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Cabin

Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be

Photo gallery for Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be

Exterior
Miscellaneous
Interior
Private kitchen
Bathroom

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Syracuse, IN
  • Place, Lake Wawasee
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Shipshewana Flea Market
    ‪40 min drive‬
  • Place, Blue Gate Theater
    ‪40 min drive‬
  • Airport, Goshen, IN (GSH-Goshen Municipal)
    ‪25 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be

If you love waking up to birdsong and the rustle of squirrels in the trees, sipping your morning coffee in an Adirondack chair as the sun rises over misty waters, this lakeside cabin is your ideal escape. Set on a quiet, private 179-acre lake with no motorized boats allowed—only canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats—this is the place to truly unplug and unwind, no matter the season.
In summer, enjoy warm days on the water and cool, tranquil nights. Autumn brings stunning foliage reflected in glassy lake waters. The gently sloping shoreline is perfect for swimming, especially for kids, and two kayaks are provided for your use. A paddle boat is also available upon request. Life jackets are included for your peace of mind.
The property borders 3,569 acres of protected land in the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area, offering exceptional birdwatching, hiking, and opportunities to connect with nature. Local towns nearby feature antique shops and authentic Amish goods, and if you're in the mood for a little adventure, Notre Dame and downtown South Bend are just an hour’s drive away.
The cabin itself is beautifully restored, blending rustic charm with modern comfort. Original hardwood floors and an open-concept layout make the space warm and welcoming. The kitchenette includes a slate backsplash and butcher block countertops—ideal for simple meal prep. The main sleeping area features a queen-size bed, while a full-size futon with a thick, comfy mattress offers extra space for guests. The bathroom includes a tiled shower with a glass enclosure and a sliding barn door for privacy. A filtered water and drinking station is available.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend, a family getaway, or a quiet solo retreat, this cabin offers the serenity of lake life—just the way it used to be.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
Pets considered upon discussion.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1398323vb
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
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Syracuse

Located in Syracuse, this cabin is on a lake. South Shore Golf Club and Wawasee Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Oppenheim Woods and Lake Wawasee. Kayaking and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby.
View more Cabin rentals in SyracuseOpens in a new window
Map
Syracuse, IN

What's nearby

  • Lake Wawasee - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Blue Gate Performing Arts Center - 40 min drive - 53.2 km
  • Shipshewana Flea Market - 40 min drive - 54.3 km
  • Blue Gate Theater - 40 min drive - 54.6 km
  • The Lerner - 52 min drive - 60.6 km

Getting around

  • Goshen, IN (GSH-Goshen Municipal) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The River Coffeehouse - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Kiyomi - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be?

As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be on 14 May 2026 start from AU$253, 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 Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Charming Cabin on a Private, Serene Lake — Lake Life the Way It Used to Be located?

Situated on a lake, this cabin is 0.7 mi (1.2 km) from Lake Wawasee and 2.4 mi (3.8 km) from South Shore Golf Club. Dewart Lake and Creative Fish Art Gallery & ArtZie Workshop are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 45 out of 48 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 48 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 48 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 48 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Keith W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay and excellent value. Comfortable spot and prefect for 1-2 people. Nice quiet location with beautiful view. Clean, well equipped and great communication by host.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gail H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed this quiet home with beautiful lake views. It is perfect for a relaxing vacation. It was fun to take the paddle boat out on the lake. We'll be back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

deana s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We enjoyed Joanna and her entire family. Cabin was really cute

We had so fun. Fishing was great. Enjoyed ourselves so much.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stella R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We really enjoyed our stay at the cottage. The host has three lovely dogs. We missed our dogs, so giving their dogs attention was nice. We enjoyed morning coffee looking out over the lake. We also took out the kayaks. It is so quiet and beautiful on the lake. The hosts, Joanna and her husband were very kind and took care of any concerns. We will definitely return.
Stayed 10 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott E.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serenity

The cabin is situated well off the street. This makes for a nice quiet location on the lake. Very tranquil, relaxing, and peaceful. The hosts Joanna and Darby were very nice and easy to work with.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pam H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute cabin

Cabin was very cute. Week stay was very good. Cabin had everything thing we needed. Highly recommended.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jerold W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent place, excellent hosts

This was my first ever Vrbo, and it was a fantastic place to stay. A quiet cabin on a lake that forbids motors of any type. And the owners who live next door are as friendly as can be.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice lake

We swam every day we were there, the lake was very clean and the view from our little lake cottage was lovely and very relaxing. Good little escape from the city.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug 2020
Thank you. We are happy to see someone really enjoying this lake. Hope to see you again soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute cottage. Fine for the two of us and our dog. Enjoyed the peace and quiet and looking out at the lake. View was good from the patio and from inside as well. A little hard to find the driveway, address could be marked better.Owner is right next door. They were very responsive when we had a couple of minor issues.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Phil T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake Peace

A VERY peaceful stay. 10 on a 10!!!!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

BENJAMIN C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Getaway!

The location of the property was absolutely wonderful! My wife and I were able to relax and float all over the lake. The owners were so gracious to bring us firewood each night and became part of our family. This place is a true getaway, with lots of relaxing. We cannot wait to go back next summer!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2022
We loved meeting you and so enjoyed seeing how you got out and appreciated the lake and this area. Looking forward to seeing you again next year!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a great cottage!

