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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 spacious living room with a large window, a sofa, a chair, and a coffee table. - 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 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

7.4 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

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

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About this property

Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House

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

    Pack your days with lakeside adventure at 'The Lake County Retreat,' a 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath holiday 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
    - Punchbag, 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, rowing boat, life jackets

    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
    - Skirting board & 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/caravan 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 holiday 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

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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
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Map
Baldwin, MI

What's nearby

  • A waterfall surrounded by autumn-colored trees.
    Huron-Manistee National Forest
    1 min walk - 0.0 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
  • Bush Lake
    2 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Ferris State University
    32 min drive - 60.1 km

Restaurants

  • To Jo
    18 min walk
  • Dairy Queen
    3 min drive
  • Red Rooster Bar
    5 min drive
  • Pompeii's Pizza
    3 min drive
  • Northern Exposure Cafe
    4 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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Reviews

Manistee Forest Retreat: Group-Friendly Lake House Reviews

7.4

Good

7.0

Cleanliness

9.0

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 1 out of 6 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 6 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 6 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 6 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 6 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the location, the lake was fun, we caught quite a few fish. The house is dated, and a few things didn't work properly. The yard had a lot of goose poop so we couldn't do yard games. We had a bat in the house that we captured and let out. So some good some bad, we enjoyed ourselves still.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

10/10 Excellent

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

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

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