The May Chalet - A Wooded Retreat Built For Rest & Relaxation, Minutes To Beach - Shorewood-Tower Hills-Harbert

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Entire home

Backyard including deck and screened in patio.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Outdoor space

Parking available

Gym

Kitchen

Explore the area

Sawyer, MI

Warren Dunes State Park

3 min drive

Captain Mike's Fun Park

4 min drive

Warren Dunes State Park Beach

6 min drive

Michigan City, IN (MGC-Michigan City Municipal)

23 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Loft

4 Single Beds

Queen Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Southwestern Master Suite

1 King Bed

Wooded Master Suite

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Laundry Tub

Bathtub · Shower only

Nautical Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Powder Room

Toilet

Southwestern Master Bath

Toilet · Shower only

Wooded Master Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen

Dining

Living area

Exterior

About this property

The May Chalet - A Wooded Retreat Built For Rest & Relaxation, Minutes To Beach

Virtual Tour:
https://youtu.be/5wO_C7oDF0E

Once a unique artists' cottage, this fully renovated property was designed by Chicago based interior designer Christina Hammargren.

The May Chalet shows off its 20 foot sloping ceilings in a space that is highlighted by a mid-century wood burning fireplace, 12 foot custom made dining room table, and a chef's kitchen where top of the line Thermador appliances await your culinary creations!

Peacefully slumber in your choice of a wooded king master suite bedroom retreat, a southwest inspired king master suite, a nautical themed queen bedroom with bathroom, or a cottage themed loft with four twin beds.

This house is perfect for the kiddos as well! In fact, we designed our home with our own kids' enjoyment of the house in mind. All three bedrooms are large enough to accommodate a crib or pack-n-play.

The beauty of this home transitions perfectly to a private wooded near acre backyard that is complete with a fire pit, hammock, two grilling areas, and one of the most unique outdoor screened-in-patios you will ever hang out it. By hang out, we mean literally; hanging from four hammock chairs that are suspended from a sloping 25 foot ceiling. The porch also provides an outdoor dining area and sitting room. If you are enjoying your morning coffee in the patio, keep your eyes peeled for families of deer or wild turkeys! The front yard includes a half court basketball court perfect for shooting around or some serious 3 on 3.

When not enjoying The May Chalet, exploring Sawyer and the neighboring towns is a treat. Downtown Sawyer, home of the famous Greenbush Brewery and Sawyer Garden Market, is a 2-3 minute drive away. Neighboring towns are great for exploring antique shops, wineries, distilleries and local eateries.

The home is also conveniently located near two beach access points. The Warren Dunes Beach is a 2-3 minute drive, and there is another beach access about 15 minutes away by walking.

Property manager

Mark Wilke

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Gym

Outdoor space

Similar properties

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Pets accommodated for a $200 per pet fee

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

The golden house rule: "Please treat this house as you would treat your own house."

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 and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sawyer

Sawyer is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Warren Dunes State Park. Captain Mike's Fun Park and Waikiki Jacks are also worth visiting. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and cycling nearby.

Sawyer, MI

What's nearby

Warren Dunes State Park - 3 min drive
Captain Mike's Fun Park - 4 min drive
Warren Dunes State Park Beach - 6 min drive
Cherry Beach - 7 min drive
Weko Park - 9 min drive

Getting around

New Buffalo Station - 14 min drive
South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
‪Wolverine Gardens - ‬13 min drive
‪Lydia's Down Home Cooking - ‬7 min drive
‪Getaway Cubbie Bar - ‬8 min drive
‪The Beach Bucket - ‬14 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The May Chalet - A Wooded Retreat Built For Rest & Relaxation, Minutes To Beach pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The May Chalet - A Wooded Retreat Built For Rest & Relaxation, Minutes To Beach?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The May Chalet - A Wooded Retreat Built For Rest & Relaxation, Minutes To Beach?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The May Chalet - A Wooded Retreat Built For Rest & Relaxation, Minutes To Beach located?

Situated in Sawyer, this holiday home is 1.2 mi (1.9 km) from Warren Dunes State Park and 1.6 mi (2.5 km) from Lake Michigan. Warren Dunes State Park Beach and Captain Mike's Fun Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Exceptional

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

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Sandee T.

29 Aug 2024

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

Lovely trip to Michigan

Lovely home for a family get together. The house is beautiful, lots of room to spread out. We enjoyed the outside, the fabulous hammock room and the fire pit. Visited the nearby towns, went antiquing, and to the beach. We hope to be back.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sam C.

5 Oct 2023

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

Family Gathering

This amazing home and property provided everything we needed to enjoy a much needed time away as family. We can from Indiana, Chicago and Utah, 6 adults with 4 under 7, and loved every minute of our stay! This home is spacious, well equipped, and every detail has been thought of. SUPER clean, kitchen has everything you need to stay in and cook-which we did all evening meals at home. High chair, pack and play, toys, books, beach towels, accessories, clear and clever house welcome book, quiet neighborhood, basketball court, AND the outdoor screens in bonus room was a lovely place to hang out and eat meals. Mark was responsive and friendly as a host. We fell in love with Cherry Beach! We are leaving today content and thankful for this home and our time with family.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

juanita g.

26 Sept 2023

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

Fall Fun

We have stayed here twice. It is perfect for our family of 9. We stay for a long weekend and do apple picking and pumpkin farms. Plenty spacious for everyone to have their own little space. always clean and well supplied. The host Mark is always ready to help and answer questions.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

juanita g.

11 Oct 2022

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

Perfect fall family getaway

The property ws amazing. Perfect for our family! This was our first fall trip and the property was everything we wanted. The grandkids ages 8-3 were able to spend hours outside playing. very quiet neighborhood and close to so many activities.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Brian D., Varies, USA

21 Sept 2022

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

Golf Weekend with the Guys

Two groups of four guys each rented the place for two consecutive long weekends. The property is a good one for a staging area for enjoy the area (which is why we rented it). The three bedrooms, were large and comfortable...the loft "room" was OK, but was much hotter and stuffier than the rest off the place until we placed one of the box fans up there. Love the screened-in porch area...great for cards and just hanging out. Fire ring good for end of day, chilled before bed.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kate M., Indiana

10 July 2022

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

Lovely Michigan vacay!

Thoroughly enjoyed our July vacation in this amazing house. Location was great, with multiple nice beaches nearby (Cherry Beach was our favorite!). The house was beautifully decorated and appointed, and everyone loved hanging out in the hammock chairs and by the fire pit in the evenings. The basketball court was also a huge hit with the kids. Thanks so much!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aaron D.

1 Apr 2022

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

It was great

It was great. There was enough room for 10 adults to hangout together comfortably indoors and outdoors at all times.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kayleen C., Ames, IA USA

19 Sept 2021

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

Well stocked home with just about anything you need...great kitchen set up, kid's books, etc.

Good. Owner was VERY responsive to our questions and texts while there. Bring bug spray cause it's nestled in a wooded area. Very private.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Cristen M., Cincinnati

15 Aug 2021

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

Perfect getaway

The May Chalet was the perfect spot for our family getaway. The kids and adults all loved the hammock room. The house is even more beautiful in person than in the pictures. Great location close to several beaches. Check in was easy and host had great communication. We had a great time and would love to visit again.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Pamela C.

1 Aug 2021

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

Our family loves May Chalet!

The property is just as described. The space is well spread out for a family of 9-10. The kitchen is supplied with almost anything you would need for cooking and serving. Great stove! Everyone was happy with bedrooms and beds. There are tons of towels. The screened building was wonderful for dinners together and evening games. Cherry Beach is awesome! We just had a wonderful vacation!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Angela S.

25 July 2021

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

Family summer vacation

I have nothing but great things to say about this property! I stayed with my husband and two young children, my brother his wife and young daughter and my parents. The renovation is spectacular, the house is such a great layout for a large group. Plenty of room and so much visibility for watching the little ones! One thing to note is the upstairs bedroom is loft style so keep this in mind on who would sleep upstairs because it is directly open to the living area. Not a problem for us because when we put the kids to bed we just stayed outside. The screened in porch was ideal for outdoor dinners without having to worry about bugs. Location is great. Mark is amazing, by far the most responsive host I’ve engaged with. The home is modern, clean and functional. The location is great- close to so many things to do and a short drive from Chicago. I’m sure we will be looking to stay again!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

John M.

5 July 2021

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

Second time better than the first

This was our second stay at the May Chalet. As with our first stay in 2019 we had a great time. The house has plenty of open space to allow children to roam indoors and out. The backyard ‘hammock’ room provided a welcome respite for the adults. Everything was in great condition and the huge grill made cooking for a dozen easy. Mark was also very responsive to all our requests. We look forward to another trip and hope we do not have to wait another 2 yrs.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christina C.

24 Mar 2021

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

Beautiful Home with wonderful location and amenities and communicative owner

My family and I rented this home for three days to celebrate my wife’s birthday. The property has great location: only a relaxing 15-minute stroll to the Warren dunes. The home itself has an inspired modern design with a large open room and beautiful bedrooms. The outdoor enclosed porch is a nice second space to use even when it rains. In addition, the home has an outdoor fire pit and a really nice basketball court. The owner is very communicative. We hope to stay here again and highly recommend this vacation home.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Christy J., Indianapolis, IN

17 Feb 2021

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

Fantastic in the winter too!

We had a fabulous winter getaway at the May Chalet! First of all, the place was even more beautiful in person than what we pictured. Lots of space, amazingly decorated, and perfectly clean. The kitchen had everything we needed to cook our meals ourselves, and clean up too (always love it when the place includes things like dishwasher soap and paper towels). I also love it when there is room in the kitchen cabinets and bedroom drawers to hold stuff so you can truly make yourself at home. And Mark was super responsive - we did not have any problems but at one point I couldn't find our entry code and he answered immediately. Great place, great hosts. As I mentioned this was a winter getaway - the area was perfect for winter adventures. We had a lot of fun sledding on the Warren Dunes - my son claims he hit 20 mph when he went from the top - and it was interesting to see the frozen lake with chunks of floating ice. We also went to Love Creek Nature Center (about 30 min away in Berrien Springs) to go cross country skiing and snowshoeing. You can rent equipment for just $5-$10 per person. The fat tire bike trails looked fun too but we ran out of time. Our one local meal was pizza from Capozios which was excellent, and we stopped at a local yarn shop and Journeyman distillery. Thank you Wilke family for sharing your home and thank you Michigan for the many options for snowy adventures!

Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

David R.

26 Oct 2020

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

Amazing trip

Had another great stay at the May Chalet. Love the outdoor area, basketball court and bonfire area. Inside is so nice and comfortable; we barely left the house this year and still had a blast!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Christine B.

3 July 2020

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

Family vacation

The house was very nice. It was perfect for our family. The loft where the kids slept was a little warm at times but that didn’t seem to phase them. The owner is very responsive which is awesome! We had a wonderful stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

heather s., Indianapolis, Indiana

26 Sept 2019

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

May Chalet was Wonderful

Mark could not have been more responsive. Wonderful experience. Beautiful property.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

David R.

26 Sept 2019

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

Another great family getaway

This is our third time at the May Chalet and we have a blast every time. Super comfortable, great outdoor area, and the home is beautiful. Location is great too. We look forward to coming back next year!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Wendy F.

5 Sept 2019

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

Favorite vacation spot

The May Chalet has become our family’s favorite spot to get away, unplug, and relax. This was our 3rd stay in a year, and we are already looking forward to our next stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

John M.

21 Aug 2019

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

A terrific week in Michigan

Our family of 11 - 5 adults and 6 children - spent a week at the May Chalet in August 2019. It was pretty amazing. We were worried that the wooded location would make us a mosquito buffet but I didn’t see a single mosquito and there were only a few bites amongst our entire party all week. The screened in porch was awesome and it allowed a night of ‘camping’ for the kids while the adults rested indoors in comfort. The house had more or less everything that we could need. It was our first trip to Michigan but the location was terrific and was close to several beaches, restaurants, shopping and, most importantly, breweries. We really enjoyed our trip and would certainly return again. And, sadly for me and my pocketbook, I am now on the hook for replicating this place for my wife when we retire.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Andy M.

7 Aug 2019

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

Wonderful!

I can't recommend this property highly enough. Everything about it is top notch. There was plenty of space for our group of 6 (two kids, ages 3 and 5, my folks, and my wife and I) and the location (near Warren Dunes) was ideal. We had a great time relaxing in what our girls termed the "hammock room", making smores in the fire pit, cooking together in the beautiful kitchen, and cooling off at the lake. It really was perfect -- and Mark, the owner, was always super responsive and helpful. Honestly, my only reservation in giving such a positive review is that it'll make it harder for us to re-book next year!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jason B., Frankfort, Il

28 June 2019

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

The Tree House

This is our second visit to “The Tree House” a name our kids (ages 8, 6, and 2) gave the property. We love the house, the forested property, and especially the covered “tree house” off the patio. We spent our days at the beach and our nights around the campfire. We are thankful for the memories we were able to make this summer with our family. The May Chalet is amazing. Thanks for a great time!

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl C.

18 June 2019

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

Nice little get a way

A unique property that provided a great way to reconnect as family!!! Loved the screened in porch and sleeping areas for the kids.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Yvonne J.

11 June 2019

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

Beautiful new house

Well appointed home with all the amenities. The back deck and screened room were also very lovely. Highly recommend.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

27 May 2019

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

May Chalet is a retreat

The May Chalet was the perfect girls getaway vacation house. The wooded lot was beautiful this time of year. The screened in building was a perfect place to sit and relax. The location was great to explore the local shopping and restaurants.

Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

About the host

Hosted by Mark Wilke

I currently live in Chicago but very much love getting away from the fast paced city life to enjoy the peace and quiet of Sawyer. We bought this home in 2016 when it was a distressed, unlivable 2 bedroom mess...it took us over a year to rehab it to what you see today.

Why they chose this property

We wanted to design and renovate a home that not only would offer the seclusion and privacy needed to truly get away from the busy city life, but also offer a lot of fun and enjoyment for our young kids.