Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes

Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes

Photo gallery for Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes

An iconic farmhouse that's been in our family for generations.
The most comfortable bed we've ever slept on--a Michigan-made mattress, no less.
Unclassified image, 3 of 39, button
Tables + lamps for each side of the bed.
Interior

Overview of Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes

Reviews
9.2 out of 10 Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen

Explore the area

Map
Cedar, MI
  • Popular LocationLake Leelanau3 min drive
  • Popular LocationLittle Traverse Lake9 min drive
  • Popular LocationHistoric Fishtown12 min drive
  • AirportTraverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)46 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

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

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes

Our farm is the perfect getaway from the busy life. A mix of historical farmhouse and modern style, we are just minutes from the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Traverse City and historic Fishtown. Stay at our cottage for a rejuvenating week of gorgeous views and simple living in the summer or, book for a quick getaway during color tour, wintry weekends or blossom season.
The space
Looking for a weekly summer rental close to all the beauty Leelanau County has to offer? Need a place to stay for the fall color tour? Want to get away for Thanksgiving, Christmas or even a long wintry weekend?

Come visit our modern cottage right in the heart of Leelanau County, situated on a 135-acre farm. We're just 1 1/2 miles from the shores of Lake Leelanau and 3 miles from the Big Water at Good Harbor Beach. The village of Lake Leelanau is 6 miles North, Leland and Fishtown are 8 miles away, and Traverse City is an easy, 25 minute drive. Farming is a huge part of our family's life--there are pigs on the property, hayfields in every direction, heritage cows grazing in pastoral fields and farm tours available. Interested in the best grass-fed beef in Leelanau County? Inquire about burger, steaks and roasts to eat while you're here or to take home.

Everything about this cottage was designed to create a peaceful getaway for a small family, a group of friends, a solitary writer or a couple looking to explore this gorgeous area. The structure itself is a former farm building--a granary--and we've preserved its original charm and added a whole lot more. The cottage is a brilliant mix of new and old; we've kept the original grain elevator in the middle of the house, but the open kitchen and bathroom are new construction. You'll find touches of history everywhere--the open shelves in the kitchen were the former stair treads, and the bar that divides the kitchen and living room is made from a slab of cherry wood rescued from another farm down the road. You won't find any drywall in this cottage--we had the horizontal pine paneling custom-milled for us just a few miles away. And all of it was done by us.

Our weeks run Saturday to Saturday, with check-in on Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m. and checkout is on the following Saturday at 11 a.m.

We're full for July 2024, but there are still a few full weeks available in June and August.

* * * Please note * * *
2-night minimum Sept-mid-June
7-night minimum mid-June-Labor Day

This historical cottage is the apple of our eye—the culmination of our life’s work and that of our family who came before us. It sleeps 6 comfortably, with one king sized bed and two full sleeper sofas. The kitchen is huge, with a large dining table, island and a bar for entertaining. You'll find the best local coffee and tea in the cupboard. There is a full spice rack and all of the basic kitchen staples so that if you'd rather eat (or bake) in rather than eat out, you'll feel right at home.

The living room is comfortable, with several couches and a cozy table that serves as both a breakfast nook and a card table at night. We are lifelong readers and the entire house is filled with books, making the cottage a perfect retreat for workshops and writers looking for a tranquil space to get work done. There's also a DVD library, wifi and television to suit all interests.

All linens and towels are included. There is a full sized washer and dryer in the bathroom for guests to use as often as they'd like.

Need more space? Inquire about booking our cottage next door that may be available at the same time--it sleeps an additional six people.

Property manager

Melissa Kelenske

Amenities

Hot tub

House Rules

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

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Parties and events are allowed on site

About the area

Cedar

This farm stay is located in Cedar. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan.
Map
Cedar, MI

What's nearby

  • Lake Leelanau - 3 min drive
  • Lime Lake - 6 min drive
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 8 min drive
  • Little Traverse Lake - 9 min drive
  • Historic Fishtown - 12 min drive

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • Pedaling Beans Coffeehouse - 8 min drive
  • Northern Latitudes Distillery - 8 min drive
  • Nittolo's Seafood And Social - 8 min drive
  • Shady Lane Cellars - 27 min drive
  • Cedar Tavern - 9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Farmhouse Cottage In The Heart Of The Sleeping Bear Dunes located?

Situated in Cedar, this farm stay is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Lake Leelanau and within 6 miles (10 km) of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Bel Lago Winery are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 14 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 14 reviews" "

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Rebekah L.

Bright, cozy and unique retreat
This cottage was a delightful space to relax in. Spacious and beautiful, even my six year old asked if we could stay forever. It is accessible to town, but we preferred to enjoy the space and excellent sledding hill behind the house. As a family of multiple allergies , I appreciated the use of fragrance free detergent and a pet free zone to stay. Thank you for having us!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

James P.

This is a wonderful place to stay in the Leelanau Peninsula.
This is a wonderful place to stay in the Leelanau Peninsula.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Meg M., Boyne City, MI

A Wonderful Place
We really enjoyed out stay. I had business in Lake Leelanau and the cottage was 7 minutes away. My husband rode his bike just around the peninsula, it's great riding. In the afternoon we had time to wine taste. We cooked breakfast and dinner there. Farm country is just my favorite kind of place, peaceful mornings and evenings. Dark sky made for great star viewing. The bed was awesomely comfortable. The other furnishings were very nice and comfy. The bathroom was simple and very clean, shower was a great size, spray was mounted high enough for a tall person. There was plenty of hot water. The sink had plenty of counter space. We really enjoyed sitting on the porch, which had a breeze even though the temperature was in the high 80's.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Quaint and Comfy
We loved it. Very comfortable and convenient to the beach, restaurants and the starting point of our bike ride. The front porch is a wonderful place to watch the world go by.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Clayton L.

Amazing! Perfect for our needs. Awesome spaces with new, clean bath and kitchen. Awesome.
This was absolutely awesome for us. Centrally located between Glen Arbor and Traverse City. We loved this location. The place itself was really awesome, with tons of farm house character. Not a ton of privacy between the sleeping area and the living area, but not an issue for us. Especially, given how nice, updated, and clean the kitchen and spacious bathroom were. I would absolutely recommend this place, especially for folks who plan to bounce between the region's various locations. Oh, and our infant could sit and watch their pigs frolic all day. Thanks for running a quality rental!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2017

About the host

Hosted by Melissa Kelenske

Host profile image
Born and raised in Leelanau County, I live here year round with my husband Curt and our two darling daughters, Sasha (10) and Sienna (7). A lifelong reader and writer, I help local businesses with marketing and copywriting. Curt teaches at a nearby elementary school teacher and raises grass-fed beef, pigs and sweet corn to feed our community. We hope you enjoy our little spot in the world as much as we do.

Why they chose this property

This is the historic farm that once belonged to my husband's grandfather. My father-in-law grew up here. We love the new spin we've put on an old home and the life we've breathed into it with a lot of hard work, time and patience. We think you'll fall in love with it just as we have.

What makes this property unique

Not everyone in the world has the opportunity to live on a farm. The gas pump (stuck at 36 cents per gallon!) and the steel windmill, as well as the hay barn and the pig barn, all harken back to simpler times. The inside of the cottages are a blend of new world and old. We've left the original grain mill inside the primary cottage, which was a granary in its previous life. On the old wood are notes my husband's grandpa wrote to himself almost 80 years ago. The kitchen and bathroom are brand new, with all the typical modern conveniences, but seamlessly blend with the traditional style. Farming is a huge part of our family's life--there are pigs on the property, hayfields in every direction, heritage cows grazing in pastoral fields and farm tours available. Interested in the best grass-fed beef in Leelanau County? Inquire about burger, steaks and roasts to eat while you're here or to take home.
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