NEW 2017 cottage on private, secluded 10 wooded acres 2 mi. from TORCH LAKE

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Entire home

After boating on Torch Lake or a day trip to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes Relax here

Open floor plan so everyone is part of the conversation. All new and fresh.

Our kitchen is very well equipped. Just bring food and drinks.

Comfortable living room seats 6+. 55" flat screen & Roku & blue ray plyr

Our "out door room" is a favorite of our guests. Enjoy dinner out here fireside

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 41351 sq ft

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Washer
Fireplace
Barbecue grill
Kitchen

Explore the area

Rapid City, MI

Torch River
‪7 min drive‬
Torch Lake Park
‪7 min drive‬
Torch Lake
‪8 min drive‬
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

This new property will exceed your expectations! New March, 2024 Fiber High Speed internet!! Only 2 miles from Torch Lake, 10 min to Elk Rapids, 15 min. to Bellaire, 25 min. to Traverse City, Turtle Creek Casino only 10 min. away & Lake Skegemog trail is 200 ft. from the driveway! Best fishing in all of Michigan! This new, 1350 sq ft. vacation home has everything you, your friends or family need to make unforgettable memories all year round. The two bedrooms each have their own ensuite full baths. One bath has a tub / shower and the other has a huge tile shower with his and hers vanities & sinks. Huge open kitchen/ dining/ family room. This is a vacation home with a location that can NOT be beat. Come and stay for Wine tasting, Beer sampling, fall color touring, kayaking, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snow shoeing, hiking, fishing, boating, fine dinning and shopping all within a very short drive of our vacation home we call "Which Way Ranch". Enjoy a roaring fire in ANY weather in our "outdoor room" complete with fireplace or have a campfire (conditions permitting) in the fire pit in the yard. Tastefully decorated with comfortable all new furniture, bedding and linens. All new appliances, including a gas grill, dishwasher, full size washer / dryer, gas stove and refrigerator with beverage drawer and automatic ice maker. We have horseshoe's, corn hole (bean bag game) and other games inside the house for "game night" and two hammocks for hanging on the rings in the huge outdoor room or on the trees of your choice. There is seating for 4 in the outdoor room and seating for 4 at the Island and 4 at the table. There is seating for 4 around the great room couch, 2 chairs and even 4 stools that pull out from under the round coffee table in front of the couch. The outdoor room can be used in almost any kind of weather and even if it's pouring rain or snowing you can still have a great time out there! We can't wait to share Which Way Ranch with you and we are sure you will enjoy your vacation and come back to stay with us over and over because you'll run out of time and never run out of awesome stuff to do. Non smoking only and leave fur babies with grandma please.

Property manager

Janene Doherty and Tom Doherty

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 27

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Please! Kids food/drinks in kitchen dining rm only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No smoking of cigars or cigarettes on the property

This home is on a septic system and absolutely no feminine hygiene products or wipes or Kleenex should be flushed or food scraps down kitchen sink.

Absolutely no smoking or VAPING anywhere on property. Evidence of smoking or VAPING could result in loss of deposit. NO fireworks or sparklers.

Quiet time after 10:00 p.m. We are very good friends with all our neighbors and want to keep it that way. Respect of our neighbors is expected.

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 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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Rapid City

Located in Rapid City, this holiday home is in a rural area and near theme parks. Music House Museum and Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Twin Birch Golf Course and Elk Rapids Golf Club. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Rapid City, MI

What's nearby

Lake Skegemog - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Torch River - 7 min drive - 1.8 km
Torch Lake Park - 7 min drive - 6.3 km
Torch Lake - 8 min drive - 7.2 km
Elk Lake - 21 min drive - 16.6 km

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

‪Torch Lake Beer Co - ‬10 min drive
‪Blue Water Bistro & Pizzeria - ‬7 min drive
‪Crossroads Bar - ‬5 min drive
‪Cone Corral & Pizzeria - Rapid City - ‬3 min drive
‪Vista Ridge Vineyards - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is NEW 2017 cottage on private, secluded 10 wooded acres 2 mi. from TORCH LAKE pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at NEW 2017 cottage on private, secluded 10 wooded acres 2 mi. from TORCH LAKE?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at NEW 2017 cottage on private, secluded 10 wooded acres 2 mi. from TORCH LAKE?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is NEW 2017 cottage on private, secluded 10 wooded acres 2 mi. from TORCH LAKE located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Lake Skegemog and Torch River. Torch Lake and Torch Lake Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Exceptional

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

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Matthew M.

29 May, 2019

Wonderful Stay!

Great property, clean, updated, great owners and hosts. Would highly recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

6/10 Okay

Holly M.

2 Sept, 2024

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

Cottage

A remote area but close to town. Cottage was clean. We enjoyed the patio in the evening.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peggy B.

17 Aug, 2024

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

Rapid City

This place was immaculate and well equipped. Right in the middle of everything fun! Owners were very responsive and maccommodating

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard H.

12 Sept, 2024

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

A True Gem

We absolutely loved staying at Which-Way cabin. Everything from the booking ,to the stay, communicating with the owner, to check out was just perfect. The cabin was updated and beautifully, decorated. The setting was perfect and it was ideally located for so many activities. You want for nothing more than more than more time to spend there.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane M.

