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Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island

Photo gallery for Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island

Harmony House on Pelee Island
Sunset from the Deck
From the back porch of Harmony House
kitchen
living  room

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good
5 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 10204.4 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Pelee Island, ON
  • Pelee Island Heritage Centre
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Pelee Island Lighthouse
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Pelee Island Winery Pavilion
    ‪10 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island

Harmony House on the South Bay of Pelee Island is a place to unwind, unplug and reconnect. It's a place for families large and small , for hikers, bicyclists, fishermen, swimmers, sunbathers and bird watchers.

(PLEASE NOTE. Our large cottage only rents for 1or 2 week sessions during the summer season. No weekends. GO TO RENTAL RATES TO SEE WEEKLY RATES IN CANADA $) Thanks....oh, and by the way, this is not a B and B.

Outside, where you'll probably spend the most time, is a large grassy lawn with shade trees, and an observation deck overlooking Lake Erie and the clean blue water that stretches as far as you can see. In the morning from the deck on the break-wall, you'll take your cup of hot tea and often watch flocks of geese, cormorant, pelicans, great blue herons, gulls and egrets feed in the sandy shallows. In the afternoon you can sunbathe, read, play cards or swim in the warm shallow water. There is a small beach nearby, but no steps from our deck, since the storms summer 2018 washed them away twice. We swim at Eagle Beach, a small, little used beach about 3 minutes walk from the house, or at one of the several other public beaches a short drive away. Perhaps you'll take a bike ride along the shore to the public beach, or the old lighthouse. Maybe you'll want to tour the winery, or go to the museum which tells about the history of the island and about the endangered and rare wildlife that find a home here. Some days may want to rent bikes or kayaks. or perhaps charter a boat and go fishing.



Pelee is famous for rare birds and butterfly migrations, so bring your binoculars. In the evening you'll watch the sunset from the deck and roast marshmallows over a campfire or if you're in the mood, head for one of the local restaurants for a fish dinner and some music. Before bed go back out to the deck to look at a sky full of stars.

The cottage has 5 bedrooms, one with a king bed, two with queen beds, and two with two twin beds. Most rooms are air-conditioned but because of the constant breeze from the lake all the rooms are usually cool and comfortable.

There is a laundry room with washer and dryer. Also available, TV and VCR. You can make reservations for the ferry, which runs several times daily, from Canada or Sandusky, Ohio. You can also fly from Port Clinton, Ohio or Windsor CA.

* Bring your own sheets, pillow cases and towels. Blankets are provided.
* Basic food is available at the Island Co-op store, but it’s expensive. There is also a farmer’s market at the quarry on Saturday AM
* Toliet paper, dish soap, laundry soap and hand soap are provided.
* There is a gas/charcoal grill, with propane but bring your own charcoal if you prefer.
* Wifi is purposely not provided. We get emails and text out on the deck if we use our cell phones. You can also connect at the Art Works store for a small fee.
* Comfort Tech Bikes rents bicycles and will even bring them to you if you don’t have a vehicle. There is also a taxi and you can arrange tours.



Keywords:

Property manager

Tom and Patsy Harman

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Gym

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
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

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 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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Pelee Township

Located in Pelee Township, this cottage is in a rural area and on a lake. Pelee Island Heritage Centre and Charles Herndon Sculpture Garden are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Pelee Island Winery Pavilion and Schmidlin's Hidden Harbor Marina. Kimberly's Carousel and Perry's Cave are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Pelee Island, ON

What's nearby

  • Fish Point Provincal Nature Reserve Trailhead - 7 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Pelee Island Heritage Centre - 8 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Pelee Island Lighthouse - 8 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Fish Point Nature Reserve - 8 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Pelee Island Winery Pavilion - 10 min drive - 5.2 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Westview Tavern - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Stone House 1891 - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Pelee Island Winery Pavilion - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Pelee Island Coneheads - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Conorlee's Bakery & Delicatessen - ‬20 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Harmony House on South Bay, Pelee Island located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is steps from Lake Erie and within 3 mi (5 km) of Fish Point Provincial Park and Fish Point Provincal Nature Reserve Trailhead. Pelee Island Heritage Centre and Pelee Island Lighthouse are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

8.4

Very good

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. 6 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

8.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

8.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Valerie O.

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

Harmony House

We enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

David W.

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

Work

We were there for work it was very nice and comfortable and quiet with a great view of the lake.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Bettina H.

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

Nice to be there again

Some nice improvements since Covid, especially vent fan and light over stove! Beds are comfortable. Lots of room for family units. Lovely property.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Patricia H.

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

Relaxing

Well furnished, comfortable traditional home. Both bathrooms downstairs with steep stairs to second floor and all but one bedroom.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Robert D.

peaceful bliss on Lake Erie

Had a great vacation at Harmony House. Since it is on the south side of the island it does not get the traffic as on the west side of the island with the dock and businesses or the north side of the island with the restaurants (not that there is a rush hour in those areas). The deck on the sea wall is a great place to relax and read or soak up the sun. Read all the books by the property owner in addition to other books in the bookcase. Also lots of videos and dvd's available if you want to watch movies. Lots of land between houses so there is a lot of privacy. All the restaurants on the island have great food and desserts. Grocery store is handy if necessary though we bought the bulk of our groceries in Leamington before we got on the ferry. Fully equipped kitchen if you want to cook your own meals, which we did many times. Hope to be back soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017

6/10 Okay

Becky P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

For those who want to be one with nature

Was expecting a sandy beach w/in walking distance from the house- but all we found was a rocky area, so we didn’t end up being able to swim there, and had to drive to the beach. We had mice in the kitchen which we discovered our first morning and had to throw away a lot of food and spent a lot of time cleaning up mice droppings-there were also a lot of insects inside the home (several varieties) I’m currently covered with bites all over my body that ate me during the night while sleeping. The house was large, so there was room for everyone. If you go there be sure to get directions to the house- since there is no wi-if you can’t rely on a navigation system - took our party well over an hour to find the house with no way to contact the hosts
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Amer A.

Peaceful enjoyable time

We had a wonderful quality time at the Harmony House. It is located at the southern side of the of island which is very quite area away from the mildly more active Northern and Western sides. The following are the positive and the constructive comments: * The owners are wonderful friendly couple! they stayed in the barn, but we hardly noticed them. We actually asked for some extra favors since they were reachable :) * The island is very peaceful place, the shops close anywhere from 2pm, 4pm and very few later. The co-op has some essentials (eggs, milk, baking materials, and some snacks) But for our party of 10, we brought two big coolers and few bags full of food. We ended up buying milk. The trash dumpster has short operating hours and takes $3 per bag but free for recyclables, we took some trash in the trailer back to Ontario. * The house has a large yard for kids to play around, located on a 15 KPH (10 mph) dirt road. * Is on the edge of shallow beach that you can walk down the stairs and into a 100 ft length of shallow water. Which starts rocky then gets sandy further in. The stairs could use an update as few steps had some nails sticking out and the last cement step is tilted downward and slippery * it's right next to a deserted marina which is great if you have a boat and want to drop it off. It is deserted so it's free to park, however it is pretty gone in terms of docking areas, so you probably want to lift off your boat out of water, park it in the northern marina, or enjoy a little swim back and forth to your boat * The house has 5 bedrooms and 10 people can sleep in comfort. There are 5 small window A/C around the house which are sufficient when it's not too hot outside, but you will need to keep the bedroom doors open upstairs since only 2 out of the 4 rooms have ACs. We would appreciate more cleaning to be done prior to our stay. Carpets could use an update, and please remove the carpet from the half bathroom! More lighting needed around the house. charcoal grill works fine, the gas grill needs replacement. * Water from the filtration system, although potable, had very strong sulfuric odor. Leaving the water in a pitcher for a while solves it, but we ended up filling water from a water machine on the W shore Rd. I think the filtration system may need some tuning. * For fishing, go the Northern side of the island. Nothing bites on the southern side. It was a great time to unwind and unplug! Recommended!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

Chris L.

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

8/10 Good

Patricia b.

