Union Pier-Sawyer Lake House Union Pier

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SAWYER LAKE HOUSE (Union Pier): Sleeps 6, directly on Lake Michigan, deck, screened in porch, open year-round
Bedrooms

3

Baths

2

Sleeps

6

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SAWYER COTTAGE--on Lake Michigan


SLEEPS: 6
BEDROOMS: 3
BATHROOMS: 2
PARKING SPOTS AVAILABLE: 2 MAX
SORRY, NO PETS ALLOWED
*LAKEFRONT (on Lake Michigan)
*3 cottages surround Sawyer that are also available for rent (None of our Union Pier Cottages accept pets.)


Come stay at a beautiful home on Lake Michigan. Enjoy the open floor plan, 2 bathrooms, washer/dryer, comfortable furniture, fireplace, large windows and a master bedroom with views of the lake, The Master bedroom has cable tv. The main bathroom has a fabulous jetted tub to take away the stress of the city. The screened in porch is attached to the master bedroom and is easily accessible from the living room. It's an ideal place to enjoy an evening glass of wine and watch the sunset over Lake Michigan. 

Enjoy the spectacular sunset views from inside and out. It is great for family vacations, romantic getaways for the weekend or family reunions. Whether you are coming to enjoy the fresh air, star-shooting sky or bonfire on the beach, the Sawyer Cottage has a lot to offer. Come and create water-filled memories that will last a lifetime.

The Sawyer Cottage is next door to the Brandon Cottage, with separate sitting areas and decks for each family to enjoy. Yes, you are within earshot of each other, so it is fun to rent both places together. Since the walkway leading to the private beach area is in front of the Sawyer Cottage living room window, it is easy to see the walkway entryway.   While it isn't commonplace, you may see guests from the other 3 cottages as they use the walkway to the beach.  There is a public access point on the opposite side of the Brandon Cottage, so often the other cottage's take that shortcut of just 26 steps to the beach.  The Sawyer Cottage is situated with a private deck sitting space, with  72 steps down to the water. 

The "private" beach is actually shared by 4 cottages (Brandon, Grace and Alex) with a shared walkway to the beach area. This one-story home has the closest access to the walk-out 2-level deck (shared by the Brandon, Grace and Alex Cottages) that will guide you down to your Lake Michigan beach area. ("Private beach" in Michigan means that anyone outside these 4 cottages are not supposed to stop, sit, set up their beach gear and/or  have a campfire, etc.  on this private beach space.  Still, with Michigan Beach Walker laws, anyone can walk through the private beach area, even though it is deemed "private.") .  This private" beach area is situated on the shoreline between the Sawyer and Brandon Cottages, directly on the shores of Lake Michigan. 


Sawyer Cottage at Union Pier is open all-year round. From the beautiful fall colors in late September to the sounds of the various birds mid-spring, the cottage is perfect for tranquility, rest and rejuvenation. 


There are also 3 other cottages that surround the Sawyer Cottage, which makes vacationing with guests or extended family perfect. Come reunite at Union Pier. 


** Parking is at a premium at our Union Pier location.  While we do not have an on-site parking attendant, please keep the neighbors in mind and park as close together, and as close to the cottages as possible.  2 spaces have been allocated to the Sawyer Cottage.


Rent all 4 cottages grouped closely together for a 10% discount.  (1 night stays do not apply.

Bedroom organization: All bedrooms are on the main floor
                                       Bedroom 1: 1 Queen Beds
                                       Bedroom 2: 2 Twin Beds
                                       Bedroom 3: 2 Twin Beds

Bathrooms:
                     Bathroom #1--Full bathroom with shower only
                     Bathroom #2--Full bathroom with tub/shower


Bed option: We have a king-sized bed bridge converter for one (1)  set of the 2 twin beds, so if you would prefer that we make a king-sized bed out of the 2 twins, just let us now upon booking and we'll have that set for you upon arrival. (The other set of twin beds are not matched perfectly in order to make the king conversion work.)
 


Location:   90 minutes east of downtown Chicago, Illinois


                  1/2 hour north Notre Dame, Indiana


                  3 hours west of Detroit, Michigan


                  4 hours south of Traverse City, Michigan

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Beach/Swimming:  Walk toward the right  and down the stairs (shared with the next door Brandon Lake House)  in order to get to the private stretch of Lake Michigan beach used by our 4 Union Pier Cottages. Swimming is divine on Lake Michigan. The 2019 Lake Michigan water level is very high. Therefore, the beach is not as wide has it has been in the recent past.  Each year is slightly different when it comes to nature. Normally, there are beach chairs at the bottom of the stairs for use for our 4 Union Pier Cottages.

