See all properties
Entire home

Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach!

Photo gallery for Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach!

Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Living area
Dining

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12260.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Gary, IN
  • Marquette Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Ogden Dunes Beach
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • West Beach
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Gary, IN (GYY-Gary - Chicago Intl.)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach!

Miller Beach is a small beach front community less than 1 hour from Chicago. This accessibility and the fact that it borders the Indiana Dunes makes this a little hidden gem. This light and bright house is situated across the street from the beach with a pretty path right across from the house.

The house was completely updated in 2015 and now has all the features of a great house for all seasons. The open layout of the first floor gives you a relaxing place to hang out with family or friends. There is ample space for multiple families. The house will sleep 12 people comfortably. Rate advertised is for up to 8 guests. Fees apply for additional guests.

The house offers an open first floor and a warm and cozy wood burning fireplace. The open kitchen is beautiful with a gas stove, dishwasher, and large island. The open floor plan offers a large dining area, spacious sitting area around the fireplace and a separate game table. The first floor powder room has a penny floor- see if you can find the Indian Head or Steel penny!

The Master Bedroom is spacious, and has a queen bed with a sitting area and lake views. The 2nd Bedroom has a queen bed. The Master bathroom is large with a separate shower with a rain shower and Handheld, a separate soaking tub and a large vanity with 2 sinks. The second floor also has a cozy sitting area at the top of the stairs with lake views which is great for reading!

There are 3 additional bedrooms on the lower level. The lower level also has an additional sitting area, and laundry. The lower level bathroom has a shower and 2 separate sinks with pocket doors providing privacy allowing for more than one person to use at the same time.

The back deck is large and has a gas grill and table and chairs. Parking for 3 cars.

Come back from the beach, cook your favorite meat on the grill or just hang out on the deck. All linens are provided.

Camera on the exterior of the property offers additional security.

Property manager

Margaret Spaan
Premier Host

Languages

Arabic, English, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Exterior

Casa Blanca in Miller Beach!

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.8 out of 10, (69 reviews)
Casa Blanca in Miller Beach!

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 30
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Kids are ALWAYS to be accompanied by an adult.
default

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings
Events are an additional fee. Pending approval.
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)
Up to 3 pets allowed. Nightly fee per pet applies.
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
5 night minimum stay requirement during Summer Season (June 1- September 15)
Rate advertised is for up to 8 Guests; additional fee of $25 per guest/per night regardless of age.
Use of Hot Tub only when fees and waivers have been completed.

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 (including family gatherings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 12
Note from host: Events are an additional fee. Pending approval.
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 deadlock

About the area

Gary

Located on the beach, this holiday home is in Miller Beach, a neighbourhood in Gary. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Indiana Dunes National Park and Lake Michigan. Travelling with kids? Consider Deep River Water Park and Team Combat LIVE. Discover the area's water adventures with power boating and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling.
Map
Gary, IN

What's nearby

  • Marquette Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Marquette Beach - 3 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Ogden Dunes Beach - 9 min drive - 6.0 km
  • West Beach - 9 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Portage Lakefront Beach - 12 min drive - 9.5 km

Getting around

  • Portage - Ogden Dunes Train to Chicago - 7 min drive
  • Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Flying J Travel Center - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪John T McCutcheon Travel Plaza - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Denny's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Polekatz Indiana - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Restored Cottage Across The Street From The Beach! located?

Nestled on the beach, this Miller Beach holiday home is just steps away from Marquette Park and Lake Michigan. Indiana Dunes National Park is 1.1 mi (1.7 km) away.

Reviews

9.8

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. 85 out of 95 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 95 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 95 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 95 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 95 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Carol M.

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

Thanksgiving Family Trip

Great house for large family. Very cozy, yet spacious. Fenced yard was great as was the close proximity to the beach
Stayed 9 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

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

Always a good time

5th year in this great house steps from the beach. Everything you need.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

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

Our third stay!

We love this property, so spacious and comfortable, filled with art, books, board games and everything you need for a relaxing and fun stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

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

Wonderful stay

We stayed for 3 nights for a friends trip. The house was very nice, with a lot of room for hanging out inside and out. The best part was the proximity to the beach. You can easily walk to the beach from the house, and the owners provided beach chairs, towels, a wagon, and other beach needs. We had a lovely stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ting T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeannine B.

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

Perfect location to the beach

Our family loved staying here as the beach is walking distance in a nice quiet neighborhood. The home itself is nicely decorated with all the amenities needed for cooking, relaxing and visiting the beach. There was plenty of room for everyone to sleep and clean updated bathrooms to meet everyone's needs. My only suggestions would be for some updated chairs/pillows in the living room area and a few repairs on the decking. You provided a fabulous outdoor shower area (even with hot water) adjacent to the hot tub so there is absolutely no reason for sand to get into the hot tub. We utilized this along with your generous beach chairs and sand toys. We would most definitely stay here again. Thank you!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

David M.

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

Fantastic!

Loved the 3 levels! So close to the beach! Hot tub was a wonderful extra! And being able to watch the fireworks from the beach was amazing! Would love to return! (Only negative…some living room furnishings could stand to be updated/replaced.)
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

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

Summer Family Lake Getaway

Our two families (4 adults, 4 kids ages 8-13) had a blast! The location is perfect for hanging out at the beach on Lake Michigan. So close you can go back and forth from the house to the lake with ease. The views of the lake from the upstairs is gorgeous. Very clean house with plenty of space. Beach chairs, a cooler and towels were all available upon our arrival. We would absolutely stay here again and I hope we are able to come back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Bill Carol P.

