'Windy Ridge' is a modern 4-BR cottage in the middle of a forest big enough to get lost in, amid hundreds of acres of Lake Michigan dune land. You can't see another house in any direction, even from the roof deck. Down a footpath about 175 yards through the woods (about a 3 minute walk) is a huge sandy beach, on which you can walk for miles and rarely see other people (just fabulous vistas and sunsets). Back at the house is a big screened porch with panoramic forest views, and a roof deck for great stargazing). If you want night life, bars, restaurants, and shopping you may be better off with something closer to civilization, but if a quiet, secluded, beautiful spot for quality time with family and friends is what you're looking for, this is the place.
Windy Ridge is on a "low" dune, with less bluff elevation than most of the properties in the area. The walk to the beach and steps down is not too strenuous and we have no problem with it in our mid-70s. But we do not recommend Windy Ridge for people with mobility challenges. It's a family paradise (dogs too) but children must always be supervised.
It's a great place to get far away, but it's only 2 hours drive from Chicago and 2 1/2 hours from Detroit, midway between South Haven and St. Joseph. The house has all modern amenities (TV, wifi etc) but with the cooling breezes usually off the lake, you rarely need to turn on the air-conditioning units.
While we use it most of the time, a few prime periods remain available in summer and fall 2026. Due to the likelihood of getting snowed in (or out) we don't rent Windy Ridge from mid-December through mid-March. We cannot accept summer/fall reservations for 2027 until our family schedules are set, so next year's vrbo calendar is blocked at this time. Let us know if you want to be notified of available periods when next year's schedule is set about May 1 and I'll give you a heads up.
Everybody who spends time here falls in love with Windy Ridge as we did 40 years ago. Thanks for looking at our listing and please feel free to ask questions. We've never seen another place like Windy Ridge.
Marty