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BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated!

Photo gallery for BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated!

View of the pontoon and lake from the deck.
View (front) of the cottage from the lake.
Miscellaneous
Back view of cottage. All new windows, siding and trim
Lake

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6106.8 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Irons, MI
  • Harper Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Elbow Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Sand Lake
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪45 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated!

YES THE PONTOON comes with the cottage rental which is so nice! This spacious 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom cottage has been completely updated w/new paint throughout, flooring, brand new bathroom, fireplace, kitchen counter & back splash, fire pit, deck & dock and so much more! This lovely furnished cottage is on Harper Lake & comes with a 21' Tahoe pontoon with a 60 hp engine- great for fishing, anchoring & swimming or cruises around the lake! Also comes with 2 kayaks! Beautiful view of the lake from the huge screened in porch that seats 8 or the massive deck! Harper Lake is an "All Sports" lake for fishing, rowing, water skiing, ice fishing, and relaxing. It is just a mile from the Little Manistee River. Significant towns in the area include Traverse City, Manistee, and Ludington on Lake Michigan, and Cadillac, Big Rapids, and Grand Rapids inland. This is truly a cozy cottage that comes fully furnished! We have plenty of lawn chairs, rafts and floats!

Property manager

Pam Ritsema

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 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
DO NOT ALLOW PETS.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
NO SMOKING.
Plz apply to the lake rules when driving the pontoon. Nobody under the age of 21 is allowed to drive the boat. Addt'l info will be emailed and at home
We expect home t/b in the same shape as when you arrive. We take pride in keeping things well cared for so everyone can enjoy it in the yrs to come!

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 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
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Irons

Located in Irons, this cottage is on a lake. While the natural beauty of Huron-Manistee National Forest and Harper Lake can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can head to Fawn Crest Golf Course. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Irons, MI

What's nearby

  • Harper Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Elbow Lake - 2 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Elk Township Hall - 2 min drive - 2.0 km
  • Sand Lake - 11 min drive - 7.7 km
  • Tippy Dam Recreation Area - 45 min drive - 30.2 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oak Grove Tavern - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Irons Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Blossom's Restaurant - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Lumberjack's Lodge & Restaurant - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Granny's Kitchen - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is BEAUTIFUL Lakefront Cottage W/ Pontoon on Harper Lake- Completely Updated! located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is steps away from Huron-Manistee National Forest and Harper Lake. Elbow Lake and Horseshoe Lake are also within 1 mile (2 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. 23 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

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

Amazing Stay

The property is gorgeous, recently renovated and the perfect spot for a week of relaxation. They had everything we needed, plenty of places to sit outdoors, water toys, the boat, firepit just perfect.. I don't know if it was the time of year (late August), but the lake was usually extremely quiet during the day, with a steady parade of pontoons in the evening. Check-in/out was super simple and communication with the property owners very easy. Already looking forward to booking again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Larry W.

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

Pam is a great host

Absolutely loved the screen porch, especially during the rain. Having use of the pontoon boat was very nice, my grandson caught some bass. The lake is a little small, but very pretty. Pam was very accommodating, especially when we had to go back after we left to pick up a prescription I had left behind. Only thing is the kitchen is rather small, but we managed.
Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

TAMMY W.

Beautiful

We enjoyed taking the pontoon out & anchoring it for a few hours of swimming in the deeper water. We loved the fire pit & screened in porch. The cottage itself was clean & just your home away from home kind of feel. Also recommend Kayaking on the Little Manistee River just a short distance are some launch sites from the cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Angie K., Midland

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

Great place to stay, right on the water.

We had a wonderful time! This cabin is an absolute beauty. Super clean and nicely decorated. Very specious. Kitchen was a little small but we made it work. We loved the fire pit on the beach. The pontoon was a great bonus, the lake was beautiful and we were on it and in the water every day. It was nice to wind down at the end of the day and play cards and games in the beautiful sun porch. We all loved the rocking chairs on the deck. It was a great place to sit and drink morning coffee with a wonderful view. Would definitely love to stay here again. Thanks so much Pam!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ken H., Bay City Michigan

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

Excellent Vacation "On Golden Pond - HGTV Version"

