and more. My husband, our two young children, and I stayed here for a long weekend and had a fabulous time. Michael was a great communicator and was very helpful with whatever we needed. Everything was clean and perfect! Idyllic location and super beautiful! Thanks again so much for everything!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Donna S.

17 Sept, 2020

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful View

This home is in a wonderful location. It’s a very quiet, safe neighborhood right on the water. The view is perfect. There is a large patio for eating and relaxing as well as a screened in area separate from the house. The layout of the home is excellent. Plenty of sleeping room. Three of the bedrooms have water views. The wood burning fireplace makes it so cozy during chilly nights. The kitchen is completely stocked with dishes, utensils, pots and pans, etc. The caboose is adorable. We did not use it but it would be great for a small family! Had a great time. A wonderful place to get away from it all.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christian B.

13 Aug, 2019

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

Traumhafter Urlaub

Wir waren als Familie zu Gast im Haus und hatten einen fantastischen Aufenthalt. Perfekt zum ausspannen und auch zum angeln direkt am Grundstück!!!!Die direkte Uferlage ist fantastisch für alle Wassersportfans. Als Sprungbrett nach Chicago,Detroit, Cleveland, Idianapolis Niagara Falls perfekt geeignet.

Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2019

6/10 Okay

Bruce S.

4 Sept, 2018

Satisfactory Vacation Spot

Owner was cooperative and accommodated our special rental request. Clearly family occupied with lots of useful paraphernalia. Nice location directly on Sandusky Bay but 4+ miles from nearest commercial area. No folder of local information or tourist material. No instructions for unique house features, particularly living room electronics with 6+ remotes and trash/recycle directions. Inoperative kitchen ceiling light reported to owner at start and repair promised but did not happened during our stay. No dishwasher is a miss for such a relatively expensive rental. Only inside dining table is in attached garage furnished as a TV sitting area with a large table with chairs but the table is not big enough to accommodate house maximum occupancy at one time and the garage is not air conditioned. Garage door detracts from ambiance and is also principal entrance. While obviously not under the owner’s control, after dark we suffered two days of heavy mayfly invasion around the outside of the house and through any opening. Mayflies are apparently a Lake Erie region phenomenon in early summer.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kelly J.

28 Jul, 2018

Perfect family getaway!

Plenty of room for the ten of us to hang out together to watch a movie or eat outside together and then spread out across the yard, the gazebo, the screened in garage or the caboose. We had a great week!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Pam S.

16 Jul, 2018

Great Vacation

Mike is very attentive to his guest. He is quick to reply and very helpful! His home worked out great for my family. Initially we had an issue with large dead fish on the beach in the morning, but we attributed this to the extreme heat and lack of movement with the water. This was only an issue for a couple of days and Mike answered our texts to help remedy the situation. The rest of the days, everything was great! The water was beautiful and we were in it all day. Mike's home is very nice and this is the second vacation we have stayed at his place. He has everything you could want in the home, and the screened in garage is an added extra for game night, as well as the second refrigerator. Mike - the gazebo was definitely an added plus!! We spent time in their when it was too hot to be in the sun and really enjoyed it. The caboose is always an added plus, which has also been updated since our last visit. Very comfortable beds, and plenty of living room space. The patio out front is great for the mornings, but gives plenty of shade the rest of the day. Thanks Mike - we appreciated everything!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Lorraine S., Ashburn

11 Aug, 2017

Absolutely wonderful week!

Well the reviews are in from all my family and all the reviews were wonderful. Everyone agreed it was relaxing and fun. Michael Rath, the owner, could not have been nicer. Answered all my texts quickly and was friendly and upbeat. I have so many good things to say about our stay. Place is nice and big and was able to accommodate all of us easily. The railroad car was used by my daughter, her husband and 4 kids. What a treat! The neighbors also had a real live railroad car (caboose) in their yard. House has a large backyard area. The outdoor patio had a big table and umbrella where we spent many a morning drinking coffee and enjoying the beautiful view. There was also a very large outdoor screened in gazebo which could hold a bunch of us and it protected us from the mosquitos at night. It was used for quiet reading during the day and a few nights for family fun talks and one night for music request night - which was a blast. House has 2 fridges - one in the house and one in the garage so there was plenty of storage for food. Also a large pantry in the kitchen for more storage. Garage was great for storing things too. The house is listed as 3 bedroom but it also has a loft area. So with the caboose and loft it was like a 5 bedroom house. Since we were only 30 minutes from Cedar Point Roller Coaster Park the kids (I am including my husband as one of the kids) aged 16-10 (except for my husband) spent a day here and had a blast. They were so excited to go and it did not disappoint. For thrill seekers this is the Roller Coaster Park Par Excellence - one of the best in the world. Some of the older folks played golf at a local course maybe 20 minutes away - called Oak Harbor. Some of us come from a big congested area (Washington DC) and really enjoyed the easy friendliness of the locals at the course! There was a cornhole game in the garage which we placed outside on the huge lawn and had literally hours of fun playing - old and young alike. My grand daughter and I had the longest winning streak with 5 wins in a row!! We have so many great memories of our week here. Everyone was thanking my husband and myself for the great week as they departed for home and we got lots of e-mails from everyone thanking us again. Be aware there is no recycling which is painful if you are used to recycling and each morning the beach had to be cleared of dead fish - wheelbarrow provided. This was the only negative but all chipped in to help each morning.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Karen B., Lebanon, PA

3 Jul, 2017

A wonderful home in a great location with perfect accommodations!

The home was beautiful with the perfect sleeping accommodations for three adult couples with kids. The caboose was a great hit with the grand kids and gave their parents some alone time! The beach was a place where we could launch our kayaks and paddle the lake for miles, but we had to watch the weather for wind conditions. The grand kids loved fishing for the first time off the beach! They even went in swimming! Grilling was great too! The gazebo (screened in porch) was relaxing when we didn't want to deal with the wind by the beach and still had a great view. We were able to have a fire on the beach where we enjoyed roasting marshmallows and smore's. Cedar Point, Lakeside Marblehead Lighthouse, East Harbor Beach (State Park) and Wild Safari were enjoyed by all. Of course the best ice cream, Toft's, could not be passed up. The Rath's are a gracious couple and we are thankful that they were willing to share their home. We would not have made such great memories without their efforts! This vacation will be difficult to top! Never a dull moment with all the activities in the area to enjoy! We even bicycled Port Clinton a few times too.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Tina I.

20 Jun, 2017

Amazing place!

This house is absolutely beautiful. When you step in the door, you get an unbelievable view of the bay. All of the rooms were comfortable and well furnished. Everything in the house, and the yard was clean and well kept. The caboose was adorable. Our grandkids slept there, but it would be wonderful for adults who wanted some peace and quiet also. The property was very private, and we rarely saw or heard any of the neighbors. The fishing was unbelievable. In the week we were there, I think we caught about 60 large fish from the back dock. The property is only about 10 minutes from Kogers and Wal-Mart. We never had any issues, but whenever I e-mailed Michael with a question, he responded promptly. I feel this owner goes all out to assure that his guests have a wonderful stay.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mallory A.

11 Jun, 2017

Great!

This place was great - TONS of sleeping room and a fantastic view of the Bay. Close to town and to the amusement park. Very quiet and secluded, just a great way to spend a vacation.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Linda M.

18 Sept, 2016

Great for extended family

Our family - 6 adults and four children under the age of 6 - really enjoyed our stay. There was plenty of room for all of us to sleep, relax together, and we especially enjoyed having both indoor and outdoor space for eating. The owner was easy to work with and responded promptly to all our questions before our arrival and during our stay, and shared lot of information about the area. The location is private and quiet with only two other houses nearby. Although our six year old grandson really liked the caboose, we - the grandparents - ended us sleeping there which gave us more privacy. It was also easy to get to some of the other activities in the area - our grandkids particularly enjoyed the African Safari Wildlike Park and Monsoon Lagoon water park.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

John C.

9 Sept, 2016

Very good to excellent, overall

My wife , our 3 children and their spouses as well 5 grandchildren had a wonderful week staying at the Bay House. All was very clean and as advertised. Michael was a great host and always available if needed. The only draw back for us would be no dock for the boat therefore in and out daily and not very close. Everything else was absolutely wonderful, thank you!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2016

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

29 Aug, 2016

Location...Location...Location

This beautiful Bay House is perfectly located to accommodate the homebodies and the go-getters. Homebodies have all they need to socialize and regenerate at this wonderful home and it's picturesque setting right on the Sandusky Bay. Enjoy the private beach and amazing sunsets. Adventure seekers - you are centrally located for action, whether it's a trip to the islands or a day at Cedar Point. Mike and his family were friendly and responsive to our needs of which we had none as the house was in perfect order upon our arrival. I highly recommend property to anyone, it is a fantastic value!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H., Warren, Ohio

18 Aug, 2016

Wonderful Lake House- Perfect for a Family Vacation

My family recently stayed at Bay Front House. It was the perfect place for a family vacation with the lovely house, caboose and beach. My entire family enjoyed their time there. There are so many activities for people to do in the area such as Kelley's Island, Put- in- Bay, Marblehead and Cedar Point. For us the location was perfect, since some of our family needed to "come and go" due to work and school. Michael the owner was wonderful to work with too. I have rented many vacation homes and this is one of the best!! I'm looking forward to renting it next year.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2016

About the host

Hosted by Michael Rath

We are a middle-aged married couple with four children (two girls/two boys). Our children are married and we have eight grandchildren.

Why they chose this property

We bought this house house to stay engaged with our children and so we can vacation together. We all live in the greater Cleveland area but as they got older it was harder to get together. This house works out perfectly. We let everyone know when we will be there and everyone comes up when they can.

What makes this property unique

We think you will love every minute. From sunrise over Sandusky Bay until you see the moon reflecting off the water. The views are breathtaking. We think you will also love the beach, as we have one of the few private beaches in the whole area. Ours is just steps away from the patio! Many of our guests really love just sitting quietly and enjoying the beach and the views. The real caboose gives our house something unique and adds great personality while serving as a comfortable spot for up to four people. This is a natural setting for bird watching. Eagles, Ducks Egrets are seen every day.

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