Entire home

1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat

Photo gallery for 1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat

Living Room
Living Room
Front of Surf Sanctuary
Front Entrance
View of front deck that faces lake

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 10445.9 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Coloma, MI
  • Sarett Nature Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Harbor Shores Golf Club
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Silver Beach
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Benton Harbor, MI (BEH-Southwest Michigan Regional)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

2nd Level Guest Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Garden Level Main Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Loft Area Bedroom 5

2 Single Beds

Main Level Guest Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Main Level Main Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

4 bathrooms

Garden Level Master Bathroom 2

Soap · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub · Hair dryer

Main Level Guest Bathroom 3

Soap · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Main Level Master Bathroom 1

Soap · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Second Level Bathroom 4

Soap · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat

Our property is only available for rental 2 weeks a summer. The house is professionally cleaned using CDC suggested cleaning products.

This designer beach retreat is set amidst indigenous towering deciduous trees and pines and located across a semi-private road from it's own private sandy beach.

Inside Surf Sanctuary, the past meets the present. This old church converted into a home offers modern amenities and the distinctive features of a former 125 year old church. Features include; heavy beam cathedral ceilings, eight 2-story stained glass windows, a bright and airy four seasons room with field stone fireplace, modern kitchen and bathrooms with vintage accents, designer furniture accented with well appointed antiques, posh bedroom suites, home gym with recumbent bike, elliptical machine, free weights, etc.

Property has lush green lawns, lovely English country gardens, comfortably furnished decks and an outdoor ‘living rooms with a towering field stone fireplace - perfect for gracious summer entertaining.

300 yards from Surf Sanctuary, along a grassy path, you will find stairs leading you down a low bluff and private beach. You will be awed by the tranquility and ocean-like views. The area is referred to as the 'Sun Coast' because of it's west facing exposure. It doesn't disappoint in delivering picture perfect sunsets! Enjoy hours of fun in the surprisingly warm waters on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan.

KITCHEN
A cook’s kitchen with many tools, and serving dishes. Sub Zero refrigerator (no ice maker), 5 burner KitchenAid slide-in range and dishwasher. Combo micro wave, convection and air fryer oven. KitchenAid stand mixer, coffee maker, toaster, Ninja high powered blenders, Nutra Bullet, and much more.

GAS GRILL
Char-Broil Commercial Stainless Steel 4-Burner. The gas grill is hooked up to a natural gas line - no need for propane tanks.

OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM W/
FIREPLACE
Massive fieldstone wood burning fireplace w/gas starter and comfortable lounge seating.

LAUNDRY
Large capacity Whirlpool Cabrio washer and dryer.

House sleeps 8-10. 8 in private bedrooms and 2 in the loft. Sorry no weddings or events.

House Rules
Please read carefully the following information about your Rental Agreement and stay.

CHECK IN / CHECK OUT. Check-in is after 4 pm EST on the first day of the Rental Period. Check-out is 10 am EST on the last day of the Rental Period.

PARKING. There is parking for 4 vehicles in driveway. There is no parking on the street or on lawn.

Recreational Vehicles, Boats, Trailers and Jet Skis are not allowed to park on the property.

PARKING ON THE LAWN IS PROHIBITED.

MAINTENANCE. Please report any maintenance needs for the Property to Roe Faraone. While we apologize for any inconvenience electrical outage, we will not be able to offer a discount or refund should the electric company be unable to restore service during your stay.

LINENS/SUPPLIES.
Towels and bed linens are furnished.
Please bring your own beach blankets, as linens are not to be removed from the house. Any lost or damaged linens will be deducted from the Security Deposit.

An initial supply of paper towels, bathroom tissue, light bulbs, and coffee are provided.

ENTRY BY OWNER. Owner may enter the Property under the following circumstances: in case of emergency; to make any necessary repairs. Owner will notify renter with at least 24 hours’ notice of Owner’s intent to enter except in case of emergency.

RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Security Deposit may be forfeited and the Renter may be asked to
vacate the Property immediately, with no refund for a breach of this Agreement, which includes the failure to follow the rules below.

RENTAL AGREEMENT
1. Smoking of is prohibited on the Property and decks.
2. Pets are NOT allowed in the Property or on the site without express written consent.
3. House parties, weddings or excessive noise are not allowed.
4. The number of people staying on the Property may not exceed 10 people. Renters will be charged $450 per person, per night over 10 people.
5. No furnishings or equipment from the Property may be taken to the beach or off site.
6. Do not leave windows and doors open while the air conditioning is on; as this may cause the AC
units to stop working.
7. No candles can be used inside the house, only on the outside patio and decks.
8. No red wine or drunks that stain carpeting, upholstery or linens in any rooms other than the kitchen, dining room, sitting area adjacent to the dining room.
9. No food or drink (except water) in bedrooms.
10. Spray tanning products cannot be applied indoors or in showers. Damage has been done to ceramic tile, carpeting and linens. Please spray tan before you arrive.
11. No fireworks allowed on property or on the beach.
12. No bonfires on the beach allowed. Please use outdoor fireplace instead.
13. No access to beach after dark. Stairs are unlit and use after dark is dangerous and could result in bodily injury.

