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Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway

Family-friendly stay with water park in Hartford

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Photo gallery for Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Dining
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

6 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View in a map
Hartford, MI
  • Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Water Park
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Four Winds Casino Hartford
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Van Buren State Park
    ‪27 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Hartford

On lake.You'll be within 6 miles (10 km) of Haney Lake and 9 miles (15 km) of Southard Lake. Also within 9 miles (15 km) are Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Water Park and Four Winds Casino Hartford.
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What's nearby

  • Surfari Joe's Indoor Wilderness Water Park - 23 min drive - 9.9 miles
  • Four Winds Casino Hartford - 23 min drive - 10.7 miles
  • Contessa Wine Cellars - 26 min drive - 12.9 miles
  • Van Buren State Park - 27 min drive - 14.8 miles
  • South Beach - 32 min drive - 18.2 miles

Getting around

  • Bangor Station - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Wesco World - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬18 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway

Welcome to Lake Van Auken! Recently remodeled, our secluded lake + farm retreat (family-run red bell pepper and soy bean operation) features over 3,500 sq. ft. of living space including 6 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, with stunning water and farmland views.

Whether you’re enjoying a sunset meal on the upper deck, a cozy fire in the living room, kayaking on the lake, or time in the large yard, this home is ideal for a large family gathering and entertaining among friends.

NOTE: There is currently no developed beach on the property - but guests are welcome to use the public launch on Lake Van Auken with a small, swimmable beach area a block away or nearby public beaches on Lake Michigan. We also recently installed a pier that guests are welcome to use for fishing and to dock boats.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 6 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

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

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Dock
  • Garden
  • Patio
  • Yard

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Office

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • 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

  • Gym
  • Water park
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Motor boating 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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden

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

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets 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, a first aid kit, 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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

Farm Remote Getaway Hartford
Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway Hartford
Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway Private vacation home
Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway Private vacation home Hartford

Frequently asked questions

Does Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How close is Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway to the beach?

This vacation home is 14.7 mi (28-min drive) from South Beach and 15.4 mi (29-min drive) from North Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home, but Four Winds Casino Hartford (19-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway to downtown Hartford?

This vacation home is 3.2 mi away from Hartford.

Farm and Lake: Remote Getaway Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 29 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 29 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 29 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Patricia K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Clean and Well-Appointed

The home was super clean and had everything we needed for our stay. Instructions for check-in were clear, and the host was very accommodating. Location worked perfectly for us. We enjoyed sitting on the dock and using the kayaks.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori L., Illinois

Liked: Cleanliness

Large Family Get Away!

House was perfect size for our large family...we had 10 adults and 4 under 17. The rooms were very spacious and well kept! I loved spending our evenings out by the fire and our early mornings fishing from the provided kayaks. Loved the 1/2 bthrm on the main level! The kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms had everything you needed and more! The drive to the beach was a little longer than what were used to but the large yard, firepit and lake makes it worth the drive. Also, easy to communicate with! Thank you for all the beautiful memories!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine S., Midwest

Liked: Cleanliness

Super spacious and immaculately clean!!

Jack’s place was even better than the pictures. Super spacious, comfortable and the cleanest VRBO I’ve ever stayed at 😊. Awesome view of the lake and more room than we needed. We were very comfortable and appreciated the extra touches such as games, movies, super fast Wi-Fi and well equipped kitchen. Our family will be back. Thank you!!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kenny C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Guys Golf trip

Very nice house with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate a large group. Had a great time with friends on our golf trip. Some fished while others hing out by the fire pit.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Find!

Lovely home, with Kayaks and a beautiful lake view!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amber M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Absolutely gorgeous

The views were beautiful ,great location! Not far from lake Michigan or south haven. Fully stocked kitchen. Was a great vacation spot. Hosts are great to work with.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kris B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place!