Coffee Pot: Keurig

Firewood: Yes! We have firewood provided for you under the blue tarp across from the kids play area.

Privacy: While our guests have traditionally been very respectful of each other, the cottages are very close together with shared walkways to the cottages and to the beach.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Winter fun:  
Outdoor ice-skating rink & sledding hill: Bring your skates and sleds!  Less than 5 miles away! Oselka Park: 601 E. Indiana St. New Buffalo, MI 49117
Casinos:
Four Winds Casino: Just 5 miles from the cottage!
Blue Chip Casino: A larger casino. Located in Indiana, just 22 minutes away from Union Pier, try your luck at this exciting casino!
Big 10 University-Notre Dame! Just a half-hour from this prestigious school in Indiana.


Wineries: Take a tour or visit a local winery:
Winery Tours: http://www.harborcountry.org/winerytour/  The closest starting point to the cottage is in New Buffalo, approximately 5-10 minutes south. For more winery tours check these out: http://miwinetrail.com  http://www.fruitfulvinetours.com
Round Barn Winery: A brewery/distillery and a winery all combined in one trip. http://www.roundbarnwinery.com/ Just 14 miles from the Union Pier Cottages, about a 20 minute drive.
Saint Julian Winery: Enjoy a great glass of wine at this local vineyard.


Snowmobiling:
Snowmobile trails are open from New Buffalo to Galien. The trail from Galien also extends into Indiana. The trails are well marked with a trailhead in Three Oaks and one in Galien. Visit  www.fishweb.com/recreation/snowmobile/trails/swl.html for updates on trail conditions. Snowmobiles must be registered and display a 3 year registration decal as well as a current trail user permit decal. In the State of Michigan there is a $25 charge for a trail users fee. This permit is good from October 1- September 30. Permits may be purchased at Knoll Bros Gas Station or Captain Cook’s Sports in New Buffalo. The Featherbone Restaurant & Lounge in Three Oaks or the Bungalow Inn in Galien provide snowmobile trail information.  You may also purchase a permit by calling the Michigan Snowmobile Association at 269-361-2285.

Amenities

Property/indoor Amenities
  • Central air conditioning
  • Fireplace-wood-burning
  • Basic paper products included.
  • Cable- Satellite TV
  • DVD player
  • Screened-in porch
  • Firewood is provided.
  • Iron & Ironing board
  • Internet/ WI FI
  • Washer & dryer
  • Telephone/Landline
  • Blow Dryer
Kitchen Amenities
  • Blender
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Refrigerator
  • Standard kitchenware & utensils
  • Stove
  • Oven
  • Keurig--some K-cups provided
Outdoor Amenities
  • Sandy Beach
  • Swimming on property
  • Patio chairs
  • Deck/patio
  • grill-propane
  • Walkway to Lake-Private Beach
SeasonPeriodMin.StayNightlyWeekly
08/19/2019 - 09/05/20192$600.00
09/06/2019 - 11/01/20192$325.00
11/02/2019 - 12/31/20202$275.00

Reviews

Perfect!
Loved it! The view, the beach, clean and plenty of room. Needed very little except a little extra cutlery, pans and dish towels but it was worth the drive. Will probably be back next year.Date of arrivalSeptember 24, 2015
Diane
Apr 2016
Very spacious with perfect beach access and lake view
We recently stayed at Sawyer Cottage over Summer 2015. This is our third summer trip to Union Pier with kids. We've always had a great time, but our accommodation in the past has been nowhere as good as this!We were immediately impressed by the size of the place and the layout. The bedrooms were all big and the communal space was very spacious. There are several dining locations inside and outside, all of which are beautiful and practical. The place has a very lived-in feel, which we found charming but others might feel as if its slightly run down.The outside areas---decks as well as screened in porch---were great and the beach access was perfect. The private beach below the house was also perfect and never crowded.We had a couple of issues with the rental---a broken dishwasher and problems with trash collection---that could not be resolved during our stay. Management were very apologetic however and promptly provided a partial refund. Obviously we were disappointed with the problems, but they didn't spoil the trip and we were most impressed with the manager's polite response.Top notch. Will definitely come back in the future!Reviewer location: Central IL Date of arrivalAugust 15, 2015
Russ
Apr 2016
Sisters weekend
Great place for a sisters weekend. The view from the very open great room is fantastic. Cabin is cozy, plenty of seating, comfortable beds. Nice screened in area and plenty of nice outside spaces. We would definitely book this property again. The rental agency, Freshwater Vacation Rentals, was very easy to deal with, always a bonus.
Nancy
Oct 2016
great location
we loved this house, great location with easy lake access and beautiful view
Carrie
Feb 2017
The house is awesome
We had a great time at the Sawyer House in Union Pier. The house is spacious and very comfortable. The outside deck is quite spectacular.
Melissa
Apr 2017
Always a joy to stay here!We love the view, place and care put into it to make it a special place to come back to.Thank you!
Judy
Apr 2017
Four Crafty Ladies
Two sisters, one from Racine, WI, one from Westfield Center, OH, and two friends from Wooster, OH met at Sawyer Cottage for a week of crafts. One of us creates beautiful beaded jewelry, one was rug hooking, one embroidering, and one quilting. Wonderful inspiration at the cottage with the lake in view at the windows. Everything we needed was provided and we spent out time creating beautiful works of art.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE: 
We are thrilled you ladies had a wonderful time. Inspiration to say the least. We wish more would come to exercise their creative minds! You'll have to send us a picture of your crafts! Thanks for choosing Freshwater!
Marilyn
Jun 2017
Great location, right on the lake
Great location, right on the lake. Quite a few stairs down to the lake, but definitely was not an issue. The beach was great, super easy to walk in, not a lot of rocks. There was a sand bar area within close distance. The house was ok, in need of a deep cleaning, and new furniture. Internet never worked for us even though it was supposed to be new and improved. Outdoor deck is shared, which was not an issue. The outdoor furniture could also be replaced and reorganized as most of it was broken or worn. We did not have a complete table and chairs to eat outside. Other houses did, so it may have been something that happened recently. I'd still rate this place as very good and mention it to others as a good option.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
We are happy you enjoyed the sand bar and wonderful Lake Michigan beach, and deck. I have a work order our for maintenance for a complete table and chairs set and the internet is being looked into. That is unusual for it not to work as it is new. Thank you for your suggestions. We pride ourselves on giving our guests a wonderful experience and will update what we can in order for them to have a great vacation. We hope you consider booking with us in the future. We have 54 properties to choose from.
 
Kelsie
Jul 2017
Beautiful house with view of the lake
House was clean. Great deck with a view. I grew up I that area ad had a great time visiting with my cousins. Freshwatervactions is a great Company.
Carolyn
Sep 2017
Lake and fireplace make this a keeper
We really enjoyed our stay here especially because of the proximity to the lake and the fireplace. The supplied firewood was an extra bonus. The wall heater in the bathroom was also a welcome feature when exiting the shower. For improvement: The wi-fi was a hassle connecting, and when we were connected we would not always be able to get internet access. A loveseat/small couch by the fire would be nice instead of the two chairs.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
We are thrilled you enjoyed your stay with us. Thank you for the positive review and for your suggestions. We will see how we can accommodate. We hope you do book again in the future. Remember, we have 60 properties stacked around Michigan; please check out our website to see the newest homes and special deals.
Rick
Oct 2017
GREAT TIME
We enjoyed our get-a-way weekend in October at this lovely lake house. Even with the rain on Saturday, we would not have changed a thing. The house is beautifully located right on Lake Michigan and has a perfect view. (We had a fire on the beach Friday evening and it could not have been lovelier.) The house is centrally located around great places to eat, shopping for antiques, hiking and for visiting breweries and wineries. The rental company was very accommodating when we had to change our original weekend date (due to a family emergency), graciously offering us several other choices. All around, it was a wonderful experience and we would definitely recommend the house and company to others.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
We are thrilled you enjoyed your stay with us. We love, love, love the colors in the fall at Peter White. Thank you for the great, positive review! We pride ourselves on great customer service and appreciate your compliments. We hope you do book again in the future. Remember, we have 60 properties stacked around Michigan; please check out our website to see the newest homes and special deals.
Marikae
Oct 2017
Yoga Retreat
The weekend was great.. was an amazing location and house!

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
We are so happy you had a great success and loved the house and location! 
Sharyn
Nov 2017
Beautiful
The location is perfect!!! The home was clean and very pretty. The all white walls make it so open and airy We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner looking out at the amazing view of Lake Michigan. We will definitely return.
 

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

So happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay.   Thanksgiving on Lake Michigan is the best!  Check out all 72 properties.  We give returning guests a 10% discount when they book directly through us.  We look forward to working with you in the future!

 

Suzanne
Nov 2017
Wonderful Thanksgiving Getaway
Beautiful!!! We will be back!
 

