Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool.

See all properties

Entire home

One of the mini cabins and boat dock before LAKE DRAINED DUE TO DAMN FAILURE!

Sandwich Bar and Dinning Area in Kitchen

Main cabin stairs leading to loft bedrooms

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

6 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 14211.8 sq m

Popular amenities

Hot tub
Dryer
Parking available
Fireplace
Washer
Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Sanford, MI

Midland Mall
‪14 min drive‬
Midland Center for the Arts
‪16 min drive‬
Dow Gardens
‪17 min drive‬
Saginaw, MI (MBS-MBS Intl.)
‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bunk Bed Room

2 Double Beds and 4 Queen Beds

Main Cabin Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Main Cabin Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Main Cabin Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Mini Cabin #1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Futon

Mini Cabin #2

1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Main Cabin Bathroom 1 at Bunk Room

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Main Cabin Bathroom 2, Second Floor Location

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Our Secluded Woodland Retreat is Unique. it features 3 secluded cottages (1 main cottage and 2 mini-cabins) on a three-acre property surrounded by Forest. We have no neighbors. The yard features a fire pit, and most yard sports. Relax on the hammock or take a nature hike down a wooded trail. Our property is surrounded by 40 acres of wooded state land. Those 40 acres are adjacent to thousands of acres of wooded state land with trails throughout. We have a swimming Pool.

The main cottage is 1,800 sf with 3 Loft bedrooms, a bunk bed room and 2 full bathrooms. All Loft bedrooms are located in the third level loft, these three bedrooms featuring 1 king size bed each. The bunk bed room is located on the ground level. The main cottage sleeps a total of 14 people comfortably (22 persons if both Mini Cabins are Added). The second floor of the main cottage includes a full kitchen & dining area, living room with couches, a 60” TV, full bathroom, and laundry. The second floor also features multiple outdoor decks and stairs connecting other various & unique areas. Main cottage bottom floor has been converted into a bunk bed room (so that we can offer sleeping accommodations with bathroom access on the ground floor) and 1 full bathroom.

There are 2 “mini cabins” on the property that are available to rent at an additional price for larger groups: Mini Cabin #1 is approximately 20 feet from the main cottage. Mini Cabin #2 is approximately 100 feet from the main cottage and built close to the water. Both Mini Cabins comfortably sleep 3-4 people. Each Mini Cabin is about 240 sf and feature:
• A full-size futon, recliner, and coffee table on the 1st level
• A queen bed in the loft area

Our Woodland Retreat is very private with a huge yard and no neighbors.

Property manager

Jim Wiseman

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Have a question?

Beta

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

Ask a question

Similar properties

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 30

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed: weddings

SPECIAL EVENTS REQUIRE A SPECIAL EVENT AGREEMENT.

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)

NO CATS ALLOWED.

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

Parties and events (including weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 75

Note from host: SPECIAL EVENTS REQUIRE A SPECIAL EVENT AGREEMENT.

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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sanford

Sanford is home to this cottage. Alden Dow Home and Studio and The Tridge are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Barstow Woods Park and Sanford Lake. Northern Lanes Recreation and Dahlia Hill are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Sanford, MI

What's nearby

Midland Mall - 14 min drive - 20.6 km
Midland Center for the Arts - 16 min drive - 23.3 km
Dow Gardens - 17 min drive - 23.5 km
Dow Diamond - 19 min drive - 25.3 km
Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort - 37 min drive - 45.1 km

Getting around

Saginaw, MI (MBS-MBS Intl.) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
‪Sanford Lake Bar & Grill - ‬3 min drive
‪Red Oak Family Restaurant - ‬8 min drive
‪Lanny's Restaurant - ‬8 min drive
‪Hometown Pizza - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool. located?

Situated in Sanford, this cottage is steps from Sanford Lake and 10 mi (16 km) from Northern Lanes Recreation. Herbert D. Doan Midland County History Center and Midland Mall are also within 16 miles (25 km).

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.2/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

8/10 Good

Brandy D.

23 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Graduation getaway

My family and I stayed here for a week. The area was beautiful and the house was really nice inside. I was with a bunch of teenagers so of course the wifi was a big deal. We had some problems with that working. Jim tried to get it fixed for us but it never really worked for us. The pool was beautiful, but the hubby was sad that the hot tub was out of order. Overall, the trip was good. I think this house would be great for someone with younger kids because of how the bedrooms are set up. But Jim was great and we had a good time.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claudia Z., Farmington Hills, MI

4 August 2023

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

Great for a family vacation.