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

Peaceful

Great getaway. No beach access however there is a beach 2-minute walk. No WIFI awesome there are great movies DVD, VHS, and great family games. Everyone is so nice in town and waves. The hike to the lighthouse is so worth it. Great fishing, trails nature reserves, and excellent wine tour. Make sure you have everything you need supply wise coop is expensive. If you want to unplug come to Harmony House the name truly expalins everythinh tha it is.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary-Louise G.

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

Well named - Harmony House

Everything we could have wanted and dog friendly! It was a perfectly peaceful place to stay and such a pretty island, and the locals are all so friendly. Thanks Tom and Patsy, Mary and friends
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

6/10 Okay

Danae W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Lovely with some issues

We had a good time on Pelee. It is a beautiful island especially if you love and are interested in nature. There are several different eco-systems happening here, which are fascinating. and so important. The cottage is on a beautiful spot right next to the lake. Unfortunately, and I believe this is mainly due to the fact that the owners were unable to be at their property for two years because of COVID, the cottage felt like it had been neglected somewhat. It has the potential to be a very lovely place where families could really enjoy themselves. The upstairs has four very nice bedrooms with lots of airy light. However, the main floor is quite dark and feels like it needs a really good clean eg. bugs need to be cleaned from around the window in the kitchen. The bathroom off of the bedroom on the main floor needs to have the carpet taken out because it did not smell good. The living room at the back of the house,where we spent most of our time, was nice and big and had big lovely windows. It would have been nice if we could have seen the lake from the house but there is a nice deck not far from the house that overlooks the lake that people can sit on. Over all it is a nice place that needs some updates, but we had a good time nevertheless. Our dogs loved the huge beautiful back yard. Tom and Patsy, the owners, were great and very honest and communicative. They did all they could to make our stay as nice as possible under the circumstances. We'll return to Pelee Island one day. :)
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Natasha B.

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

Peaceful and serene

Spacious property. Exactly as described in listing. Lovely setting. What a joyful place to visit. We loved Harmony House and we loved Pelee. Thank you so much.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Joanna W.

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

We enjoyed our stay at Harmony House

We enjoyed our stay at Harmony House. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the property could use some updating (carpet in the bathroom etc), but my family and I didn't feel it spoiled our enjoyment. I felt the sticky notes on everything were a little over the top, though the one warning we could have used was to let us know about how hot the water gets - all 5 of us got caught out by that. I understand that because of COVID, the owners themselves couldn't be there this summer, and that meant there were a lot of cobwebs and the deck was overgrown. We cut some of the weeds back just to be able to use the deck. Overall it was fun, we had fabulous weather, and we really enjoyed being able to spend time on the island.

8/10 Good

Marta S.

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

Grandma's cottage (at least that's what it felt like)

This rustic cottage housed 10 comfortably. Not one for those faint of heart when it comes to spiders and bugs. The property was great for the kids to run, play and ride bikes. Fishing was great and the rocky beach 3 minutes away was nice. You do not need to bring a milk jug ;). The carpet through outset off my allergies, but bo one else's (my husband wanted me to mention the spiders again). On hot days the cottage ran warm but cooled off enough to sleep comfortably. Made us feel like home. Definitely recommend if you appreciate a well loved family cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Janet S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Great location/older property

Loved the property and the deck! Beautiful sunsets. But could use some TLC.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Danae H., Detroit, MI

Comfortable, Clean, Spacious, Serene, Perfect for family weekend jaunt

I miss this place already! Pat and Tom were very accommodating. They had great communication, via email and phone. So many great island suggestions and info in the home too! It was the perfect place for me, my family of 6, and yellow lab to spend the holiday weekend. It was spacious, clean, everything working (filter on the kitchen faucet was fantastic, yay for sulfur free cooking water! Also very lucky to have a washer and dryer!) There was more than enough space for us. The yard itself was huge, perfect for us to play frisbee. Sure, the house isn’t modern or hugely updated, but it’s a lived in cottage that’s been loved on and well taken care of. I’d highly recommend anyone planning to stay on Pelee to stay at Harmony House. You’ll be missing it too once you leave! :)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Ronny P.

Rustic, Private House on Pelee Island

We are a group of 5 couples that vacation together every summer. Harmony House was a lovely, secluded getaway. We read in other reviews about the proximity to the barn - but it was empty during our stay so we cannot attest to that. The kitchen and barbeque are well-equipped for cooking. One member of our group has a dust allergy that was acting up a lot from the carpeting. There is very little cellphone service and no internet in the house, which made it very secluded. Overall, we had a lovely stay in Harmony House on Pelee Island.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Bettina H.

Sunshine on the south side!

Another great stay at Harmony House. House was clean, tidy and well ready for our stay. Easily sleeps ten (five bedrooms). Two large common areas allow for great togetherness and still have the option to sneak off for a bit of quiet time. The house is more practical than fanciful and the awesome bits are really on the outside! Property is wonderful with the alley of trees, the enormous expanse of lawn, and the break water deck. Combined, they constantly call you outside. This location is exactly what you are looking for if you need to house a number of people and you love outdoor living. It's ten minutes to the hike at Fish Point, 15 minutes to the winery (!!) but still on the quiet side of the Island.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Klaus S.

As close to the water as you can get without sitting directly in it!

We were delighted. Wonderful deck atop the breakwater makes this a fabulous spot if being outside is your thing. Spacious accommodations. Not fancy but sturdy and practical. Well provisioned kitchen (including labeled cupboards & drawers) made it possible to easily execute all our cooking plans. Lots of storage for food. Outdoor grilling: charcoal grill superior to the propane in function. House was very clean and tidy for our arrival. Movies, games and books available. Electric fireplaces made for cosy nights. Common areas are well setup and allow for togetherness without sitting on top of each other. Expansive property goes right to the water's edge. Decent fishing right next door at the abandoned marina. Well situated to move easily around the island. Owners communicative and responsive. Would stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Ernest E.

Harmony House best location and property on Pelee!

Harmony House has been a favourite of mine for # of years. I believe it offers the best of location and amenities on the island. The lookout deck, located on the lake offers amazing sunset dinners and bird observations. The cottage is like a home away from home, it has everything one could ask for and more, with it's own privacy for family reunions or friends seeking a place to enjoy themselves. I can't wait to return, the only negative thing about Harmony House is that one has to Leave Eventually!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Eileen T.

Harmony House stay

We had a pleasant stay at the house. We were not able to enjoy all the benefits as we were at a wedding for the weekend and were away from the house a lot. It, therefore, was quite expensive for our stay. I do have to say that I was quite uncomfortable having the owners stay in the barn on the property, though. It felt like they were able to invade our privacy. This was especially true when the sliding glass door was open to the barn. There was nothing that said they could do this, or would do this until the weekend of the stay. Also, the house did not seem 'to code' with respect to the staircase (very steep) and definitely the lack of smoke and CO detectors. The ones there were visibly and deliberately dismantled. Very unsafe and needs to be dealt with asap before another stay. I would have liked to discuss this with the owner but was unable to do so. Overall, I would stay there but with no owners on the property and working alarms in the house.

About the host

Hosted by Tom and Patsy Harman

Host profile image
The Harman's, Tom and Patsy and three grown boys (and now grandkids) have been coming to Pelee Island since Tom was in his OB/Gyn residency at Case Western University in Cleveland. We now live in WV but get to the island fairly often. Tom is now retired and Patsy, a retired nurse-midwife, is an author of memoirs and novels.

Why they chose this property

What we love about Harmony House is the peace and quiet. The South Bay is not crowded with beach houses like some parts of Pelee Island. We have 2 1/2 acres of lawn and trees. The bay attracts all kinds of water fowl, so bring your binoculars!

What makes this property unique

The house is larger than most cottages on the island and can host about 10 people. There are two living rooms so you don't all have to sit in one all the time. There is no screened in porch, so if you can bring a screen tent you might like it. From our deck on the breakwall you can see both sunrise and sunset. We see bald eagles, geese, ducks and even pelicans on the bay nearly every day. We love it.

Languages:

English