Even though we are usually staying in South Haven proper this property was more reasonably priced for the size we needed. The drive was very doable once and even twice a day to the beach/town. The biggest hit was fishing off deck with Grandpa! Clean and roomy. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

David C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect for a big family getaway

This place is so peaceful. It was so clean. We had everything we needed, and the owner was super communicative. It was perfect for our extended family to get away for a few days without being all cramped on top of one another. It's a great lake house and we loved having access to the kayaks and ping pong table!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jerry J., Winchester

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful home. Loved the kayaks.

Lovely home with great bedroom arrangements. Excllent Wifi service. TV was not a true Smart TV. Was not able to access the internet from the TV. This is the farthest we have stayed from St. Joe but not to inconvenient. You need to add a Keurig coffee maker. My entire family thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Your home had a little bit of something for everyone.Thanks for the late check out. I picked up a large screw in my tire and it was flat when we started to leave. I did not have a spare but did have a flat tire repair kit. Used your air pump to pump the gel into the tire and reinflate the tire. I drove it to Fairplane and bought a new tire. Thanks We are back home in Kentuky safe, sound, and satisfied.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Family get together!

Our large family had a great time at this location! The owner was great to work with and the house/property worked very well for our stay. It's a peaceful property close to Lake Michigan. We didn't end up doing any fishing at Lake Van Auken because we ended up spending most of our time in South Haven or St. Joseph.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tricia J., Salt Lake City, UT

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice stay with multi-generational family

Nice, well-kept property in the countryside. Plenty of room to spread out our multi-generational family. The kids loved using the kayaks on the little lake behind the house. 20 min from Lake Michigan beachfront towns. A couple of things to note: the playroom with the futon is connected to the master bedroom, so you have to walk through the bedroom to get to the playroom. Also, there is a 2nd, smaller master bedroom with bathroom on the main floor. I must not have read the description clearly because I assigned my parents that room before arrival thinking all but the upstairs master bathroom opened to the hall. With the 2 master baths that leaves the other 3 bedrooms (8 people in our case) sharing the remaining full bathroom upstairs and half bath downstairs. Not a huge deal, but required some coordination since my parents went to bed early and my sister and her small kids were in the master upstairs. Overall a very nice rental. The host was attentive, texting me daily to make sure everything was okay. Will stay here again if we're back in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lynelle F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Meditation Retreat

We hosted a three night grief retreat here. The house was the PERFECT place to hold us through the intense and emotional sessions, with plenty of gathering space to be together, and enough spaces for everyone to break off and process individually and in smaller groups. The back yard is incredible and we even had a fire under the stars in the fire pit. Everyone enjoyed the lake dock, and we frequently walked out there to process, and be with nature. We cooked soups, and beautiful breakfast meals, we had lasagna, and baked fresh brownies and corn bread and had everything needed to make all these meals delicious and fresh. There was two fridges one in the house and one in the garage that kept the beverages cold. There were kayaks in the garage that we took out to play with. No issues with hot water, and they had plenty of clean bottles drinking water on hand. Lots of towels for showers. The house had a feel of summertime, and everyone loved the patio deck outside the kitchen to gather post meals and in between sessions. We cannot wait to come back to this secluded paradise.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marilyn L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Weekend family getaway

The house was as described and perfect for my kids and grandkids. The teens especially appreciated the kayaks. The location was close enough that we were able to spend a few hours at the dunes. The only recommendation would be for window coverings upstairs to keep early morning sunlight out.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Olivia G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice House and Beautiful Location

The house was big, beautiful, and nice. You're pretty far out in the country, so it's perfect for a getaway. No trouble finding the place or getting in. There was an issue with the heater, but the host was super helpful and communicative and it ended up not being a big deal. We would love to come back in the summer so we could use the lake that it's located on.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

agnes m.

Liked: Cleanliness

The house was very nice and cozy. Was equipped very well. Our family had a really nice time.

N/a
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

William D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice large home!

