ミシガン湖のメガビュー。 道路を横断する自転車道。ネショタビーチまで5 km！

The Tall One in the photo bought the home when, let’s just say, it wasn’t pretty. The Short One is me, -- I run BeachTown Properties, with Smiling Bear Cabin being the first outlet for my vacation rental idea.

Although I didn't know Paul when he first bought this property, as a real estate agent I had shown it to some prospective buyers back when it was for sale. It was in such a bad state that I remember weeping, and praying with my whole heart, wishing the whole broken mess of a home could be made new, clean, and right.
Given that honest prayer, it was a blessing, honor, and a delight to end up meeting and getting to know Paul, and see the place improve and be made right over a span of years with what he and his workers had collectively thought out and done with this property.

His workers back in the day were an Amish friend, Milo & sons, and Carlos, a loyal right hand man for Paul for many years, plus a mix & match of other willing workers. There was a lot of good heart put into this property.

The real estate market had crashed shortly after Paul purchased the property, and there were more unseen things to fix than he realized so it became a long-shot money pit project that they would work on intermittently when possible. After several years a finished product emerged.

Knowing at the time he could not get out financially what he had put into it, & loving it so much he couldn’t imagine really parting with it, he furnished it for longer month to month work/stays. That was a good start but after his last long term tenant left back in 2014, he turned the reins over to me to see what I could do with my “vacation rental” idea. That was the beginning of my new world.

Paul & I are both real estate agents, for I think 15+ years now for me and a bit longer for him. He is also a licensed contractor, real estate investor/landlord, & crop farmer. Paul is a widower w/4 grown children & 4 grandkids. I'm a single mother of 1 grown child & 1 grandchild.

The colors of Lake Michigan are changing every day and change within the day so it is always nice to be at the Smiling Bear Cabin. It is amazing to see the drama of a big storm play out, as well as to enjoy the delight of sunshine and blues.

Its very relaxing inside and out, and easy to be with all your company if you have a get together. I like how as a hostess I could get onto the deck and into the kitchen from many directions and it never felt crowded even with everyone there. I was able to enjoy laughter, & singing through the KT windows to both the side and back deck, not having to miss any of the party if I was inside tending to something.

This is a convenient location to many many hiking trails and places to kayak, and neat places nearby to provide neat nature experiences for kids and adults alike. You can find some fresh organic produce in our supermarkets and at our farmers markets, and the traffic in any given direction on any given day is usually pretty manageable. .There IS a highway between the lake and our place, but it is still enjoyable.