House in Marcellus, MI

Beautifully renovated lakefront house 2 hrs from Chicago on 600 acre lake

Beautifully renovated lakefront house 2 hrs from Chicago on 600 acre lake

Photo gallery for Beautifully renovated lakefront house 2 hrs from Chicago on 600 acre lake

Lakeside view. Beautiful deck and screened-in patio room built in 2017.
Front of house, street view.

[Note: Tree in front of porch has been removed.]
Sit on the front porch and watch the kids play in the big front yard.
Living room with comfortable seating for 8 plus 3 barstools for the sofa table!
Living area

Overview of Beautifully renovated lakefront house 2 hrs from Chicago on 600 acre lake

10 out of 10 Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12204 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill

Explore the area

Marcellus, MI
  • Popular LocationGravel Lake8 min drive
  • Popular LocationSwiss Valley Ski Area21 min drive
  • Popular LocationSt. Julian Winery24 min drive
  • AirportElkhart, IN (EKI-Elkhart Municipal)59 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Beautifully renovated lakefront house 2 hrs from Chicago on 600 acre lake

Relax right on the water at Big Fish Lake, which is a beautiful 600-acre, very low traffic lake (even on holiday weekends)! We spared no expense when we renovated our lake home with top-of-the-line finishes and beautiful furnishings to make your stay away from home comfortable and relaxing.

This property is best suited for up to 8 adults (with no kids) or 2 families of 4 adults and up to 6 children. Max capacity of 12.

Bedrooms consist of mattresses & bedding that are less than 2 years old.

There are 2 bedrooms on the 1st floor:
Bdrm #1 has a Queen Bed, TV and sliding glass door to the lake/backyard (sleeps 2).
Bdrm #2 has a Queen Bed w/full-sized futon & upper bunk twin bed (sleeps 4-5) & TV.

There are 2 bedrooms on the 2nd floor:
Bdrm #3 (lake view) has a Queen Bed (sleeps 2) & TV. There is ample room for a blowup mattress
Bdrm #4 has a Queen Bed (sleeps 2) & TV.

**Twin size inflatable mattress and 2 foam pad mattresses available for use**

All bedrooms have brand new Smart TV's equipped with either cable, Netflix, Apple TV or Roku. High-speed internet/wifi also available.

If you are inclined to cook up delicious meals, our newly remodeled kitchen is fully equipped with anything you might need.

Island seats 4.
Dining table seats 8.
Sofa table folds out for an additional 3 people.

We have a DeLonghi Nespresso coffee maker, regular drip coffee maker, electric griddle, waffle maker, crock pot, toaster, spiralizer, microwave oven, and all the cookware, dishes & utensils you may need. Central A/C & gas forced heat.

Family room boasts of double sliders allowing a grand view of Big Fish Lake. Enjoy the game on the brand new 60" TV that has cable, Apple TV and Netflix. Living room has wood-burning fireplace (wood not included).

Enjoy your meals outdoors and insect free in our lakeside screened patio room with a beautiful vaulted pine ceiling. Dining table seats 6-8 and 4-8 for lounging by the gas fire pit. The patio room is perfect for late night drinks by the propane fire pit and poker/board games away from pesky mosquitos. Speaking of mosquitos, our property is treated for mosquitos all summer long.

Don't feel like cooking? No problem! Walk to The Rock, our nearby restaurant, for a gourmet meal either indoors or al fresco.

Enjoy roasting marshmallows around the backyard fire pit (firewood not provided). Front covered deck boasts of 2 loveseats and a chair that comfortably seat 5.

Our lakeside deck overlooks the back yard and is perfect for a game of bean bag-toss (not included). Large front yard for additional activities such as wiffle ball, baseball, badminton, soccer, volleyball, football, etc. The kids love the cute Amish built playhouse that has a sleeping loft and 2 comfy fold-out chairs.

This all-sports lake is a hidden gem with low boat traffic but welcomes skiing, tubing, and wakeboarding/surfing. Fishing right from our dock is one of the best spots on the lake to fish. The lake is stocked with large and smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, dogfish, perch, bluegill, and crappies.

Sandy bottom shallow entry into lake from the steps of the pier. Pier has space available to dock your own boat. No boat? No Problem! Call Apollo Marine to rent a boat. They will deliver and pick up for your convenience. Use of our paddleboat, 2 stand-up paddleboards, and 2 kayaks are free with rental contract and hold-harmless agreement.