Everyone had a terrific time. The pool was great. The children and some adults had a great time in the pool and jacuzzi and Jim maintained it. There are no real bedrooms in the house but there are three lofts with privacy. We also rented the two cabins. It worked out very well for us. Looking forward to staying here again.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

4/10 Poor

Marsha Y.

12 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in

Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy

Definitely not as advertised or pictured!

Before booking I asked the property owner if we had room to park and charge 4 boats since the only reason we were in the area was for a pro fishing tournament. He said yes! I also let him know that it was 7 adults staying with a 9 week old baby. He said it would be perfect for us. What he didn’t explain or picture was that the 3 king bedrooms are the size of a small tent that you can’t even stand up in that have curtains as a door. (Which by the way when you close the curtains you can’t feel the air because it’s provided by a fan attached to the stair railing🤦🏻‍♀️) The mattress is directly on the floor that you have to crawl in and out of after you climb 2 flights of stairs to get to them. There is no lighting upstairs except for a small lamp in each room on a wall shelf. So in the morning we used our phone flashlights to see in our suitcases (since there was no room for clothes in the room itself nor a closet upstairs.) The day we got there the hot water heater was not working, the electric panel kept throwing breakers. The owner did come get it working, but the breaker panel threw breakers every day we were there when the above ground pool was running. The owner yelled and told me not to charge the boats (which obviously wasn’t an option since we were there to fish a tournament and clearly needed charged batteries to operate them) He did attempt at an apology after our conversation but the damage had been done with his lack of professionalism and then he showed up EVERY SINGLE DAY after that. So, I hope you love hanging out with strangers because he is there a lot. We VRBO a lot and have never even seen an owner much less every day of the stay. 🥴 So, to summarize it, don’t stay unless you are bringing a lot of kids that would think staying in a tent size room on the floor is awesome! 7 grown adults did NOT like to crawl in and out of the rooms every day. I have pictures and would post if I could so everyone knows more of what they are getting themselves into!

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rose T.

10 July 2022

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

Lack of Lake does not impact

We had an amazing vacation our closest friends and fur children. The hiking paths were incredible and the pool and hot tub weee so relaxing. My husband caught fish in what’s left of the water on the property with great success a few carp and gahr. The dogs were in heaven. The bedrooms and cabins were all comfortable and quiet and cool as needed in the summer time. The firepit and endless supply of wood made each evening a memorable fun time. Great Wi-Fi quality allowed for music streaming and for smart tv watching the one night we had rain. We would come back and stay at Jim’s any time— and hope to rebook once the lake is refilled.

Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Adam S.

23 August 2021

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

Great place to get away

Property was fantastic, our second stay and the pool was a wonderful addition this year to cool down during the hottest days of summer. More than enough space for ten adults. Can’t say enough good things about this place, Jim is a great host. Lot of requests to make this an annual destination

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christine T.

20 August 2021

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

This place was amazing!

The grandkids loved the cabin bedrooms and the pool! The adults enjoyed the hot tub. The yard is beautiful and easy to relax in. The kitchen was great too - easy to cook and serve everyone from.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alyse H.

15 August 2021

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

Great experience, clean, property owner is awesome and the cabin was peaceful and an ideal getaway.

Neat place to hang out with friends and family and enjoy quality time in a beautiful location with everything you need to have a memorable get away.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Garrett

13 August 2021

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

Great lowkey get away

The property is quiet and secluded, while offering plenty of amenities. It is also just a few minutes from Midland which has anything you may have forgot to bring. If you want activities, there plenty of room to do just about anything you can think of. Want to take in the quiet and relax? This is a great spot for that too!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Penny M.

25 July 2021

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

Nice property.

We came for a young adults conference in Midland, having 18ppl total. The location of the house was perfect. The property is beautiful and huge! The house was very accommodating, especially with the huge bunk beds and two extra cabins. The kitchen was sufficient, and the pool and hot tub were wonderful bonuses. Super easy check in and out. We really enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christine H.

27 June 2021

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

Beautiful Stay

The property was just like it was listed. Very quiet and plenty of outdoor space! Even though it rained almost the entire trip we still had a great time! The hot tub was a nice perk for all of us to enjoy. We had a group of 12 and had plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves. Jim was also very quick to respond to messages. I would definitely recommend this place!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Eric A.

14 June 2021

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

Great secluded getaway.

We really enjoyed the property and house. It met our needs perfectly. The owner is very nice. He cares for the house and property and was very involved.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Diane F.

8 June 2021

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

Family gathering for my daughters wedding

This home was amazing. I have a large family and I wanted to be able to stay together for my daughters wedding. This place has everything but the lake.. (due to the dam breaking😭) pool & a hot tub!! I love this area.. Sanford Lake Bar & Grill was close to eat. I can’t wait to go back when we can relax and have fun without the craziness of a wedding. The property is beautiful and I just want to thank Jim for taking care of us.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Roman K.

27 March 2021

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

Awesome Weekend Up North

My friends and I enjoyed an awesome long weekend up north at the property. There were a decent amount of us and the house was big enough to accommodate everyone as advertised and the outdoor spaces also help a ton with a group. We made breakfast lunch and dinner in the kitchen everyday and I am looking forward to going back in the warmer months to grill outside. It is a rustic wood cabin up north so keep a bit of a camping vibe and you will be just fine. The few times we had an issue we reached out and got a response immediately and taken care of. The trails around the house are really pretty and the deck and yard space is perfect for a group to all get together and have fun. There are three bedrooms upstairs and I would call this a loft as it is open to the main floor but you have curtains for privacy and we really liked that set up. The basement has a dart board and TV’s although I don’t know why you would watch TV while up north but there are large bunk beds through out the basement and our group fit perfectly as the bunks are full size mattresses and built with some really cool woodwork. Ultimately, we had a blast and anytime there was an issue we got a response right away. It is a beautiful cabin up north, if you’re expectations are a beautiful rustic get away up north and you’re not high maintenance, you will have an absolute blast. I’m really looking forward to going back with our group again.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

2/10 Terrible

Rodger N.

27 August 2020

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

The house is listed as 4 bedrooms. There is no bedrooms

The owner of this property is both disingenuous and, in my opinion, unethical. There were several issues we had with our stay. The first, and most prevalent is that when we booked the home the listing claimed that the home has four bedrooms. Upon arrival, we realized that—in fact—the home has ZERO bedrooms. It has a poorly refurbished garage that has multiple bunk beds in it. Outside of this, it LITERALLY has three large mattresses on the floor in the loft area that have been separated by curtains. These bedrooms are basically unusable for privacy. You cannot change clothes because you cannot stand up, there is a light that is plugged in and a television that does not work. There was literally no good place on the entire property for my parents to sleep. They had to choose between a garage in the basement, loft beds in separate “homes” that do not have bathrooms AND that you have to climb a ladder to get into, or mattresses on the ground. That is disgraceful. The second issue, when we booked the property over 8 months ago, we were planning to use the water features in the property. There was a devastating flood in the area, and essentially all the water was dried up. When we got to the property there was no stream, no pond, not even enough water to submerge our feet in. We are from hours away and had heard nothing about the floods, and the waterfront aspect of the property was our main reason for booking this property. The owner did not disclose that there was no water left, though he did send an obscure communication about not being able to use the kayaks, which was not enough information. The ethical choice after the flood would have been to disclose the new information, and either offer the chance to cancel OR to refund a portion of the money. Instead, he chose to ignore it and hope for the best. Other important notations from this property. The separate cabins have NO BATHROOMS, so people have to walk through pitch blackness to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. There are also security cameras throughout the property both indoors and outdoors, which is incredibly disconcerting as a guest. When we were able to communicate with the owner after returning from the trip, he basically told my family that it was OUR fault because we did not ask these questions specifically. The misrepresentations of the property, along with the lack of caring and empathy from the owner made this house completely awful

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Adam S.

26 August 2020

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

Great property, great host

Thrilled with our experience at Jim’s property. Had a group of friends for an annual trip and this one ranks at the top because of the property. So much space inside and out, ten of us slept comfortably and had an incredible wiffle ball game out in the yard (all equipment provided). Great fire pit with plenty of outdoor seating and firewood provided. Absolutely no complaints and every guest has requested to book again next year.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Paul K.

31 July 2020

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

Great Property to get away from it all

This is a great location in Michigan to get away with friends and family. His property is large and accommodating to a large group and has plenty of room to play sports, run around or go on a nice hike in the woods. Was just want we were looking for.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Danielle S.

18 July 2020

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

Great for a family getaway!

We had such a great time here! The property is so beautiful & it felt like we had our own little secluded park all to ourselves being able to enjoy frisbee, baseball, the jacuzzi, relaxing in the hammocks, hiking the trails, eating s’mores and sitting around the fire pit and all of it in our own backyard! We had a group of 10 - ages ranging from 2 to 70 and every single person loved it! The inside was also very spacious, clean and we loved the open floor plan and the ample room for sleeping. Plus the kids loved the bunkbeds!! And we also loved the space for outdoor eating and barbecuing. There are several decks to sit out on and just enjoy the peaceful mornings and evenings. I would highly recommend this to anyone!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Frank P., Waterford, MI

20 September 2019

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

Great place to stay!

Our group had a great time hanging out at this property. It's a fun spot set into nature. The mini cabin was great for a couple with their children to have a quiet, removed area for naps and rest times. Walking the properties trails along the canal was fun and relaxing. The paddle down the canal in the kayaks was a good time in the water. We even heard a few owls when we were using the fire pit one evening. Overall it was a great, relaxing place to stay with a a largish group (14 people).

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Barb S., Cincinnati

12 September 2019

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

Family vacation

Very nice for large group.

10/10 Excellent

Greg A.

22 August 2019

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

Family Fun

Great place to relax and fish

10/10 Excellent

Philip F.

13 August 2019

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

Great space for all sorts of family fun

The property is huge and allows for tons fo great outdoor activities from fishing, to yeard games, a big hot tub, and firepit. A short drive to the local park and sandy beach.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jason M.

8 July 2019

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

Great property

I tend to agree with the other reviews, so I will just add a few items of note not found in them. The house is well set up for babies and toddlers: he has baby gates, high chair/booster, pack n play, potty seat, etc. The fishing was good, and tons of turtles. We bad no difficulty getting our fishing boat into the channel there and docking.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Chris T.

17 May 2019

Great fit for our needs.

Very nice piece of property. Plenty of room to relax and play. Well maintained house. Jim is super responsive and very easy to work with.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

4/10 Poor

Molly S., Grand Rapids, MI

23 April 2019

Responsive owner and clean house, but bedrooms/living area not as advertised

We rented this property in June 2018. We are an extended family of 5 adult siblings, a couple spouses, 3 kids (15, 13, and 9) and a 4 month old baby. Positives: The AC worked great, the hot tub was super nice and can fit 5-6 adults comfortably. The owner is super responsive, and the firepit area is nice as well. Negatives: The bedrooms. This house lists that there are 3 king bedrooms upstairs, so we were expecting actual bedrooms with beds and doors. This has 3 A frame cubbies with king mattresses on the floor and thick curtains in lieu of doors. With the A frame you can’t really stand up unless you are standing right in the middle. And with just a mattress on the floor, it was very difficult for anyone over about 4 ft tall up there (especially me since I am currently 7.5 months pregnant). The “bunkhouse” room is a converted garage. There were actual beds in there at least, but it still has a garage feel to it. It also has no separate doors (other than exterior doors). So there was no place for a 4 month old baby (or anyone else for that matter) to peacefully take a nap. The living room is very small and only has places for 6 people to sit. We moved a couple chairs in there from the kitchen, but there was no room for us all to sit and watch TV or even be in the same room at once. Plus, the cubbies (bedrooms) are open to right above it so any talking/laughing in the living room/kitchen is quite audible up there. I guess if everyone went to bed at the exact same time it would not be a problem, but we had some who were ready for bed and some who wanted to play cards/watch TV/talk etc and we couldn’t without disturbing each other. If there was another “hangout” area it might not have been too bad. There are a couple picnic tables outside for sitting, but those are not on the same level as the kitchen so even all sitting and eating together was not possible. There are kayaks and a canoe available to use, but the floating dock that you need to use it was barely tied up and was very wobbly and not easy to use without feeling like you were going to fall in the water (which is at the end of a channel and fairly stagnant). Like I said, the owner is very responsive, and the house was clean. We just did not feel that the house is accurately described and it did not work well for our family.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

pamela m.

28 August 2018

Great property.

We had a wonderful family vacation.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

About the host

Hosted by Jim Wiseman

I am a business owner and entrepreneur who formerly served in the US Marine Corps. I live full-time within 5 miles from this property. I grew up having a family cottage that was the setting for many cherished memories and weekend getaways. I built this cottage so my family, friends, and others could also enjoy a quality family setting to make their own cherished memories.

Why they chose this property

This unique property is centrally located in the state. There are to many family fun adventures to list in this area. I designed and built this retreat for family fun. I am keeping the price point low so that it can be enjoyed by as many family-fun seekers as possible.

What makes this property unique

Our Woodland Retreat has a huge yard. The property is close to all sorts of attractions and activities. Our guests will have total privacy because our property has no neighbors.

Languages:

English

Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool.

Photo gallery for Private, Secluded, Family-Friendly Cottage with 2 mini-cabins and swimming pool.

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bunk Bed Room

Main Cabin Bedroom 1

Main Cabin Bedroom 2

Main Cabin Bedroom 3

Mini Cabin #1

Mini Cabin #2

2 bathrooms

Main Cabin Bathroom 1 at Bunk Room

Main Cabin Bathroom 2, Second Floor Location

Spaces

About this property