Notes from the host
Craig Lake Cottage
Our 1700 sq ft open concept cottage recently received a complete renovation. It has all new flooring, new quartz countertops and faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms, new paint throughout, nearly all new beds and many other improvements. All of our cookware is new or like new condition. All of our bed linens and house/swim towels are new or like new condition. Our cottage is fresh and CLEAN and organized for your arrival. All pictures are 100% accurate to the home and property. We try very hard to make your stay as relaxing as possible by making sure the cottage has everything you need and is in good working order.
Please read the reviews of our cottage from recent renters and going back the full 4 years since we started the vacation rental.
In 2022 we completely rebuilt our lake side deck with new composite decking and added a roof over it. The covered deck/ porch is 16ft x 32ft with lots of relaxing space and a full dining area over looking the lake. We also added a "whole home" Generac natural gas generator so that the entire cottage never loses power, AC or internet during storms. New pictures have been added.
We have 1 pontoon boat that can be rented daily or weekly. The boat is a 2021 Bennington 20ft with a 50hp engine with seating capacity for 10. The boat runs and looks like new condition. Pictures are shown and a price rate sheet can be sent per request. You can also bring your own fishing /ski/ pontoon boat or JetSkis and park them at our dock during your stay. Plenty of onsite parking for a boat trailer(s) if needed.
Our lake front has 100ft of water frontage facing East across Craig Lake for fantastic sunrises and protection from the hot summer sun in the afternoon and evening under the cover deck and when the sun sets behind the house. There is a new 30ft dock that is great for swimming or fishing off of. A large lakeside yard to play games, stretch out in the sun or for bonfires overlooking the lake. Our large lakeside deck/covered porch has a large 4 burner propane grill, dining table with 6chairs, 1 high top table with 2 tall bar stools; lounge area with patio couch, 2 large comfy chairs and a full size refrigerator. The entire deck/porch area is now covered with a metal roof and ceiling fan where you watch the sunrise while enjoying your morning coffee, but it is all shade by about 1pm when it starts to get hot. The roof also allows you to stay outside and enjoy the deck during light to moderate rain. There are 5 kayaks, 1 standup paddle board, and several water floaties for use in the shed, SOME life jackets and 2 adult sized bicycles included in the cottage rental cost. There are several yard games in the shed as well (corn hole set, Kube, bocce ball set, some others). See the shed pics.
Inside the cottage is an open concept ranch style layout with plenty of room to settle in and stretch out. There are 2 living room areas with couches and TV's in each. A very well supplied kitchen with lots of counter space, an island and large breakfast bar counter area are next to the dining room. The dining room table seats 6-8 with 4 more seats at the breakfast bar right next to it. There is a sliding glass door going to the covered deck from the dining room and another deck access door off of the kitchen. Good views of the yard and lake from inside the house!
The master bedroom has a king bed with master bath ensuite and walk in closet. There is a desk/office space in the MBR for those who need a private office for a work-cation stay or occasional Zoom meeting and work duties. Our 2nd BR has a queen bed with full size closet and a dresser. The 3rd BR has 2 full sized beds and a dresser. There are also 2 fold out sleeper couches - 1 in each of the living room areas. We will supply some starter toilet paper, paper towels, basic soaps and some light cleaning supplies to get you started. But you should bring, or buy locally, everything you need for your stay as we do not replenish any consumables. Swim/bath towels, bed linens, pillows, blankets, etc. are supplied.
We have SOME life jackets of various sizes for use, but to be sure there are enough of the correct size for each person in your party is recommended that you bring all of your own life jackets or risk not having what you need from our collection. You can ask what we have just prior to your arrival.
Craig Lake is 1 of 7 lakes in the "North Chain" of lakes in Branch County. All lakes in this chain are "all sports lakes" (fishing and water skiing/ tubing allowed). There are apprx. 11miles of waterway from the River Rd bridge back through the chain of lakes and channels to where the Coldwater and Sauk Rivers feed into South Lake/ Messenger Lake area. All of this waterway is navigable by power boat or kayak. The entire chain of lakes is apprx 1200acres. The fishing throughout the chain is excellent with bass, bluegill, crappie, perch and pike as the main species. There is a sandbar area boat hangout on Randall Lake (we have auger poles in our rental pontoon so you can hangout there if desired). 1 golf course and multiple restaurants are reachable by boat along the chain (Coldwater Golf Course/ Bill's Grill House/ Bill's Tap House and Pizza Parlor and Willows Bar). There is a hand dipped ice cream shop and party store across Craig Lake from our cottage (Country Cove Store) also reachable by boat or kayak.
Our Cottage Motto: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE!
-Kelly and Adam