Several golf courses and a driving range in the area. Horseback riding, winery tours and road biking. Plenty of restaurants and entertainment in Marcellus/Lawton/Paw Paw (pubs, restaurants, movies, bowling, ice cream shops, antique shops). There are small mom and pop grocery stores like Wagoners in Lawton, grocery chains like Giant in Paw Paw. Visit the new Wal-Mart in Paw Paw for...well, anything.

Our kids love to take a walk or ride down to the end of the lake to visit the 4 mini-horses.

During winter months:
We are a 10 min drive from Swiss Valley ski resort and 40 min from Timber Ridge Ski Resort with a tubing park. Enjoy ice skating and ice fishing right outside the door on our lake and if that's not your thing, there are several wineries nearby that would love you to swing by for a tasting, open year round.

Our home is a 2 hour drive from downtown Chicago (unless you leave during Friday rush, approximately one hour to Notre Dame/South Bend, 15 minutes to Paw Paw, 30 minutes to Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo.

Our home is well equipped, clean and kid friendly. We have a good assortment of kid and adult games that we leave up year round. Pets allowed on a case by case basis. Absolutely no smoking is permitted in the house.

Other attractions nearby:
AIR MUSEUM- Located in Kalamazoo 30 minute drive
GO KARTS/PAINTBALLING/MINIATURE GOLF- 20-minute drive

Property manager

Todd and Jeannie Sullivan

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 50 lbs per pet (limit one pet total)
Case by case with an additional security deposit.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Trash Removal : All trash is to be disposed of in the blue outdoor receptacles and brought to the end of the driveway by Sunday at 9pm EST.
Dirty Dishes: Tenant is responsible to put all dishes and utensils in the dishwasher; run dishwasher before checkout

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Marcellus

Located in Marcellus, this vacation home is on a lake. Swiss Valley Ski Area and Lawton Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Scidmore Park and Petting Zoo and South Lanes Family Fun Center. Traveling with kids? Consider Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery and Air Zoo. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Gravel Lake - 8 min drive
  • Swiss Valley Ski Area - 21 min drive
  • St. Julian Winery - 24 min drive
  • Diamond Lake - 35 min drive
  • Western Michigan University - 45 min drive

Getting around

  • Dowagiac Station - 33 min drive
  • Kalamazoo, MI (AZO-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek Intl.) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Rock at Big Fish Lake - 3 min walk
  • The Wild Patch - 8 min drive
  • Amy's Fabulous Diner - 8 min drive
  • Country Lakes General Store - 13 min drive
  • Johnny's Pizzeria - 9 min drive

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tricia and Todd B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family vacation
The house is beautifully decorated. Had a great time fishing off the pier. Home is very clean and has everything that is needed for a vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mishelle B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful peaceful location
My family enjoyed our stay at this lovely house. The kitchen is well stocked, the house is tastefully decorated and comfortable. We loved the lakes and surrounding country. We rented a pontoon and enjoyed exploring the area. Very nice rental and hope to stay there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Low traffic lake!
This updated house is right on the water. The lake is clear and beautiful with swimming right off the dock. Ready to float? Have fun with the kayaks, paddle boards and paddleboat. Fish right off the dock as there are plenty of fish to catch. Rent a boat from Apollo Marine and explore the two connected lakes. The surrounding area is rural with small towns nearby. Within driving you can get to Kalamazoo (suburban) or Lake Michigan beach towns. We had a very nice stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alice P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lakehouse
Our extended family 6 adults and 3 children had a wonderful week on the lake. We brought our 22’ boat and had no problems launching and tied it on the pier. Almost no boat traffic during the week. Would definitely book the lake-house again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Would rent again
Lovely furnishings. Kitchen had more than expected in dishes, pans, spices and cleaning supplies. Gas fireplace in the screened in porch was great at night and took the chill off in the morning. Very quiet lake. Only wish we would have called earlier to rent a pontoon--they go quickly.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Todd and Jeannie Sullivan

Host profile image
We are a family of 6 who reside in the Chicago suburbs and took ownership of the Big Fish Lake House in 2023 after falling in love with the property owned by friends we trusted spared no expense in the renovation and love for the house. We love that the house is packed with the same supplies and amenities we have in our primary home to make it as welcoming as possible to guests.

Why they chose this property

Our four kids love the freedom they have at the lake to take the paddle boat, paddle boards, or kayaks out to explore, and it being a very low-traffic lake with friendly neighbors, we know that they will be safe! We all enjoy fishing directly from our dock since it really is the best spot!

What makes this property unique

Water Skiing, Wake Boarding, Wake Surfing, Fireworks, Swimming, Jet Skiing, Biking, Sunbathing, Fishing, Kayaking, Snowmobiling, Snow Skiing, Snowboarding, Entertaining and just relaxing at the lake.
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