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The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House

Beachfront cottage near Lake Huron

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Photo gallery for The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House

A cabin with a dock and a boat, surrounded by a forest and a pond.
A wooden cabin interior with a dining area, a living room with a stone fireplace, and a view of the outdoors through a window.
A wooden structure with a view of a lake and clouds.
An outdoor seating area with wooden tables and benches, large windows, and string lights on the ceiling.
A wooden dockhouse with a sign reading "DOCKHOUSE" and a view of the water.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathrooms2200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Hessel, MI
  • Place, Sandy Cove
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, Castle Rock
    ‪28 min drive‬
  • Place, Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Airport, Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Hessel

On the beach.You'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Lake Huron and 12 miles (20 km) of Sandy Cove. Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace and Castle Rock are also within 25 miles (40 km).
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What's nearby

  • Sandy Cove - 19 min drive - 13.2 miles
  • Castle Rock - 28 min drive - 31.5 miles
  • Kewadin Casino - St. Ignace - 29 min drive - 31.3 miles
  • Bridge View Park - 32 min drive - 37.1 miles
  • Mackinac Bridge - 35 min drive - 40.0 miles

Getting around

  • Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Tipper Room - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Les Cheneaux Culinary School Restaurant - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Snows Bar and Grill - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Islander Bar - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Ang-Gios - ‬6 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.

The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House

Welcome to The Westender Retreat—a charming cottage tucked away on the serene west end of the Les Cheneaux Islands, offering breathtaking views of Lake Huron. Unwind in the cozy main cottage with a crackling fire in the classic fieldstone fireplace, or head to the guest house for an additional private space to relax, sleep, or gather. Down by the water, you’ll find a screened-in dock house—the perfect hangout spot for meals, games, and late-night chats by the lake.

Main Cottage

Living Area
A cozy gathering space anchored by a classic fieldstone fireplace — perfect for settling in after a day on the water.

Bedroom 1
Furnished with a king bed.

Bedroom 2
Set up with a queen bed and a double bed, offering flexible sleeping arrangements.

Guest House
A separate, private space on the property offering additional room to relax, sleep, or gather — ideal for groups wanting extra privacy.

Bedroom 3
Furnished with a queen bed.

Dock House
A screened-in structure right at the water's edge, designed as a hangout spot for meals, games, and late-night conversation by the lake.

Outdoors / Waterfront
Beachfront access directly on Lake Huron, with room to bring a boat and explore the surrounding Les Cheneaux Islands.

Bathrooms
3 full bathrooms across the property.

Bring your boat and explore all that the Les Cheneaux Islands have to offer from the water!

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Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Patio

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

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

  • Unit size: 2,200 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

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

Rules

Must be 25 years or older to rent.
No smoking in premises.
Quiet hours between 10PM-8AM.

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

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 professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. 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

dbb1f953-7a60-4d99-a544-fe5cfa46a840

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House to the airport?

This cottage is 27.7 mi (32-min drive) away from the Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this cottage.

How close is The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House to the beach?

This cottage is on the beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House offer free breakfast?

This cottage does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

No, there is no casino at this cottage.

What time is check-in at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House?

Free parking is not available at this cottage.

Does The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House have a pool?

This cottage does not have a pool.

Does The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this cottage.

How close is The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House to downtown Hessel?

This cottage is 0.9 mi away from Hessel.

The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 3 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 3 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews

6.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S.

Our favorite spot!

The Westender has become our favorite vacation spot. Wonderfully relaxing atmosphere with access to most amenities you could need on vacation. The boathouse provides a nice hangout spot with a calm breeze. We’ll be back for sure!
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Travis S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
We were not made aware of the cameras on the property and the one that overlooks the beach where we were all spending quality time was uncomfortable. Had this been clearly stated in the listing we would have passed on the rental. Also, the owner and his family used part of the property throughout our stay and it didn’t feel like the much needed private getaway we were going for.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S.

Another Great Year

We have been visiting the Westender for several years now. It’s always a wonderful vacation. Located in a quiet spot, but close to lots of fun things in Hessel and Cedarville, as well as within a reasonable drive for lots of other adventures. We are already looking forward to visiting again!

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