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Forest Haven - A Spectacular Cottage Home on Antrim's Chain of Lakes

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Lots of outdoor seating areas
Welcome!
Early mornings are best
The full service kitchen is well equipped for preparing just about any meal
Sunroom just off the main living area provides quiet reading space

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Williamsburg, MI
  • Elk Lake
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Turtle Creek Casino
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Torch Lake Park
    ‪24 min drive‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪26 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Main Floor Guest Bedroom

2 Single Beds

Main Floor Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Second Floor Blue Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Second Floor Bunkroom

4 Single Beds

Second Floor Green Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Main Floor En Suite Master Bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Main Floor Guest Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Second Floor Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area

About this property

Forest Haven - A Spectacular Cottage Home on Antrim's Chain of Lakes

Nestled among towering pines and hardwoods, this beautifully built 5 bedroom cottage home is ideally located on quiet Lake Skegemog and provides boat access to Torch, Elk, and Clam Lakes and Lake Bellaire. The well-designed home features plenty of room for family and friends to enjoy time together or find a quiet space to relax and enjoy the solitude. Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the quaint charm of this fantastic property. There is no need to sacrifice the comforts of home with this well-appointed property.

Lake Skegemog is not quite as well known as her sister lakes, Torch and Elk, but there are many advantages. The water warms much earlier in the season making early season swims much more enjoyable. Relative to Torch and Elk, there is much less boat traffic on Skegemog so quiet moments are much easier to come by. The fishing on Skegemog is also much more accessible with shallower water and tremendous populations of bass, perch, pike and world class musky.

Skegemog Point Road is a breathtaking tree lined lane extending north directly from M-72 providing very quick access to Traverse City. Because the road terminates at the water, there is no through traffic providing a great atmosphere for morning walks.

Property manager

Katherine Wolfenden

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 35
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No fireworks are permitted on the property
No parking on the asphalt driveway which is shared with our neighbor. We have a large circular gravel drive with plenty of parking.
Township quiet hours, 10pm - 7am, must be observed

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
This property uses geothermal energy
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 and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Williamsburg

Located in Williamsburg, this holiday home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Torch Lake and Lake Michigan, while Music House Museum and Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum are cultural highlights. Flintfields Horse Park and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Williamsburg, MI

What's nearby

  • Elk Lake - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Turtle Creek Casino - 14 min drive - 10.9 km
  • Grand Traverse Resort Golf Course - 20 min drive - 16.3 km
  • Torch Lake Park - 24 min drive - 21.1 km
  • Torch Lake - 26 min drive - 22.1 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Season's Buffet - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Pearls New Orlean Kitchen - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪Torch Lake Beer Co - ‬26 min drive
  • ‪Bourbons 72 - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Chef Charles - ‬28 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Forest Haven - A Spectacular Cottage Home on Antrim's Chain of Lakes pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Forest Haven - A Spectacular Cottage Home on Antrim's Chain of Lakes?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Forest Haven - A Spectacular Cottage Home on Antrim's Chain of Lakes?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Forest Haven - A Spectacular Cottage Home on Antrim's Chain of Lakes located?

Situated on a lake, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Lake Skegemog and Elk Lake. Haynes Lake and Turtle Creek Casino are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

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. 31 out of 31 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 31 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 31 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

CLODIE H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very cute cottage by the lake Exactly as pictured
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly M.

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

Beautiful vacation home

We were completely wowed. The home is gorgeous, comfortably furnished, and very well organized. It was immaculate when we arrived and stocked with everything you could possibly need. The lake frontage is exceptionally beautiful, with lots of trees, ferns, and seating areas. The photos are accurate but it looks even better in person. It’s in a quiet, friendly neighborhood that’s close to TC without being in the middle of it all.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jordan V.

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

Family Vacation

We absolutely loved this property! We have been to northern MI several times and this was by far the best house that we have stayed at! We loved sitting at the dock or in the Adirondack chairs. We will definitely look to rent this house again when we come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia D.

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

Wonderful property

Had a fantastic time with our family. Pictures do not do justice to the setting and accommodations. Would highly recommend staying here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aaron B.

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

Wonderful Vacation Home on the Lake

We had such a wonderful time at this home! Beautiful setting and so very clean!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff C.

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

Family Lake Getaway

Home was extremely well organized and cozy comfortable in its decor choices. A classic lake house cottage feel with high end appointments. Pictures online do not do home/property full justice. Easily slept and housed 10 adults.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

TOM B.

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

ATRIUM HOUSE

THIS HOUSE WAS FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE MAIN HOUSE WHERE A NUMBER OF OUR GROUP WAS STAYING
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

James N.

