Entire home

ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH.

Photo gallery for ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH.

OUR VIEW!! SO AWESOME!
Property grounds
Property grounds
Front of cottage facing lake, entry steps to north side, back entry no steps
Front yard overlooking lake

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6120.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available

Explore the area

Map
Chikaming Township, MI
  • Gordon Beach
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • St. Julian Winery - Union Pier Tasting Room
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Michigan City, IN (MGC-Michigan City Municipal)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

North side living Room futon area

1 Double Bed

South side bedroom #1

1 Queen Bed

South side bedroom #2

1 Queen Bed

South side living room futon

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

North side Bathroom

Shower only

South side Bathroom

Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH.

Our "Thunderdune" cottage is so relaxing and our most treasured place of all time! Charming and super clean cottage on Lake Michigan has private stair access in large front yard and privately owned beach. Room for games or just chillin' around the fire pit overlooking the lake. Can rent as whole house( when available) or half (securely divided apartment units) RATES SHOWN ARE FOR ONE apartment (SIDE) OF THE DUPLEX. SIDES ARE SEPARATED BY DOUBLE DOORS WITH DEADBOLT LOCKS ON EACH SIDE. CAN OPEN IF RENTING BOTH SIDES AND USE AS ONE LARGE HOUSE. (inquire with owner) Large yard areas OVERLOOKING THE LAKE for cookouts, games and lounging. Gorgeous lakefront views. Guests often repeat stays, annually. High speed WIFI & CABLE & SMART TVS. Comprehensive cleaning and sanitizing practices in each side of the duplex. Ample liquid hand soap and other cleaning disinfecting products provided.
AWESOME LOCATION! Walking distance to restaurants with biking/hiking trails. Paved trail alongside Red Arrow hwy. goes several miles north and south.
Rent is by the week Sunday to Sunday with flexibility before Memorial Day and after Labor Day Three night minimum is required during this "OFF SEASON" .
There are approximately 80 gradual steps down to beach. Access to our beach steps is right off the front yard of the cottage. (facing the lake)
Cottage sleeps up to 6 per side. Each side has 2 bedrooms, one bath and a full size futon in each living room. Rent one side or entire cottage on select weeks (as available). Lake view lakefront bedrooms and separate picnic/grill areas on each side. Added guests beyond 6 per side. subject to approval and added nightly fee.
North side unit has washer/dryer.
(CHECK IN AT 3PM. CHECK OUT TIME 11AM)
THE COTTAGE IS SMOKE FREE
SORRY, NO PETS
A/C and heat on both sides! Cottage and yard are nicely shaded. Lake breezes and sounds of the waves are heavenly.

Property manager

Maria Donner

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 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
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

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Lakeside

Located in Lakeside, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Warren Dunes State Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Round Barn Union Pier Tasting Room and Local. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and windsurfing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and horse riding.
Map
Chikaming Township, MI

What's nearby

  • Gordon Beach - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Townline Beach - 4 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Round Barn Union Pier Tasting Room - 4 min drive - 2.3 km
  • St. Julian Winery - Union Pier Tasting Room - 4 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Four Winds Casino New Buffalo - 14 min drive - 11.0 km

Getting around

  • New Buffalo Station - 9 min drive
  • South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Buffet at Four Winds Casino - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Four Winds Sports Bar - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Timbers at Four Winds Casino - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Stray Dog Bar & Grill - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Redamak's Tavern - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH PRIVATE BEACH. located?

This family-friendly Lakeside cottage is located on the waterfront, within 1 mi (2 km) of Burnison Galleries and Lake Michigan. Union Pier Beach and Gordon Beach are also within 15 minutes.

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. 28 out of 29 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 29 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 29 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Laura C.

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

Lovely cabin on beautiful beach

We’ve been visiting this area for years and this property has it all. Beautiful clean cabin, incredible view of the sunset over the lake, and gorgeous beach. Highly recommend!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ken C.

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

Amazing place

No complaints at all, owner greeted us at the property and made sure we had all the information we needed. Place was very clean, great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Brenda H.

