See all properties
Entire home

THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN

Photo gallery for THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN

Ahhh Seclusion. Stars at night you only see here, not in town. Country living...
Fresh Air...(Not Times Square)...THE ZOO...You Are There!
Spacious Front Yard
Exterior
Gather in the Imagine living room. Stream shows, watch DVD movies on Smart TV.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8102.2 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Saugatuck, MI
  • Butler Street
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Silver Lake
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Oval Beach
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Holland, MI (HLM-Park Township)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN

Your very own Saugatuck secret getaway. Trust me, you'll tell no one of your new discovery, this private, pleasure place. Of course, friends will want to know where you found a renovated, 12-acre farmhouse just under 2 miles from town and a five-minute drive to the beach. BUT damned if you're saying a word. After all they don't need to know THE ZOO offers the best of both worlds... the private, RUSTIC, country setting with star-filled nights or the crowds awaiting you in town by foot, bike or car. Morning coffee on the front lawn and drinks around back at the fire pit. Long country walks? Shopping in town? Or days and sunsets at the beach? You decide.
Nothing fancy, just fun. Nothing beats your Daze at The Zoo.

Property manager

B. C. W.

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

Similar properties

Room

Blueberry Dune, south Holland close to Saugatuck

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.2 out of 10, (10 reviews)
Blueberry Dune, south Holland close to Saugatuck

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)
No cats... just dogs. Limit 2
default

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
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 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

Saugatuck

Located in Saugatuck, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Oval Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Forever Curious Children's Museum and Holland Community Aquatic Center.
Map
Saugatuck, MI

What's nearby

  • Saugatuck Center For the Arts - 3 min drive - 2.7 km
  • Butler Street - 3 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Silver Lake - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Saugatuck Dunes State Park - 5 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Oval Beach - 9 min drive - 5.9 km

Getting around

  • Holland Station - 17 min drive
  • Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Butler - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Grill - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Uncommon Coffee Roasters - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Southerner - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is THE ZOO-Midcentury Modern Meets Rustic, Dog Friendly Farmhouse - 2 MI FROM TOWN located?

This family-friendly Saugatuck holiday home is located in a rural location, within 1 mi (2 km) of Silver Lake, Kalamazoo River and Saugatuck Center For the Arts. Lake Michigan is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) away.

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

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. 42 out of 64 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 64 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 64 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 64 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 64 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lori

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
This was such a unique house. I loved all of the stained glass doors. The backyard was beautiful with a huge lilac bush in bloom.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

jim g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Two 50 b day celebration

Very nice
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lori D., Dearborn, MI

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

Peaceful place in the woods

Great location to Saugatuck. Lots to do nearby. The homeowner was very helpful with great tips of restaurants, dog park, places to visit. She had just about everything you need in a house to enjoy and then some. The house was very quaint and comfortable. Our dog loved the large grass area to run around. The two hammocks were so nice.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence B.

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

Great

Old but has a lot of character. Cute.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melinda P.

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

Great family getaway spot

Barb provides everything you need for a memorable family vacation. Lots of books and games, TV with ability to stream movies, firepit with lots of seating. She even has beach chairs for you. Such a comfortable place to hang out and relax but also convenient location for a base to explore Saugatuck, Holland, Fennville, etc. Plenty of heat for cool mornings. Lots of windows for fresh air. Place is as advertised. It's got this wonderful rustic charm. It was exactly as advertised and exactly what we wanted.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Laurie & Jim K.

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

This Mess is a Place!!!!!! You will understand after your stay......

We traveled from the Chicago suburbs for a beach getaway with our adult children. The Zoo was precisely as described. TONS to look at and explore within the home. It is very well stocked. This property's most significant selling point is the location - a very short trip to town, Oval Beach, and even Holland. We have an electric vehicle and drove about 15 mins to Holland for an available Tesla supercharger at a Meijer (also very convenient for picking up provisions!) Barb, the owner, was simply a text or call away should you need anything. Her phone tour at check-in time helped to understand the property's quirks - remember, it is old and nuanced. This isn't a slick new build, picture-perfect by Pinterest standards. It's lived long and well, within the peaceful surrounding of large trees, birdsong, and the occasional wild turkey. One item that could use some improvement is the area's infrastructure.....the connectivity is not great. We had intended to do some work while away and it was not possible with the wifi provided or our cell service. If you work remotely and hope to get stuff done while away - leave the work at home if you depend on wifi. I took some terrific pictures.... there are old farming implements that have been slowly taken back by nature which I found charming.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

2/10 Terrible

Laura H.

Extremely Disappointed!!

Let me start with the only positive item for this rental - the location. It was close enough to town but far enough away from the crowds. The biggest issue with this rental property is the cleanliness or the lack of being clean. Upon arrival, we noticed evidence of mice (mice droppings) throughout the house, mainly in the kitchen. There were droppings all along the kitchen sink and counters, floors, bathroom (in the linens). When we opened one of the drawers in the kitchen to use a kitchen towel, there was a towel that had been torn apart by mice and the drawer was full of droppings. The dishes and silverware were dirty. It appeared as if someone had eaten off of the plates, rinsed them and towel dried them. There was a greasy residue to all of them. The description of the rental mentioned the use of a charcoal grill - we could not locate a grill anywhere on the property. There seems to be an insect issue in the house - more specifically hornets, bumble bees, yellow-jackets. We killed several of them in the house during our stay. We also saw a few live cockroaches in the bed linens that appeared while putting our kids to bed. The property description mentioned enjoying a fire around the fire pit and make s'mores. There was so much garbage in the "fire pit" that it needed to be cleaned out before one could start making a fire. The property was described as enjoying the summer breezes throughout the house - the majority of the windows in the front of the house did not have screens in them. The screens were laying on the floor below the windows, but not they had not been installed for the season. The above are the major problems we had while staying there. There are several other issues but are minor commpared to what I have described above. Between my husband and I and our family, we have stayed in several different types of properties from motels, hotels, historic homes, bed and breakfasts, inns and in our own RV - this property, by far, was the worst we've experienced. I am extremely disappointed and angry at the dollar amount we've spent to stay in a place as I described above. We love the Saugatuk/Douglas area and will be back to visit again but will NOT be staying at "The Zoo" and I would never recommend it to anyone.

10/10 Excellent

Jean R.

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

The Zoo Review

It was exactly what we were expecting. We had a very relaxing and wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca H., Livonia, Michigan

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

Country Rustic Farmhouse

We enjoyed our stay at "The Zoo"! The house was well represented in the pictures. The house has history and character. It is rustic and fun, not fancy which was perfect for our casual vacation. It has a great location. Outdoor area is wonderful for fire pit, star gazing and playing with our dog. The house has well water which some might not like but it was not an issue for us. There is a large, bottled water cooler with hot water dispenser available for drinking and cooking. It is an old farmhouse so bedrooms are small (double beds) but worked for us. The owner was wonderful to work with and we hope to come back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christine(Tina) and Mark R.

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

Away from the maddening crowd

Great little hideaway from the hustle and bustle but close enough to feel like you are still part of the action
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

marla

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property is exactly what is advertised. It is an old farm house. No bells or whistles, but has everything you need. I Loved that it was pet friendly. That was a must for me. It was very quiet and peaceful, but you had a road near by in case you fear being isolated. The host was easy to talk to and only wanted guest to enjoy their stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

4/10 Poor

Valerie G., Platteville

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

Very old farmhouse that needs alot of work. Fun place for kids and animals no worries about mess

Reminds me of a college party house Not for you if looking for a classy place
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alison H.

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

Lovely, quirky house with amenities in a good location.

We had a great stay at the Zoo. The property manager, Barb, was great, communicated everything we needed to know. The house was set up with a lot of amenities, from bags of chips to toiletries. Our kids adored it. It is a great location for a family, with games, multiple rooms and outdoor space. The location was excellent, an easy drive to the beach and other activities.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brianne B.

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

Family vacation in the country

We had a great time staying here for a family trip. This is an old country home, with character and quirks. The place offers privacy and space. It is a quick drive or bike ride to many restaurants, grocery store, cute shops in Douglas/Saugatuck. There is no Central Air, but the two window units helped us cool the majority of rooms. The Kitchen is well stocked and we we’re able to grill and cook a few meals at home. We enjoyed the many parks and beaches in the area. Communication with the owner was quick and helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ryan T.

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

Quiet, spacious and fully stocked.

This place is out in the country but still close to town. We had plenty of room to spread out and enjoy ourselves. It’s fully stocked with everything you can think of. My one and only complaint would be that we wished the AC units were in the bedrooms. It was pretty hot for a few nights. But besides that, it was perfect!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Alicia C.

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

Family retreat

We planned a family visit to MI and made this last minute excursion to the beach. The Zoo was rustic just like the owner described. Had all we needed for a stay away from home and ample amenities were great for games, fun, beach going, and household needs. I love my morning coffee....Would just highly recommend a Kuerig for the coffee station. (The machine there otherwise could use deep cleaning). The fans and and ac worked great and made it comfortable.

8/10 Good

Sonya C.

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

A place for people who enjoy the outdoors

Great for people who love to sit by campfires, love outdoors, and spending time with family. If you don’t Ming the country cottage feel this is the place for you!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B.

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

Great time at The Zoo!

We had a wonderful stay at the Zoo. The large enclosed porch area was perfect for my teenage daughter and her friends. They had their own space and we had ours as well as room for everyone together. Huge yard with firepit, hammocks and cornhole. Very private and quiet, while also being only a short drive (6 min) to downtown Saugatuck. We'll definitely stay there again the next time we're in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Nicole M.

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

Weekend getaway

Great location!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jayson F.

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

Cozy, peaceful, relaxing.

Unassuming place to get away with our two dogs. The owner was the best! So kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about the area. If you are just wanting a place to relax and not far from what the area has to offer, this is it.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Regina I.

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

All you need in one spot- could stay the summer.

Myself and four friends enjoyed our stay Memorial Day weekend 2021. The home is the perfect getaway with a large yard, plenty of comfortable spots to sit and sleep (both indoors and out). The Host Barb is generous with the offerings (all the spices you need in the cabinet- pots, pans, extra blankets...). It feels like you are staying somewhere familiar and though tv is available for streaming we never had the need. Board games, fire pit, hammocks... great for family and friends. Large private yard is great for yoga and the guest book is full of information on great off-property activities. I hope to visit again with the same crew or to bring my husband and family. Thank you Barb for sharing this space and for your generosity!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca H.

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

Peace and quiet

I really needed some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city and craziness of life. The Zoo was a great spot to chill. The sunny front porch was perfect for reading and puzzling. I caught up on movies in the TV room and headed to the parks near by or town to explore. Very easy and restful!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ellen H.

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

Our Visit to The Zoo

We highly recommend The Zoo for your next trip to Saugatuck. The charm of the farm house made our stay that much more enjoyable. Barb the owner was terrific to work with from the beginning of our vacation process up to putting the key back into the lockbox. Our dogs also loved the change in scenery and asked when we would be back. Thanks again Barb!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle E.

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

Comfortable rental, great location

We enjoyed our stay at The Zoo. Just a few miles from Saugatuck and also very close to Fennville, which has some good places to eat and a nice grocery store. We were appreciative to find the fridge stocked with some supplies, and the house was otherwise well outfitted. Lots of space to spread out - kitchen, den, porch, and plenty of chairs outside. Overall a good choice!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

Bill

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

Great stay at the farm

Cute and quirky location! Close enough to Saugatuck, but far enough out to feel like the country!

About the host

Hosted by B. C. W.

Host profile image
I was 16 when my grandfather willed me this old farmhouse. As a kid, I hated it! What kid would want to leave her suburb friends to spend time with an old man in the country to pick berries, catch gophers, and make homemade biscuits? No TV! Just stacks of newspapers, Reader's Digest and a transistor radio! "Going into town" was the only highlight. Although I hated it every moment, I look back and realize it was the best time of my life. Being a mother of 3, I wanted our boys to experience country life and we have spent many a day in town, at the beach and around the fire in back. These indeed are the good old days!

Why they chose this property

Why stay in town? Nothing beats the seclusion and privacy you'll find at The Zoo. Greenery is the best scenery. You can walk in the woods, sing around the fire until the cows come home. In town, you'll be looking a someone else's backyard fence, smelling others barbecue and hearing others' dogs bark. Really? Really.

What makes this property unique

Secluded yet close to the action. Nights around the firepit gazing at the stars is the best way to end your day. You won't get any of this in town.

Languages:

English
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback