1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration!
This is a beautiful, large, super-clean, newly renovated SIX bedroom home. Formerly used as a Boarding House and a law office, this home was saved and fully rehabbed approximately 15 years ago. There are 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths up (master bath is one of these), 2 bedrooms & 1/2 bath (with washer & dryer), dining room, living room, kitchen down. It sleeps 15 people in beds (4 queens & 7 twins). Additional area down (Living room/foyer) has single convertible beds. 15 adults can sleep in beds, with an additional adult in a sleeper, plus plenty of room for additional children 2 & under.
This lovely historic home was fully remodeled maintaining the character of the 100+ year-old home that it is. In 2009, this home was one of seven homes feature on the SOUTH HAVEN HOSPICE HOME TOUR, a Christmas Holiday home tour featuring 5 or 6 historic homes that the community is invited to tour.
The home offers a nice covered front porch to sit and relax and people watch! Rear of home also has a covered deck to relax and side entry has grill.
1 block from downtown South Haven, about five blocks to Lake Michigan South Beach! Walk to all of the local restaurants and taverns. Bike rental located than 200 yards away. Less than 1/4 mile to Clementine's, Tello's, Maria's, Captain Nemo's, Brick's Corner Pizza, Taste, and Black River Tavern. New restaurant open right across street for breakfast & lunch - 6 Chicks. Less than 1/2 mile to the Idler, York's and Captain Lou's on the river! There are two Antique Malls also within walking distance for the antique lovers! You can walk to the restored South Haven Lighthouse and watch the sunsets! Farmer's Market in Season is only 2 blocks from you and in the winter this is the ice skating arena! The fireworks are a 5 block walk and the parades, including the 4th of July & Blueberry Festival Parade are steps away from you!
There are vineyards 5 or 10 minutes from South Haven, Tulip Festival in Holland (30 minutes), art & craft fairs are all within walking or 3 minute drive. This is one of the most convenient locations for anyone visiting South Haven Festivals!
During our summer season we may choose to rent a minimum of 3 days. If you request a 2 day stay, depending on the calendar and bookings, there may be an additional charge per day. (1/2 of daily rate during stay/day.)
This property is a locally owned home so if a problem arises, help is close by.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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Important information
You need to know
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
Note from host: SoHa has noise ordinance. Police enforced.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
About the area
South Haven
Located in South Haven, this holiday home is in the city centre. Michigan Maritime Museum and Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum & Gardens are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Southside Municipal Marina and Warner Vineyards. Travelling with kids? Consider South Haven Center for the Arts and The Fun Park. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.
South Haven Center for the Arts - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
Warner Vineyards - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
Michigan Maritime Museum - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
South Beach - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Kal Haven Trail - 2 min drive - 1.4 km
Getting around
Bangor Station - 16 min drive
Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 50 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 16 min walk
Cafe Julia - 2 min walk
Taco Bell - 16 min walk
Biggby Coffee - 17 min walk
Burger King - 9 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration! pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration!?
As of 3 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration! on 2 May 2026 start from AU$883, 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 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is 1 BLOCK TO TOWN ~ 5 BLOCKS TO BEACH! Leave your car at home for the duration! located?
This family-friendly holiday home is located in the city centre, within 1 mi (2 km) of South Haven Center for the Arts and Lake Michigan. Southside Municipal Marina and Warner Vineyards are also within 10 minutes.
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had an amazing time at this property! We had a group of girls who enjoyed taking the short walk into town to celebrate and all that South Haven has to offer! The house was very well stocked and had everything we could have needed and more! This house has a great number of beds and accommodated our very large group!
Bryn G.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2021
So glad you enjoyed yourselves! Wish the weather would have been more accommodating! Thank you!
We had a great trip to South Haven. This house was great for a large group. Kids were able to walk to the beach. Everyone enjoyed themselves are were able to spread out. Rooms were quiet.
My siblings and I traveled from different locations and stayed at Ann’s boarding house. Clean, roomy, plenty of cooking supplies and other amenities. We enjoyed being together and walked all over South Haven. Thanks for hosting our big crew!
Bedrooms and bathrooms were fine except for the running toilet downstairs and the skimpy toilet paper and soap. Refrigerator dripped water from freezer down into the fridge. Dining room was tricky to configure for 13 of us, but we figured it out. Parking for 4 vehicles was also tricky, but doable. Porches were nice. Bike rental close by was nice. Biggest negative was the traffic and noise on Broadway St.
There was plenty of room for our family of 9 adults and a baby. The large kitchen worked well for us and we cooked most of our meals there. We walked to the beach every day and the collapsible beach wagon on the back porch was great for carting our stuff there and back! Overall we were very pleased and wouldn’t hesitate to rent it again.
Jody R.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept 2021
Thanks so much Jody. Glad you enjoyed your stay! You’re welcome back anytime!
We enjoyed 5 nights in this house that became our home. The beach was so close. Bikes or walking were both used to get there. Ice cream in town was an almost daily event.