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

Great relaxing place

Excellent communication with Maria during the booking and thru out the stay. House is very clean and great location right on the beach. Lots of trails around and good places to eat. Highly recommend for small groups to go for a relaxing get away!!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim C.

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

Great sister getaway

A proper lake cottage with the sound of the waves lulling you to sleep each night. Wonderful beach time with beautiful sunsets. We had a great time. Even got some exercise in with the stairs and the beach walks. Wonderful, relaxing reunion!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary H.

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

Wonderful retreat

Had an absolutely positively delightful stay. Was the perfect place for me and a couple of girlfriends to escape and enjoy the peace and beauty of the area. Maria could not have been a more lovely host
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrea H.

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

Beach Time

Small, but adequate for 4. Truly just some stairs down to the beach! And near great coffee, restaurants & breweries! L❤️VED our time there!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

SHANNON R., Oakwood

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

Relaxing getaway

Great location, beautiful private property and beach. The futon was not very comfortable as a couch but overall it was very nice.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stacy S.

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

Excellent Get Away for Rest and Relaxation

This property is so peaceful, nestled in the trees, but beach access available. The kitchen is stocked with everything you would need to cook at home and with a view like this, why would you want to leave and go out. We really enjoyed our stay here and would definitely go back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Karen C.

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

Cute cabin for girls get away

Great communication and a little slice of heaven!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

KAREN S.

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

Very lovely lake view. 🥰 and love private access to the beach

Love the back yard! 😍. Especially lake view and private access to the beach.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa K.

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

Our Michigan getaway

We loved our stay at this place. The accommodations were as shown online. The house was immaculate. The weather was perfect. Easy timely communication with the host made our trip so easy.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

JIll M.

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

Weekend getaway

We had a great weekend getaway. Maria met us when we arrived, showed us around, gave us suggestions for restaurants and nearby attractions. The cottage was great! It was fully stocked with everything we needed!! There was a short walk to the beach with outstanding views. There were beach chairs, umbrellas for guests to utilize and a great common area for campfires. We absolutely enjoyed this place!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Grace P.

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

Fantastic Cottage

Fantastic location close to shopping and restaurants. Host was very helpful prior to our stay and during our stay. Spot on with cottage photos. Great yard for family campfire, picnic, and outdoor games. Beach chairs and foam boards provided along with private beach access. Our family of 5 adults and a17 month old had had a fantastic week! Thank you!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin M.

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

Family vacation

My family had a great stay at the Donner’s cottage! It was perfect for us and had everything we needed. We loved the view and the private beach was awesome. Maria was super helpful and responded to our questions right away. Thank you for letting my husband and I have great quality time with our 5 kids(ages 22 to 10). Lots of fun memories created during our stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laurene J.

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

Just Wonderful.

Mark and Maria could not have been better hosts. Communication before and during our stay was prompt and helpful. Inside was immaculate and included a very well stocked kitchen. Outside had numerous table and chair options where we ate the majority of our meals. Every morning we walked the beautiful beach and every night we were provided with a beautiful sunset. Our whole family will have fond memories of our stay on Lake Michigan because of Mark and Maria - Thank you so much!
Stayed 12 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mariah Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Beautiful, welcoming space

A beautiful, welcoming space for meaningful family time. Steps away from a gorgeous beach. Friendly and very responsive host. Extremely clean. Totally charming decor and updates. The listing notes a washer. I believe that applies to one side of the duplex, but not the other. Reach out to host if that aspect is important to you. We really had a wonderful getaway at this magical space.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rose G.

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

Overall very clean

Maria was very good at communicating before and during our stay. The house is overall clean and with great view and access to the private beach. My family and I enjoyed our stay, we can’t wait for next summer.

10/10 Excellent

Pamela H.

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

Weekend Getaway

We enjoyed our weekend at Thunder Dune. The property was exactly what I had in mind and the beach was beautiful. So many fun things to do in the area, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Would totally rent this place again. Thanks again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Teresa S.

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

Great little place!!

Really enjoyed our visit. Mark and Maria made us feel welcome. Great communication. Enjoyed the fire pit and the lovely beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jane S.

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

Lovely Beach Cottage

Maria and Mark made us feel at home in this cozy cottage. Airy and fantastic sunsets over the lake.

8/10 Good

Cassie M.

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

The beach and property are in an excellent location. The private beach was a key find!

This was great property the beach and sunsets were spectacular. The owners are great! We will definitely be returning. Charming beach cottage!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Mallory R.

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

Just what we needed

Perfect spot for our moms get away weekend. Owners are very nice. Excellent view, easy beach access, clean and comfortable accommodations. Easy access to awesome food and antique shopping. Hope to return someday!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jared K.

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

Peaceful getaway

This home is a great location. My mother and I got away from families to celebrate her 60th birthday. The home is cozy and comfortable. Right on the beach. Close to shops and wineries. All around wonderful

10/10 Excellent

Scott A.

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

Nice Cottage

A very nice property with a nice private staircase down to the beach!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Margo O., Indianapolis, USA

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

Great Lake Cabin

We had a perfect girls weekend enjoying the beautiful lake front at this cabin and also exploring the surrounding towns of southwest Michigan. Maria was an attentive and wonderful host. We look forward to renting here in the future!

About the host

Hosted by Maria Donner

Host profile image
Mark & I are passionate about Lake Michigan! Our family has years (generations) of cherished memories here. Family owned since the early 60s. We prioritize the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, maintaining high standards for cleaning, maintaining, and assisting them when needed.
Retro cottage feel with upgrades for comfort and all you need for a wonderful stay.

Why they chose this property

The neighborhood chose us! It is an upscale area and super popular for beautiful sights & activities all around. Lake view and private beach access right in the front yard Summer weeks book up quickly with repeat families . We also offer plenty of nicely groomed yard space for grilling, picnicking and playing. Large yard overlooking Lake Michigan is shady and cool with lake breezes, and the sounds of the waves crashing make for a slice of heaven. The Donner family has roots in nearby Three Oaks and the cottage is multi generational.
A pleasantly unique experience in a spotless, & comfy summer cottage. We often refer to it as "the cottage of content" and it's actual name is "Thunderdune".

What makes this property unique

Nature, art & music, family fun, or nightlife! take your pick! Great Wi-Fi for “working vacations”
So very rare to stay in a cute, clean, comfy cottage with sunset, private stairs and soft sandy beach right in the front yard!
Walking or biking distance to Whistle stop deli, Red Arrow Roadhouse, and Skips European market (weekends). New bike/pedestrian path alongside Red Arrow hwy links to restaurants, delis and party stores.
Visit nearby festivals, casinos, micro brews and wineries.
Take a day trip into Chicago museums riding the nearby Amtrak or South Shore line trains. Shop boutiques in nearby New Buffalo, and Three Oaks. 15 minute drive to Michigan City Lighthouse outlet mall.
Family fun parks also nearby & multiplex cinemas, fabulous restaurants, delis, wine tasting & microbreweries.
Birds watchers enjoy the many species visiting our trees, flowerbeds and landscaping. On clear mornings and evenings you can see the Chicago skyline across the lake.
Sunset is viewed from the front yard, while playing yard games, grilling & chilling in a lounger or Adirondack. Perfect for reading, sketching, journaling. Lakeshore drive for biking, jogging, and strolls. Bike/Pedestrian path along Red Arrow highway Union Pier. Easy bike ride to Red Arrow Roadhouse, and Whistle Stop deli.
Beautiful upscale neighborhood. Quick ride to Union Pier's trendy Black Currant Bakehouse, Timothy's fine dining, The social and ice cream shop, grocery & party store within a couple miles.
Garage space for bikes & beach toys. nearby rentals deliver large floats, bikes, & kayaks.
Onsite parking for your vehicle & some roadside usually available for visitors. Nearby boat launch & fishing opportunities. Personal attention & information access as needed.

Languages:

English