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

Perfect Cottage on the Lake

Our family consisted of folks ages 76 to 7 including our son and a great grandson who each have some special needs. We've stayed together at wonderful homes in upper Michigan before but never as "spectacular" as the house on Skegemog Lake. The house was spotless, decorated beautifully and had everything we needed to be comfortable, even a niche hear and there to read or take a nap. There were directions for the use of the outside grill, starting the gas fireplace in the main living space, operation of all the fan and light switches and appliances. The dining area table that accommodated our entire group was one of the features that everyone loved. We were able to rent a pontoon boat and jet skis near by and also drove the short drive to Leland to go charter fishing and enjoyed great success. My family and I are already looking forward to going back to Lake Skegemog and we just got home. Sincerely, Jim Nicolai
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anna K.

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

Great week at the lake!

This was a great property for our family vacation! The house had plenty of space of our family (8 adults and 2 infants) with enough common area space that we could spread out. The kitchen is well-equipped for cooking meals. The kids had plenty of room to play inside and outside. The screened-in porch was perfect for evenings to avoid bugs. There is a great dock and it was easy to dock the boat at. The water stays shallow for a ways out and has a sandy bottom which was nice for swimming. Overall, I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a fun week in Northern Michigan!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rich L.

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

BEST EXPERIENCE YET!!!

Over the years, our extended family (including granddaughters, now aged 5 & 12) have stayed in many VRBOs here & abroad. Forest Haven has proven to be the best experience ever!!! The location of this property on beautiful Lake Skegemog cannot be beat for relaxation & accessibility to other nearby lake recreation. This home was beautiful in every way & outfitted with EVERY possible need for our family! We were all blown away by the thought integrated into every detail! Mandy, the Property Manager, was incredibly helpful & kind; which was so appreciated! Our family adventure at this property was so wonderful in every possible way!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth B.

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

Fantastic Family Vacation

We have been coming to Northern Michigan for a week every summer for 25+ years and this property was one of the very best! The little sand beach was perfect for our small children, the swimming raft was great for the teenagers, and the many areas to sit outside and relax were perfect for the adults. The hosts have thought of every possible need in the house from the kitchen to the very comfortable beds, the sun room with toys for kids and a well stocked game cupboard. We loved how everything was labeled and instructions for various appliances were easily found. And the huge kitchen table allowed us to all eat together and play games together. This is a wonderful property for families to enjoy time together but also provides quiet spaces when needed.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Beth L.

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

Perfect lake house!

This was the perfect spot for our 3 generation gathering: beautiful house, every detail thought of, every need anticipated. We rented a boat and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the lakes. We didn’t really leave the property, so appreciated all the seating areas in the house and around the property. Really just a lovely place to be.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nicole K.

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

Best property we've rented through VRBO

We loved everything about this place and can't wait to come back. The pictures really do not do it justice. It's beautiful and modern and big. It has virtually everything you could want, all in good working condition and nicely organized. The outdoor space is a dream and the lake is perfect for families with kids because it's shallow and sandy for a long way. (I would recommend bringing water shoes since there are some rocks/tree branches on the bottom. We all ended up wearing ours all the time when we swam or kayaked.) My single complaint (really! the only one!) was that the shutters in the windows in the master bedroom and the other bedroom on the main floor only cover part of the windows, so the rooms get VERY bright VERY early in the morning. Bring an eye mask :-)
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Chris W.

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

Fifth year in a row

Have stayed at this property five summers in a row. Family of 11 from a 6 year old to grandparents in their 70s. We all love it! Beautiful, peaceful setting. We rent a pontoon boat & really enjoy the proximity to both Elk & Torch Lakes. Definitely going back next summer - we all think of it as OUR Lake House.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

sue Z.

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

Great family home!

We had a wonderful vacation with 4 grandkids, our kids and spouses. The house is amazingly organized and well managed. Everything g we needed was there and it was so homey. We would definitely rent there again!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia P.

Beautiful Skegemog Home

Our second time renting this beautiful cottage and we had another spectacular week. Multi-generation family gathering, everything in this cottage is thoughtfully laid out for all and made our trip so much easier. The kitchen is so well stocked with equipment , everything clearly labeled, meal preparation was easy. This location on the lake is beautiful, with access easy for all ages. Wonderful combination of comfort , charm and rustic beauty. Thank you for sharing your lovely home!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Janis J.

Perfect house, great place to stay.

Family of 14 has stayed at this house 2 summers, now, and we love everything about the house. Perfect location, super clean and great people to deal with. Can’t say enough about this house. We would not hesitate to rent year after year. Fishing hasn’t been perfect but the fact that we can bring kayaks, paddle boards and our fishing boats just makes this vacation home, the best.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

John R.

Perfect vacation location and house

We have booked lake houses in numerous locations for our extended family (6 adults and 5 kids) over the years, but this was the best. The house was perfect and included everything we could ask for from waffle and ice cream makers to a fully stocked kitchen and tons of children’s toys. The beach area and sand bottom made a perfect swim area and the extended shallows made it terrific for paddle boarding. Most mornings we woke to 5-6 deer in the yard and a family of mink wandered through. The fire pit by the lake was the perfect end to each day. We’ll be back for sure.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rachel F.