This was a last minute booking and the owners were extremely flexible. Pleasure to communicate with. House was a great location and had plenty of room for all of us. 3 adults, 1 child and an infant. My only suggestion is redoing the blinds in the bedrooms as the rooms facing East get so much sun in the morning. Overall, it was a great stay!
Lainie S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2020
Hi Laine! We added pull down shades! To 3 East windows! Glad you enjoyed your stay!
The house is big with lots of room. There were 4 couples and 5 kids in our group. We each had our own space to spread out. It was very nice to have 3 bathrooms. We had room to play family games, one night we grilled, and we truly appreciated being able to bring our fur baby. We were able to walk to South Beach and shopping. The house was clean and the owner was easy to communicate with. Would highly recommend for a large group.
The owners are wonderful. They responded very quickly to any message or phone call for a question we had for them ( which were very few ). They brought us a bowl of fresh blueberries upon our arrival-this was the national blueberry festival weekend. The design of the house and the number of bedrooms perfectly suited our large family with nine adults and six children. We were there for a family wedding. Would love to go back again and can certainly recommend this house.
STEPHEN K.
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Mar 2020
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed your stay! Hope you do come again! Ann&Ralph Go BLUE😊
We arrived to a bowl of washed and recently picked blueberries. The house was exceptionally clean and the beds were comfortable. The property has a very unique retro feel which reminds one of what it must have been like in South Haven at an earlier time. There was plenty of parking and plenty of outdoor seating for all of us to spend much time outside (due to Covid worries). The weekend was hot so we were greatful that the AC worked well. The property is close to downtown and the beach and we enjoyed our walks around town.
Jeanne L.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug 2020
Ty Jeanne! So glad you enjoyed your stay! You are welcome back anytime! Ann
This is an old property with lots of room. Nicely updated bathrooms. Well-equipped kitchen. Lots of towels! Washer and dryer. Some Mattresses a bit soft for us. Walk to downtown. Short drive to great beaches. Don’t be put off by lack of landscaping. We would come back for sure. Great communication with host.
Big, older house near the shops and easy walk to the beach. Easily accommodated 10 adults and 2 kids. Small yard--just enough space for a fire pit and 6-8 chairs. Lots of parking. We found a few (disgusting) items left behind by the previous guests, but I didn't inform the host until we checked out (we cleaned them up). Host was apologetic and said she would make sure the cleaners were aware and checked the space thoroughly. We might stay here again since it fits our large family and is in a great location.
House was as listed. Ann was very accommodating and responded quickly. We were surprised there was not shampoo , conditioner or sugar. Ann did tell us where a dollar store was. Loved the wagon that was there for our use. I would suggest some landscaping as the side door has overgrown plants on the ramp.
Pam n.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Aug 2022
Hi Pam, my yard guy was there the day you checked out so we got caught up on that. We’re not a hotel so I supply a START UP SUPPLY of TP, garbage bags, bar and hand soap, paper towels, dish soap, dishwasher soap and laundry detergent. A hotel doesn’t supply all that. People are picky about shampoo. I could buy some at dollar store, maybe that wb a solution, I suppose. Ty for choosing my rental.
We were impressed with how close the house is to everywhere we wanted to go! We only drove to Meijer to pick up a few things on our first day. We were able to walk to the beach, restaurants and lots of shops with four kids without complaints. Café Julia is right around the corner for coffee, pastries, and lunch. There is a breakfast place right across the street that was busy every morning, but we didn't get a chance to try it. The house had plenty of beds and the back deck was nice to hangout on in the evenings. The driveway is shared with a home behind the property, but it was never an issue while we were there. The yard is small and the bushes and plants could use a trim, but overall, we were very happy and had a great weekend!
Kristen L.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept 2021
Thank you Kristen. We had a death in the family so I got a little behind on the yard work. Will be catching up here in the fall. Glad you had a nice time!
Verified
4/10 Poor
hayley b.
14 Aug 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Not the best for families
Starting with the positives:
- The owners are very kind and easy to communicate with.
- Check in and out was simple and straightforward
- Inside property was clean
- South Haven is great!
- This property would work well for a group of adults
Things we didn't realize from the ad:
- The house is on a very busy street. Not great if you have small kids, we couldn't let them outside without close supervision
- The property has a tenant living in back (he was kind but we were unaware)
- The property is too far for kids to walk to the lake
- The instructions inside the property request we not use the 1 bathtub. Again, not great if you have kids as bathtime was difficult
- The garbage bins hadn't been picked up when we arrived on a Sunday. (They were picked up on Tuesday morning). The smell was rough and precluded us from spending any time outside
hayley b.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Aug 2022
Yes, the house is clean. Most important comment. If i recall, your 3 girls were under the age of 4? I hope you wouldn’t leave them outside unsupervised! And yes we are 5 blocks from the lake, so long walk for small children. We do have collapsible wagon but it’s only big enough for 2 small children. I really can do nothing about the trash pick up day. You did move cans further away & I came and dumped bleach inside. Again previous renters dumped fish and did not put in provided garbage bags, but that’s renters for you. My tenant is a working adult and we have had no complaints about him. He’s rarely home. We do rent mostly to adults or families we older children. With the walking distance to town it’s one of the largest homes that has that advantage. Plans to seal bathtub are in the working.
