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Entire home

Open kitchen perfect seats 16+ /lots of cook's room. Fully stocked coffee bar

quiet street close to everything Saugatuck/Douglas

Expansive living room with multiple seating areas, and easy to move furniture

game room in the keepers. External hook-ups for gaming on 75" TV

An outdoor area for everyone. Three patios and fire pit! Year-round enjoyment.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

9 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 20409 sq m

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Dryer

Check-in time

9:00 AM

Check-out time

11:00 AM

Explore the area

Douglas, MI

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society9 min walk
Butler Street3 min drive
Oval Beach8 min drive
Grand Rapids, MI (GRR-Gerald R. Ford Intl.)49 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

The place was perfect for what we needed. Pleanty of sleeping areas and bathrooms. Easy walking distance to a nice coffe...

John B.

Jan 2, 2024

Rooms & beds

9 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

Bedroom 1 upper Floor

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2 upper floor

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3 upper floor

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4 Upper Level

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5 Lower Level

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 6 Lower Level

1 Queen Bed

Engine/Bunk Room Lower Level

2 Single Bunk Beds

Keepers Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Keepers Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Media Room

5 Single Beds

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1 Main floor

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2 Main Floor

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3 Upper Level

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 4 Upper Level

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Engine Room Bath

Toilet

Keepers Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Kitchenette

Office

Garden

About this property

The Douglas Boathouse! Amazing location/ Sleeps 20 in comfort/ all ages friendly

Perfect for large groups/families! GOOGLE MAP the Douglas Boathouse to see our central location as well as take a virtual tour and verify the great location.

FULLY equipped gameroom-
14' shuffleboard, foosball, ping pong, and video gaming area (with external hdmi ports), dart board, and beverage fridge

concrete patio with large outdoor dining tables and chairs for 16

side "english garden" rock patio for morning coffee and adult time.

EV Charger (240V NEMA 14-50 outlet)

We've thought of everything. Check out our google reviews!
Full featured coffee bar in main kitchen (selection of coffees provided)
Wine cooler
All new media featuring complimentary streaming services
Sonos whole house sound system.
Upgraded gig speed Wifi
Weber Genesis II propane grill
New game/puzzle table in main living room
New seating around hearth
Updated loungers on the screened-in porch
Wash/shampoo/conditioner dispensers in all showers
Utility totes for guest use while on excursions
Updated games, puzzles, and yard games for kids & adults

The two houses are located on a quiet side street in Douglas. We are closer to the beach than most houses in Saugatuck or Douglas and you can walk to the Deli, Root beer barrel and Just add water. The houses were specifically built for large reunions and have large group gathering spaces. Eight matching bedrooms with one queen bed in each room the seventh bedroom the children's crew quarters will sleep four in bunk beds. No dormitory style bedrooms. The Keeper's house is a complete second house with more privacy, a full living room, two (of the eight bedrooms), kitchen and fireplace.
The Main house has a dining table with seating for 14 and a large living room which make sure that no one will be left out when gathered around the fire place. The sun porch, library and small office offer more intimate spaces. The fire pit with free wood, outdoor dining area and the private patios all offer great spaces on warm summer nights. This is our family vacation home. New yet warm. Everything was new in 2014. The building has been completely rebuilt with quality materials by a Architect/Builder. The furnishings were specifically selected for the house. The wood ceilings, floors and trim make the house warm. Craftsman style mosaic work, original art and creative details add character and charm.
Centrally located between downtown Douglas and Lake Michigan. Shopping, dining and entertainment options are just minutes away. We have parking for six cars in our drive and an additional parking just a short walk away.

We only rent the houses as a pair. Three nights minimum for Spring and Fall. Our Summer rentals are a 6 night rentals—Friday to Thursday.

Property manager

Mike Finan

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Pool

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

House Rules

Check in after 9:00 AM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Many great kid-friendly features

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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

Douglas

Located in Douglas, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. 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.

Douglas, MI

What's nearby

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society - 9 min walk
Saugatuck Brewing Company - 15 min walk
Saugatuck Center For the Arts - 3 min drive
Butler Street - 3 min drive
Oval Beach - 8 min drive

Getting around

Holland Station - 18 min drive
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

‪The Butler - ‬4 min drive
‪The BARge - ‬4 min drive
‪Wicks Park Bar And GRI - ‬4 min drive
‪Uncommon Coffee Roasters - ‬4 min drive
‪Saugatuck Brewing Company - ‬15 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Douglas Boathouse! Amazing location/ Sleeps 20 in comfort/ all ages friendly pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Douglas Boathouse! Amazing location/ Sleeps 20 in comfort/ all ages friendly?

Check-in begins at 9:00 AM.

What time is check-out at The Douglas Boathouse! Amazing location/ Sleeps 20 in comfort/ all ages friendly?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Douglas Boathouse! Amazing location/ Sleeps 20 in comfort/ all ages friendly located?

This family-friendly Douglas holiday home is located on the riverfront, within 1 mi (2 km) of Kalamazoo Lake and Lake Michigan. Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society and Water Street Gallery are also within 10 minutes.

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

Verified traveller

20 May 2024

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

A fantastic girls weekend!

The place was huge, so much room, the best stocked rental that I have ever stayed in. Beautiful inside and out. Excellent communication with renter. Would definitely stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leda P.

1 May 2024

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

4 Generation 90th Birthday Celebration

This property was amazing! Four generations gathered to celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday. There was plenty of space to gather or spread out. Through creative seating, we were able to have 29 attendees in the kitchen at the birthday dinner. The game room was a big hit as was the fire pit. My dad and wife enjoyed the slightly more private accommodations of the keeper’s house. The pictures don’t do justice to the downstairs “sofa” beds…they are full size, firm and comfortable. The hosts have provided for every creature comfort one could ask for when on vacation. They were VERY responsive to questions and offered lots of good suggestions for local restaurants and places to visit. Many of the more midwestern guests said they will definitely look to use the house in the future. We have all done a lot of vacation home rentals and this house was an exceptional value.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

John B.

2 Jan 2024

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

Great place to stay, especially for large families

The place was perfect for what we needed. Pleanty of sleeping areas and bathrooms. Easy walking distance to a nice coffee shop and a very short drive to the grocery store and to downtown. The owner was super nice and easy to communicate with. Can definitely see staying there again!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kmbali C.

1 Dec 2023

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

Thanksgiving

Our annual Thanksgiving trip was spent at the Douglas Boathouse! The accommodations were just as described and shown in photos. We spent great time together in the large kitchen area. The location was great with stores within walking distance. No criticism or things to change. The sound system seemed complicated but no one wanted to spend time trying to figure out how to separate the tv speaker from the music. Instructions were provided. Communication and availability were 5 star!!! Thank you for sharing your home.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

David H.

10 Sept 2023

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

Terrific

When you see the Boathouse in person you will be blown away. Everything exceeded our expectations. Mike was lovely to deal with and we very much felt like invited guests in their home. They have thought of everything.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kate W.

5 June 2023

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

Amazing spot perfect for a group!

We stayed with our extended family which included 4 children under age 9. This was a super comfortable spot for all of us with plenty of space on the 3 floors plus the keepers house. We loved the game room, yard games, well equipped kitchen, fire pit, comfortable living room and beautiful yard with lots of trees. They even included things like phone cords, a house computer and enough Yetis for the whole crowd. Can't recommend this place more!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

5 June 2023

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

The Douglas Boathouse has it all!

Our family had a delightful stay at the Douglas Boathouse. We've never stayed in a vacation rental that provided so many conveniences from large numbers and types of Yeti mugs and cups to an entire basket of charging cords. The kitchen is well furnished with everything you can possibly think of. Everyone enjoyed the game room, as well as our time around the fire pit. It's in a lovely, quiet area that's convenient to everything. We also appreciated all of the beach chairs! There was plenty of seating for meals both indoors and out for our large group. The owners went above and beyond in providing so many extras that made our stay comfortable. Our only recommendation is that the doors could use some lubrication to get rid of the squeaks so early risers don't wake up others. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable weekend!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vincent B.