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

Bowlers

Curtains or shades on the windows would be nice. Couldn't find guestbook. Bought laundry detergent to start washer with towels. Otherwise , everything was great! Enjoyed our stay. Thanks
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elaine M.

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

Awesome location and family friendly home

With the exception of a few very minor items, our stay was fantastic! Very clean and well supplied kitchen, comfy beds and toys/books for the young ones among us (5 grandsons 7 years old to 20 months old). There is an ample supply of and dish soap, but bring your own shampoo/conditioner and shower soap or body wash.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pamela P.

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

Family Christmas Adventure

We stayed with our large family with the grandkids and it was plenty of space for us. We had 10 in total. We enjoyed the beach that was in close proximity to the house. Everything was very clean and updated and the hosts were great to work with. Any questions we had, they were very helpful. Highly recommend this place!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Susan L., Tinley Park

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

Great beach getaway!

This cottage is very family friendly for cooking, playing games, gathering together either out back or just across the street at the beach. The Chicago skyline is amazing on this beach and when conditions are good, the sunset is second to none. This one is a keeper!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mike S., Oak Park, IL

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

Always a good time

4th year in this house. Everything is perfect. Close to beach. Lots of space to chill.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

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

Our annual holiday

This is our 3rd year, and we have already booked for 2024. We love this house and it’s proximity to the beach!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nora M.

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

2nd Stay

Our 2nd stay at the "Blue House"! 4th, 5th and 6th generation Miller Beach kids enjoyed our stay and a front row to the Gary Air Shore. This home is the perfect Miller Beach location. Perfect layout, well stocked and an attentive owner, which is hard to find! This time we were without my brother, but we truely felt his presence in every sunrise and sunset. Thank you Margaret....
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Don P.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in

Lovely place

We loved the house, it is very well laid out, and met our needs perfectly. It could not have been better located. Only reason I downgraded the check in process, is we had been given the wrong code for the lock box, struggled thirty minutes with it in the heat, had to call to get correct number, leaving message the first call.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew M.

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

A perfect beach getaway

Beautiful house, plenty of room for everybody, super convenient access to a perfect beach, well-stocked modem kitchen, sweet hot tub. This place has it all! My family had a great time just hanging around and relaxing. We'll be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

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

Another great time at The Beach

The location and amenities are perfect for a multi-generational family vacation. We had another lovely time and plan to be back again next year. I think we've finally found "our" spot on Lake Michigan that meets all of our needs. After a second year stay, it feels like a home away from home.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Betty W.

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

Miller Beach Property

This is a beautiful property that our family absolutely enjoyed this year. Its location right across from an entrance to the beach was ideal. There were several beach toys that were used by all. The kitchen was well stocked with cookware and dishes. We will be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claire P.

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

So lovely!

Loved the amenities- outdoor shower, hot tub, beautiful porch area in the back of the house! Definitely the most beautiful house in the whole area. The beach entrance was across the street and was amazing- you do have to walk over a small hill of sand to reach the beach, just an fyi for those with any mobility needs. There were a few items that could use repair, but nothing that negatively affected our group of 10 (including small children). Overall a very enjoyable time and wonderful home!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sally C.

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

Wedding weekend

we loved every minute of it! The place was wonderful, the owner was accessible and we didn't want to leave1
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lizabeth B.

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

The location is perfect.

The walk to the beach was short, and enjoyable. The beach itself is lovely and provided the perfect playground for my granddaughter. The house is spacious, with an open first floor. Upstairs has 2 bedrooms and full bath. Three bedrooms in the basement, again with full bath. My favorite spot in the house was the deck off the kitchen. I can confirm that the cushioned couch was the perfect spot for a nap. Complaints were few and minor: manual can opener needs to be replaced in the otherwise well stocked kitchen, the knob for the fan over the stove (which was awesome) was missing, but fortunately after a few minutes of looking around, I remembered where I previously seen it in the pantry, and written instructions should be provided for bathroom faucets and the hot tub. Great hot tub and the outdoor shower was an added bonus. Loved the entire weekend. Will be coming back, hopefully next time for a week.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mike S., Oak Park, IL

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

Perfect

This is our 3rd year at this property. Big common space and outdoor spaces. Close to the beach.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Michael C.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Almost on the beach

Terrific in many ways. Nice open concept on the first floor allows the entire family to interact. Good outdoor space to enjoy the evenings, including a hot tub and a smallish grill (which worked well after a good cleaning). The rental is a very short walk -- just across Lake St (which is about 12 feet wide) to a short trail -- to an outstanding Lake Michigan beach where the views across the lake to Chicago were spectacular. On the first day of our stay, we kept waiting for the "Access instructions" on VRBO to become accessible so that we could get the key from the lock box, but even after the listed check-in time the instructions never did appear (maybe a VRBO error?); as a result, we called the owner who gave us the code (we told her about the issue with VRBO, so perhaps it is fixed). Due to a big storm the night before we arrived, we were without power in the house until we contacted the local power company but, thankfully, they got us back up sun set. Overall, a functional, well-equipped place with an awesome lake-side location.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

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

Another lovely week at the beach house!

We have already reserved for August 2023 because we love staying here. The house has every amenity, the children love the hot tub, and the beach is so close. We had a wonderful time.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Margaret Spaan

Host profile image
Margaret is a realtor with @ properties in the Chicago area. She started Restore North Shore, a construction and design company in 2010. She discovered Miller Beach in 2013, and purchased this abandoned cottage in 2014 with the desire to breathe life back into it. It was a complete labor of love, and she hopes to purchase more homes in need of repair throughout Chicago and the Miller area.

Why they chose this property

Just across the street from the beach, this property is a wonderful place to gather with family and friends!

Languages:

English, Spanish, Arabic

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback