Chalet

Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest

Photo gallery for Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest

Summer Fun
Spring time view of Rupert's Bayou from entryway
Can you find the bat house?
Fall Colors
Kayaking from the dock (sailboat not included)

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 121760 sq ft

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Free Soil, MI
  • Hamlin Lake
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Ludington State Park
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry
    ‪51 min drive‬
  • Ludington, MI (LDM)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds and 2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Loft Bathroom

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest

(Note - Saturday to Saturday check-in(4pm)/check-out(10am)

Bedroom 1 : 1 queen bed
Bedroom 2 - 1 queen bed, 1 bunk bed
Loft bunk room - Sleeps 6

Large living room with fireplace and open air ceiling to loft area
Dining room has large table with seating for 8 - 10. There are also four barstools at the kitchen counter.
Kitchen area has stove, microwave, fridge/freezer with icemaker and filtered water, and dishwasher.
We have tried to keep our cottage a place for our family to concentrate on the outdoors and each other, not technology... meaning there is no cable. However wifi is available so if you have your own streaming accounts you can use the Roku to watch on the TV in the loft bedroom. There is also a DVD player and lots of DVD movies.
We have a ton of books and games available in the living room bookshelves.
For outdoor eating and relaxing there is a large deck with 2 tables, umbrellas, and chairs on the main level, and if you want a little more secluded shady area for sitting or reading etc. you can move down to a beautiful cement patio below.
The basement of the cottage is closed off, and not included in the rental.
A short walk down the hill leads you to the fire pit (bring your own marshmallow sticks), tetherball, horse shoes, and waterfront/dock area. If you bring a volleyball/badminton net, there is even a nice area to set that up by the dock area. The dock is a 40' x 3' that you can tie up to (bring boat bumpers), and there is a boat lift that can hold a small 16-18' bass boat or outboard powerboat.
We provide 5 kayaks, a peddle boat, and a row boat.
Hamlin Lake is a wonderfully large 5000 acre lake, so feel free to truly enjoy it by bringing a powerboat that you can launch at either the public access 3 miles from the cottage off Nurnberg Road on Forrest Road 5540 (caution, this is a faster option but this section of the lake can be quite weedy, and challenging to navigate) or Wilson Hill Park on Barnhart Rd. north of Ludington (this is a 30 minute drive, but is right across upper Hamlin Lake from the cottage). You can also rent a pontoon boat from various locations, including Barnhart's Marina, and Sunset Bluff Resort, which are right across Upper Hamlin Lake from the cottage.
You can go on about an hour hike right from the cottage through the Manistee National Forest to the Nordhouse Dunes and its pristine undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline where you can swim, picnic, and even tent camp if you want to!

Property manager

Phil DeVries
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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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
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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

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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 not indicated whether 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

Free Soil

Located in Free Soil, this chalet is on a lake. Big Sable Point Lighthouse and North Breakwater Light are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Manistee National Golf Course and Hemlock Golf Club. Amber Elk Ranch and Sandcastles Children's Museum are also worth visiting. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking nearby.
Map
Free Soil, MI

What's nearby

  • Hamlin Lake - 5 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Ludington State Park - 11 min drive - 3.9 km
  • Ludington Waterfront Park - 51 min drive - 37.5 km
  • S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry - 51 min drive - 36.4 km
  • Big Sable Point Lighthouse - 66 min drive - 43.7 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Stix Bar - ‬47 min drive
  • ‪Barnhart's Resort & Marina - ‬46 min drive
  • ‪Boathouse Grill - ‬33 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Waterfront Chalet Nestled Between Hamlin Lake And The Manistee National Forest located?

Situated on a lake, this chalet is steps from Huron-Manistee National Forest and 2 mi (3.3 km) from Lake Michigan. Nordhouse Lake and Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness are also within 2 miles (3 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. 61 out of 67 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 67 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 67 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 67 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 67 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

mark u.

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

Great way to enjoy Michigan on the water

Beautiful Home and property. Well taken care of and had plenty of amenities. All you need is food drinks and firewood! We had an amazing time with lots of great memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bruce H.

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

Michigan Vacation

Beautiful house on a naturally beautiful property. House had everything we needed for two families (4 adults and 4 kids). We were a little disappointed that the lake entrance was not swimmable for the kids, but we were still able to have fun on the kayaks and peddle boat. The host was very communicative.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

renee r.

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

Beautiful home

This beautiful home is situated on Hamlin Lake within the Manistee National Forest. It is 10 miles from a main paved road. The house is welcoming and equipped with everything you need. There is a fire pit area and dock where you can use the kayaks, paddle boat and canoe. The beds are comfortable, just make sure you fit within the layout of the bedrooms. One is a full size. The other is a full size, and a bunk. The third has one full, one twin, and two sets of bunks. I would reserve this house again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard M.

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

great place to stay!

Loved it
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie P.

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

June Vacation Stay

We spent a wonderful week at Rupert’s Rendezvous. The home was clean and beautiful. It had all the amenities we needed to make for an enjoyable stay for our entire family of eight. The owners were very gracious and welcoming. This was our third time staying at this home and will definitely look forward to future trips.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Todd F.

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

Wow

Kudos
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Doug S.

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

Outstanding Property

Just beautiful. Very relaxing. Best property I have stayed in. The area was great as well. Thank you to all involved.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian F.

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

Very nice place to stay

Overall this place is very, very nice. The house is located in a secluded area on the north lake next to National Forest, short walking distance (around 1.5 mile) to trails. The inside very clean. Awesome fire pit, tether ball and horse shoes. Plenty of room for multiple trucks and boat. Great bunk room 6 full beds (great for our teenagers). Two baths. Overall a great place to stay and highly recommend. Few things to know. If you are bringing a boat, the boat dock is not the best but we made it work (17ft lund). Good part is the house is secluded in a cove, so you don't get many waves. Bring bumpers. The boat lunch is about 20 min drive. Luddington is about 30 mins. About 5 min boat ride to sand dunes. You will need to go to sand dunes or public beach to swim (which was no big deal to us). The boat lift does not work. All and all an amazing place, especially if you take your boat out of the water each day. We did leave it in overnight one night and it was fine).
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ronald m., manheim pa

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

Family vacation

Great place..coffee pot needs updated.but the place was great..
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary B.

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

Careful swimming

The swimming wasn’t very good, lots of swamp areas and leaches
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brenda M.

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

Beautiful get away

This home is always clean and well kept. It is very quiet, and just a peaceful place to stay. I would highly recommend it!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

jill m.

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

Relaxing getaway

This house is beautiful. Very spacious. You can tell the owners take great pride In this place. Great location. Very serene. I’d definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Patricia H., Mount Pleasant

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

Beautiful Spacious Home

This beautiful home has it all. Very spacious with lots of room for our family of 5. We enjoyed many family cook outs on the large deck, caught fish in Hamlin Lake, and had a fantastic week.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kristin P.

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

Great place

Clean property with plenty of space and accommodations
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Julie P.

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

Rupert’s Rendeavous

The home was beautiful and clean. Spacious kitchen and dinning area. The children loved the tether ball, horse shoes and kayaks. The house was a perfect fit for our family of ten.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cecilia H.

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

Great family home.

We had a wonderful stay with our family. Accommodations were perfect for our group. I only gave the location a 4-star rating because we could not swim or play in the water right from the edge of the property. The neighborhood and view from the home was beautiful and relaxing. However, we had a 3 and 5 year old in our group. We had to drive at least 30 minutes to get to the Ludington City and State Parks. It would have been better for us if they could just go outside and play in the sand and water. This is just our preference. We did really enjoy the firepit, s'mores, and "just enjoying the fire" (per our 3-year-old).
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jordan C., Ann Arbor

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

Very nice and beautiful place

It was really nice! Just watch out for ticks and there was some garbage left in the fireplace when we were there.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

doris f.

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

A great vacation home , everything was wonderful.

Great home , everyone i delt with was easy to work with.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Daniel L.

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

Hamlin lake vacation

As you walk in the front door, you know you chose the right place. It was beautiful both inside and out. There was a view of the lake, wind in the many trees and a magnificent view of the starry sky. Very relaxing and we hope to return next year.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Marcy S.

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

Wonderful Cabin Getaway

Most cleanly place I've ever been! Such a beautiful property. A little bit of a drive to get to the cabin, but more secluded. Would definitely return!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brenda M.

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

Peaceful retreat

Beautiful lake home with fun things to do. We'll be back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Judy M.

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

Hamlin Lake Chalet

We had a wonderful time staying at this property. A perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. The chalet was beautiful and immaculate and provided everything you could want in the way of cooking. We enjoyed the hike to Nordhouse Dunes including a swim in Lake Michigan. We also enjoyed exploring Hamlin Lake on the paddleboat and kayaks. Since we had a toddler with us I would have liked to let her swim right off the dock but found that the weeds were a bit much for that. For that reason I would recommend (as was recommended to us) a boat rental to get to a swimmable beach or drive to Ludington State Park to enjoy that beach which is what we did. Thank you very much for allowing us to be your guests.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kristin M.

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

Lots to do, beautiful location

We had a great time at this rental house. We brought our pontoon boat and was able to keep it on the property at the dock on site. On the lake the house is very close to sand dunes that you can pull up and enjoy. From the property we were able to walk through the National Forest to the Nordhouse Dunes and Lake Michigan. We enjoyed the fire pit outside every night. My kids enjoyed learning how to play tether ball and horse shoes by the lake. Inside the house we liked to sit around the large table in the kitchen. There were tons of games to play. We also utilized the upstairs DVD player to let the kids watch a movies before bed.

10/10 Excellent

Patricia H., Mount Pleasant

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

Fabulous Family Vacation

This is the second year that we rented this beautiful home. The house is absolutely immaculate with everything you could want for a fantastic family vacation. We brought our boat with us and enjoyed fishing and relaxing on Hamlin Lake, we hiked Nordhouse Dunes trail out to Lake Michigan, enjoyed numerous family meals outside on the deck, and spent the evenings playing games that were at the house. Our family ranges in age from 19 to 88 years old and everyone had a great time. Thanks so much for sharing your home with us! We're already looking forward to next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Deborah N.

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

Great family getaway!

The property was very clean with a well-stocked kitchen, and lots of games and books on the shelf! The kayaks were super fun, and well used by the adults and teens that were staying with us! My 97-year-old mother especially enjoyed sitting out on the porch with those beautiful views of the lake! The property had so many extras, with a tetherball court and horseshoes, a nice gas grill, and an incredible fire pit with room for lots of chairs around it! All in all, we had a great family get-together, and would highly recommend it to anyone that wanted a quiet family vacation!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

About the host

Hosted by Phil DeVries

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

My wife and I purchased this land in 2006 and built the cottage in 2007. We chose the location and designed the cottage with family in mind. We were looking for something that would combine outdoors and lakefront living in one destination and we knew immediately that this was the place! Fishing, boating, swimming on the beautiful 5000 acre Hamlin Lake right out front, and thousands of acres of the Manistee National Forest right out back...

What makes this property unique

Our cottage is a natural setting, no manicured lawns or underground sprinkling. We think the deer, squirrels, pileated woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and chipmunks like it best this way.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests