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Secluded Lake Retreat

Photo gallery for Secluded Lake Retreat

Smart TV
Marina
Outdoor spa tub
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8204 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot Tub
    Hot Tub
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Pet friendly
    Pet friendly
  • Outdoor Space
    Outdoor Space

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Secluded Lake Retreat

Our property is centrally located in southwest Michigan, within a 3-hour drive from Chicago and Detroit. The region is known for it’s rolling hills, golf courses and hundreds of lakes. It is a place where recreation awaits year-round! No matter what your outdoor pleasure, from golf to water sports, you can find it here in our beautiful natural surroundings!

Our house sits on 3.3 wooded acres, and from it’s hillside perch, enjoys broad views overlooking Bristol Lake. The property is on a quiet residential street. Bristol is a 165-acre all-sports lake and is excellent for fishing, swimming and all manner of watersports. The lake shore consists of a mix of areas of sand and loam. The water gets deep gradually and is relatively-friendly to younger children (although we recommend life jackets for non-swimmers).

We have a large grassy yard along the lake with enough trees to give some comfortable shade in the sunny summer afternoons.

Property manager

Ray Micham

Languages

English

Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Pool/Spa

  • Spa tub

Internet

  • WiFi available

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Blender
  • Electric kettle
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Soap

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Yard
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • On the waterfront
  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo

Things to do

  • Boat on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Power boating nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 2200 sq ft (204 sq m)

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Most windows plus deck and lower patio have panoramic views over Bristol Lake!

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: $50 fee/pet

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite 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 there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Secluded Lake Retreat Dowling
Secluded Lake Retreat Private vacation home
Secluded Lake Retreat Private vacation home Dowling

About the neighborhood

Map
Dowling, MI

What's nearby

  • Bristol Lake - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Gilmore Car Museum - 21 min drive - 19.2 km
  • Kellogg Arena - 22 min drive - 22.2 km
  • Gull Lake - 26 min drive - 22.1 km
  • Firekeepers Casino - 31 min drive - 31.7 km

Getting around

  • Battle Creek Transportation Center - 22 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wild Mike's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Horn Creek Pub - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Bedford Steak House - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Yarrow Golf & Conference Resort - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Last Stop - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Secluded Lake Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Secluded Lake Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Secluded Lake Retreat?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Secluded Lake Retreat located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is steps from Bristol Lake, and within 3 mi (5 km) of Little Mill Lake and Clear Lake. Mill Lake is 2.4 mi (3.8 km) away.

Secluded Lake Retreat Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 111 out of 128 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 128 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 128 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 128 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 128 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Judy A., Illinois

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful Lake House
Our family of 9 people from 3 states stayed at this house in Dowling for a wedding weekend. The house is very comfortable and the kitchen worked well for all of us. The water is a bit ‘tasty’ so bottled water is a good idea. We enjoyed the early mornings outside.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa J.

Liked: Cleanliness
A truly beautiful lake!
Pretty lake, very clean, nice house and very quiet. Had a great time enjoying the surroundings. Lake was warm, beds were comfy and house was well stocked! Thank you for sharing your house!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

James H.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Nice place, just needed cleaned
The property was great, it just was not clean.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

BENJAMIN K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Bristol Lake Stay
We had a group of 8 guys on a golf trip. The accomodations were excellent and we had a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Caleb S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall Getaway
Very nice cozy place to stay with plenty to do. Beautiful property to enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Loren T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake house
Had a wonderful time! I will definitely recommend this place.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kellie B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Lake Retreat
The property was exactly as described, nicely appointed, and clean when we arrived. Perfect lake house getaway from the city.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patricia N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Get-Away!!
Nice place! House was clean and had comfortable beds. The beach area was fun for the little kids. Adults enjoyed the kayaks and fishing on the lake. Beautiful views of the lake from the screened in porch. Really enjoyed our time there and would recommend…except for people who have problems climbing stairs. There’s quite a few stairs to get to the lake front. (The only drawback for some people. We were fine with it.)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Private getaway
Absolutley love this cottage!! Perfect location on the lake with privacy. Loved being able to rent the pontoon boat too! We did daily tours around the lake on the boat with many stops for swimming. Had the best time
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful secluded stay
The home is very well equipped and clean, the location wonderful on the lake with so much to do. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves and the owner is responsive! looking forward to staying again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leslie M., Grosse Pointe Farms, Mi. 48236

Liked: Cleanliness
Great House
A beautiful location with a great house!,VERY CLEAN!, the best equipped house we have ever rented.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charles G.

Liked: Cleanliness
2023 Family Vacation
This is the second year in a row we have stayed at this property and what a home and property it is. My kids and I love to connect here while enjoying the basement games, the beach, the hot tub and the boat! Beautiful sunrises from the screened in room starts each day off right! Thanks Ray!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cooper N., Indianapolis, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Memorial Day Weekend
Stayed here with some friends and our dogs. Great stay. Was very relaxing and we had a blast swimming in the lake and wearing the dogs out. Would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Haley D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Winter Weekend Visit
The property was as expected and the view was beautiful! Hot tub was perfect for the winter weekend. Loved the screened in deck, cozy living area, games, local guide binder, and spacious bedrooms. Only a few minor negative things to note—the Keurig did not work, water filter on fridge needed to be changed, and downstairs bathroom had a musty smell. Still a great space with comfortable accommodations for a family who will be spending a lot of time on the lake during summer months!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colton G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Getaway
The house was nice with great views and Ray was accessible for any issues that arose
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nicki M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome Autumn Weekend
We were able to gather our adult children and parents for a gorgeous Fall weekend and this place made our stay simply amazing! The layout is perfect for everyone to not only be able to come together for meals and games in the kitchen/dining area and on the screened-in porch but also allowed for privacy when wanting time to rest and relax with spacious and comfortable bedrooms. The only suggestion we’d offer would be to add maybe some solar stake lights along the path down to the lake as it really does get so dark! We loved our time at this place and we all agree we’d love to return again soon!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kim S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful, peaceful retreat
We had four adults staying at this location and have to say that we had the very best time. There was ample room for all of us and it was really nice to have a full bathroom in the lower level as well. The games room was so much fun. We loved the private beach area as well. Being right on the lake was so peaceful. We would highly recommend this cottage!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rachel M., Chicago, IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful Secluded Lake House
The lake view from the house is beautiful! We had a challenging time with check-in, however, Ray and Janelle apologized and made up for the hiccup in communication. The house is a great place for a family retreat— very kid and dog friendly. We enjoyed the hot tub, fire pit, boats, and sandy beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Danielle S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Great stay! Had everything we needed for a family weekend getaway
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dawn C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing Stay
This home was beautiful, clean, spacious and peaceful. The beds were so comfortable that it was difficult to get up and go each morning. The cost of our stay, when compared to renting three rooms in a local hotel, made it even more worthwhile. And it was nice to be able to relax before all the wedding festivities. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy your home.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Roxanne G., Ada

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Cottage for a Fun Family Getaway!
Our family (total 8 people) rents a cottage somewhere in Michigan each Labor Day week every year. We all agreed that this cottage is one of the best we've rented! So many amenities to keep everyone busy.....kayaks, swim raft, fishing, air hockey, ping pong, hot tub , fire pit. We had great weather with just one rainy day, and on that day we played board games on the awesome porch which overlooks the lake. The kitchen is well stocked and organized and had all that we needed for our family meals, including an awesome large, clean grill outside. The beds were all comfy and all the linens were top notch. Normally we make it a policy to go somewhere different each Labor Day, but we all agree "we might be coming back to this cottage!"
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patricia N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice property!
Very nice clean home. Our family enjoyed the beach area & fire pit. We also enjoyed having the kayak available for our use. We rented the pontoon which added to our fun with the family. The beds were comfortable. The stairs were a little difficult for the little ones - may be an issue for older adults as well (a bit seep & hard to maneuver the rocky surface). No issues during our stay. We would definitely stay here again. Very nice!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris P., Crete, IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Pure Michigan
Hill House was perfect for our family of 7. It was clean, well equipped with all necessary amenities and secluded (yet 20 minutes from town). The beds were comfortable and there were plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to make the week fly by. We rented a pontoon boat from the host that started, ran and performed flawlessly the whole trip. We swam, fished (very few caught) and enjoyed the fire pit. We'd definitely rent this property again!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joel D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Plenty of Fun
Was wonderful for Family Summer Vacation. Brought own sailboat, and went back and forth a bit. Took excursions to Zoo, Air Museum, and The Biggest Rock Shoppe in the state. ( my one concern .. (we had NO incidents) .. I am paranoid about Poison Ivy, which is present on this property. I am afraid that an uncontrolled pet, or child, could have an unpleasant encounter. Otherwise, Beautiful Thanks
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022