Entire home

Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House

Photo gallery for Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House

A wooden deck with a white picket fence overlooking a calm lake. - Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House (Baldwin)
A house with a slide, a pond, and chairs in the yard. - Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House (Baldwin)
A living room with a sectional sofa, a round chair, a small table, and a large window overlooking a body of water. - Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House (Baldwin)
A spacious living room with a large window, a sofa, a chair, and a coffee table. - Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House (Baldwin)
A spacious dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a chandelier, and a view into the kitchen. - Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House (Baldwin)
A firepit, a garden and a playground are just a few of the amenities provided at Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House. Guests can also expect to find an arcade/games room.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

5 bedrooms4 bathrooms269 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue
  • Fireplace

Add dates for prices

About this property

Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House

  • Spacious Layout | Canoes & Rowboat Provided | Dogs Welcome w/ Fee

    Pack your days with lakeside adventure at 'The Lake County Retreat,' a 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath vacation rental home in Baldwin! Scenic views and nature-centered relaxation promise a memorable stay with loved ones, whether you're grilling up the day’s catch or toasting s'mores under the stars. This Whalen Lake escape puts you close to paddling, trails, and top-rated local eateries — all in a tranquil setting.

    -- THE PROPERTY --

    SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
    - Bedroom 1: 1 bunk bed (twin/full)
    - Bedroom 2: 1 bunk bed (twin/full)
    - Bedroom 3: 1 bunk bed (twin/full), 1 queen bed
    - Bedroom 4: 1 full bed
    - Bedroom 5: 1 bunk bed (twin/full)
    - Game Room: 2 twin beds
    - Living Room: 1 full sleeper sofa

    INDOOR LIVING
    - Multiple living areas
    - 2 Smart TVs, board games
    - Wood-burning fireplace
    - Game room, sunrooms
    - Ping-pong table, mini basketball game
    - Dining table, breakfast bar
    - Punching bag, piano, jetted tub

    OUTDOOR LIVING
    - Private dock, lake views
    - Fire pit (bring your own wood)
    - Charcoal (bring your own charcoal)
    - Patio, dining area, umbrella
    - 2 canoes, rowboat, life vests

    KITCHEN
    - Stove/oven, refrigerator, dishwasher
    - Microwave, toaster, blender
    - Keurig dual drip/pod coffee maker
    - Dishware/flatware, cooking basics
    - Trash bags/paper towels

    GENERAL
    - Free WiFi
    - Baseboard & electric heat, ceiling fans
    - Linens, towels, hair dryer
    - Iron/board, hangers

    FAQ
    - No A/C
    - Pet fee (paid pre-trip, dogs only, 2 max)

    ACCESSIBILITY
    - 2-story home, 4 steps to enter
    - 2 bedrooms & full bath on 1st floor

    PARKING
    - Driveway (10 vehicles)
    - RV/trailer parking

    -- THE LOCATION --

    - Near ORV trails
    - 0.2 miles to Pere Marquette State Trail
    - 2 miles to shops & restaurants
    - 3 miles to Idlewild Beach
    - 11 miles to Manistee National Forest
    - 93 miles to Gerald R. Ford International Airport

    -- REST EASY WITH US --

    Evolve makes it easy to find and book properties you’ll never want to leave. You can relax knowing that our properties will always be ready for you and that we’ll answer the phone 24/7. Even better, if anything is off about your stay, we’ll make it right. You can count on our homes and our people to make you feel welcome — because we know what vacation means to you.

    -- POLICIES --

    - No smoking
    - Pet friendly w/ $100 fee (+ fees & taxes, dogs only, 2 max)
    - No events, parties, or large gatherings
    - Additional fees and taxes may apply
    - Photo ID may be required upon check-in

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    - The property has fans but does not have air conditioning
    - This 2-story home requires 4 steps to enter with 2 bedrooms and a full bathroom on the 1st floor

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Internet access

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Games
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Kayak
  • Table tennis
  • Hunting nearby
  • Motor boating nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,900 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Note from host: A maximum of 2 pets are allowed.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events 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 and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Located in Baldwin, this holiday home is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Pere Marquette Floodplain Plant Preserve and Huron-Manistee National Forest, while Shrine of the Pines and Luther Area Museum are cultural highlights. Power boating offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hunting nearby. Visit our Baldwin travel guide
View more Holiday homes in Baldwin
Map
Baldwin, MI

What's nearby

  • A sunset over a calm lake with ripples on the water's surface and a silhouette of trees in the background.
    Big Star Lake
    15 min drive - 17.9 km
  • An aerial view of a golf course surrounded by autumn-colored trees.
    Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf
    37 min drive - 68.5 km
  • Whalen Lake
    1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Cecilia Lake
    17 min drive - 20.4 km
  • Ferris State University
    32 min drive - 60.1 km

Restaurants

  • Red Rooster Bar
    5 min drive
  • To Jo
    18 min walk
  • Dairy Queen
    3 min drive
  • 876
    3 min drive
  • Pompeii's Pizza
    3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House?

Checkout is at noon.

Where is Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House located?

This family-friendly Baldwin holiday home is located on the waterfront, just steps away from Huron-Manistee National Forest and Whalen Lake. Leverentz Lake and Bush Lake are also within 1 mile (2 km).

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Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House Reviews

Reviews

Excellent

All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 3 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 3 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews

8.0

Cleanliness

9.4

Location

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Tim M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice stay
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bob B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had a great time with family and the bedroom arrangements worked great
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

John K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location for fishing the PMCould use some updating such as a washer and dryer for laundrySome cracked floor tiles in kitchen that should be replaced.Big place with lots of beds.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Janet J.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Being by the lake was everything! It was beautiful on the water and several self-propelled boats were provided for use during our stay. It was also nice that Roku was available. They had a beautiful main room (the main property picture) with plenty of seating for our 12 family members. There was no AC, which was tough during the day, especially in the kitchen, but it cooled off plenty at night and the fans provided were helpful. A few of the ceiling fans were loose and wobbled a bit when in use. It's worth noting that the house does not include common VRBO amenities like shampoo and conditioner. The kitchen had a hodgepodge of kitchenware. If you're planning to cook anything specific you might want to check if they have it on site.On a final note, unfortunately, it looks like it hasn't been checked on in a long time. As someone who rents out a home myself, I still take pride in my rental property and wanted it to be thoroughly enjoyed by the occupants. That did not seem to be the case here. There was also a great deal of moisture in one of the first floor rooms that could benefit from a dehumidifier in the summer months. Everything smelled wet in there and my children preferred sleeping on couches in the main room instead of having their own bedroom. Several doors and windows were not secure so bugs easily got in the home. To make matters worse, a bat came into the home hunting all those buggies that got in during the day. Not my favorite way to wake up at night.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026