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The Westender Retreat | Amazing Lake Views & Waterfront Dock House

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A cabin with a dock and a boat, surrounded by a forest and a pond.
A wooden dockhouse with a sign reading "DOCKHOUSE" and a view of the water.
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 cabin interior with a dining area, a living room with a stone fireplace, and a view of the outdoors through a window.

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

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Sep 20 - Sep 21
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Hessel

With a stay at this cottage in Hessel, you'll be on the beach, just steps from Lake Huron. .This beach cottage is 30.4 mi (49 km) from Lake Michigan and 11.5 mi (18.6 km) from Sandy Cove.
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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
  • ‪The Islander Bar - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Cattails Cove - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Chester's Chicken - ‬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!
Make yourself comfortable in this cottage, which features a fireplace. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a DVD player is provided for your entertainment.
This smoke-free cottage offers games.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

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 allowed
Service animals are welcome, and 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

Property is also known as

dbb1f953-7a60-4d99-a544-fe5cfa46a840

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!