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

So happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay.   Thanksgiving getaways are the best!  Check out all of our 72 properties.  We give returning guests a 10% discount when they book directly through us.  We look forward to working with you in the future!

 

Suzanne
Dec 2017
Amazing view, awesome home, fireplace, beach
On Lake Michigan. Plenty of room for a girls weekend, party of five. Kitchen well equipped and if you don’t cook there are plenty of restaurants nearby. We didn't want to leave!

FRESHWATER RESPONSE: 
Wer are happy you enjoyed your girls weekend! It's always nice to get away along Lake Michigan! We hope to see you again in the future!
 
Maura
Dec 2017
Beautiful views
My husband and I enjoyed a weekend trip to the Sawyer Lake house in February. The views are spectacular. The house is lovely and comfortable. Perfect for a family or a group of friends wanting to share some time on beautiful Lake Michigan.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

We are so happy that you enjoyed your weekend at Sawyer House.  It is a great property. We hope to see you again soon.
 
Laura
Feb 2018
Sawyer Lake House
I love the Sawyer House. This was our second time at this house in Union Pier. its a great place for family and friends. I will definitely rent this house again next year.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Hi Melissa,  Wea re so happy that you like the Sawyer House.  It is a great property.  We look forward to seeing you again soon.    Remember that we have over 70 properties for you to choose from, and we give a 10% returning guest discount when you book directly through us.   
 
Melissa
Mar 2018
Charm By the Lake
Charming Little House. My family had a wonderful time being so close to the water. The cottage is adorable and clean. I would recommend bringing your own pan and coffee maker (if you can), the ones provided are very old. However, it was a wonderful vacation made better by the location.


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Pam we are so happy that you enjoyed the cottage!  Also, thank you for alerting us to the pan and coffee maker situation    Remember that we have over 70 properties for you to choose from, and we give a 10% returning guest discount when you book directly through us.  We hope to see you again soon.

 
Pam
Apr 2018
Great getaway, super staff
I booked the Sawyer house as a gift for my parents. They were floored it was so nice! They enjoyed the quiet, the beach, and the comfortable house. Thanks for helping me set it up. My parents had a wonderful time!


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Lucas, we are so happy that your parents enjoyed the Sawyer House.  Magic happens when you stay right on Lake Michigan, and the Sawyer House is no exception.   You are a pretty special person to set this up for your parents, which makes it even better that they enjoyed it as much as they did.  We hope that you all come back again or try one of our many other Michigan properties.
Lucas
Apr 2018
Lovely cottage on the shore of Lake Michigan
This is the second year my sister and I rented Sawyer Lake House for our annual Sisters Week. She lives in Wisconsin and I live in Ohio so it’s a perfect location for us to meet. We are both crafters, and the cottage provides the space we need and a very inspiring view and sounds to inspire us. We absolutely love the cottage and plan to return for many years to come.

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Hi Marilyn,  we love that you have returned to Sawyer Lake House and plan to do so again.  How cool to do a crafting weekend with your sister - love it!  We're happy that it works out so well for you both.
Marilyn
Jun 2018
Second Annual Sisters' Week
Sawyer Lake House is the perfect location and layout for a small gathering. Last year, our first, we had four adults and this year we had three. The floorplan allows ample space for crafters, all with such an amazing view of the lake! The bedrooms are spacious and you can have privacy if you want, but the open living space allows for many shared activities. The kitchen has a good layout and the bar (with barstools) gives plenty of space for carry-in or buffet style meals. I’m already looking forward to our next visit to Sawyer Lake House!

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Hi Beverly,  we are so glad that you enjoyed SawyerLake House again this year.  Thanks for the wonderful review.  We love that you and Beverly will be coming back again next year for your crafting time together.  What a perfect "sister" thing to do.    
Beverly Siek; Marilyn Nisius is my sister
Jun 2018
Very Relaxing
We loved the Sawyer Cabin. The rental was easy and we really enjoyed the lake-view and sounds of the waves from the master suite. The screened in porch was perfect for playing board games when it rained.



FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Ryan, so happy to hear that the Sawyer House fit your needs.  The sounds of waves from Lake Michigan can be so mesmerizing, a great way to be lulled to sleep!  We hope that you come back again.
Ryan
Jun 2018
“What a wonderful location! This is exactly what you envision when thinking of a cottage on the lake. Staff was quickly accomodating when a request was made for assistance when we arrived. We were not troubled by the adjacent cottages using the stair access point from this cottages deck, all were lovely families- just be aware when scheduling. Great family spot.”

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:

Anne, we are thrilled that the Sawyer House worked out so well for you.  Being right on Lake Michigan makes it even more special I think.  We'd love to work with you again soon.
Anne
Jul 2018
Stunning view from cozy cottage
We enjoyed our first sisters' weekend at the lake house and loved it! Beds were comfortable, the kitchen was well stocked (perhaps a new saute pan would help), and the view/beach access was amazing. I think that is why we all come to Union Pier! We are looking forward to returning next year.


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Leanne, we love the idea of a sister's weekend, and that you went to the Sawyer Lake House to do it!  Union Pier is a great city, and being right on Lake Michigan is a special gift.  Walking on the beach, no matter the weather, is a wonderful experience.  We'll look for you and your sisters again in the future! 
Leeanne
Oct 2018
Everyone we dealt with was so professional
We enjoyed our stay.


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Elizabeth, we're so happy that you enjoyed staying at the Sawyer Lake House.  It's such a great property, plus being right on Lake Michigan gives it even more added charm.  We hope to work with you again!
Elizabeth
Nov 2018
Gorgeous View Of Lake Michigan
My girlfriends and I spent a long weekend at the Sawyer Cottage and thoroughly enjoyed the view, the fireplace, the direct beach access and the proximity to fun activities (Warren Dunes, wineries, breweries, distilleries, antique shops, restaurants, etc...). The cabin is well equipped for most peoples' needs. I was impressed to find both a regular coffee maker AND a Keurig as well as a coffee grinder! I recommend a few more wine glasses. ;-)


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Amy, a fall weekend, a fabulous fireplace and a view of Lake Michigan makes for a perfect girlfriends get-away!  We are so glad that you chose Sawyer Lake House for your fun weekend.  We'd love to host you again in the future.
Amy
Nov 2018
WONDERFUL!!!
We have now stayed are all 4 cottages and we love them all! We had a Great time look forward to coming back soon!!


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Jennifer, we love our returning guests reviews!  The Union Pier properties are pretty special, and being right on Lake Michigan makes it the perfect spot to be, no matter what sesason you are there!  We look forward to your next visit.
Jennifer
Feb 2019
We just loved the Sawyer house
It was a cozy place with a beautiful view!, Great place to stay any time of year!

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Kari, we are so glad that you had a great stay at the Sawyer House.  You just can't beat being right on Lake Michigan, and,as you said, it's great any time of year.  Do come back again!
Kari
Mar 2019
Heaven on earth!
The house was perfect for the 5 of us! We were two couples and a friend and the space was perfect! The view is of the beautiful Lake Michigan which is literally a few steps away from this home down the stairs that lead to the beach. We have made plans to rent this place again soon! The communication was easy and the person we coordinated with was very helpful and answered promptly by text. Can’t wait to come back for our next trip!


FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Radhika, we are thrilled that you enjoyed Sawyer Lake House as much as you did.  It's a great property and being right on Lake Michigan is pretty spectacular that's for sure!  We look forward to seeing you again next year.


 
Radhika
Apr 2019
Sister stay
This property was great. Thank you

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Heidi, we love that this was a "sister stay" and that you enjoyed Sawyer Lake House.  Being on Lake Michigan is magical, and this property with the fabulous deck overlooking the lake makes it even better.  We hope to see you again!
Heidi
Jun 2019
Sister time
My sisters and I stayed at the sawyer house. It really was fantastic. Very clean, comfortable, beautiful views, and they had everything there that we needed. It’s very close to shopping and restaurants. Prior to our stay, I had a lot of communication with the rental team. They were timely with all of the answers to our questions. We look forward to our next trip there. The only thing that was a negative, is the shared deck with the house next door. That is their route down to the beach, and it was a little invasive to our privacy, but as long as you’re aware, it’s ok. I highly recommend this location

FRESHWATER RESPONSE:
Heidi, staying right on Lake Michigan is magical, that's for certain. We are happy that you and your sisters enjoyed staying at the Sawyer House.  It's a great property.  We at FVR make it our #1 priority to make sure that our guests are satisfied, so we are always happy to help with any questions or concerns.  We hope that you return again soon.
Heidi
Jun 2019
Always the best time and perfect vacation! Can’t wait to return next year!

Freshwater Vacation Rentals Response
Tony, you can not beat Sawyer Lake House for a great place to vacation.  With Lake Michigan out front, you get the best sunsets and sunrises while sitting on the deck that one could ever ask for.  We'll look for you again next year!
Tony
Jul 2019


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