Entire home

Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!

Photo gallery for Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!

A living room with a brick fireplace, two sofas, a coffee table, and large windows offering a view of trees. - Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! (Dowling)
A hot tub with three people sitting in it, surrounded by trees and a view of a body of water. - Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! (Dowling)
A lakeside property with a dock, boats, and a house with a deck. - Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! (Dowling)
A round table with intricate metalwork, surrounded by four chairs with a lattice back design, set on a wooden deck with a view of a lake through large windows. - Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! (Dowling)
A room with a large window overlooking a lake, a guitar leaning against the window, and a chair in the foreground. - Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! (Dowling)
Take advantage of a garden, an arcade/game room, and laundry facilities at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!. Adventurous travelers may like the boating and kayaking at this vacation home. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Guests can connect to in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10204 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning

Add dates for prices

About this property

Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!

  • Our property is centrally located in southwest Michigan, within a 3-hour drive from Chicago and Detroit. The region is known for it’s rolling hills, golf courses and hundreds of lakes. It is a place where recreation awaits year-round! No matter what your outdoor pleasure, from golf to water sports, you can find it here in our beautiful natural surroundings!

    Our house sits on 3.3 wooded acres, and from it’s hillside perch, enjoys broad views overlooking Bristol Lake. The property is on a quiet residential street. Bristol is a 165-acre all-sports lake and is excellent for fishing, swimming and all manner of watersports. The lake shore consists of a mix of areas of sand and loam. The water gets deep gradually and is relatively-friendly to younger children (although we recommend life jackets for non-swimmers).

    We have a large grassy yard along the lake with enough trees to give some comfortable shade in the sunny summer afternoons.

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi (surcharge)

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio
  • Yard

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • No elevator
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Table tennis
  • Casino nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • No carbon monoxide detector or gas appliances (host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,200 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

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

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Please gather up used sheets on end of beds, and set used towels near washer
Please put all trash in large trash cans at the end of the driveway
Please wash and put away all dirty dishes before you leave. Also, put all moved furniture or outside beach & boat items back to original location.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

Noise Levels: During the day, noise should be kept to reasonable levels. After dark, noise levels should not exceed that of a close conversation.
The septic system is very effective; however, it will clog up if improper materials are flushed. DO NOT FLUSH anything other than toilet paper.

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: $150 fee/pet

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadbolt lock
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

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Located in Dowling, this vacation home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Hastings Country Club and Gull Lake View Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary and Hidden Pond Preserve. Traveling with kids? Consider Cadwallader Park and Peace Labyrinth. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating. Visit our Dowling travel guide
View more Vacation Homes in Dowling
Map
Dowling, MI

What's nearby

  • A giraffe with a long neck reaching for food.
    Binder Park Zoo
    30 min drive - 36.6 km
  • A large brick building with a tower and large windows at dusk.
    Western Michigan University
    46 min drive - 66.8 km
  • Bristol Lake
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Kellogg Arena
    22 min drive - 25.4 km
  • Firekeepers Casino
    30 min drive - 36.1 km

Getting around

  • Battle Creek Transportation Center
    22 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.)
    43 min drive

Restaurants

  • Horn Creek Pub
    12 min drive
  • Wild Mike's
    10 min drive
  • Edwards
    15 min drive
  • The Pasture Wagon
    7 min drive
  • The Pub
    23 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews!?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! located?

This family-friendly Dowling vacation home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of Bristol Lake, Little Mill Lake and Clear Lake. Mill Lake is 2.4 mi (3.8 km) away.

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Reviews

Secluded Lake Retreat-Exceptional Reviews! Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

10

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 127 out of 148 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 148 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 148 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 148 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 148 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fall Getaway

Very nice cozy place to stay with plenty to do. Beautiful property to enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful secluded stay

The home is very well equipped and clean, the location wonderful on the lake with so much to do. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves and the owner is responsive! looking forward to staying again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Lake Retreat

The property was exactly as described, nicely appointed, and clean when we arrived. Perfect lake house getaway from the city.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A truly beautiful lake!

Pretty lake, very clean, nice house and very quiet. Had a great time enjoying the surroundings. Lake was warm, beds were comfy and house was well stocked! Thank you for sharing your house!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quick Getaway

This trip was just for my spouse and I and our pet. It was a colder weekend, but we enjoyed everything. We can’t wait to rent again when the weather is warmer.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Private getaway

Absolutley love this cottage!! Perfect location on the lake with privacy. Loved being able to rent the pontoon boat too! We did daily tours around the lake on the boat with many stops for swimming. Had the best time
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful Lake House

Our family of 9 people from 3 states stayed at this house in Dowling for a wedding weekend. The house is very comfortable and the kitchen worked well for all of us. The water is a bit ‘tasty’ so bottled water is a good idea. We enjoyed the early mornings outside.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Get-Away!!