What an excellent vacation rental! We have a awesome time and a very relaxing time. The cabin has been remodeled and is directly out of the HGTV shows. Pam has the property tastefully decorated (and I am sure Brian helped). We had excellent space. The lake front is very relaxing and quiet at times. Between 11am and 7:30pm the lake comes alive with boaters. WE were out in the middle of the National Forest area, but close enough to the locate cities to shop, visit, and gamble. The wildlife is abundant to watch and see. We were entertained by so much, like the hummingbirds fighting over the feeder, the numerous different type of birds, the pontoons, jetskis, and kayakers. We also took advantage of the serene quiet and lack of the city lights to watch the Perseid meteor showers on three nights. On top of that, we had to late night thunderstorms that provided the best light shows with the heat lightening. The lake temperature was perfect for all day floating, boating and swimming. The accommodations were outstanding. The master bedroom was huge with a private on-suite bathroom. The two other bedrooms were also tastefully decorated, and had a bathroom right out of better homes and gardens. All around the location was remote, but close enough. Can't beat the lake and the use of their pontoon. One week is never enough. Thank you Pam and Brian. Hopefully the timing will work out next year so we can come back. Respectfully, Ken and Mary Hauger - and family.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Linda S., Oak Park, IL

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

Restful respite

Perfection! The house was lovely with lots of updates and was just what we were looking for in a lake vacation-- the pontoon boat and kayaks were great bonuses, and we loved the large screened-in porch, wide deck, and the sandy beach area with the fire pit. The owners were great and seem to have thought of everything! We are already making plans and looking forward to returning again next year!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dawn D.

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

Great Getaway!

The cottage was clean, decorated very nicely and had everything you might need; even a washer and dryer. The new master bedroom and bath are beautiful. The pontoon boat and kayaks were a big hit with the kids. It was a great jumping off point to Ludington, Manistee and Pentwater. Would highly recommend.

8/10 Good

Jerry M.

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

Nice lake front cottage. Has everything you need for a weeks vacation. We needed it.

Excellent experience!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

wayne s.

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

Wonderful Accommodations

Nice location easy to find. The pontoon boat was great it was nice having it available for every day. The cottage felt very comfortable like being at home.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Sara M.

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

Week long stay

Beautiful lakefront home in irons. Great accommodations. Friendly and responsive owners.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Brigitte D.

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

Charming Harper Lake

We enjoyed the remoteness of the Harper Lake house. Pam was wonderful !
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

betty r.

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

Beautiful Lake house

Was a quiet, relaxing vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

heather l., Northwest Chicago sunburbs

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

Majestic and exceptional

Everything you see is spot on! Accommodations are stellar. Pontoon fabulous. The lake is quite and quaint perfect for a low key relaxing family vacation. We have two teenagers and they were impressed. Neighboring towns are about 30-45 minute drives with plenty to keep you entertained if you wish. We loved Ludington and the Sleeping Bear Dunes (a must see). Absolutely recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

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

Summer time lake fun.

The cottage is just as described. Kids played in the water on the beach and we had alot of fun on the boat docking out on the lake and swimming. Would definitely recommend this cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

John J.

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

Great place to stay! Exactly as listed!

Had a great time spending a week at the Lakehouse. Listing is exactly as described and they are very accommodating. Use of the boat, kayaks, etc and nice beach with fire pit. Would definitely stay again!

10/10 Excellent

Amanda R., Holland

Beautiful, clean, fun cottage rental

So many extras with this rental! The lake was beautiful and the cottage was so homely feeling. It has been updated and decorated beautifully. The owner was very responsive and there when ever we had questions.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Emily N.

Fantastic week of R&R on the lake

We spent a week at Pam and Brian's beautiful cottage in early July. Everything exceeded our expectations. The view of the lake from the house is captivating. The home was very clean, well decorated and fully stocked with anything you would need. The owners are very generous in the amenities they offer including use of their kayaks, floats and pontoon boat which we used quite a bit. We'd have lunch on the boat, just cruise around or play card games while watching the sunset, just fab! When we weren't on the lake we spent most of our time in the screened in porch, where we were even able to enjoy a quick thunderstorm. You really get the Northwoods feel at this place, and are somewhat off the beaten path but we were still able to do day trips: golfing, kayaking down the Pine river and wine tasting up in Traverse City. It was the perfect trip to disconnect and "slow down"- one our favorite vacations (and we travel a lot). Pam is very easy to communicate with and I can't say enough good things about our stay. We are hoping to rent again next summer! If you're lucky enough to stay here, then you are lucky enough!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey O.

Love it!

We had a great time staying here! Beautiful cottage and lake! Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Mark W.

gorgeous lake and cottage

beautiful lake. Very quiet during the week days. Cottage is the nicest one we have stayed at by far. Owners have put careful and incredibly time into the decor. Cottage is more than well stocked with everything required for cooking, entertaining and relaxing.The pontoon boat is amazing. Spent nearly ever waking moment on it. A couple of observations: the cell service is extremely sketchy which may or may not work to your advantage. Limited restaurants close by. Fishing was challenging to say the least. Caught 9 pike, double digit large mouth bass and 2 bluegill and I fished for over 35 hours. If those are not deal breakers for you then we'd highly recommend this cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Janel S.