Picture perfect describes this little lake cottage. It was everything we hoped for and more. Joanna and Darby were great hosts. We will be back again for sure!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Aug 2022
Thank you! It was great to meet you and Barb and see that you fully enjoyed the lake and this area. Hope to see you again soon! Joanna
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scarlet S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quite and peaceful

I was able to unwind, relax and reflect on the beautiful creation around me. My little dog and I were so pleased with the owner who afforded us the privacy and kindness to help make our stay perfect.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway

This cabin is really sweet. It is on a beautiful lake and the area is wooded and gorgeous. Even on a rainy day, the view is awesome. I did not want to leave. I will definitely be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 May 2024
We are so happy to hear you will be back. We/I enjoyed getting to know you and am looking forward to more conversation. Thank you. Joanna
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steve and Diane S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute lake cabin

Cabin is exactly as advertised (only decorated much cuter now). It is not fancy- but is has everything you need. Perfect for a couple. Even being roght next dood, feels very private.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patrick M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gone Fishin’!!!!

Wonderful cabin/cottage just a few steps from the lake. Direct lake access, nice dock and plenty of fish!! The owners are GREAT people…made us feel welcome, and we had all we needed in the cabin to make it a comfortable 6 days!! Definitely going to visit again!!! Close to town, but nice and quiet!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Della D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

The cabin is very cute. Joanna and Darby are just next door for any questions. Directed us to some good fishing spots. They have 2 dogs that are very well behaved. And fun to watch Joanna throw toys in the water for them to retrieve. Cabin is just so cute and comfy. Loved our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Allie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfectly Peaceful with Fun Fishing!

Joanna has an awesome experience ready for anyone looking to relax, fish, kayak and enjoy the beauty of lake life! The cabin is rustic with the finer comforts. It really gives you all the comforts while bringing together a cabin-y feel. Joanna is awesome as well. She goes above and beyond to help you figure things out that may not even have a thing to do with the property itself. She is kind and wonderful. We recommend this property. We will be back. Our two boys (11 and 13) who fished their heads off and caught plenty will see to that too! 😉
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful, relaxing week at Lake Papakeechie

We loved our stay in this adorable little cottage that had a every connivence. The cottage itself is so warm and well done, that when we weren’t out on the lake fishing, we loved to just sit around the table and play cards, or hang out in the living room area and just chill. The owners live next door and are available and responsive to whatever we needed to make our stay more pleasurable. They have found a way to be present but not overbearing or intrusive in any way. To be honest, I was worried a bit about this and if we would feel comfortable staying on the property next door to the owners, but I’m here to tell you, their proximity only enhanced our comfort level. This is a lake and cottage that we would definitely come back to year after year. Thank you Joanna and Darby for such a wonderful week!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

One of our favorite vacations

the cottage was perfect. Everything we needed for our stay. Joanna and Darby are wonderful and genuine people. It felt like we had known them for years. Swimming in the lake was so much fun and I used the paddle boat a couple of times to paddle all the way around the lake. Joanna saved me from a runaway float, Lol. This was one of our favorite vacations. Close to anything you needed. Our family came for the day and all had a blast. I want to thank Joanna and Darby for a most enjoyable and relaxing vacation. I also want to mention their precious dogs, just as sweet as they can be. The two resident swans were so elegant. We will definitely come back. Already miss being there. Thank you so much for letting us stay at your cozy cottage on the lake. We will never forget this vacation.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Bill & Betty K.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bad

The property is very hard to find. No address marker. The property is unsafe. Steps are not code size, no handrail, large flowers growing over the sidewalk. The heating/cooling unit did not work properly, I brought that to the owners attention Saturday night and somehow they changed it from 67 degrees to heat and ended up 85 degrees. I pulled the disconnect and opened all of the windows it took until 1:30am for it to cool down enough to close the windows and go to sleep. BAD BAD BAD
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2022
As owners living next door, we do our best to quickly respond to any concerns to make sure all guests are happy with their experience. In this case, when told the cabin was too cold at 73 degrees and told the guest wanted the heat turned on, on a warm summer day, we complied and turned the heat as requested to 78 degrees. Apparently, this did not satisfy and without being asked to rectify the situation, the guest without permission or notification disconnected our HVAC unit. The guest also did not make use of the ceiling fan to cool the cabin, or reconnect the HVAC and turn the AC back on. For those who might wonder about the steps, there are two ways to access the cabin…there is a lakeside porch where there is one step to the porch and another into the cabin which is also a wide step. There are two steps at the side entrance which does have some Hostas that have encroached and we’ll be trimming them back as that is a good observation. All of the step risers are shorter than maximum height code states, and Indiana code R311.7.8 provides that handrails are required at 4 or more risers. Most of our guests are able to easily find our property using any maps apps and we closely monitor the phone in case of issues on day of arrival. We also reach out to supply our phone numbers prior to and during a guests stay.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Charlie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic getaway spot!

Lake Papakeechie is beautiful in the fall and I had such a great experience staying here. It was a perfect getaway - the cabin was cozy and had everything I needed to have a great week away. The host was communicative and very accommodating. Could not recommend this spot more!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelli G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

It was PERFECT!

We couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing week away. It’s quiet, calm, peaceful and the fishing was FANTASTIC! Several species in the lake. We caught, Bass, Rock Bass, Perch, Crappie and a tone of Blue Gill. Saw and heard Ducks, Geese, Swans and Herons. Loved every minute and are sad it’s time to leave! Joanna is a fantastic host! She checked on us a few times, and made sure we had everything we needed. Thank You soooooo much!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leslie A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect

It was so much cuter in person. It was the perfect little cabin on the lake with everything we needed. The bed was comfortable, everything was clean, and the owners treated us like family. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jill B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful getaway

This cute little cottage had everything thing we needed. Enjoyed fishing from the dock and paddle boat that was provided. Joanna went out of her way to make sure our stay was as comfortable as possible. Loved our evenings at the fire pit every night we were there. Had the best dinner our last night at Sleepy Owl restaurant only 5 minutes away. The lake was so peaceful with no motorized boats. Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a quiet getaway.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Joanna Miller

Host profile image

Languages:

English
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