Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck
Welcome to Miss Emma's house! This house offers a taste of history with the amenities of a modern home. Miss Emma, my great, great aunt bought the house in 1888 and the house has remained in the family since that time. Originally built in the 1860's, the house has been renovated, but retains the flavor of the original home. It is furnished throughout with many family antiques. Walk three blocks from the house and you will be in the heart of downtown Saugatuck. Restaurants, art galleries, shops and the harbor are all within walking distance. Saugatuck's Oval Beach, which has been listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, is a short drive from the house. Or you may also take a ride across the river on the chain ferry and walk to the beach.
Enter the front hall and step into the original front parlour. Through the pocket doors you enter the family room with a dining area that overlooks the back yard.
A wood-burning fireplace adds to the cozy atmosphere of the room which also houses the TV, DVD player and the sleeper sofa. A new kitchen adjoins the family room and is fully furnished should you want to create a gourmet meal or cook up a quick treat. A washer, dryer and 1/2 bath line the back hall. On the back porch you will find a spray hose with warm water for a quick rinse after a trip to the beach.
Three bedrooms and a full bath are on the second floor. Two bedrooms are furnished with new, Queen-size reproduction beds and family antiques. The third bedroom is furnished with a double bed and the original Art Deco furniture of the 1920's (new mattress, of course).
The attached apartment is where the last bedroom and full bath are located as well as a fold out queen sofa, living room, spacious kitchen, and its own washer and dryer.
The apartment is conveniently all on one level. It does not have a ramp, but is handicap friendly with large doorways and a step in shower with grab bars.
Frank's Apartment, though connected to Emma's House, has its own two entrances and exits, parking area, heat and air conditioning and connecting door which can be locked or unlocked on either side for privacy.
*Please note, sometimes the apartment is available and sometimes it is not. So, sometimes only the 3 bedroom & 1.5 bath side of the house is available. In these cases, you will be given a chance to withdraw your request if this isn't enough room for your group, or if you do decide to rent, the price will be adjusted to reflect the less space ($235 off season, $300 on season)
*If you are interested in just renting the main 3 bedroom side of the house, please contact me here as well. It rents for $300/night $1840/week Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend & $235/night $1450/week the rest of the year. I can adjust your rental rate manually if it comes up as the full house rate of $435/night on season or $360/night off season.
*If you are interested in renting Frank's Apartment only, please see our listing for that property #4275339 and/or contact us. It rents for $195/night Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, $1210/week. $160/night, $1000/week the rest of the year.
We are following the guidelines of the CDC and WHO in our health and safety practices ...
-Contactless check in and check out. We unlock the unit for you earlier in the day and leave a key for you to use. Then you leave the key and the place unlocked, and if possible give us a call when you check out.
-If possible, we wait several hours or a day to go over and clean after a group has left to let things settle.
-Then when we come to clean, we open all the windows and turn the fans on to air out the place.
-We wash the sheets and towels with hot water.
-Then we clean everything like usual.
-At the end we go around with the WHO recommended type of disinfecting bleach (not laundry bleach) mixed with the recommenced ratio of water and disinfect: counters, faucets and taps and shower controls, handles of appliances and doors and cabinets, light switches, AC control, lamps, remotes, soap dispensers, TV and DVD player and Roku box, info book, key, and where people frequently touch the windows and blinds.
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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 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 fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Saugatuck
Located in Downtown Saugatuck, a neighbourhood in Saugatuck, this holiday home is near theme parks and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Oval Beach. Saugatuck Center For the Arts and Express Yourself Art Barn are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with skiing, and don't miss out on the ice skating and sledging.
Saugatuck Center For the Arts - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Getting around
Holland Station - 16 min drive
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) - 49 min drive
Restaurants
The Mitten Brewing Company - 5 min walk
The Grill @ Clearbrook - 4 min drive
Uncommon Coffee Roasters - 5 min walk
Sand Bar Saloon - 6 min walk
Pennyroyal Cafe - 3 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck?
As of 9 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck on 25 May 2026 start from AU$347, 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 Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Emma's House-Historic House 'On the Hill' in Saugatuck located?
Located in Downtown Saugatuck, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Butler Street, Lake Michigan and Oval Beach. All Saints' Episcopal Church and Kalamazoo River are also within 5 minutes.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Great for families. My three year old loved the toys. My teens like the movie selection and the fact they could walk downtown. One block from restaurants shopping and a playground. Furnished with historic style but also cozy for kids.
House was adorable!! Everything was very clean, neighborhood was quiet, all shops and dining within easy walking distance. Aron very responsive to any questions i had.
Emma’s house is quaint and nestled into a quiet, peaceful neighborhood a short walk away from shops and eateries. It was stocked with lots of dishes, toys, etc.Clean and comfortable. We had a wonderful stay.
Emma's house is a lovely property with all the amenities one could need. We rented the whole house and found the extra apartment just right to give each couple plenty of space.
Location was ideal only a short drive or walk to downtown. The home was older yet charming and we felt we had plenty of space for our group of 5 adults. The host was communicative when needed which was appreciated. We noticed there was not any shampoo or body wash offered in the bathroom and a bath rug should be added. Otherwise, it was a perfect stay!
Alicia J.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Roger N.
14 June 2018
Exactly what we were looking for.
Perfect place for our girl’s getaway.
Roger N.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Apr 2020
Glad you had a nice time! Come stay with us again sometime.
What a great place for a family to gather, and have fun!
We highly recommend it!
Eric G.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
About the host
Hosted by Aron Lowe
I am an artist and mom of 1 baby and 6 fur babies, living with my husband, Jerod, in Fennville, MI. We coordinate the rentals for the owner, Nancy Burgin, a family friend for my whole life who lives in Ohio. I grew up in Saugatuck and my husband has lived in the area for 15 years, so feel free to ask us about the restaurants, activities and surrounding towns.
Why they chose this property
We pride ourselves on our cleanliness and we like to think we provide pretty much anything you could need in the kitchen. There is a nice yard with a privacy hedge for dinners outside, lawn games or just relaxing in the shade. The owner, Nancy, has taken care to restore the house as closely as she could back to how it looked a hundred years ago as a boarding house belonging to its namesake "Miss Emma".
What makes this property unique
Very close to the multitude of downtown delights, but far enough away to be a nice refuge from the noise and congestion of a crowded day or loud night downtown. If you rent the whole house, some of your group can take advantage of the mother- in- law apartment which is all on one level and can be locked off from the rest of the house if some of the group wants to go to bed earlier or put children to bed on that side.