True Houghton Lakefront | Intimate Family Retreat

Escape to a quiet, intimate lakefront cottage built for two—or a small family of three or four—not a crowd. East Bay Eagle Retreat sits along Houghton Lake's East Bay behind a solid concrete seawall, with a private 60' dock and mooring buoy facing due west, so evenings here mean glowing sunset skies right from your own shoreline. With two true bedrooms, a knotty-pine great room, and a laid-back small-lake-house feel, this is the spot for couples reconnecting or a young family settling in—without the noise of a big group. Welcome to East Bay Eagle Retreat!

Lake life, done right:
Watch the sky turn gold over the water each evening from your private dock or the lakeside deck. Load up the paddle boat (provided, with life jackets in a range of sizes) and paddle out across calm water, or tie your boat to the provided mooring buoy—guests can load and unload gear right at the dock, but boats may not be tied off there directly. The shoreline here is a concrete seawall rather than a sand beach, with water starting right at the wall—worth knowing if you're bringing little ones who like to wade in gradually. Depth is roughly waist-deep at the end of the dock for an adult, varying with the season.

Cook, gather, unwind:
The knotty-pine kitchen is fully equipped—gas range, dishwasher, microwave, and a wine fridge—with breakfast-bar seating for three and an oval dining table that seats up to eight. Both a gas grill (propane provided) and a charcoal grill are available outside; guests provide their own charcoal and lighter fluid. In the evenings, gather around the fire ring on the lawn (guests provide their own firewood), or cozy up inside by the stone gas fireplace in the vaulted, wood-paneled great room—forced-air heat and central air keep the cottage comfortable no matter the season.

Four seasons of fun:
Summer means boating, paddling, and lazy afternoons on East Bay, with easy access to Houghton Lake's marinas, boat launches, and Tip-Up Town USA come winter ice season. Nearby ORV and snowmobile trails, DNR launches, and local bait shops keep every season busy on and off the water.

Lake attributes:
• Shoreline: Concrete seawall—no sand beach; water begins at the wall
• Dock: ~60' (6 sections), installed approximately May 1–October 1
• Depth: About waist-deep at the end of the dock (varies with water levels)
• Boats: Tie up at the provided mooring buoy; dock is for loading/unloading only—no tie-off
• Kids: Paddle boat and assorted-size life jackets provided; seawall entry rather than a gradual wading beach

Sleeps & layout (2BR / 1BA-Full + 1 Half):
• Main Bedroom: King, private, step-free access
• Second Bedroom: Full/Double bed, private, nautical-themed, step-free access
• Living Room: 2 Sleeper sofas linens provided
• Bathrooms: 1 full bath (shower, no tub) + 1 half bath
• Sleeps up to 8 comfortably (2 bedrooms + sleeper sofa)

Walk/drive to Local Necessities (mins shown; miles in parentheses):
• Close & convenient (2–10 mins / within 5 miles): Family Fare, Walmart, Randy's Family Restaurant, Buccilli's Pizza, Kiss Me Specialty Coffee, Sullivan Beach
• Fun nights & longer runs (10–25 mins / within 15 miles): Pines Theatre, M55 Pour House, Back Door Saloon, Denton ORV Trailhead
• Day Trip Destinations (20–90 mins): Grayling, Gaylord, West Branch, Traverse City, Petoskey, Mackinaw City

Provided:
• Outdoor, lake & beach gear: Row Boat, Paddle boat, assorted-size life jackets, gas grill (propane provided) + charcoal grill (charcoal/lighter fluid not provided), fire ring (firewood not provided)
• For families: Child's high chair, pack 'n play, stroller, and a wagon for hauling gear to the dock or on walks; dedicated kids' playroom just off the entry
• Comfort & convenience: Central A/C, forced-air heat, Smart TVs, full-size washer & dryer in a dedicated laundry room, gas fireplace in the great room, High Speed Internet with Wi-Fi
• Parking: On-site parking in two areas—1 full-size or 2 smaller vehicles directly in front of the cottage, plus space for approximately 3 additional full-size vehicles across the street at the garage (same property)

Good to know:
This is a smaller, two-bedroom cottage best suited to couples or a small family with one or two children—it's not set up for larger groups or extended-family gatherings. Parking is split across two areas of the same property (see above), so guests with multiple vehicles should plan accordingly. Room for trailer parking on the grass. Access to property is with an electronic door lock. We give guests space but are available if you need anything. There is a camera mounted on the garage and faces the driveway and parking area, including the outdoor grill area to the rear of the home. It monitors only vehicle arrivals and departures. It does not face the lakefront, waterfront, or any indoor space.

Simple House Rules & Booking
• Standard rental agreement
• Refundable damage deposit handled securely through our booking platform
• Seamless self-check-in; arrival-day email includes directions and access
• Family-focused retreat only—no events, parties, reunions, or large gatherings
• No boat mooring to the dock – Guests must use the provided mooring buoy (dock loading/unloading permitted; no tie-off)
• Quiet hours 10 pm
• No pets
• Max 6 guests including day visitors

Book your Houghton Lake getaway today—this intimate East Bay retreat is perfect for a quiet couples escape or a small family's lake week!