KEYS. Owner will meet you at property with keys to check you in and collect them at check out.

PLEASE NOTE:

WIFI INTERNET. The Property contains equipment that uses WiFi. Most WiFi equipment will be compatible. However, we can make no guarantees as to compatibility of your equipment.

NO ASSIGNMENT OR SUBLETTING. Renter may not assign or sublease all or part of this Agreement.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. To the maximum extent allowed by the law, Owner is not liable for Renter’s property left behind or for any consequential, incidental, special, punitive, exemplary or indirect damages from any cause whatsoever, regardless of whether they were foreseeable. Owner’s maximum aggregate liability arising out of the rental of the Property to Renter is limited to the amount of rental fees paid by Renter during the Rental Period. The Owner is not undertaking to provide any security and is not responsible for any loss or theft of the Renter’s property.

INDEMNIFICATION. To the maximum extent allowed by the law, the Renter agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and at the Owner’s option, defend the Owner and its officers, members, easement holders, contractors and representatives from all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, and expenses that Renter or Renter’s guests may have or bring against any one or more of the Indemnified Parties or that
arise from the Renter’s rental of the Property under this Agreement, including any Claims based on negligence, action, or inaction of any of the Indemnified Parties.

GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of Michigan, without regard to conflicts of law principles.

COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties and there are no other promises, terms or conditions, whether oral or written, other than contained herein.

This Agreement may be modified only in a writing signed by both parties.

RENTAL AGREEMENT 2020
RENTER:
_______________________________________________Date:_______

Please print legal name above
RENTER’S SIGNATURE
_______________________________________________Date:_______

OWNER
Rosemarie Faraone
Please print legal name above
OWNER’S SIGNATURE
___________________________________________

Property manager

Roe Faraone

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Gym

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 35
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
Property not suitable for children under 7.
default

Events

No events allowed
No parties or weddings unless discussed w/ owner.
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Can smoke only on outdoor decks & patios.
No shoes indoors Parking for 4 vehicles No parking on grass Red wine consumed only in kitchen, dining room, outdoor deck and patio No candles indoors
IMPORTANT SELF-TANNING LOTIONS ARE PROHIBITED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO SHEETS AND TOWELS. DAMAGE TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS WILL BE CHARGED TO RENTER.
No fireworks on property and/or beach. No beach bonfires. Use outdoor fireplace for bonfires. Steps to beach cannot be used after dark.

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
Note from host: No parties or weddings unless discussed w/ owner.
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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Coloma

Located in Lake Michigan Beach, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Silver Beach. FuzzyButz Pet Bakery and Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Water Park are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
Map
Coloma, MI

What's nearby

  • Sarett Nature Center - 11 min drive - 13.1 km
  • 12 Corners Vineyards - 11 min drive - 13.6 km
  • Harbor Shores Golf Club - 14 min drive - 13.6 km
  • White Pine Winery - 15 min drive - 15.1 km
  • Silver Beach - 16 min drive - 15.5 km

Getting around

  • St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Station - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Hot Spot - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Eddies's Drive In West - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Bend - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 1800's Church, Restored And Converted To A Designers Private Beach Retreat located?

Located in Lake Michigan Beach, this beachfront holiday home is in the city centre, 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Michigan, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Harbor Shores Golf Club and Sarett Nature Center. Covert Park and 12 Corners Vineyards are also within 9 miles (15 km).

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

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Deborah C.

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

Great space

The “Church” was absolutely stunning. There was plenty of room for our family to spread out. Everything was perfect. We hope to be back in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard R.

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

Great Get Away

Private beach was truly private. Very relaxing and not crowded with tourists. Property manager was helpful with restaurants and things to do. Check in several times when she saw that there were bad storms overnight to insure everything was alright. Most VRBO hosts are property managers that have FAQ lists when you make inquiries. Our hosts made the visit special. Would rent from them again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina S.

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

Family summer vacation 2023

This beautifully restored church beach home has so much to offer. So many cool antiques and modern amenities. Our family was totally enthralled with the uniqueness and history of this former church and its many treasures inside and out. The private beach is gorgeous and we spent many hours enjoying Lake Michigan with our family. We had lots of fun and made lasting memories that we will be able to share for years to come. Roe was an incredible host and which made our stay very enjoyable. We were so glad we were able to meet her. She was very attentive to anything that came up and gave us good recommendations for restaurants and things to do in the area. St. Joe is a lovely beach town and the carousel by the beach did not disappoint. We highly recommend this charming church house. You will be glad you vacationed there! Tina and Mike🏖️☀️
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Therese S.

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

STUNNING

We had a wonderful time in Roe's home, it is full of character and love. She was communicative and incredibly generous.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Meida M., Chicago

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

Joyful space

We had a great time staying at the church. It was cozy and comfortable. Worked well for our needs to spend some time reflecting and planning around our creative work together. Kitchen had everything we needed to cook full meals. Hosts were very communicative. Lovely spot for a retreat.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

David N.

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

Awesome Property, Great Character, Great Location

We really enjoyed this property. Perfect for a family of 8 adults. Great layout and very unique and charming, all the way to the bell tower!. Loved the private beach and the proximity to St. Joe's, South Harbor and the dunes. Roe was great to work with and very accommodating. Highly recommended!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodie S.

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

Best home away from home

We had an amazing trip. Such a special home with so many fun details. Communication with the owner was top- notch and so helpful on planning for the trip and helping find things to do. Roe is the hostess with the mostest!!! While the weather was not perfect, we still got to enjoy the beach a few days including breathtaking sunsets. Full kitchen allowed us to cook great morning meals and dinner a few nights. Doordash and Instacart were avaliable, and a 15-20 min drive got us to all the shopping, eating and golf we could dream of. We will definitely return to this gem!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Josef H.

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

Great Space

Roe has a wonderful property here that has been tastefully renovated. Lots of space to spread out and enjoy family time. We particularly liked the sun / tv room which has lots of light, great forested views and a fire place. We were too late in the season to spend much time on the beach, but we did catch a couple very pretty sunsets.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne S.

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

Beautiful property!

The home is beautiful and well-kept. The history of the move of the church and conversion into a home is fascinating. Roe is very friendly and responsive to questions. There isn't much to do in the immediate area, but if you want to enjoy the serenity and have a house where everyone can congregate to spend time together, this is it.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H., Wheaton Illinois

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

Surf Sanctuary

This is a lovely and interesting property. The old world charm is something not seen too often these days! The owner was very communicative and helpful. She did have AC installed recently which was a nice addition with the very hot and humid weather we experienced. It was wonderful to have a beach...many lake houses have lost their beaches with the high water. I would recommend this property!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn G.

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

Beautiful property

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with our family in this beautifully restored church and home. It is even more impressive than the online pictures. The owner was wonderful to work with. This unique property afforded us a week we’ll never forget.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Barbara B., Cleveland Heights

Love!

We loved staying in this beautifully restored church. So unique -- Roe kept the best of the old and integrated it with the new. Lots of gathering spaces for our family to gather indoors or out yet lots of privacy offered as well --beautiful bedrooms and update bathrooms. Beach access with kayaks. Roe is a joy to talk to and very responsive. Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017

About the host

Hosted by Roe Faraone

Host profile image
We grew up in Southwestern Michigan and after graduating university, now live in Chicago. We take full advantage of and enjoy the gift of having this unique home and beautiful surroundings. We enjoy sharing Surf Sanctuary with friends and family and now VRBO guests! Our interests include cooking, gardening, interior architecture, beach walks, workoit’s, antiquing, entertaining, doing projects around the house and enjoying the magnificent beach..

Why they chose this property

A more unique property to rent will be hard to find (Surf Sanctuary was featured in HGTV's, 'You Live in What', a show about reuse of interesting structures). Originally built in 1896, this house was a summer church for resorters. When the church closed, our love for it motivated us to buy it and move it 2 1/2 miles to it's current location. In 1997 we turned it into our second home.

If you love entertaining and spending quality time with friends and family, in a highly creative and recreational environment, you have found the right place.

What makes this property unique

For starters, have you ever vacationed in an 1800's converted church that was moved 2 1/2 miles with a bell tower and 1 ton bell that you can ring? There are many surprising unique benefits to experience at Surf Sanctuary!

This turn of the century architecture with it's unrivaled craftsmanship and attention to detail is best appreciated in person. The original bead board paneling, 30' ceilings, 8 two- story stained glass windows, 7' round rose window and eclectic décor are remarkable to say the least. All of this is topped off with relaxing outdoor decks and flag stone patio with outdoor fieldstone, wood burning fireplace to facilitate unforgettable entertaining.

Our private white sandy beach with miles of uninterrupted coastline and stunning sunsets is truly the crowning glory of this property!

Languages:

English