Welcome to the hibiscus House.

The basic description of our offering is a quaint cottage in a lake side community on the shores of Lake Erie. We have a community private beach access with a walkable high bank perch just a 2 min slow walk from the front door. Located 15 minutes from Cedar Point, Kalahari, and even closer to Cedar Point Sports Center. There are two bedrooms that are equipped to be comfortable for sleeping and an adequate living space for hanging out. There is a fully functional and stocked kitchen with amenities that will save you time and money. A front patio perfect for grilling a meal, reading a book, or enjoying a game with family. If you packed light, no worries there is an in house laundry facility.

That would pretty much sum it up. If you are just looking for another place along the lake with reasonable access to the local attractions, the Hibiscus house is indeed that. But if you are looking for a more in depth and personal experience, then please read on.

The Hibiscus house is somewhere between accidental and a planned that came sooner than expected endeavor. I (Dwight) was caring for my father who had dementia when it became evident that the house had some issues that needed addressed immediately. What started as a plan to just address those issues became an opportunity to just fix it right the first time. Dad had been pretty successful before his diagnosis and there was a kitty for us to do the remodel right. Both Kristy and I are travelers and have stayed in vacation homes. We imagined all the good and bad experiences we have had and thought about what would make the ideal space. Location was already a given, so we needed only to make sure we did a good job of setting up the house itself.

The first and most obvious is that I am a coffee snob and Kristy a tea drinker. So we set up a cart with the multiple options and ways to enjoy both. I am a sailor, I have spent many hours in small spaces designed to feel “big”. So designing a space that fits the bill was as easy as a Sunday sail. Adding a laundry facility for busy week stays with lots of beach time was clearly going to have to be part of that design.

Beyond the physical aspects of the Hibiscus House, there is the intended character. I come from a large extended family and value that very much. Dad and Mom would take me and my 2 siblings on family vacations to the East Coast every year. In my adulthood I cherish and get emotional when I think back on our time. I wanted the space to be inviting to family time. The bedrooms are small. (Though gone are the days where a TV was the only screen in the house.) We wanted people to congregate in the main room, sit at the counter while dinner is made or breakfast is served. The game selection is designed to invite families and friends to “play”. I have even included a “Raspberry Pi” game emulator with classics many of you will recognize from your childhood. I can tell you that every minute on a vacation is a chance to make a memory that lasts a lifetime. Something they will talk about decades later.