In the charming town of Gills Rock, Teskie's Cottage offers a picturesque waterfront escape with a spacious kitchen, pellet stove in the 6-foot stone fireplace, and four additional bedrooms upstairs. Relax around the fire pit or enjoy unending sunsets from the private sunny patio.
Reviews
8.88.8 out of 10
Excellent
Entire home
5 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor Space
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Waterfront Cottage Nestled in Picturesque Setting, Gills Rock
Teskie's Cottage is a 1700 sq. foot home located at 970 Cottage Rd in Gills Rock.
Air-conditioned, picturesque and freshly updated, this appealing waterfront cottage has a front row seat to the amazing view over Green Bay (no access to the water), a large master bedroom downstairs, and four additional bedrooms upstairs. A spacious kitchen, living room with a pellet stove in the 6 foot stone fireplace, and sitting/reading room complete this quaint Door County cottage. Laundry facilities provided also. A large yard provides space for children to run around.
Built by Lily and Frank Sr. Teskie in the early 1900's, the cottage was once used as a boarding house for visiting fishermen. The hand-cut granite fireplace in the living room adds to its charm, and was constructed by Frank Sr. out of local stone. The breathtaking view includes the town of Gills Rock from the picture window in the living room, and unending, spectacular sunsets.
Enjoy Fourth of July fireworks from the front yard around the fire pit, grill out on the private sunny patio, or enjoy a book under the shady cedar trees in the yard. If you've been looking for a private yet convenient place to relax and enjoy Door County - this is it! The much-beloved Shoreline Restaurant, a charming Coffee Shop at Gallery Ten art gallery with Wi-Fi, Charlie's Smokehouse (and Ice Cream!), the Island Clipper Ferry Line to Washington Island, a sprinkling of gift shops, and a spacious park with playground (pet-friendly) are all within walking distance. Within 5-25 min. driving, so much more - parks, galleries, shops, churches, water activities, hiking, bicycling, wildlife/bird watching, theater events, sunrise/sunset vistas, beaches
Payment via credit and debit cards.
Property amenities
Ski
Cross-country skiing nearby
Internet
Available in the cottage: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car required
Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
5 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Bathtub or shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
DVD player
Stereo
TV
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
1 accessible parking space
No elevator
Wheelchair accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible van parking
Smoking not allowed
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near the marina
On a lake
Things to do
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Hunting nearby
Ice skating nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Parasailing nearby
Sailing nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Sledding nearby
Snorkeling nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Swimming nearby
Water skiing nearby
Water tubing nearby
Wildlife walks 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)
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 not 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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and 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 required for transportation to and from this property
About the neighborhood
Located in Ellison Bay, this cottage is on a lake. Linden Gallery and Frykman Studio Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Deer Run Golf Course and Sister Bay Marina. Traveling with kids? Consider Trueblood Performing Arts Center and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or check out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, sledding, and ice skating. Visit our Ellison Bay travel guide
Is Waterfront Cottage Nestled in Picturesque Setting, Gills Rock pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Waterfront Cottage Nestled in Picturesque Setting, Gills Rock?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Waterfront Cottage Nestled in Picturesque Setting, Gills Rock?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Waterfront Cottage Nestled in Picturesque Setting, Gills Rock located?
This family-friendly Ellison Bay cottage is located on a lake, within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Michigan and Northport Pier. Newport State Park and Grand Traverse Island State Park are also within 6 mi (10 km).
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Waterfront Cottage Nestled in Picturesque Setting, Gills Rock Reviews
Reviews
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers 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.
Perfect campfire spot & comfortable al fresco dining in an idyllic setting w/ shoreline yard & an amazing view. The charming coastal cottage is clean and comfortable.
Host is welcoming, responsive, & communicates well.
Would happily stay here again.
If you want quiet and pretty water views this is the place. It’s clean and quaint. If you want luxury then this is not the place for you. Close to catch the ferries to Washington Island; a must place to visit.
love the location and we where very pleased with the property. We only used the main floor it was just the two of us. We went up to Charlies up the street and ended up eating smoked Salmon instead of steaks for dinner its amazing.
Jerome and Zita
If you are looking for a quiet get away - with an incredible view look no further. Comfortable home with a picturesque view of Hedgehog Harbor. Enjoy lakefront campfires and cookouts - walk to historic fishing village - a short drive to Sister Bay where you can shop - dine - putt putt golf - drive go carts and see the goats on the roof at Al Johnson’s Restaurant. Enjoy the best of both worlds. Quiet accommodations in Gills Rock on the lake - minutes to Sister Bay and all of Door County where there is a lot to do. Door County and this property will leave you with memories that will stay long after your vacation has ended.
Pattie H.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Terrance f.
20 September 2024
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Interesting home
The home is in a very nice area. Lake Michigan is right outside the backyard. Very nice views very quiet and peaceful. It’s the home that needs a major remodel. It’s an older home and it needs a lot of love. The window A/Cs all need new/clean filters and they run very loudly. The chimney has an insert that’s bigger than the chimney hole so it sits out on the unprotected flooring. We saw a few spider webs and a bit of dust throughout. If you like rustic this place for you. It was ok but we will not be staying there again.
Older cabin, exactly as it appears in the listing. No bathroom on the level with the bedrooms. One of the bedrooms could not be utilized due to a missing window - it was freezing in the room. Communication response regarding this issue was non-existent so we just made due. Cleaning could use a step-up, as there were dust mites under the beds (hard floors with easy access so not sure why these have been skipped). Location was ideal and sounds of waves was relaxing! Beds were comfortable.