Wonderful vacation spot!

This was one of the best vacation rentals we have done! Spotlessly clean home with beautiful furnishings, decor and a spectacular view! Nice swimming spot. Location was perfect. Very convenient to Traverse City. We loved it here.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Greg T.

Wonderful Lakehouse

Our family of 13 (from 71 to 4) spent two wonderful weeks and this lovely home. The accommodations are terrific and they have just about everything we needed to celebrate two significant birthdays in style. There is not much lake traffic and the location is ideal - right across from the mouth of the Torch River. Great dock and sandy beach and swimming area with their own swim raft. We rented a pontoon from Elk River Marina for 10 days and really got to enjoy tubing, fishing and just riding around in the boat. Lots of great personal touches in the decorations in the house - love the fish memorabilia. I'd have to call it a perfect family place. Thank you very much for sharing it with our family for two glorious weeks.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Amy G.

Remarkable Property - Perfectly Facilitates Quality Family Time!

Forest Haven is an INCREDIBLE lake house - packed full of character, charm, comfort, and countless (thoughtful) amenities. Every inch - inside and out - represents the owner's obvious pride in, and love for, the property. We feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to celebrate my mom’s most recent milestone birthday there! Each room in the house was so welcoming, and the deer that the home's natural setting attract were a pleasure to observe! The interior décor – a mixture of old and new including skis, stones, sconces, maps, and a fish focal light – was extraordinary! The kitchen and bathrooms were fully stocked with literally every item imaginable - and then some. We were in awe of the remarkable level of organization displayed in the home; every cabinet was labeled & instructions to operate each appliance were provided - so helpful! Our family of 6 adults spent the week taking long walks, cooking meals, talking over bonfires, swimming, boating, fishing, watching fireworks, reading, and shopping in Traverse City & Charlevoix. As my sister-in-law correctly noted, we held our phones less and connected more. A truly memorable home, and a truly amazing vacation!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia P.

Delightful week!

We spent a fun week , with multi-generations under one roof in this comfortable and well appointed home. We were able to have kayaks and paddleboards delivered from Traverse City for the week, this location on Skegemog is perfect for paddling! We water skied too! And included a day trip into Torch Lake via Torch River which was a lot of fun. Well equipped kitchen made meal prep easy, everything is clearly labeled in the home , children and adults were able to enjoy the waterfront, the entire experience was a pleasure!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jon B.

Family of 10

We completely moved in for our week at this wonderful rental home on Lake Skegemog. The 5 bedrooms provided comfort for everyone and the 3 full bathrooms were adequate for us, as well. Our youngest grandchild appreciated the sandy beach and the older kids (and adults) made full use of the long pier (which allowed for a pontoon, ski boat, and 2 jet skies). It was refreshing to begin the day watching the sun rise and spying woodpeckers and other birds in the surrounding trees. Beautiful deck arrangement and a campfire out by the lake just added to all the other benefits of this rental. Rental manager, Mandy, was extremely helpful before, during, and after our stay there.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

Fantastic Family Getaway

Our group of 10 adults and 3 children under the age of 2 had a fantastic week staying on this property. It is about 15-20 minutes from Traverse City, an hour 45min from Mackinac Island and an hour from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 5-7 minutes from a Meijer and Turtle Creek Casino. This home was built in 2011 and has a charming open floor plan. The open/well stocked kitchen along with the dinning table for 12+ is perfect to hosting your group meals. There are 5 bedrooms with ample space (2 on mainfloor, 3 upstairs), a very spacious screened in back porch facing the Lake to the East (complete with a fireplace and table and chairs, a back patio (with table and chairs), a back deck (with table and chairs), and a place for your evening fires to cook your smores right next to the lake and your 60 foot dock. There is also a small beach for the kidos. The property is located on the smaller Lake Skegemog, but is connected to bigger lakes like Torch and Elk and has direct access to the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay and ultimately Lake Michigan. Being a smaller/shallower lake, Lake Skegemog, has less boat traffic so has clamer and warmer waters than its bigger neighbor lakes. We rented a boat for 2 days and the 60 ft dock worked out perfectly, water skiing and tubing were great! With 3 kids under 2, 2 of which are highly mobile, this was an ideal house as there were very few safety concerns. All around a terrific find.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Steve J.

Great summer rental

We enjoyed everything about this home and its location. It appears to be built within the last few years, has a great kitchen, dining table for a crowd, expansive living room, and big screened porch. Ideal east-facing lakefront to see sunrise, we rented kayaks and tubes for the week. Traverse City is just 20-25 minutes away and a brand-new Meijer is soon to open about 10mins away.

About the host

Hosted by Katherine Wolfenden

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Languages:

English
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