THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN
Your very own Saugatuck secret getaway. Trust me, you'll tell no one of your new discovery, this private, pleasure place. Of course, friends will want to know where you found a renovated, 12-acre farmhouse just under 2 miles from town and a five-minute drive to the beach. BUT damned if you're saying a word. After all they don't need to know THE ZOO offers the best of both worlds... the private, RUSTIC, country setting with star-filled nights or the crowds awaiting you in town by foot, bike or car. Morning coffee on the front lawn and drinks around back at the fire pit. Long country walks? Shopping in town? Or days and sunsets at the beach? You decide. Nothing fancy, just fun. Nothing beats your Daze at The Zoo.
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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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Saugatuck
Located in Saugatuck, this holiday home is in a rural area. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Dutch Village, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Michigan and Oval Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Saugatuck Center For the Arts, or check out an event or a game at DeWitt Tennis Center.
Saugatuck Center For the Arts - 3 min drive - 2.5 km
Getting around
Holland Station - 17 min drive
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) - 48 min drive
Restaurants
Burger King - 5 min drive
Spectators University Sportsbar - 4 min drive
Biggby Coffee - 4 min drive
The Mitten Brewing Company - 3 min drive
The Grill @ Clearbrook - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN?
As of 2 Jun, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN on 7 Sept, 2026 start from S$319, 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 THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN located?
This family-friendly Saugatuck holiday home is located in a rural location, within 1 mi (2 km) of Silver Lake, Saugatuck Center For the Arts and Kalamazoo River. Lake Michigan is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) away.
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The property and owner are amazing! We had a girls weekend here and absolutely adore the house, the owner made everything super easy and was very helpful when we had car trouble during our stay.
We had a great time. The host was very thorough over the phone on how everything works and where items are located. Very friendly!
Abby M.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Kelly
16 Sept, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Wonderfully quirky. Perfect for our family to go to out of town Wedding. Lots of room to get ready. Had lots of thoughful gestures like eggs, bread, coffee gallore and easy to work with
Kelly
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Sydney
25 Jul, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Unique!! Great place to spend with extended family. Well stocked kitchen. Game room is excellent! Fire pit in back also excellent feature. Barb was very attentive and provided ideas for area activities each day. We had an excellent stay. Highly recommended!
Sydney
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Lora
16 Sept, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property was as expected, it was quirky and fun with plenty of outdoor space for dogs and we enjoyed the fire pit. The host was wonderfully communicative and gave many suggestions and walked thru the house functions. It was honestly a quiet get away with my husband and our two dogs. We really enjoyed the area, our first time to Michigan and found it to be pet friendly area. I would definitely recommend to friends. It was just what we needed and nice weather, loved the sunsets on Lake Michigan and the Sand Dunes and Holland was a fun day trip. Honestly everything was close by but no neighbors on top of us so very peaceful time in Nature. Barb is a lovely host! Hopefully we'll be back, with or without our college kids! lol This was our first VRBO rental and we'd do it again.
Great location to Saugatuck. Lots to do nearby. The homeowner was very helpful with great tips of restaurants, dog park, places to visit. She had just about everything you need in a house to enjoy and then some. The house was very quaint and comfortable. Our dog loved the large grass area to run around. The two hammocks were so nice.
Barb provides everything you need for a memorable family vacation. Lots of books and games, TV with ability to stream movies, firepit with lots of seating. She even has beach chairs for you. Such a comfortable place to hang out and relax but also convenient location for a base to explore Saugatuck, Holland, Fennville, etc.
Plenty of heat for cool mornings. Lots of windows for fresh air. Place is as advertised. It's got this wonderful rustic charm. It was exactly as advertised and exactly what we wanted.
This Mess is a Place!!!!!! You will understand after your stay......
We traveled from the Chicago suburbs for a beach getaway with our adult children. The Zoo was precisely as described. TONS to look at and explore within the home. It is very well stocked. This property's most significant selling point is the location - a very short trip to town, Oval Beach, and even Holland. We have an electric vehicle and drove about 15 mins to Holland for an available Tesla supercharger at a Meijer (also very convenient for picking up provisions!)
