Lakefront Sunset Cottage for Family Memories - Epic Games Room - Near Sandbanks

Before requesting to book, please use the Contact Host button first.

Because this is our family cottage, I personally coordinate our own family dates, returning guests, and the County’s occupancy requirements. The calendar can occasionally be in flux, so I like to confirm your dates and a few details about your group before a booking request is sent.

It is usually just a quick exchange. Once everything lines up, I can send you a VRBO pre-approval so you can book with confidence.

STA Licence: ST-2019-0250. Please feel free to contact me if you would like help understanding the County’s occupancy limits, bedroom limits, or STA regulations.

A three-night minimum usually applies. Outside high season, we can occasionally accommodate two-night stays with a short-stay fee, depending on availability. Summer stays are Saturday to Saturday.

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This is our family’s waterfront cottage on West Lake, a place we slowly built and furnished over the years as a gathering spot for our family and friends.

Most groups who stay here are families or close friends coming together for a relaxed stay, a milestone birthday or anniversary, or simply a chance to reconnect somewhere special with space to spend time together.

We bought it as a place to gather. At first we just wanted somewhere outside the city to spend time with our kids, but over time it started to feel like a reflection of who we are.

Some of our favourite moments here are simple ones, board games with our kids that never seem to end and long outdoor dinners that drift late into the evening.

Many guests say it feels more like visiting a close friend's home than staying at a rental. We've set it up the way we like it when we're here ourselves. It's comfortable, a bit over the top in the best way, and filled with things we genuinely love.

People often tell us they end up spending more time at the house than they expected, especially in the evenings, because everything is already set up for cooking, games, and time together.

Guests in May and June often spend the day exploring wineries or the Sandbanks trails and then return for a long dinner on the balcony and a night of games.

When the weather turns cooler, the rhythm shifts a little. Guests explore the County during the day and then settle back at the cottage for long dinners, pinball tournaments, movies, and board games at the dining table. In the fall, many also spend time on the Prince Edward County Arts Trail or at Countylicious before coming back for a relaxed evening together.

Over the years we’ve seen all kinds of groups enjoy the cottage in their own way. Some guests are grandparents bringing everyone together under one roof. Others are lifelong friends catching up after the kids are in bed, while many are families reconnecting around the water.

The house has multiple living areas, along with the balcony, dock, and quieter corners around the property, so people naturally drift between gathering together and finding their own space during the day. Many guests specifically mention that even with a full group, it never feels crowded, and smaller groups often tell us the cottage feels just as comfortable for a quiet weekend as it does for a full house gathering. It’s one of the reasons we’ve held onto it over the years.

The cottage sits on Sheba’s Island with a west-facing waterfront that is ideal for swimming, paddling, and lounging. The gentle, shallow water entry makes it easy for both children and adults to get in and enjoy the lake.

There is a wide, private dock for morning coffee or relaxing in the sun. You will find floating islands, a canoe, a paddleboard, and beach toys, all ready for you to enjoy the lake. And yes, the Wi-Fi signal reaches all the way to the end of the dock. Because the cottage faces west, you get full sunset views across the lake each evening.

Sandbanks West Lake Dunes are just four kilometres from the cottage. It is an easy bike ride or a quick drive. Two car park day passes are included with your stay, so while you still need to make a reservation, you won’t need to pay any park entry fees.

Inside, the cottage is immaculately clean and exceptionally well maintained.

The chef’s kitchen looks out over the lake and is stocked with everything you need to cook, bake, or host with ease. Guest reviews often mention that it’s one of the best-equipped kitchens they’ve ever rented. Even professional caterers have commented on how complete and intuitive it is. You’ll find a commercial Jura coffee and cappuccino machine (Lavazza beans provided as we are coffee lovers), an induction cooktop, convection oven, wine fridge, ice maker, Le Creuset cookware, an air fryer, a waffle maker, lobster pots, and everything you need for baking, along with much more.

Ask about our private executive chef and sommelier. He would love to cook an intimate dinner for you and your guests while you watch. Menus are tailored to your tastes with wine pairings on request. Service is in the cottage kitchen overlooking the lake.

Whether it’s a quiet breakfast, baking something together, or setting the table for a full house, the kitchen is set up to make it all feel easy.

Meals can be shared around a rustic outdoor dining table for twelve on the covered balcony or at the large indoor dining table overlooking the water. You can choose from a variety of china, handmade platters, table linens, cloth napkins, candles, and oil lamps to help every meal feel special.

Outside, there is an extra-large BBQ and a premium WITT gas pizza oven from Denmark. Both are perfect for relaxed family barbecues and "make your own" pizza nights.

The living spaces are bright, welcoming, and designed for comfort. There is an upstairs living room with an extra-deep, goose-down-filled sofa. A lake-facing family room downstairs for games and movies. And a cozy media nook tucked among arcade games.

You will find four Smart TVs with Netflix and satellite channels, an extensive DVD library, puzzles, cookbooks, board games, and Wi-Fi throughout. A printer and scanner are available if needed.

Our games room is truly one of a kind.

It includes collector-level pinball machines, including Jurassic Park Premium and Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Edition, as well as shuffleboard, a tournament dart machine, foosball, air hockey, a pool table, and ping pong. There is also a retro gaming setup connected to the TV, featuring authentic arcade controls and over 3,000 games, including favourites like Pac-Man and Galaga. You will also find Virtua Cop 2, an all-time classic light gun game that is rarely found in working condition in private collections.

Many guest reviews mention that time in the games room, especially family tournaments, became one of the highlights of their stay.

One of our family’s favourite is the giant "Memory Wall" beside the games room. It’s where kids sketch the day’s adventures and full-wall games of Pictionary break out.

The cottage bedrooms:

Primary upstairs bedroom (#1) with a king-sized bed, private balcony facing the water, and an ensuite bathroom. Upstairs bedroom (#2) with two double beds. Upstairs bedroom (#3) with a queen bed and water views. Lower-level bedrooms (#4) and (#5), each with a queen bed, shared living area, and bathroom.
(Occupancy and room rental limits and STA regulations apply.)

The fun continues outside. There are bikes for island rides, croquet and horseshoes on the lawn, a trampoline and tire swing for kids, and a historic County canning bucket firepit down by the water. It's perfect for sunset bonfires, sharing stories, and roasting marshmallows.

Hidden among the trees is the Tree Fort, a two-room, two-level hideout with Wi-Fi, perfect for kids’ adventures and breakfasts on the balcony.

We welcome non-shedding dogs with prior approval. Smoking is never allowed inside the house.

The cottage has central air, full laundry supplies, firewood, candles, and even bug spray ready for your stay.

Check-in time is 4:00 pm. Check-out time is 10:30 am.

Unlike a commercial rental, this is our family’s gathering place. From the cookbooks on the shelves to the art on the walls, everything here tells part of our family's story. These things were added slowly over the years, simply because we enjoy them. Guests often tell us that’s what stands out most.

If this feels like the kind of place your family or friends would truly enjoy, I would be happy to chat.

Thanks,
Greg

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Lastly, one important note before booking:

Please do not use Request to Book as your first step. Instead, please use Contact Host and send me a quick note about your group and plans.

Because this is our family’s cottage, we personally make sure each stay is a good fit for the property. Once we have exchanged a few messages and confirmed everything works, I can send the appropriate VRBO pre-approval.

It is usually a quick process, and it means you can book knowing the cottage is well suited to your family and the stay you are planning.

P.S. The County-required 4% MAT must be added manually to VRBO bookings. For stays of two weeks or longer, cleaning/property fees apply weekly and one week is non-refundable once confirmed.