Way up at the top of very top of the peninsula is this absolute steal of a rental in Gills Rock. Situated right on the bay, this is a quaint former fishing cottage. The stairs creak and there’s even a pellet fireplace. For the price (compared with most other rental units in Door County), this place cannot be beat. I don’t know what previous guests mean about the cleanliness — I thought it was perfectly clean. The views of the bay are incomparable. The neighborhood quiet. Take a ten minute walk into Gills Rock proper and have a seriously great meal at the Shoreline Restaurant, pick up some smoked salmon at Charlie’s, and hop on the passenger ferry to Washington Island. Bring some fishing gear and fish from the pier in Gills Rock. Back at the unit, have a fire, curl up by the TV, watch the stars, watch boats go in and out of the bay…really a magical place to get away. Don’t miss this one!
My family and I were in the area for a wedding and found this great little cottage location with a view of the water. Could not have found a better spot for our family.
We stayed the entire week at the property and it was superb!!! Beautiful morning views with coffee and awesome evenings by the fire. Good quiet location to be before and after running all over door county. Would definitely recommend.
The proximity to Hedgehog Harbor was incredible! So much water fowl—gulls, terns, pelicans—action to watch!! Magnificent sunsets, even with the wildfire haze! Wonderful history of this house. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would like to return. :)
Lovely property - great access to fun winter activities.
Our first night was cold due to an apparent miscommunication, but once things were smoothed out it was a great place to stay. The manager was responsive and helpful when we were able to connect. We would certainly go again! A fall trip is on our minds.
One important tip: there's very very spotty cell service and few cell providers whose service is consistent, especially this far out. Without WiFi it's hard to communicate/clarify plans, and in the off season the options for businesses with open WiFi are fewer. We'll manage our plans differently next trip.
Karn C.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Mayte G.
7 July 2023
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Not clean
Our crews arrived to unmade beds, beers in the sink, bathroom garbage full, dog hairs on the bed and bedding. Didn’t look or smell clean.
0 out 10 for the cleaning. Everything else, was ok.
Mayte G.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
Tim C.
26 May 2023
Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in
Bad start, good finish
Check in was a bit dicey. Upon arrival, we found it had not been cleaned and certain expecrations not met (key on table, WIFI not present, side storm door was open, coffee table was flipped upside down on couch, used towel in bathroom, etc). A quick phone call to manager was well received. She was very apologetic and quickly offered to make things right. The nex day, housekeepers were in and cleaned and took care of issues. Remainder of stay was quite confortable and acceptable.
Tim C.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified
6/10 Okay
K H.
29 September 2025
Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Location-great. 5 mins from the Washington Island ferry and close drive the all the little towns along the way. Cleanliness-needs A LOT of help. Definitely an old cottage vibe with lots of dirt, random hairs, dead and live bugs. Looked like black dog hair in the fridge. I had to find some spray and clean the fridge before I put any food in it. Main floor bedroom smelled like a dog had been in there. (I am very allergic and sensitive to dogs). We only used forks and a couple knives so I washed those before use. Also, there was a random butter knife laying on the floor by the fireplace? The windows are filthy. The side door doesn’t shut very well and one of the bathroom doors doesn’t shut with the knob so there’s a small hook on the door to keep it somewhat closed. The outside is fine, but lots of overgrown weeds and vines in what looks like used to be a little patio. There’s a nice little fire pit with some chairs and then a patio table with chairs. Bring your own firewood. Would’ve been a cool view of the bay but right next to the property a big old excavator was parked in the way. I didn’t have time to get pictures of our stay because we weren’t there most of the time. I understand wanting to keep the original charm of the place, but there’s a lot of things that could be updated and fixed. Overall, not a terrible stay, but would not recommend for the price.
Do not let photos fool you - this property is in very poor condition and was FILTHY. We arrived about 8/9pm to discover that there were no clean sheets - or sheets that fit the beds properly and had to wash whatever we could find. There was laundry left in the washer and dryer, a previous renter’s food under the kitchen table, dirt and grime in the fridge and freezer, cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, dead bugs on the mattresses along with stains, a thick layer of grime and dirt on the window AC units that also blew out dead bugs upon turning them on, house was so musty my son had to take allergy medication to breathe while inside, a previous renters tooth paste dried on the bathroom sink, a loose toilet seat that shifted drastically upon sitting down, the water never got past Luke warm while showering, the water itself was GREY, barely any windows had screens or could open due to being painted shut. None of the floors were clean and all rugs in the home had dust dirt and debris on them, the table was sticky and had to be scrubbed, dirty dishes in the cupboards with a sign explaining how to sanitize them prior to use. There was a nail poking up through the stairs which I cut my foot on needing medical attention, a strip of raised wood at the top of the stairs that my five year old tripped on and almost fell down the stairs.
It had a nice view and was close to where we wanted to be. We will never stay again.
Got to meet Lyle who grew up in this house and gave us a sense of the family history. He by the way, was very quick to answer our call for fireplace pellets.
The house could use some upkeep and exterior clean up but was comfortable and cozy. Loved having the grill and more importantly, the firepit outside allowed a view of the star filled night sky. Amazingly, blissfully quiet and peaceful.
A wonderful get away.