3 Jan 2023

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

Beautiful place

Everything In the house is beautiful.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dawn A., Chatham, Ontario Canad

26 Sept 2022

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

Excellent!!

This property was perfect for a family getaway. Everything was just as described in the listing. Great places nearby for eating and drinking. Lots of fun to have right on the property!! This was my first VRBO rental and Everything was perfect. Mike was always available if I had any questions. We would like to come again in the summer to experience the lovely beach and water but this place would be great any time of the year.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephen A.

22 Sept 2022

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

Amazing House and Location

This place is amazing. More amenities than you know what to do with. House is in great condition, and well decorated and furnished - you feel at home, a much nicer home.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Art S.

23 Aug 2022

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

Most well equipped rental home EVER

We travel a lot with large groups of people and we have NEVER had a house this well equipped. They truly thought of everything. The things we really appreciated: firewood, customized yetis, two dishwashers, two washer/dryer set ups, millions of games, lots of room for parking, clean, accommodating host. If you are considering booking this DO NOT HESITATE.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

20 June 2022

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

Amazing property with all the details

We went to Douglass with my entire family of 21 and stayed at this property for 4 nights. This is by far the best VRBO I’ve ever stayed in. There was plenty of beds for my entire family and room to spare. The house was completely stocked with everything you need in the kitchen. The gameroom and with every amenity you could think of for the entire party. Mike is a great host and checked to make sure we had everything. If you are in Michigan with a big party, Douglas Boathouse is the place to stay!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Angella M.

31 May 2022

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

If we could give it 10 stars we would! Perfect for groups!

REVIEW: 5 STARS The Douglas Boathouse was amazing for our family weekend trip! Located in a beautiful, quiet area that is walking distance to the beach and some fun stores/restaurants. Staying here, you are minutes away from any activity desired during your stay. Honestly, we loved the house so much we ended up staying in more than we planned. This house is so well-equipped and thought out, it really makes staying here as a guest feel like home! The owner’s close attention to detail makes your stay effortless: Wi-Fi, music system throughout the house, streaming services, toiletries, activities, games, fully equipped kitchen, etc. The house was very clean, spacious and comfortable for entertaining groups of all sizes. Our group throughly enjoyed the game room and the beautiful backyard fire pit sitting area. We hope to be back again! Thanks so much for having us!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jordan M.

15 May 2022

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

Great Stay!

Highly recommend this stay! The property is perfect for a large group. The house and game room is so unique and location is perfect. Mike was excellent to work with!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Luke S.

4 Oct 2021

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

Fall Reunion

Property was a prefect fit for our get together/reunion and Mike was nothing but amazing to work with! No issues during our staff and was as described. We'll be looking to rent this property again in the future!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

About the host

Hosted by Mike Finan

Hello!

Let us introduce ourselves! We are the Finolans: Mike, Eric, Fiona (9), Maeve(9) and our two Bernedoodles, Uma & Reykie. Calling Elgin, Illinois, our home, we love to travel and have stayed in VRBO’s around the world. The ability to have a home base while traveling, we find, makes the adventure far more relaxing—and rewarding. So, when the opportunity to take the reins of the Boathouse came to us, we jumped at the chance! We are hoping to carry on and build on the amazing experience Joanie and John have created and nurtured over the past 6 years.

We love the Douglas/Saugatuck/Fennville area, and look forward to sharing it with fellow travelers. We invite you take full advantage of the area and all it has to offer. Mike is always available to take your questions or answer any concerns. Don’t hesitate to contact us!

We love having you here!

The Finolan Family

Why they chose this property

We love to entertain and host large groups of our friends and family, so we knew immediately that the Boathouse was for us!

What makes this property unique

Large open rooms
Lots of different areas to congregate
Many spaces to hide-away
Great clean design
HUGE kitchen
LOCATION that can't be beat!
outdoor areas for everyone