We drove into the driveway from a major busy road and thought no curb appeal: landscape overgrown and in need of paint, but as we walked inside we found the house clean, well stocked with towels, kitchen plates, silverware, coffee pots (drip and Keurig) and perfect bed and gathering spaces. All 15 of us had beds. Some beds could use new mattresses. A full bath downstairs would be better, but with two full baths upstairs it was accommodating, and washer and dryer in downstairs bathroom was so nice to wash towels and such. Front Porch shaded in the morning to sip coffee and back porch shaded at night to sip drinks. Easy walking distance to downtown shops and beach. In general, we had a fantastic time in South Haven and Saugetuck. We enjoyed an afternoon on a rented pontoon boat in South Haven and a fun time on a sand dune ride in Saugetuck.
The hosts are great. They immediately answer any questions and took care of any problems. We arrived to find no paper products, emailed host, who immediately had paper products delivered. The hosts were easy to communicate with, and at the last minute agreed to our grand dog coming along on our vacation.
I would recommend this house for other family gatherings.
Julie A.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Chuck K.
7 Aug 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Picture is deceiving
The house as a whole was adequate; kitchen was nice size, dining room tablet was able to accommodate a family if 15 in 2 shifts, so it was good. However the chairs in the eating area were terrible- they were cushioned chairs without any cushioning whatsoever—you kinda sunk into the seat on all the chairs, bedrooms were a nice size and able to accommodate a family of 15 however the beds need upgrading, the adults as well as the kids after 3 nights had backaches. Towels were clean and adequate. The only bathtub in the house had a hole in it so the owner asked us to not use the tub and only use the shower, using the tub might cause water damage to the room below. The inside of the house was however clean.
The outside of the house was overgrown with weeds . Was not able to use much less get to the backyard. The ramp going up to the grill on the side of the house was also overgrown with weeds. The sitting area around the firepit was also overgrown with weeds.
The picture of the house on VRBO is a misrepresentation of what the outside of the house looks like.
We would not book again.
Chuck K.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug 2022
Your first sentence says it all… the house is ADEQUATE! Must have some big or overweight people because no one has ever complained about chairs or beds. The ‘weeds’ are butterfly bushes not weeds. Who takes a bath on vacation at a hotel or rental after being at the beach? I could go out and buy new mattresses & dining chairs, if people complained, and then charge double per night. Our rental is CLEAN. That’s what is IMPORTANT! I don’t advertise a huge yard or fire pit area. The home in photographs is exactly what you get! HISTORIC (CLEAN) Boarding House in RESORT TOWN! On the Hospice Home Tour! One of the largest rental homes close to town! Doesn’t sound like any place would meet your expectations. Doesn’t sound like our house was a good fit for you. You might consider staying at hotel your next visit and pay for 14 people. Probably 3-4x’s what you paid. 😊
Verified
8/10 Good
Kent B.
27 July 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Would Return!
The house was extremely clean and certainly met our group size. The kitchen appliances were very nice. The primary bedroom and bath were excellent. The attached bathroom to that bedroom was great! Very spacious. Washer and dryer were handy. Front porch wasn’t fancy, but we enjoyed sitting there and visiting. Right across the street from the best breakfast spot in South Haven (Six Chicks). Sits on a busy street, so the street noise was very noticeable in the front rooms. Parking was spacious for the three cars in our group. Could easily have handled a couple more. The beach chairs were a great bonus. Didn’t use the yard and fire pit as the bushes and plants around the house are a bit over grown. About two minute drive to the South Beach and a 3-minute walk to Downtown South Haven. 5-7 minute drive to Sherman’s Ice Cream and Three Blondes Brewing. There was a mixup on check in date, so we didn’t get the door code before we arrived. Had to make several calls before getting a response about how to get in. We finally got contacted by phone 20-30 minutes after we arrived. The owner was very apologetic, but we’ve always been contacted by a VRBO owner at least a day or two in advance. Would definitely rent this property again, though! Lovely home!
We stayed for a long weekend in south haven at this house and had a great time! The host kindly came when we got there and helped to answer any questions and let us know about parking. Easy walk to downtown and the beach. We would definitely book this house again!
This property is large with enough beds for everyone. The location is great! An easy walk to everything. We had a very enjoyable stay.
Lois P.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
About the host
Hosted by John Frost
Purchased & remodeled this historic home a few years ago. Completely gutted and restored! Long time residents of South Haven (40 years).
Why they chose this property
This home was in dire need of some love, but the location cannot be beat! If you want to be in the thick-of-it-all in South Haven, this is the home for you. It was a Boarding House which after being remodeled was used as a law office, and is now yours to enjoy!
What makes this property unique
6 bedroom and grandfathered-in to allow 16 guests vs the 12 most homes may accommodate, Close to everything downtown (walk, don't drive!) South Haven and 5 blocks from beautiful South Beach.