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Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included!

Photo gallery for Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included!

Brand new kitchen featuring quartz countertops, cooktop, oven and refrigerator.
Private kitchen
Dining
Dining
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 15

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Rome City, IN
  • Sylvan Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Witmer Lake
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Sturgis, MI (IRS-Kirsch Municipal)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 15)

Bedroom 2

1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

Master

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bedroom 4 bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Main floor bathroom

Toilet

Master bedroom

Toilet · Shower only

Second floor hall bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

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

About this property

Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included!

Grape Island Getaway, locally known as Bishop Island, is a unique, private island with a beautiful stone home built in 1900. It is the perfect landing place for a family vacation. You and your guests will be the only ones on the 4.2 acre island! It truly is a PRIVATE ISLAND. It may only be accessed by boat. Due to the midwest winters, Grape Island Getaway is only available May through October each year.

Although the exterior maintains the 1900 charm, the interior is newly renovated and can comfortably sleep up to 15 people. Main floor has primary bedroom with ensuite, a gorgeous kitchen including: double ovens, an induction cooktop, and plenty of space to cook and hang out, a dining area, fireplace and living room with leather reclining couches. Upstairs you'll find three bedrooms, including a kids' bunk room with its own bathroom, and another bathroom. Internet is included as well.

Outside there are plenty of activities to keep everyone happily busy. The 669 acre lake has pristine water, and should you choose to rent the island, you will have full access to a pontoon boat for the duration of your stay (pontoon rental alone would be $200 a day!) With 2000 feet of shoreline, Grape Island Getaway has prime fishing - make sure to bring fishing poles to catch walleye, blue gill, crappie, and large mouth bass-perfect for a fish fry. Not into fishing? There is a great sandy shore for swimming or launching kayaks - three are included. You will not be disappointed with Grape Island Getaway!

Property manager

Kristi Gillespie

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: 25
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
Outside only

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 and a first aid kit

About the area

Rome City

Located in Rome City, this holiday home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Chain O' Lakes State Park and Sylvan Lake, while Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site and Mid-America Windmill Museum are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Rome City, IN

What's nearby

  • Sylvan Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Bishop Island - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Witmer Lake - 10 min drive - 7.5 km
  • Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site - 11 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Dallas Lake - 15 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

  • Waterloo Station - 34 min drive
  • Goshen, IN (GSH-Goshen Municipal) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Twin Six Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Coppertop Tavern - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Wings Etc - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Breakfast House - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Unique Private Island Home on Midwest Sport Lake with Pontoon Boat included! located?

This family-friendly Rome City holiday home is located on a lake, just steps away from Sylvan Lake and Bishop Island. Twin Island and The Way College of Biblical Research are also within 2 miles (3 km).

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. 39 out of 48 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 48 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 48 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nick H.

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

Unforgettable

We had an excellent time and made memories that will last a lifetime!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa S.

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

family get away

although we were only 30 minutes from home it was a great place to stay and relax.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Roberta M.

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

Relaxing

The overall stay was very relaxing with little to worry about. Privacy and quiet were every moment. The owner very responsive to our questions. The web description said extra refrigerator and hot tub. When asked about it was explained by owner. This did not disrupt the fun that we had and great experience at the house and lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Krista W.

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

Yearly Lake Trip

Property was nice and spacious. Everything we needed was available.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

John A.

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

Great Island Trip

Our family had a great time on Grape Island. The accommodations were great and having access to a boat for the week was wonderful. Being on an island is not as challenging as you imagine because the trip to the mainland is 2-3 minutes. We would recommend this location to everyone!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Luke R.

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

Great Getaway

My family and I had a great time at this island lake house. The kitchen and living area is great. The kids loved the swimming area. Game nights on the porch overlooking the lake were perfect. The owner was very responsive.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Terry A.

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

Unique Experience!

My family of 11 had a great time. We took advantage of all the amenities the island offered. The owners were very accommodating. It is a great place to create many family memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

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

Wonderful Getaway

This is a beautiful and historic property. It’s like stepping back in time, but with all the modern conveniences. The house itself is beautiful and spacious. Having the whole private island to yourself is amazing. The use of the pontoon to explore Sylvan Lake, go fishing or make a trip to the store was so nice. Highly recommend for a family getaway!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Cindy I.

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

Family vacation

We enjoyed our stay so much. The home was perfect for our late family of 12. The kids had a blast as well as the adults. The only issues we could mention to improve on would be the outdoor furniture was not really useable and the beach area could use some seating. Nothing that impacted the overall experience. Four stars all the way, we would book again! This family recommends this property!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lori W.

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

Island Getaway for Family Vacation

We had a great time on the island making memories with our grown kids and grandkids. The littles enjoyed swimming, fishing, and playing in the sand. My sons-in-law even set up a "treasure hunt" for the kids to find a treasure chest with fake jewels buried in the sand. They loved it. It was a great place to relax and fun to explore the lake.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathy K., Indianapolis, USA

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

One of our coolest trips ever!

This is an amazing spot - we had three couples and a couple younger children and we thoroughly enjoyed the island. It was so fun to explore the lake on the pontoon, which you can take to the market or ice cream shop (when it's open, we were late in the season). The nice big yard is great for playing ball and we spent every dry evening by the fire pit - a wonderfully relaxing spot at night. Beautiful kitchen, plenty of spices and pans and things I don't expect to find at a VRBO. Quick responses from owner when little questions came up - we hope to be back again!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Chad S.

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

Awesome Lake - Great Renovation on a Private Island

Great host. Great check-in process. Boat pickup and access to the island was quick and painless. The internal renovation was done very well. Top of the line appliances. Plenty of room. Huge screened in outdoor patio. Pack your gear and coolers with food and drink - you are on an island. Easy on and off access to the boat and kayaks.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Paula W.

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

Perfect private stay with use of Pontoon

Location is very private which was perfect for us. Cars are parked right across the lake on an easement & pontoon was waiting for us. Nicely stocked house. Everything you need in the kitchen, plenty of towels for the lake etc. First impressions: pontoon is so dirty & absolutely covered with cobwebs and spiders. House itself was cleaned but porch area could have used a broom to it. Couldn’t figure out how to work oven - it wouldn’t turn on. No instructions for it. Water leak from en-suite bathroom upstairs- coming into dining table area Very warm upstairs Need water shoes for beach area - lots of sharp rocks Dishwasher doesn’t clean dishes very well Dishes sitting in cabinet were dirty. Had to wash everything befor using. Very small hot water heater - everybody’s showers were cold It would have been nice if Beds were made
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Andre R.

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

Bishop Island

House was great. The outside / exterior wasn’t quite as nice. Loved having a boat, but it was very dirty and full of cobwebs and debris. There was a swing on site, but it was old and rusted. Would’ve rather not had one. The dock pad used for jumping in the water had a screw sticking out of the steps. Overall the stay was great, but would have loved to see these little things fixed.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leigh Ann E.

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

Great place to stay!

We had a wonderful time on Sylvan Lake. The house was perfect for our family of adults and toddlers, much more roomy than I thought it would be. Kids liked the "beach" and eating lunch on the boat! The lake was very quiet during the week- which we loved, gave us time to kayak, fish, and sit by the fire. I will say only one adult got poision ivy (she is highly allergic) all the kids stayed on the paths and were able to avoid that. We did have an issue with bees getting into the house- but I am sure that can be remedied easy enough. There was enough sleeping room for everyone- the house was pitch black a night- great for sleeping. Kristy and crew could not have been more responsive to my question pre trip and while we were on the island. We had a great trip and made lots of memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jenny S.

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

Great Space

We had a wonderful time at Grape Island. The boat was easy to use and the island isn't too far from shore, so even though it took us multiple trips to unload it didn't take terribly long. The big yard, trail around the island, and screened in porch were amazing spaces for the kids in our group to play! It is worth noting that the staircase is rather steep and narrow up to the second floor. If anyone in the group has trouble with stairs they should plan to stay in the master on the first floor. We had to change our sleeping arrangements because my grandpa couldn't do the stairs safely. I would also recommend this trip to be an offline experience. Two members of our group had to jump on several work calls during the week and the wifi was not strong enough to support their connection. They ended up working from the public library in Kendalville. Overall, the space was a ton of fun and the old stone house is gorgeous!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Grape Island Partners L., Colorado

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

Idyllic private island stay on Sylvan Lake in Rome City, Indiana July 2019

We rented Bishop Island for our small family reunion (11 people) and couldn’t have been more excited with this property. This home features modern conveniences with its 2018/2019 remodel, while maintaining many of the beautiful 1900 era home features. Absolutely love the expansive front porch, stone walls, original windows and doors including a “Dutch” door- I had forgotten these. Being on an island was a unique experience, loved the privacy while being in the middle of the lake. The island is mostly undeveloped with beautiful large trees, lovely birdsong, chipmunks, and great firefly (lightening bug) shows at night. Having 3.5 bathrooms is definitely convenient. The 4 bedrooms are large, furniture is laid out well, & the bedding is comfortable. I even had to ask what brand of mattresses these were as we plan to buy one for home since we slept so well. The kitchen is well-equipped with very modern appliances and great space for a large group to eat together while we share our favorite recipes. We only left once to go out to eat and explore a little Amish country. Loved looking at old lake property maps & reading some of the history of Rome City & the lake that are present in the house. Sylvan is a beautiful all-sport lake. Even though it is smaller than the lake I grew up on, it has several fantastic bays for your favorite water activities. During the week, you may even have a bay all to yourself. Sylvan is now my favorite lake – out of several in Indiana, Michigan & New Mexico. Just wish there was a marina on the lake to gas up. There are views of the lake from both the front & back deck of the house, and a sandy area for swimming just off the shore on the backside- a short kayak or pontoon ride away, both of which were provided for our stay. For July 4th, the fireworks were amazing over the water, one of the best shows ever! Kristi was great to work with and always responded quickly to our questions. It is obvious that she loves this home and that many of the residents of Sylvan Lake are excited to see this house renovated and occupied again. Can’t wait to come back! Shelley C.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Bryce S.

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

Island

This place was amazing! The inside of the house was way better than we thought it would be. The only way to make this place better would be to clear out more weeds along the shore line. Overall it was perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim W.

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

Fun long weekend to end the summer

A group of 8 adults and 7 kids under the age of 4 stayed here for our annual trip together. We loved swimming at the beach and hanging out on the screened porch. There is plenty of space to spread out in the house. The amenities are abundant, and having an extra fridge on the screened porch was a lifesaver with so many of us there. My only suggestion is a good spray down with a hose or at least wiping away cobwebs on the boat as it was covered with webs and spiders when we arrived, but we had a wonderful stay making memories with our families.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

John M.

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

Wonderful

Pleasantly rustic, ample embellishments, sports equipment, lots of things to do, great environment with many nearby points of interest. great lake for cruising with lots of interesting coves and basins.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Arlynn H.

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

Relaxing time on Sylvan Lake

Great property. Immaculate house, great upgrades.. Truly enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Timothy S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Family vacation with grand kids.

Property manager and owners were very responsive. Unfortunately, there were some issues with the local help that were supposedly taking care of the yardwork, exterior cleaning, but the owners handled the situation as best they could. It made the first couple days of our trip more stressful than it should have been. The interior was functional, but additional furniture would be a big help for families that use it. (Dressers, shelves in the bathroom, more lamps) Additionally, the screened porch could be a huge asset, but the screening needs replacing, and a good cleaning is required. We chased many wasps, and 1 bird out of the porch. Lastly, it could be the area, but the internet was very spotty, at best. Using computers and/or watching TV was a challenge. This place has sooooo much potential, but needs some TLC for the price to rent it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Annette H.

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

Awesome

Great time
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Nancy T.

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

Fun weekend on our own island

It was a great location to meet friends halfway. As shared in other reviews, updated outdoor furniture and a seating area or furniture near the docks/beach would be nice to sit. We enjoyed exploring the area.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lynn B.

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

Family vacation

Cleaning crew did top-notch job everything was clean everything. Would be nice to clear at least 3 trees south side of house to have a nicer view to lake from patio.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Kristi Gillespie

Host profile image

Languages:

English
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