27 Jul, 2022

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

It's like a 5 star Hotel!

This property is so beautiful and well maintained. It has everything you need to make your stay the most relaxing time you've ever had.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alicia M.

8 Jul, 2022

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

Nice home

The house was very clean and had everything we could think of needing. The hosts were very responsive and kind. We enjoyed our stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeana C.

13 Oct, 2019

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

Very peaceful stay!

The cottage was very clean and well-kept. We were definitely very comfortable and had everything we needed. The owners are very helpful with area info..very good communication!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Pam H.

9 Aug, 2024

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

Perfect Cottage in the Woods

Not only did the cottage have everything we needed it also was convenient to several places we wanted to see (Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, Glen Arbor, lakes everywhere). After our day trips, we enjoyed coming back to the cottage and relaxing by a fire. Thank you for letting us enjoy your beautiful cottage! Pam and Bud

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane M.

3 Aug, 2021

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

Relaxing gem in the woods

Loved our stay in this beautiful home. Had a nice stress relieving week. Lots of places to visit if we wanted to or just sit by the fire.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Deb K.

7 Aug, 2024

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

AMAZING 2.0

This was our second stay in a few years and I was surprised that the home was still so beautiful!!! The kitchen full of beautiful pans, kitchen tools and rooms were warm and inviting. Owners are quick to respond and so gracious. We'll return hopefully sooner, this is a special place. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jason M.

19 Feb, 2019

Relaxing stay in Traverse City area

Great location. Well appointed and comfortable. Owner is responsive and helpful with suggestions. Any concerns were handled promptly and courteously. Highly recommend if visiting TC!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Diane M.

27 Jul, 2023

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

Beautiful home

We have returned to this beautiful home 3 times now. Each stay has been relaxing with nights spent by the fire and day trips to Mackinac, Traverse City, the casino and more. Loved it.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dale S., Rockford, MI

15 Aug, 2019

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

Superb Accommodation

This cottage in the Torch Lake area was over the top....one of the nicest rentals I’ve stayed at in a long time. Everything you can imagine they thought of. Clean, quiet, close to docks, restaurants, groceries, etc. We’ll definitely be back again, thanks for the warm hospitality.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tracy R.

25 Jul, 2024

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

Fantastic Place and owner!!

Absolutely loved this place and will definitely stay here again. The owner truly cares about her cabin and provided all the little touches that meant so much. It's the little things that you forget to bring, and they were already there. She was constantly in touch, and we really appreciated that. The location is ideal to do the many things around the area. We drove an hour to spend the day in Petosky, 30 min to Charlevoix, 20 minutes to Traverse City, and a hop skip and jump to Torch lake. Have zero complaints!!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Beth W.

7 Jan, 2019

super cute and very clean in a great location!

Super cute cottage in a quiet and perfect location. Everything was nice and clean. It was the perfect size for our family of 5. We had a great time celebrating the New Year and were even lucky enough to get about 8 inches of snow during our stay. Very close to Shanty Creek Ski resort where we enjoyed a day of skiing. The owners were amazing, checking in with us to make sure everything was perfect for our stay. There were So many nice and thoughtful little extras to make sure our time in their cottage was everything we expected and more!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Cindy O., Xenia, OH

15 Jul, 2019

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

Get Away From It All

We were here to experience Torch Lake and found the lake, the area and Which Way Ranch so beautiful. The WWR is very welcoming, comfortable and clean. We came up from Ohio and if we get a chance we would love to return. If you are boating this is a nice level property to park the boat. I was afraid mosquitoes would be bad, but Janeane even had a great homemade repellent that really worked!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

karin r.

26 Jul, 2022

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

What word is better than AWESOME?

The home is extremely clean & oh-so inviting. For us, it's a perfect location!! Whether to launch the boat (boat ramp only 5 mins away) & go to the sandbar or cruise the lakes or if we wanna go an orchard to pick cherries, have breakfast @ Moose & Stella's or even take a drive to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes or up the coast to Charlevoix & Petoskey.... what I'm trying to say is Which Way Ranch is perfect 🥰

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Thomas and Cherie C.

19 Aug, 2019

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

Wonderful Experience

We had a great time at Which Way Ranch. The house has more than you could imagine....seriously just bring food and clothes and your set. The owners were the most responsive than anyone we've ever rented from. The property is quiet and tranquil...do yourself a favor and out up the hammock in the front closet. It was a great stay, we spent our days on the beautiful Torch Lake. Thank you for lending us your place!!!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Karen C.

24 Oct, 2018

Serenity and Relaxation

We all enjoyed being in such a peaceful location. The cottage was very spacious and comfortable and beautifully decorated. There was plenty of space to spread out. It was great to have walking trails just a short distance from us. However, my husband was a little disappointed that he didn't run in to bigfoot in the woods! Janene was very quick to respond to any questions we had about the cottage or surrounding area. Would definitely stay at WhichWay Ranch again.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M., South Lyon

25 Jun, 2019

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

Outstanding

We decided to go for up north for a long weekend of boating and found Janene's cabin to be perfect. It was just as described. She was very helpful with check-in and check-out. Refunded deposit very quickly. It had everything we needed for a perfect weekend. We are planning on returning next year. Thanks for a great weekend! Vicki and Elizabeth Simon

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Noah

3 Oct, 2018

Relaxation in a nice location

Comfortable and updated cottage. Very secluded and quiet private spot. Good location, short drives to Traverse, Bellaire, and Elk Rapids. Petoskey is a bit further but we managed to squeeze in some time there as well as a quick drive through the tunnel of trees. Several nice golf courses and lakes in the area. Communication with the host was easy, responses were quick. Janene gave several good recommendations for restaurants and even did some research for us on mountain bike trails in the area. We definitely recommend and will stay here again if we plan to travel in the area.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Danielle P.

6 Aug, 2019

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

Wonderful!

Which Way Ranch was amazing! From the moment we walked in we felt a home away from home. The upkeep and cleanliness was incredible. It was so comfortable and quiet .... even the beds were really comfy. Janene was awesome as well. She gave us places to check out while on our trip, and tips along the way. She knew we had kids so she was nice enough to let us borrow some items so we didn’t have to take them with us, which came in very handy. She was very responsive to any questions we had as well. She was definitely a 5 star hostess! Thank you Janene and Tom, if I could give you more than five stars, I would!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kristy M.

26 Sept, 2018

Wonderful!!

We really enjoyed our stay at Which-Way Ranch! Everything was new and the accommodations were excellent. The circle driveway was really nice for hauling/parking a boat. My only recommendation would be adding more gravel or paving the circle drive near the house; it was very dusty. The cottage was close to 3 different lakes and less than a half hour from Traverse City. Janene and Tom were wonderful hosts. They thought of everything. They were very prompt to respond to any questions or info needed for the area. They were by far the best hosts we've ever rented from. There are so many nice things to say that I could go on and on. We would definitely recommend and stay at the Which-Way Ranch again!! Gary and Kristy Mitchell

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Bradley C.

22 Aug, 2022

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

Torch Lake

Every thing was great close to DNR ramp plenty of room for boat parking. Host we re great with communication

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nikki K.

30 Jun, 2022

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

Attention to detail was beyond my expectations

This rental in the woods is just as it is advertised. The communication was easy and she was always very responsive. We stayed here because my daughter is showing at the horse show just 15 minutes away and because of the close proximity to Torch Lake. We brought our boat and docked it at Luhr's Landing for the weekend which is a 10 minute drive from the cottage. The house is very clean, well stocked and is just what we needed. Our family will be back again!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Janene Doherty and Tom Doherty

We completed the construction of Which Way Ranch in the fall of 2017. It is quiet, secluded, tastefully decorated and comfortable. The ten acres of woods that it sits on is full of wild life! We are always surprised by deer, owls, porcupine and more. Tom and I live in Midland. Janene grew up in Rochester HIlls and Tom grew up in Fenton, MI. We have lived in Michigan our whole lives. We are big Tigers Fans, even when they are not playing so hot. We still love them. We are constantly amazed with all the great places to visit that are so close by to Which Way Ranch. We call it that because the house sit's at about a 45 degree angle to the road and when you get back in the woods in can really play with your sense of direction. You'll see when you get there. We have two grown boys and three grandchildren. We also run a Home Inspection business and offer all types of inspection and surveillance services. We started this business just after Tom retired from Fed Ex. Janene is a building renovation and design professional and was in charge of the project of designing, building and finishing Which Way Ranch. Janene also has a background in property management, construction and retired from her cleaning service which she ran for 24 years.

Why they chose this property

You will see that this IS NOT just a rental to us. We use our cottage too and truly love it and want to share it with others. We were amazed with the location and beauty of this ten acres. We love the Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Torch Lake, Bellaire and Alden area's and we can get to all of them so quickly from Which Way Ranch. I guess you could say Which Way Ranch is also named because it's sometimes hard to choose "which way" to go first! This is the most beautiful area in Michigan in all seasons. So much to do, see, taste and experience. Life is so good up here. If you don't believe me just read our reviews. Everyone that's stayed here has loved it. I'm so proud and happy about that.

What makes this property unique

When designing Which Way Ranch I wanted comfortable, relaxing with wide open living space with comfortable furnishings and neutral color palate through out. The bathrooms are fantastic! The master shower is huge! The Kitchen is big enough for several people to join in meal prep. The outdoor room is my favorite because no matter the weather this space is so functional. There is another patio on the north side of the building as well that I've had coffee on early in the morning catching the local wild life walking through. This is a very relaxing place to stay. If you are looking to let go of stress this is the spot for you my friend. We have many maple trees on the property and I witnessed one of the best fall colors of my life on my own property last year. It was truly magical. I have also witnessed some of the most beautiful snow fall's I've ever seen in my life while there too. We've had 18"-24" snow fall overnight and with no wind it just piles up on every tree branch and twig. It can't be described you just have to experience it. We snow shoe and ski so we love being out and playing in the snow. You should try it. Winter will be much shorter if you just embrace it a little and come play in the snow while staying at Which Way Ranch.