Top 1% of guest reviews in this areaTop 1% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 11
Popular amenities
Patio
Barbecue grill
Air-conditioning
Refrigerator
Washing machine
Internet
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 11)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Queen Beds
Bedroom 3
1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed
Living Room 1
1 Queen Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer
Bathroom 2
Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
About this property
Charming Lake Cottage
Grab your swimsuits and head to the lake! This lovely lakefront cottage has everything you need for a great weekend getaway or family vacation. Located just 45 minutes from South Bend, IN and 20 minutes from Three Rivers, MI, Donnell Lake is a beautiful 246 acre all-sport lake with depths up to 65 feet.
With three bedrooms and sleeping accommodations for eleven, there is plenty space for the whole family. All three bedrooms are located on the main floor. Bedroom one has a queen bed and two comfy chairs for sipping that morning cup of coffee and a view of the lake. Bedroom two has two queen beds and bedroom three is a bunked double bed on the bottom and twin on top. The living room has a fold out queen, sofa sleeper. The lower level offers an open area with a family room and the kitchen. Just outside the kitchen is a large, vaulted ceiling porch. This is a great gathering place to sit and relax or enjoy dinner around the table. With three walls of windows and doors, and two large ceiling fans, the porch provides a nice summer breeze, perfect for the afternoon nap. It comes equipped with a separate heating/cooling unit for those chilly mornings or hot summer afternoons. Step outside the porch to a massive, composite deck with plenty of seating and lounge chairs. The deck provides a great view of the lake, and is perfect for sunbathing or reading a novel. The big yard has plenty of space for volleyball or a friendly game of soccer. Kayak out to the island and enjoy the sandbar or make your way through the channel to (no wake) Lewis Lake. After a long day of swimming, cozy up to the propane fire table on the deck or build a fire in the fire pit. Either are the perfect end to a full day of fun on the water or to take the chill off of those cooler evenings. Finally, enjoy a glass of wine as you sit at the end of the pier and take in the stunning sunsets. For those who enjoy winter sports, we are located just 13 minutes from Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area and less than an hour from Timber Ridge Ski Area.
The cottage comes equipped with four single person kayaks, two paddle boards, gas grill, yard games, fire pit, firewood, beach towels, life jackets, and various water floats and toys. A fully equipped kitchen, is located just inside the porch making it easy to entertain. Coffee, cooking/baking pans and a variety of basic spices, as well as complimentary bath and laundry soaps are also provided.
Enjoy the laid back feeling of being on lake time! * Shallow waterfront/NO DIVING * Private Pier & Permanent Water Raft * Wifi * No garage access * Parking space for 4 vehicles * Self check-in keypad * No smoking or vaping inside the house or porch * No fireworks * No pets * Smart TV (lower level) * Firestick TV (main level) * No access to closet in bedroom #3 * Security cameras monitor outside deck/yard and street side entrance * Golf Course just 10 minutes away * Grocery store within 12 minutes * Pontoon available for additional cost (contact host for more details)
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Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
Prior notice of large gathering is required
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 3857749vb
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Prior notice of large gathering is required
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 and a deadlock
About the area
Vandalia
Located in Vandalia, this cottage is on a lake. Swiss Valley Ski Area and Park Shore Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Riley-Shurte Woods Nature Sanctuary and Elkhart Bog Nature Preserve.
Four Winds Casino South Bend - 46 min drive - 76.8 km
Getting around
Dowagiac Station - 24 min drive
South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 54 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 10 min drive
Porky's - 9 min drive
Subway - 9 min drive
Sherry Lee's Bar and Grill - 3 min drive
George's Cafe - 9 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Charming Lake Cottage pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Charming Lake Cottage?
As of 1 Jun, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Charming Lake Cottage on 14 Sept, 2026 start from S$493, 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 Charming Lake Cottage?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Charming Lake Cottage?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Charming Lake Cottage?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Charming Lake Cottage located?
Situated on a lake, this cottage is steps from Donnell Lake and within 6 mi (10 km) of Paradise Lake and Diamond Lake. Curtis Lake and Swiss Valley Ski Area are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We loved our weekend here! It was extremely clean and comfortable. We had access to everything we could have possibly needed during our stay. The best spot for a weekend getaway!
The place was beautiful and had everything we needed. The grand kids had a blast swimming and fishing. Couldn’t ask for a better place to stay.
David W.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul, 2025
Thanks David.
We are so thrilled that you were able to enjoy the home and lake with your grandkids. That is exactly what we hope for with this property.
Dave & Sara
Very nice place with lots of seating inside and out. Kitchen well stocked. Perfect place for sipping coffee on the deck with nice views of the lake. Clean and well organized. Will definitely stay again.
This was an amazing property with something for everyone to do! Dave was a great host and ensured that we had everything we needed! I will definitely come back!
Kimberly C.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Aug, 2025
Kimberly,
We’re so glad you enjoyed your time at the lake cottage! We look forward to having you back!
Dave & Sara
Very welcoming and kind and very helpful throughout the entire stay! They were more than flexible with the ability to use all the amenities that the house has! Great space for making memories!!
This is our second trip here because we have a lot of personal history on the lake and family nearby. The hosts are very attentive to detail and cleanliness.Such a relaxing porch area to enjoy the lake!!!
Marcia H.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Jul, 2025
It was great to have you back, Marcia. Look forward to hosting you again next summer.
Dave & Sara
What an amazing getaway. Every convenience plus some. The hosts of the home answered all the questions and we attentive to make our stay RELAXING. Thank you!
Excellent location and lake with plenty of lake related equipment - we enjoyed the outdoor area immensely!! Everything was very organized and super clean. Thank you for a wonderful weekend!!
Property was as described. Host was responsive. Boys had fun with the kayaks and enjoyed hanging out in the large family room with reclining couch for movies. Great place.
LLL
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Aug, 2024
We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay & were able to enjoy the lake. Looking forward to having you back again sometime.
Sara
This lake cottage was everything we expected and more. Even more beautiful in pictures. The space was perfect for our group who were in town for a wedding. The lake was beautiful with plenty of room for activities. Would recommend and might stay there again!
Alysa L.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Jul, 2024
Thanks Alysa. We are so glad you enjoyed your time at our cottage. We’d love to host you again when you have more time to enjoy the lake.
Everything about our trip was perfect. The house is even better in person. Sara and Dave were helpful and timely to repond to our questions. We were traveling with threee 23-year-olds, and we all had a great time on the lake kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding and boating. The guys even ventured off to mountain bike, play pickleball and frisbee golf (all close by) We will return next year!!
My family, my mom amd my sister along with her family had a mini-reunion at this lakehouse. Everybody had fun at the lake, using their pontoon, kayaks, making smores and the home was just enough for all 11 of us even the weather was perfect!
Carmela L.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jun, 2024
We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay, Carmela and were able to enjoy the lake!
This was a great home to stay with a group. The house has everything you need, shampoo, beach towels, a well stocked kitchen, yard games, and many toys for the lake! The yard is perfect for yard games and the 4-seasons room was great for lounging and eating. Everything was clean. Would recommend this home!
Stayed 8/22–8/25 for my daughter’s surprise 30th birthday weekend and wow… it did not disappoint. This place has literally everything — kayaks, paddle boards, cookware, games — basically, if you can dream it, it’s probably already waiting there. We showed up with snacks and birthday candles, and the cottage handled the rest. Clean, cozy, and ridiculously well-stocked. Honestly, I don’t know how they thought of everything, but they did. Will 100% be renting this gem again!
We had an amazing time celebrating our bride-to-be at this stunning lakeside home! The house was perfect for our gathering. It’s in a great location, spotless, and had everything we needed for a great stay, with plenty of room for all the girls to relax, laugh, and make memories together. The pontoon and screened-in porch were definite highlights! We spent our days out on the lake, basking in the sun, and the rest of our time enjoying the beautiful, relaxing porch area. The hosts went above and beyond to make our stay easy and welcoming. We’re so grateful for the amazing experience and can’t thank them enough for helping us give our bride the weekend she deserved. We definitely recommend this place to anyone planning time away, whatever the occasion.
This property was truly as described. The host has thought of everything, from fun water toys like kayaks provided to the little things like neutrogena make up remover towelettes in the bathroom. We had a short but fantastic stay and we look forward to booking here again. Our communication with the host was wonderful. When we reached out with questions, we always received very prompt responses. This lake house is highly recommended.
Corey H.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept, 2024
Thanks for the kind comments. We look forward to hosting you again!
Dave & Sara
What a secret gem! The space is awesomely laid out. The kitchen and couch space looks out towards the lake and is adjacent to our favorite area of the house: the large covered patio where the adults where able to hang after the kids went to bed. Given the bedrooms were upstairs and the patio was well sealed with sliding doors, it made for the PERFECT hang out spot. Kitchen was well stocked and even had fun things for kids: shaved ice maker. Lots of fantastic games and lake equipment in the shed. We loved the kayaks and the option to rent their pontoon was a lovely option. I can properly go on with more but I won’t and just say, book it because I know I will book again.
Jancy L.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
About the host
Hosted by Dave Baylis
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests