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Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake!

Photo gallery for Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake!

Sunrise!
Back view of the cottage, which overlooks beautiful Crystal Lake!
Family Room with Kitchen to the left and Dining Room in the background.
Another view of the Family Room with gas log fireplace.
Fully equiped kitchen....cozy but all the amenities & great counter seating.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6148.6 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Frankfort, MI
  • Betsie Lake
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Frankfort Beach
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Point Betsie Lighthouse
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake!

Situated directly on the lake! Beautiful, private view!
3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Large, Family Room with gas log fireplace. Fully equipped kitchen. Separate Dining area. Laundry room. Master Bedroom has wonderful, private view of lake.
This cottage sits directly on the lake, with no road to cross to enjoy the crystal blue waters. From the private dock step down onto the wonderful sandy bottom. Also enjoy the private fire pit with deck-surround.
Just miles from the charming towns of Frankfort and Beulah with their shops, restaurants and their own beautiful beaches.
Not to be missed are nearby attractions including Sleeping Bear Dunes, local wineries and breweries, Crystal Mountain activities, and beautiful nature trails and biking trails.
As the advertisement says, it's "Pure Michigan"!

Property manager

Celia Homsher

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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Welcome to The Guest House! This is the view of the house from the beach side.

Charming Beachfront Vacation Home On Crystal Lake: July 4th ‘25 still available!

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.6 out of 10, (68 reviews)
Charming Beachfront Vacation Home On Crystal Lake: July 4th ‘25 still available!

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
Only 2 families permitted
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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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Frankfort

Located in Frankfort, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Frankfort, MI

What's nearby

  • Bellows Public Beach - 5 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Betsie Lake - 6 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Frankfort Beach - 8 min drive - 6.7 km
  • Point Betsie Lighthouse - 11 min drive - 9.1 km
  • Platte Lake - 23 min drive - 20.5 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Stormcloud Brewing Company - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪A&W Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Lighthouse Cafe - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Crystal Lake Retreat -- sits directly on the lake! located?

Located on a lake, this Frankfort cottage offering ski-in/ski-out access is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) from Bellows Public Beach and within 6 mi (10 km) of Lake Michigan and Betsie Lake. Frankfort Beach and Elberta Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 17 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Robert C.

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

Crystal Cottage

Everything was as described.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

george d.

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

Great Beach, great place

We love Crystal! This cottage has a breat beach, no rocks. Great location close to Frankfort.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dallas G.

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

New Memories of Crystal Lake

The property was very comfortable and welcoming. The provided furnishings met all our needs. We had a mixed bag of weather to deal with, but because I know the area very well, we had plenty of activities to take up our time. We are considering coming back next year or the year after with another couple. My wife and I wanted to thank the owners, for providing such a beautiful and memorial place for us to stay!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colann M.

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

The best of Up North

This is the essence of Up North! Everything you would want in a vacation it had it all. Charming cottage with beautiful Crystal lake at the back door. trees surrounding the property felt like you were nestled in the woods, fire pit right by the lake perfect for evenings and warming up after cold swim! Big yard and deck for games and eating outside or inside you always had a view of the lake! The cottage fit everyone perfectly, lots of space but also cozy and comfortable! Getting to Beulah and Frankfort, shopping, restaurants and grocery stores easy and convenient! Out kids said best week ever!! We will come back here as often as we can! Thank you for sharing your special cottage with us, vert grateful! Till next summer…
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Vance S., Saline, MI

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

Great location!

The house itself is very warm and inviting. It was the location that really drew us in. The ability to walk across the back yard and jump in the lake was the winner! We'd highly recommend this home!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Katy C., Wisconsin

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Peaceful paradise

We enjoyed another spectacular week in Michigan! Thank you for opening up your home to us. The outdoor seating and Crystal Lake access was truly the best. We even made some new friends with the neighbors next door 😊. One note I missed in the fine print, remember to bring your own sheets and towels! Keeping the house open helped to air everything out and the fans were a blessing. We love this little corner of Crystal and hope to visit again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bonny H.

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

Family fun

Location, kids in water all day. Love fire pit
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patrick F., Annapolis, MD

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

Our week on Crystal Lake

The cottage was comfortable and roomy for our family. We enjoyed kayaking and paddle boarding and of course swimming right off the peer. We took spectacular pictures of the sunrises and the harvest moon rise. Couldn’t ask for more.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Michelle R.

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

Crystal Lake

The cottage is in a great location on Crystal Lake. The backyard has a great porch deck and fire pit deck. The pier has good access for boating and enjoying some sun and paddle boarding. The cottage was neat and clean. Our only criticism is that when we entered the cottage, it had a very damp odor and feel to it. We opened all the windows, turned on all the fans and started the dehumidifier immediately. We emptied the dehumidifier 2-3 times per day during our 2 week stay. It took a couple days to feel like we had gotten the cottage aired out and humidity down. We had sunny weather with no rain for our 2 weeks until the last night. After the rainy night, there was a lot of water surrounding the cottage. I feel like the dampness and odor would have been a problem if we had rainy weather. With all that said, we did enjoy the cottage and our time on Crystal Lake.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Shawna R.

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

Great Stay on Crystal Lake

Our stay at the Homsher cottage was fantastic! Being on Crystal Lake was certainly a treat! Cottage was awesome, and proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Beulah, Frankfort, Glen Arbor, Lake Michigan, and Traverse City was an excellent perk. We would love to return for another wonderful vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

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

Excellent

Everything as stated in the listing. Beautiful lake. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Katie M., Ann Arbor ,mi

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

Nice location

Beautiful lake and spot
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Angela L., Columbus, Ohio

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

Great Location and Space for Family

We are very thankful this house was shared with us. The location on Shore Drive lends to great access for walking, running and biking. The back yard and deck is large, great for kids. The kitchen is small but has everything you would need including a dishwasher and filtered drinking water via the fridge! Also the shower and laundry water is not iron’y like many houses we’ve stayed. The lake front is rocky but the dock has easy entry stairs. This house does not have a sunset view but not a concern for us. I highly recommend this house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

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

Crystal Lake Paradise

Celia Has been great to work with over the past two years. This is our second you’re staying at her property and we absolutely love it. The cleanliness of the water, the bonfire pit, and the beautiful sunsets. The house fits our family well and we have enjoyed our time there
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer C.

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

Crystal Lake getaway

The process from start to finish was flawless. Property owner was very quick to respond to emails and questions we had. No problem acquit access to the property. Our stay was wonderful and relaxing! Only downside was no way to dock our boat at the dock, had to attach to a buoy in the water.

10/10 Excellent

Eric B.

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

Great family vacation

Great location on the lake. Quiet. Midpoint between Frankfort and Beulah. Easy to get to trails and boat launch is nearby. Loved the sandbar around the lake. We are planning on doing it again next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Steven M.

Wonderful Cottage and Beachfront

The cottage is clean and well-kept, and all its facilities are in good repair -- things like the bathrooms, kitchen and windows. The beds are very comfortable, and so are the sofas in the large living room. The living room could use more light, though, for reading in the evenings. What I like best are the yard and beachfront. There's a nice mix of trees and open spaces, so you can always find a place to sit that's either in the sun or the shade. There are lots of comfortable chairs on the deck and around the separate fire pit. And I especially like the swing chair. The view of Crystal Lake is gorgeous, and the yard itself is very pretty. There isn't a beach, per se. There's kind of a seawall (2-3 feet high) built of rocks, and the lake bottom is rocky for the first 5 or 6 feet. But after that it's all firm sand, and you can use the ladder on the dock to get into the water past the rocks. The water stays shallow (4-5 feet deep) quite a long way out, and is always very clear. The wind is usually off shore, so the yard and the nearby part of the lake are usually sheltered even when the weather elsewhere is a bit rough. The waves don't normally get too high.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

John M.