Great Vacation House

We had a great time at the cottage on Harper Lake. The house is very roomy with plenty of space to spread out. We really enjoyed the screened in sun porch and ate most of our meals at the table out there. The house was very clean with all the necessities of home provided. Our two boys, ages 14 and 12, loved the pontoon boat, kayaks, and floats. There is even a little island you can go over to and explore. It was the perfect location to get away but still close enough for day trips to the "big cities" up north. We would definitely recommend spending a week here!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

meghan d.

Beautiful cottage with great view!

Wow! This cottage was absolutely amazing! It is decorated beautifully and had everything you could possibly need to make your vacation great! My family of 4 had an amazing week pantooning, kayaking, fishing, swimming and making wonderful memories. Pam the owner was great to work with, she gave us great information to local stores and was fast to respond if we had questions. This cottage had everything and more that you would need. All the extras made you feel at home and will cut down on my packing for when we come back next year!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ron K.

The "WOW" Factor 5++

My wife and I have been renting a weekly cabin yearly since my daughter was a baby (she is now 27 & married) with a son now 20. So for apprx 27 years we have taken our family on a fall trip somewhere up North Michigan. With all the cabins I have rented this one is the cream of the bunch. The cabin is well thought out with many extra's that you do not get with other rentals. The communication with Pam leading up to the rental was awesome ! If you are looking for a 2 bedroom cabin this one is extra clean, with all the amenities. They are very gracious with a SUPER NICE up to date Cabin. She also leaves a list of places to eat, shop for grocery's or grab a drinks. The trails for riding a ORV is not far and the Lake is beautiful. I just can't say enough for this rental. We will be going back for sure! Ron & Donna
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Wesley S.

Wonderful cottage with friendly owner

This is a wonderful lakefront cottage. The owner has done a wonderful job with the remodeling after purchasing this cottage in 2015. The rooms were beautiful. The back porch and deck looked brand new, and the beach and fire pit were a wonderful location to spend the evenings watching the sun go down or gazing at the stars. Towels and linens were provided. Full kitchen with outside grill available for our use made dinners easy. The location of the cottage makes for wonderful day trips, with Traverse City, Ludington, and Manistee all within an hour's drive. The Dublin General Store is about 8 minutes away, and is a must-visit destination. The owners provided kayaks, floats, and the pontoon boat, which we used every day on the beautiful lake, which was not crowded at all during the week. We hope to be able to visit next year!
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Winnie W.

True vacation home with all the amenities!

We really enjoyed our stay on Harper Lake! The ability to go out each day on the pontoon or Kayak was so much fun for our little family. Every time we went out, we had the entire lake to ourselves! The house was cozy with comfortable beds, couches, and plenty of spectacular views to the lake. The deck was great for grilling, and there was plenty of firewood on the little beach by the lake! We were about a 30 min from Lake Michigan and went on a wide variety of day trips to the small towns, wineries and hiking in the state park all close by. Overall, hands down the best vacation spot that we've found, thanks to the gracious home-owners who were more than accommodating on our trip! Highly, highly recommend staying here!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Denise S., Lansing

Great place!!

Great little cottage. Very clean and organized. Beautiful screen porch, which was where we spent alot of time. Came with a pontoon boat and lots of rafts to float around in. Also included kayaks!! Relaxing, fun place to be. Also a huge fire pit for sitting around at night roasting marshmallows. Would go back again!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2016

About the host

Hosted by Pam Ritsema

Host profile image
We were born & raised and lived our whole life in Grand Rapids, MI. We have two sons & daughter in law & 2 grandchildren that love to fish, hunt, snowmobile and we all love hanging out at the cottage! We have always loved traveling up north for scenic drives and always wanted to have a cottage up North! Our dream came true when we purchased this cottage in 2015 and could not be any happier with the location & beauty of Harper Lake ! We look forward to making so many special memories in our new cottage!

Why they chose this property

So close to so many things- great for same day excursions!! Whether it's wine tasting & touring the beautiful surroundings of Traverse City an hour away, Manistee is 1/2 hour, Ludington and Lake Michigan in only 35-40 minutes! We purchased this cottage in 2015 as our dream has always been to have a little piece of paradise up North and we definitely found our gem! We have always loved coming up north, since there is so much to offer between fishing, relaxing, fun in the sun, wineries, hunting, so much to do! We wanted a cottage where we didn't have to climb a lot of steps from the lake to the house, this is so perfect! This cottage has one of the best views of the lake! .

What makes this property unique

The pontoon comes with the rental (except for the late fall/winter renters).The view from the large sun porch and the deck will take your breath away, whether you are enjoying your morning coffee or a glass of wine at sunset Harper Lake is such a beautiful lake, and this view never gets old! The fire pit is large enough for several people, as well as the massive deck, grilling area and eating area.

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English
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