As a family of 5, we were looking for space to spread out as we visit our family in Michigan...and this place was perfect! A ton of space with all the things we needed. Secluded, quiet location. Owners emailed and texted so we knew how to get in touch with them if needed. May need to come back during summer to take advantage of the lake!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

JeQuon A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful Holiday Experience

Our stay here was absolutely wonderful! The house was bigger and nicer than we expected. The kitchen was perfect for cooking our thanksgiving dinner. The firepit, jacuzzi tub, fireplace and piano was nice to enjoy. As well as kayaking on the lake right out back. There's a nice little slope that would be perfect for children to use for sledding during the winter. And the open field is perfect to enjoy a nice star filled sky. All in all a great time here!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jerome P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect for Large Gatherings

We loved the privacy and the size of the property. Everything at the property was suited for large gatherings and it made for a really comfortable weekend. As other have noted, the owner has everything you'd need to "live" in the house for your trip. The bottled water was a great touch and saved us from hauling a bunch of heavy water jugs with us or water bottles that will just end up being single use plastics. I will add this to the review as It was something I was looking for and didn't get much info on... We only fished for a couple of hours all weekend and in those couple of hours on a lake we had never fished caught a solid 5lb largemouth. We'd wished we put more time into fishing. The place is very secluded which was great for us but might not be for some so FYI.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andy O.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely secluded property

We had a great stay. Property was clean and very family friendly. I rented it for a wedding we attended in south haven and a few of my family members stayed with us. Plenty of room in a nice quiet area. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful Home

We couldn't have been more pleased with the home and property. The home is big and very clean, the bedrooms and bathrooms are a great size and the bedding is very soft. We stayed for a week and other than the weather being ridiculously hot while we were there the air conditioning was a welcome reprieve from the sun and heat. We had a great time just wished there was a nice beach on the property but we were able to get out past the lilypads and then the water was nice and clear and the grandkids loved it. Nights were nice as we had visits from the tree frogs and we all enjoyed their company and watching them on the windows from the inside and out. The playroom was great for the kids and kept them busy when we stayed in and they loved sleeping in there. Toys & games they didn't have were great, they learned something new just about every day. You won't be bored that's for sure with so much to do and the wildlife to watch. The kayaks were used daily by just about everyone, the fire pit was great for s'mores and just relaxing. Mosquitoes weren't as bad as was mentioned by someone else but we had bug wipes so it worked out great. The owners felt like friends right from the beginning and even being on their own vacation they were very available for anything you needed or questions you had. I would definitely recommend staying here and enjoying the beautiful, quiet country life.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Mark C., Bourbon , In.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent 3 day get away

Perfect place to rest and enjoy the family . GPS took us right to property. House very clean , laid out nice and it has everything you need. Host communicated quickly . Would do it again!!! Ideas: Blinds on upstairs bedroom windows that face eastward. Ceiling Fire alarm near kitchen dining room is faulty. Tried 3 different batteries and still chirped. I’d replace the unit itself. Possibly add some gravel on roadway/ private driveway. Pretty muddy when raining with deep pot holes. These are minor things. Overall very very nice house and property.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful place in the country.

Beautiful large house between the lake and the farm. Big yard and lots of space between us and neighbors. Quiet setting. Enjoyed yard games, making smores and visiting around the fire pit, grilling on the deck, kayaking and fishing the lake. Great location for lots of area attractions in easy driving distance. Highly recommend this place especially for family groups. Jack Hennessy is a great host.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julie O.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family vacation

The house and location were perfect for our many generations of family. The large yard, playroom, big dining table and living room were just right for our family to gather. Kayaks were provided so we were able to enjoy the lake. Our host was very responsive and easy to work with.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ivan C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Best Lakehouse Trip Experience We Ever Had

The property is on a large, beautiful farm right next to Van Auken Lake with its own pier. This makes it ideal for boat rentals, kayaking (which we are allowed to use the ones on the property), and other fun water activities everyone can enjoy. The house is a massive yet cozy 2 story home with a massive basement that will make you feel at home with the ones you are with. It is close by some of Michigan's finest wineries, breweries, and pie shops! Yet one of the best features of this property was the wonderful support of the host Jack! He helped me organize one of the best college friend reunions we have ever had. He was very quick to respond, well organized, and even helped me figure out how to rent a boat for our trip! I would definitely organize a trip here again, and recommend that everyone do the same! You will not be disappointed!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021