Crystal Lake Cottage

The cottage was very nice. Exactly what we expected .
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Neil O.

Crystal Lake Cottage Getaway

This was our first time renting this cottage and the first time for staying on this side of the lake. The cottage is spacious. The master and guest bedrooms were well equipped with dressers and large closets. The dining room and living room were very comfortable. The cottage was clean and well stocked with dishes, pots, pans and lots of blankets. We enjoyed all of the games and books available. We spent a great deal of time enjoying outdoor seating on the back deck as well as the fire pit on the water. The weather was fabulous and we were able to entertain our family who visited from downstate as well as friends who were in other cottages and homes in the area. It was a bonus to have the washer and dryer, so convenient. The cottage is close to Frankfort and Beulah and we found the location to be quiet and ideal. Good restaurants, great hiking and biking and the owners were easily accessible and very friendly. We look forward to visiting again.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Mary Lou A.

ML

My husband and I planned a family get together at Crystal Lake. We had our children and 2 grandchildren with us. The house was everything we expected and needed. We had plenty of space inside with a great backyard right on the water. The beds were all very comfortable which is extremely important to me. There was also plenty of seating for everyone including the outdoors. Every night we enjoyed sitting outside in front of the fire right next to the lake. The drive to either Beulah or Frankfort is about 5 minutes. So easy to get to either town. Communication with Celia was excellent. Any question I had was answered promptly which boosted my confidence as we were traveling across country for this vacation. She even helped me locate a place to rent a pontoon. Another great thing was the neighbors. They were all very friendly, but allowed us our privacy. I would definately recommend this house for anyone wanting to spend time with family inside or out. We certainly enjoyed ourselves and want to come back and stay again. Thank you Celia for letting our group share your home.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Perfect place for a Michigan Vacation

This place truly lives up to it's name, it is a Little Piece of Heaven! We rented the house for 1 week and had 4 adults and 2 children. Upon arrival at the home it was immediately noticed that the house was well taken care of and immaculate. It was the perfect cottage lakehouse feel! The home is very spacious and the bedrooms are very large. Since we had children, we ate almost all meals at the house, and we had everything we needed to cook and serve our meals. The location on Crystal Lake is perfect also. It was very easy and convenient to go into Frankfort, as it was a short drive, and the traffic on that part of South Shore Drive is not heavy so we went out for runs, walks or bike rides and it was completely safe. The best part is that this is one of the few properties that is directly on the lake and not across the street. It feels much more private and cozy. It was a bit too cold for us to go swimming, but you have easy access from the dock to go swimming in beautiful Crystal Lake. The owners were such a pleasure to work with also! They were quick to respond to my questions throughout the booking process and gave us great instructions for our time in their home. We were looking for a family friendly get away, where we could relax and have fun and we got everything we were looking for! I will absolutely be looking at going back and would recommend this rental to anyone.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eileen B., Where do you live?

relaxing and comfortable

We have been coming to Crystal Lake and have always stayed on the north side of the lake. This home is located on the south side and I can tell you, much much LESS traffic. This home is very comfortable and clean, and no road to cross. The mgmt company as well as the owners are much more helpful and accommodating to our needs than the other companies we have dealt with. The beach area is perfect and sandy..no need for water shoes. Also, the house has several trees surrounding it which makes the home very comfy on hot humid days. The location is VERY accessible to grocery stores, the town of Beulah and Frankfort, and Lake MI. We hated to leave but hoping we can schedule another vacay up north soon.

About the host

Hosted by Celia Homsher

Host profile image
I started coming to Crystal Lake with my family when I was 5 years old. My husband has been coming for the past 40 years. It has become a part of our children's lives too...and their grandparents, all their cousins, aunts, and uncles too. So many great qualities of life here (accompanying so many great memories) that we decided it would be a great place to buy a cottage and to share it with others!

Why they chose this property

We could not pass up this unique opportunity of buying this charming cottage, sitting directly on the lake!

Languages:

English
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