Shelby, Michigan
*****
For Summer 2024 we are accepting inquiries only, not booking requests yet. Please let me know what dates you are interested in and I will hold those for you until I know the dates that the owners will be using the cottage, what the rate change will be (if any), etc. Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the inquiry and I will respond asap. Thank you. ~Laura
*****
Welcome to your home on Lake Michigan! With your own beautiful white-sand beach and an unobstructed view of the big lake, this property resembles a beach resort. The cottage interior has an open floor plan and features modern furnishings, tile floors, a cathedral ceiling and a unique beach-stone gas-starter fireplace. The entire west wall of the cottage is windows and glass sliders, overlooking the outdoor living area and Lake Michigan.
The modern kitchen features stainless steel appliances, a bar fridge, and a huge island, perfect for family gatherings.
There are two bedrooms on the main floor; one with a queen bed and one with a double bed. There is one bathroom with a shower. Upstairs is the master suite with a king bed, cathedral ceiling and stunning views of Lake Michigan. The master bath features a double shower. Also upstairs is a loft area with two twin futons and a flat-screen smart TV (no cable or satellite TV service). Excellent fiber optic internet was installed in 2022.
A large deck with plenty of seating provides additional living space and a perfect place for al fresco dining.
As a guest in the Little Point Sable Association, you have free access to the outdoor tennis courts, pickle ball courts, a playground and an 18-hole crolf course (a crude form of golf and fun for the whole family).
Just two miles south are the Little Point Sable Lighthouse and the famous Silver Lake Sand Dunes. A few miles south is Stony Lake. This area offers many outdoor activities and attractions: dune buggies, golf, boating, biking and so much more.
As you may know, the water level of Lake Michigan was at an all-time high in 2020. After much erosion, and losing our beach stairs, the lake level has decreased dramatically and we now have a new stairway (40 steps) to a beautiful beach! One hundred feet of white sandy Lake Michigan beach is all yours.
This was the perfect place for a retreat/quiet week. The beach, the woods were wonderful. The cottage felt private with the trees to either side. The beach was accessible, clean, great for walking and yoga! Beautiful sunsets, too. The house was decorated with natural colors and elements to reflect the serene setting. Felt very relaxing and easy to settle into. I was alone, but would love to take my family back for a vacation. I saw others in the neighborhood association enjoying the “crolf” course, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts available. Great place. You won’t be disappointed!
The Firefly cottage exceeded our expectations. It had the promised million dollar view and was a great space for our family to gather. The house is designed in a way that is suitable for large groups with both full bathrooms being accessible from their corresponding bedrooms as well as from the hallway. The kitchen was well stocked to entertain and accommodate big meals. The nearby walkable crolf course, playground, tennis courts, and pickle ball court were an added bonus. We will definitely be returning as we made such great family memories there. Laura the property manager was fantastic, very accommodating, and responsive. Thank you so much, Firefly Cottage and team!
The property is right on the shore of the lake, but with recent water level issues, access to the beach is blocked. The property manager left some nice goodies for us to help offset the access issue, but we knew that coming in. It's a wonderfully quiet place and we enjoyed the isolation immensely. It's also close to Silver Lake and many tourist attractions there. There's a winery nearby, a cherry farm, dune rides, and bike trails. Lots to do besides sit by the lakeside and enjoy the relaxation. We only found 2 outdoor furniture cushions, but we didn't look very hard since 2 were enough for us. The upstairs bedroom views of the lake were wonderful but it got warmer up there and the bed was squeaky, so we used the downstairs bedrooms part of the week. Every cabin or cottage we've rented over the years had issues so we weren't caught up in any of those items. I WD-40'd a couple of doors and solved those issues right away. Nothing else caused us any major problems. The sunsets over Lake Michigan were worth the price of the place alone. It's a wonderful, out-of-the-way location and ON THE SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN!
Giving this property 3 stars (more like 2.5). We have rented many homes and have never posted a negative review. However, we feel that this property could really improve with a modest investment for bedding/couches and overall cleanliness given the cost. Starting with the pros. The property sits atop a beautiful area overlooking the lake in the midst of the woods. The outdoor area is spacious and the sunsets are gorgeous. The open design of the house affords guests the opportunity to take in the view. We enjoyed all of our meals outdoors and took advantage of the amenities. Turning to the cons. The house is dated. And we wouldn’t have minded (chalking it up to “beachside charm”) but for the soiled sheets, pillows, comforters, couches, and outdoor cushions (see pictures). Although a cursory cleaning seems to have been performed, it was evident that sheets and comforters had not been washed in a long time. The couches were also filthy. As a result, we spent a considerable amount of time washing bedding and pillows while on vacation (unsuccessfully attempting to remove what appeared to be blood stains). We covered the stained couches with sheets. The outdoor cushions looked like they hadn’t been cleaned/replaced in years and the furniture is on the verge of falling apart. The beds are likewise old and creak with the smallest movement. The bedding/linens and towels all need to be replaced and the couches should be covered. This all led to paranoia as to lack of cleanliness, especially in the midst of a pandemic. A few other notes. There was a single garbage bag for a week-long stay. While we brought many of our own supplies, we expected to have more than one garbage bag for the week. It’s such a minor and necessary item to provide to guests considering the nearest shop is at least 20 min away. When we were leaving (we mistakenly thought the checkout time was 11 am), the cleaning crew were incredibly rude and out of line. Given that there was a fee for the late checkout, the tone of the staff was unwarranted and off putting. Finally, we had previously seen in one of the reviews that some guests had ventured down to the beach even after the erosion, and we did too on one of the days. But we were told to come up and we did immediately (so stay away from the beach even if you see paths in that direction).
The property was comfortable, the manager was attentive and the community offered fun activities for the family. The sunsets are beautiful and the sound of the crashing waves was relaxing background music.
Our family had a wonderful week at the property as a break from the Texas heat. The patio and great room are great for watching the waves and enjoying the cool breeze. The neighborhood is right against Lake Michigan in a forest. We walked every day on the dirt roads and used the beach access for swimming a few times. We played pickleball (there are also tennis courts). We went to nearby Silver Lake to explore the dunes and to get ice cream (several times). The brewery in Hart had a good selection. We cooked several meals in the kitchen and on the grill outside. Everyone that we encountered in the neighborhood was friendly. Laura, the property manager, was very responsive to our questions and requests. We highly recommend this property.
The community of Little Sable that the property is in, is beautiful. Like being in the forest. The house was very spacious, and had 3 lovely bedrooms, and a very large kitchen/dining area. Being right on the lake was wonderful! Seeing the sunset each night over the lake was by far my favorite. I would recommend this property to anyone that wants privacy, and loves sunsets!
We had a great time at the firefly! Favorite things: *lake michigan view * community beach access just a 10 minute walk down the road * open concept * great kitchen. Well stocked with spices and just about every pot and pan you can think of * master bedroom view was lovely * master bedroom bed was very comfy * great drawer and closet space. Lots of towels * game and book collection * back porch * property manager Laura was fantastic—great communication for check in and any time we had a problem.
We enjoyed the peace and beauty of Lake Michigan ! The association activities a plus as well as the church services. Open floor plan kept us all together. Very nice!
Breathtaking view, spacious accommodations, well-stocked kitchen supplies, huge washer/dryer, books and games for all ages, very clean, delightful hot water outdoor shower plus endless activities in the lake, in the hammock, on the huge deck, or at the tennis, pickleball, and crolf course. Take your pick! It is all there.
Your dates are Available!
Total
Includes taxes and fees