Barb, the owner, was simply a text or call away should you need anything. Her phone tour at check-in time helped to understand the property's quirks - remember, it is old and nuanced. This isn't a slick new build, picture-perfect by Pinterest standards. It's lived long and well, within the peaceful surrounding of large trees, birdsong, and the occasional wild turkey.
One item that could use some improvement is the area's infrastructure.....the connectivity is not great. We had intended to do some work while away and it was not possible with the wifi provided or our cell service. If you work remotely and hope to get stuff done while away - leave the work at home if you depend on wifi.
I took some terrific pictures.... there are old farming implements that have been slowly taken back by nature which I found charming.
Laurie & Jim K.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Archival
2/10 Terrible
Laura H.
4 Jun, 2015
Extremely Disappointed!!
Let me start with the only positive item for this rental - the location. It was close enough to town but far enough away from the crowds. The biggest issue with this rental property is the cleanliness or the lack of being clean. Upon arrival, we noticed evidence of mice (mice droppings) throughout the house, mainly in the kitchen. There were droppings all along the kitchen sink and counters, floors, bathroom (in the linens). When we opened one of the drawers in the kitchen to use a kitchen towel, there was a towel that had been torn apart by mice and the drawer was full of droppings. The dishes and silverware were dirty. It appeared as if someone had eaten off of the plates, rinsed them and towel dried them. There was a greasy residue to all of them. The description of the rental mentioned the use of a charcoal grill - we could not locate a grill anywhere on the property. There seems to be an insect issue in the house - more specifically hornets, bumble bees, yellow-jackets. We killed several of them in the house during our stay. We also saw a few live cockroaches in the bed linens that appeared while putting our kids to bed. The property description mentioned enjoying a fire around the fire pit and make s'mores. There was so much garbage in the "fire pit" that it needed to be cleaned out before one could start making a fire. The property was described as enjoying the summer breezes throughout the house - the majority of the windows in the front of the house did not have screens in them. The screens were laying on the floor below the windows, but not they had not been installed for the season. The above are the major problems we had while staying there. There are several other issues but are minor commpared to what I have described above. Between my husband and I and our family, we have stayed in several different types of properties from motels, hotels, historic homes, bed and breakfasts, inns and in our own RV - this property, by far, was the worst we've experienced. I am extremely disappointed and angry at the dollar amount we've spent to stay in a place as I described above. We love the Saugatuk/Douglas area and will be back to visit again but will NOT be staying at "The Zoo" and I would never recommend it to anyone.
Laura H.
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Apr, 2020
In follow up, I apologize for your unpleasant stay. I did not receive a text, email or call during your 3-night/4- day stay and assumed all was well. Let's break this down in order of relevance and importance. For the record, there are no and were no roaches at THE ZOO. It would seem this would be the first of one's complaints yet it's mentioned as an afterthought in this submitted review, but was never mentioned in your long email you sent two days after your stay. For the record the house has been dormant since October, stood unheated through the winter and I have been told by VandenBerg pest control roaches cannot survive extreme cold and need water to boot. With the tick season on us, it could have been a tick or cricket brought in on one of your two dogs or a pant leg. As for the mice, THE ZOO is a 70 year old farmhouse in the country with its share number of cracks and crevices for mice to enter and hide. The pest people will be shoring up their entries to assure future guests won't have to experience what you endured. I sincerely apologize for this as it might have frightened your kids, especially your daughter. The few/several/many hornets, bees and yellowjackets and/or wasps you killed will also be treated for in the spring they look for places to build their nests often in the peaks of homes and they especially like old wooden homes. As for the cleanliness of the dishes and silverware, this is inexcusable and unacceptable and we will be retaining a new cleaning service that we will watch over closely. Funny thing with the silverware is that is indeed real silver (or silverplated anyway). I went online and found my garage sale find is worth hundreds. I plan to replace it with everyday stainless steel so kids won't fret over tarnished sliver (see photo). The screens mentioned lined up against the wall below the windows are a do it yourself kind. There should have been a screwdriver on the ledge in which you from the inside turn the screw a half turn, pop out the window, insert the screen, then turn the screw a half a turn to lock it in place (see photos). As I recall, it was warm only one day so screens were not needed. As for the grill, we had 2 tossed and neglected to replace for the season. I apologize for your disappointment. I am thankful for your criticisms and am upping my game in making THE ZOO the place we both know it could be. And yes, the location, proximity to town and space makes THE ZOO a great place to be.
We enjoyed our stay at "The Zoo"! The house was well represented in the pictures. The house has history and character. It is rustic and fun, not fancy which was perfect for our casual vacation. It has a great location. Outdoor area is wonderful for fire pit, star gazing and playing with our dog.
The house has well water which some might not like but it was not an issue for us. There is a large, bottled water cooler with hot water dispenser available for drinking and cooking. It is an old farmhouse so bedrooms are small (double beds) but worked for us. The owner was wonderful to work with and we hope to come back again!
Great little hideaway from the hustle and bustle but close enough to feel like you are still part of the action
Christine(Tina) and Mark R.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified
8/10 Good
marla
16 May, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property is exactly what is advertised. It is an old farm house. No bells or whistles, but has everything you need. I Loved that it was pet friendly. That was a must for me. It was very quiet and peaceful, but you had a road near by in case you fear being isolated. The host was easy to talk to and only wanted guest to enjoy their stay.
marla
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Verified
4/10 Poor
Valerie G.
27 Aug, 2021
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Very old farmhouse that needs alot of work. Fun place for kids and animals no worries about mess
Reminds me of a college party house
Not for you if looking for a classy place
Lovely, quirky house with amenities in a good location.
We had a great stay at the Zoo. The property manager, Barb, was great, communicated everything we needed to know. The house was set up with a lot of amenities, from bags of chips to toiletries. Our kids adored it. It is a great location for a family, with games, multiple rooms and outdoor space. The location was excellent, an easy drive to the beach and other activities.
We had a great time staying here for a family trip. This is an old country home, with character and quirks. The place offers privacy and space. It is a quick drive or bike ride to many restaurants, grocery store, cute shops in Douglas/Saugatuck.
There is no Central Air, but the two window units helped us cool the majority of rooms. The Kitchen is well stocked and we we’re able to grill and cook a few meals at home. We enjoyed the many parks and beaches in the area. Communication with the owner was quick and helpful.
This place is out in the country but still close to town. We had plenty of room to spread out and enjoy ourselves. It’s fully stocked with everything you can think of. My one and only complaint would be that we wished the AC units were in the bedrooms. It was pretty hot for a few nights. But besides that, it was perfect!
We planned a family visit to MI and made this last minute excursion to the beach. The Zoo was rustic just like the owner described. Had all we needed for a stay away from home and ample amenities were great for games, fun, beach going, and household needs. I love my morning coffee....Would just highly recommend a Kuerig for the coffee station. (The machine there otherwise could use deep cleaning). The fans and and ac worked great and made it comfortable.
Great for people who love to sit by campfires, love outdoors, and spending time with family. If you don’t Ming the country cottage feel this is the place for you!
Sonya C.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
About the host
Hosted by B. C. W.
I was 16 when my grandfather willed me this old farmhouse. As a kid, I hated it! What kid would want to leave her suburb friends to spend time with an old man in the country to pick berries, catch gophers, and make homemade biscuits? No TV! Just stacks of newspapers, Reader's Digest and a transistor radio! "Going into town" was the only highlight. Although I hated it every moment, I look back and realize it was the best time of my life. Being a mother of 3, I wanted our boys to experience country life and we have spent many a day in town, at the beach and around the fire in back. These indeed are the good old days!
Why they chose this property
Why stay in town? Nothing beats the seclusion and privacy you'll find at The Zoo. Greenery is the best scenery. You can walk in the woods, sing around the fire until the cows come home. In town, you'll be looking a someone else's backyard fence, smelling others barbecue and hearing others' dogs bark. Really? Really.
What makes this property unique
Secluded yet close to the action. Nights around the firepit gazing at the stars is the best way to end your day. You won't get any of this in town.