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The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.

Photo gallery for The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.

A lakeside deck with a boat, a covered seating area, and a grassy shoreline.
A room with large windows offering views of a lake and trees.
A modern kitchen with dark cabinetry, a built-in stove, and a window providing natural light.
A spacious living room with large windows, a cozy sofa, a dining area, and a staircase.
A cabin with a sloped roof, a deck with a red umbrella, and a wooden pathway leading to the entrance.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Lake Sara

Popular amenities

  • Porch or veranda
  • On-site fitness centre
  • Toys
  • Barbecue
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Effingham, IL
  • Place, Lake Sara
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Effingham Performance Center
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Place, Effingham County Courthouse
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Glenna's Room

1 King Bed

Living Room 1

2 Cribs, 1 Single Sofa Bed and 1 Single Futon

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Redbud Room

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Main Bathroom

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

Master Bathroom

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

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Effingham

Located in Effingham, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Dr. Charles M. Wright Mansion and Veteran's Monument are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Ballard Nature Center and Lake Sara. Travelling with kids? Consider Bliss Park and Effingham County Fairgrounds. Kayaking and waterskiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hiking nearby.
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Map
Effingham, IL

What's nearby

  • Lake Sara - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Cardinal Golf Course - 13 min drive - 9.3 km
  • Effingham Performance Center - 20 min drive - 17.5 km
  • Effingham County Courthouse - 22 min drive - 15.3 km
  • Lake Shelbyville - 52 min drive - 60.7 km

Getting around

  • Effingham Station - 23 min drive
  • Champaign, IL (CMI-University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Williard) - 80 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Golden Corral - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Niemerg's Steakhouse - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires. located?

This family-friendly Effingham cottage is located on the waterfront, steps from Lake Sara and within 9 mi (15 km) of Bliss Park and Village Square Mall. Ballard Nature Center and Cardinal Golf Course are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 456 out of 517 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 56 out of 517 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 517 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 517 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 517 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love this place! This is our 5th year staying at Redbud Cottage for a long weekend. Such a lovely and serene area. The pictures say it all, this place is gorgeous! And the hosts are the best! If you have any questions or concerns they are just a text or phone call away. We highly recommend Redbud Cottage.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful cottage and property!!! Well stocked with all you need!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Cute little place. Couches are well worn. Deck out back was very slick with the rain it could use a power wash! Nice for pit out back.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a very relaxing time at Red Bud. The interior of the property was clean and comfortable. David was very responsive to questions and concerns. Fishing off the pier was good and the weather cooperated! Nice time overall!
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay and the host was quick to respond to questions.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
David was an amazing host who went above and beyond for our stay. He had great communication and offered very helpful suggestions to make the most out of our trip. The property was beautiful for our family getaway and had everything we needed and more. We loved the accommodations and would love to stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful, simply wonderful !
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beatiful place.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great time as usual!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great time, the lake and area was beautiful, perfect, peaceful little get away. The host was great and the house was very nice! Sliding doors could use an update, but other than that great place to stay! We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything about our long weekend trip with our family was great! The house is very comfortable and has just about everything you might need. The view of the lake, availability of fire wood for camp fires, and kayaks and canoe for enjoying the lake were awesome! Beautiful sunrises and loved seeing lots of nature and wildlife right from the yard. Everything about our visit was pleasant and we hope to go back sometime. Communication from the host was great! Thanks for a great weekend of calm, peace and memories.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We thoroughly enjoyed the Redbud Cottage. Comfortable, king sized beds, well-appointed kitchen, clean, with a homey, comfortable, and safe feeling. Loved all the outside amenities, also…Fire pit with kindling and wood, kayaks, lifejackets, deck with table and chairs, and being right on the lake, even with our own little beach area! Alexa and TV were easy to use, and our host was quick to respond to questions. Check-in and check-out instructions were clear and easy to follow.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay here at David’s cabin! Three lifelong friends stayed for a few days to catch up and reconnect and it was perfect! Plenty of space while still feeling cozy! The outdoor fire pit on the water was great, with plenty of firewood and comfortable seating around the firepit. The kitchen & dining area is where we gathered to cook, eat and work on our craft project. A beautiful paved shady trail is just 15 minutes away and we enjoyed that very much. Our host was quick to communicate anytime during our stay and when we suggested a drawer for supplying tin foil, zipper bags, plastic wrap and/or similar items, he was very open to that for future guests. (This or lidded containers will help others save food in the fridge that they’ve cooked instead of needing to throw out leftovers.)Beds / linens were comfortable and there were plenty of nice towels for our use. Would stay here again for sure! Thank you David!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great experience for our family- mom and dad with adult children and spouses. We immensely enjoyed kayaking the beautiful lake, the small beach area for soaking our toes and catching some fish. Beds were comfortable and kitchen was well stocked and beautiful. Large refrigerator was great for storing our groceries and being able to stay home for meals.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful property. Plenty of space for our family of 5 adults and a toddler. Enjoyed the lakeside fire pit, hammock, canoe, kayaks, floating dock and the ability to dock a boat we rented from Pinky's.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay at that beautiful cabin on Lake. Sarah was fantastic. Check-in process was smooth checkout process was smooth. Just had to clean up your mess and make sure the house was the way it was when you walked in not that big of a deal. It was great had such a wonderful time. The property out by the lake was really nice. Had lots of options of chairs to sit around. had a burn pit so you could do a fire at night very peaceful very quiet. Just a really great trip overall really enjoyed ourselves really relaxed.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Mar 2026
Glad you had a good stay, Christy. Come back soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We love coming here every summer! A peaceful retreat on the lake.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 June 2026
We are so pleased to have repeat visits from families like this. We’re glad they enjoy themselves at our Cottage. And take it as a compliment that they keep returning! Thank you for the kind review.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was our 4th stay at the Redbud cottage and as always, a wonderful time for our family of 3! Perfect weather, private secluded small beach area and lots of swim gadgets to make it even more fun on the water. Nature galore and a beautiful property including the gorgeous fireplace! Thank you for another great stay, David!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice relaxing weekend. No issues.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a fantastic stay Redbud Cottage and really enjoyed the lake. It was beautiful to see the morning sunrise right off of the water. Our hosts were gracious and kind and provided good instructions.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property. We had a relaxing stay. It's kind of close to the neighbors, but also feels isolated. We would stay again if in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing rental!! Loved it so much. Will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful weekend at Redbud Cottage. The property is beautiful. Lots of outdoor seating on the back deck and down by the water, and lots of fun things to do! The kids enjoyed fishing, kayaking, jumping off the floating dock, and making s’mores by the fire. We loved that there was firewood and kindling ready to go. The house was cozy and beds were comfortable! We definitely plan to come stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything as described, very cozy!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar 2026
Thank you, Cathy! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. Even when it is winter here, our wood fires tend to keep things cozy. And the views over the lake are so quiet and peaceful. We hope you will consider our Cottage again in the future when you need some peace and quiet.
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