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Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat

Photo gallery for Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat

A sunlit room with a large window overlooking a body of water, furnished with a sofa, chairs, and a table.
Property video
A room with large windows overlooking a calm lake, a wooden deck outside, and a table with chairs inside.
A cozy room with a wooden floor, a sofa, a coffee table, and a patterned rug.
A lakeside deck with a table and chairs, a small boat, and a clear view of the water and distant shoreline.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Torch Lake
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View in a map
Alden, MI
  • Place, Torch Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Torch Lake Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Boyne Mountain
    ‪42 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

East Bedroom

1 Single Bunk Bed

Living Room

1 Double Futon

Master bedroom - south west corner

1 Queen Bed

Northeast Bedroom

2 Single Beds

Northwest Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

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

Bathroom 2

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

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat

This is a true Northern Michigan family cottage — built in the early 1900s and cared for by our family for generations. We offer it to a limited number of guests each season who are looking for a peaceful stay on the lake: morning coffee on the porch, long swims, shared meals, and time to settle into the rhythm of the water.

While the cottage retains its historic character, the bathrooms, kitchen, and major systems have been updated over time to ensure comfort for today’s families (one bathroom was redone in 2026). Additional improvements (including refinished wood floors and new pine walls and ceilings in several bedrooms renovated in 2025) — add comfort while preserving the cottage’s original character.

The heart of the cottage is the screened-in porch, open to the lake on three sides. It’s everyone’s favorite place to read, nap, watch Torch's famous “Caribbean blue” bands shift throughout the day, or sip an evening glass of wine as the sunset pours warm light across the water.

Inside, the large, light-filled living room with its stone fireplace is a comfortable gathering place for cooler evenings or rainy days. Bedrooms are cozy and simple, with classic cottage furnishings and antiques.

Outdoors, you’ll find a dock, firepit by the water, lakeside sun deck, and a second patio with grill near the kitchen. Sandy shallows extend out from the shoreline, and a mooring buoy is available for your boat (jet skis are not permitted, out of respect for neighbors and the quiet nature of the area).

The cottage sits among mature trees in a peaceful stretch of privately owned homes, yet the town of Alden — with restaurants, shops, playgrounds, and tennis courts — is just a 15-minute walk away.

This cottage is best suited for
- Families and multi-generation groups
- Guests who appreciate the charm of an older cottage
- Visitors looking for a quiet, residential setting
- Those planning to settle in and enjoy the lake for a full week in summer or a shorter stay in the quieter seasons.

It may not be the right fit if you’re looking for
- A party atmosphere
- A newly built or luxury property
- A high-turnover vacation setting

Because this is a family heirloom, we ask guests to treat the property, the lake, and our neighbors with care.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
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:
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Clean the grill thoroughly if you used it
Turn off any fans, heaters, or thermostats you used
Please notify us when you leave
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
No firearms
No jet skis allowed on the property (out of respect for our neighbors and the peaceful area)
Outside quiet hours: 11 PM – 8 AM

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2452978vb
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 are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Alden

Located in Alden, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Twisted Fish Gallery and Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Elk Rapids District Library and Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Kayaking and waterskiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and hiking nearby.
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Map
Alden, MI

What's nearby

  • Torch Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Torch Lake Park - 4 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Turtle Creek Casino - 23 min drive - 32.1 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 31 min drive - 43.6 km
  • Boyne Mountain - 42 min drive - 69.7 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shanty Creek Resorts - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪The Dockside - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Johnny's Torch Riviera - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Coffee Bar - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Oasis Tavern - ‬20 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat?

As of 25 Aug, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat on 16 May, 2027 start from S$2,972, 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 Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Torch Lake Cottage • Screened-Porch • Walk to Alden • Historic Family Retreat located?

Situated in Alden, this golf cottage is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Torch Lake and 1.9 mi (3 km) from Torch Lake Park. Thayer lake and Grass River Natural Area are also within 6 miles (10 km).

About the host

Hosted by Nan Reed Twiss

Host profile image
My great grandparents, the Gardners, bought this property back in the eighteen hundreds, and it's been the beloved summer home to generations of my family. Although my grandmother's brother sold this cottage to the Comfort family in 1925, we are delighted to bring the cottage back into the family. We still own my grandmother's cottage next door, and even though I've lived on both coasts of the US, in Europe and in Asia, I've never missed a summer on Torch. It is without a doubt my happy place.

Although I can no longer spend every summer on the lake as I did as a child, our family of five treasures the three weeks we save for ourselves. Scared though I was to share the cottage with strangers, so far, renters have treated the place beautifully.

Why they chose this property

I was lucky enough to inherit the gem next door and couldn't resist bringing the Comfort Cottage back into the family. Torch Lake is an extraordinarily beautiful lake, more beautiful than any I've ever seen. The colors are like the Caribbean, and the water is so clear you can see the bottom all the way out to the drop-off. The sandy bottom makes it especially beautiful. The area is so peaceful if it's peace you're looking for... and yet, if you want activity, you don't have to go far at all for inland entertainment. There are lots of artist's towns nearby, nice shops, some great restaurants, golfing, hiking...and the town of Alden is a brief walk away.

What makes this property unique

The cottage is right on the water, so we sleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore. We watch the sunsets from our porch or patio that look out over the water. The swimming is great for children since it stays shallow for a long way. We love to swim, sail, walk or bike into town. There's so much to do in the area, but honestly, we're so happy at the cottage and on the lake, we generally just stay there.
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