Sitting at the top of a cedar-lined bluff, this charming and secluded contemporary cottage offers open beam ceilings, a wood-burning stone fireplace, soaring views of Lake Michigan, and 105' of private-access sandy beach. Easy 20 min. drive to Crystal Mountain ski resort, and only 2 miles from downtown Frankfort.
As you travel west toward Lake Michigan and turn onto the tree covered private drive, you'll know you've found a special place. Located on a 1 acre lot and over 200' from the road, this peaceful location will put you into vacation mode instantly.
The home has two bedrooms located in the walkout lower level of the home with polished concrete floors. The first downstairs bedroom is equipped with a bunk bed and trundle bed (three twin mattresses). The master bedroom has french doors and large, east-facing picture windows which provide a nature view of the property. It is equipped with a queen bed with memory foam mattress. Each of the rooms has a closet with hanging storage baskets and hangers. An ironing board and iron are provided.
The downstairs bathroom is a full bath with combination bathtub/shower, toilet, and double vanity. A hair dryer and first aid kit are located here.
Upstairs you'll find a 1/2 bath and laundry room with stacked full size washer & dryer.
The upstairs "bedroom" is a combination bedroom/TV room, which is somewhat open to the living area/great room. Though less private, this is the largest sleeping area with both a futon and a queen-sized sleeper sofa and has beautiful lake views.
The great room boasts the most dramatic lake views of the entire home. Here a door-wall provides access to the deck and a wall of windows provide an unforgettable panorama of Lake Michigan framed by hearty cedar trees. A beautiful stone fireplace runs floor to ceiling in the center of the room, separating the area from the kitchen and dining peninsula. Note that we will be converting the fireplace to a large wood-burning insert/stove during the winter of 2020/2021.
The galley style, eat-in kitchen includes a 36" 5-burner gas cook-top, built in 30" oven, refrigerator with built in water/ice dispensers, dishwasher, and 36" stainless steel apron sink (with reverse osmosis water dispenser and garbage disposal) set in marble countertops. Take your morning coffee on the outside deck or enjoy it in the kitchen without missing a view of the lake. Plates, bowls, silverware, pots/pans, cookie sheets, electric mixer, rice maker, bread maker, Ninja blender, electric griddle, Kurig-style coffee maker, french press, paper plates, paper towels, napkins, and well equipped spice rack are provided for your convenience.
The beach is accessible by stairs immediately off the deck and take you directly down to the lake (~70 feet below). The stairs are shared with only one neighbor through a longstanding agreement made by the previous owner, which we continue to honor. An alternate set of stairs is available at the public access point at the end of Grace Rd (a nice alternative if you have guests with physical limitations). *Note: Access at Grace Rd. is closed to due to erosion that took place in 2020. Will update if repairs are made.
If you drive an electric vehicle, Level 2 (240V) charging is available via an outdoor NEMA 14-50 (RV) plug, located within easy reach of the circle drive. With "your" portable charger and adapter, you'll be able to charge at (up to) a continuous 50A from this circuit allowing a quick top-off or full overnight charge for your Tesla, Chevy Bolt, or other long range EV. If you need a charger or adapter, let us know in advance and we will try to accommodate you.
Located just 1/2 mile off of M-22; Traverse City (and the region’s 40+ vineyards), Sleeping Bear Dunes, Crystal Lake, Manistee, and Interlochen are each less than 50 minutes away. Spend the week exploring this wonderful little corner of the state or stay locally in Frankfort, the quintessential northern Michigan beach town. Though small in size, Frankfort offers a bakery, several cafes, shops, and restaurants, including Stormcloud Brewing, the local microbrewery.
If you’re into fishing, you can fish from the Frankfort pier or choose from several local charters, all with great reviews. The Betsie River is well known for seasonal fishing of steelhead and salmon, but also trout.
If the wind is out of the south, surfing is quite popular on the leeward side of the pier (at your own risk).
The Betsie Valley bicycle trail can be picked up just 2 miles away in Elberta and will take you into downtown Frankfort or you can ride a paved trail all the way to Crystal Lake to the north. From Crystal Lake the trails turns back to the south and will take you all the way to Thompsonville. The trail is 22 miles long in total. https://betsievalleytrail.org/trail-map/
My wife and I purchased this cottage in the fall of 2018 and completely renovated the home over the fall/winter/spring of 2018/2019. New for the 2020 season is an outdoor shower and foot-wash station. The home is available as a weekly rental only, due to local ordinances, though we can accommodate shorter stays in the off-season. Please see calendar for availability/pricing.
***April 2020 - Note on COVID-19***
We hope everyone is safe, healthy, and enjoying time at home with your families as we learn to cope with the COVID pandemic. We will work with our guests to ensure as much flexibility as possible when dealing with unforeseen travel changes requiring rescheduling or cancellation of your vacation. Additionally, we'll be working with our cleaning service to take special measures this season to ensure the continued health and safety of our guests. Please contact us directly if you have any specific concerns or requests.
***April 2021 (update) - Note on Water Levels and Erosion***
Lake Michigan water levels are finally beginning to trend down. We've already seen a significant improvement in beach conditions and are looking forward to having our beach back for 2021. Please see our Spring 2021 photos in the listing.