Nice place! House was clean and had comfortable beds. The beach area was fun for the little kids. Adults enjoyed the kayaks and fishing on the lake. Beautiful views of the lake from the screened in porch. Really enjoyed our time there and would recommend…except for people who have problems climbing stairs. There’s quite a few stairs to get to the lake front. (The only drawback for some people. We were fine with it.)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Love this property!!!!!! Easy clean and great communication!!! Will go back there definitely!!!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Loved the place! Hot tub was amazing!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cannot say enough good things about this beautiful home and it's owners! Absolutely delightful last minute booking, wonderful location and amenities, all of us want to return year after year
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very spacious lake house room for big families! Lots of beach toys for the kids and adults, we had a blast!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sue was an excellent host. Everything as described. The perfect fall getaway.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lake stay

The house is great, tons of room. Veiw of the lake is very nice. The area down by the lake is fantastic, lots of space, easy to get in and out of the water.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lake house

Had a wonderful time! I will definitely recommend this place.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Bristol Lake Stay

We had a group of 8 guys on a golf trip. The accomodations were excellent and we had a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great House

A beautiful location with a great house!,VERY CLEAN!, the best equipped house we have ever rented.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Memorial Day Weekend

Stayed here with some friends and our dogs. Great stay. Was very relaxing and we had a blast swimming in the lake and wearing the dogs out. Would recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice place, just needed cleaned

The property was great, it just was not clean.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Wonderful Host

Our stay was wonderful. The house was clean and comfortable. The only downfall was the trail to the beach area and the beach itself. The trail had rocks and sticks and was washing in. It is definitely not a good area for someone with bad knees. The water itself has a fast drop off not makong it very kid friendly. But, since we were 2 adults and a teenager, it was good for us. The hot tub was nice! Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

2023 Family Vacation

This is the second year in a row we have stayed at this property and what a home and property it is. My kids and I love to connect here while enjoying the basement games, the beach, the hot tub and the boat! Beautiful sunrises from the screened in room starts each day off right! Thanks Ray!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Winter Weekend Visit

The property was as expected and the view was beautiful! Hot tub was perfect for the winter weekend. Loved the screened in deck, cozy living area, games, local guide binder, and spacious bedrooms. Only a few minor negative things to note—the Keurig did not work, water filter on fridge needed to be changed, and downstairs bathroom had a musty smell. Still a great space with comfortable accommodations for a family who will be spending a lot of time on the lake during summer months!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very clean!

House and grounds were super clean! This was located in a great location with quite a few stairs to get down to the lake. Lake was great, we used the kayaks that are included and fished off the pier. The house lacked a couple basics but the owner assisted when notified. The pans provided are pretty worn and are no longer non-stick. They were very difficult to cook on, keep this in mind if you plan on frying anything on the stove top. The pool table, air hockey table and ping pong table were perfect for our group also. 2 sets of newer washers/dryers, 1 on each floor was super convenient! Would recommend and would return!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
First off, the owners of this property are very attentive and some of the best owners I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with (and we stay at 1-2 different lake homes each year). They went above and beyond to try and right a few wrongs. Overall, this place was great, very cozy and has a rustic, woodsy, lake house feel. It is high up from the water so you do not have a clear view of the swim area and there are some uneven steps down, but there is a hand rail and my older parents (78 and 80) did not love the extra steps but managed just fine. The boat that is rented with the cottage should probably just be included in the base price. It is pretty beat up and only has 5 seats. The pier is small, so you need the boat to hang out if you want to sit over the water. It is not great for this. The engine runs a bit rough, loud and does not move much, but better than nothing for just tooling around the lake. I am sure renting a boat is no fun from an owners perspective, but a clear heads up about its condition would be suggested. Lastly
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
From a partner site

4/10 Poor

Dangerous steps down to water

I broke my ankle at this house on the step out to the screened room. Maybe it is best to have a sign there to let people know about the step. The house was nice, it was a little warm in there at times. We liked our stay there but wish we would of known about the treacherous walk down to the water. Our 80 year old mother fell also on her way down the walkway. There was no lights so it was very difficult at night. My broken ankle made it much worse. It would of been nice to be contacted by the homeowner after i fell and broke my ankle to see how i was doing, but we never got contacted, even after we let tgem know. We wont stay here again because of the dangerous walkway that you need to use to go to the lake. In none of the reviews does anyone mention the steep walk path, this is important information.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017