We're sprucing things up! The cottages are getting new exterior paint, but the photos don't reflect the new bright color.
One of the few places in the area where you can watch the sunset reflected in the lake!
Your East Tawas adventure begins at this phenomenal 4-bedroom cottage. With 2 Queen beds, 1 Bunk bed, and a pullout Queen sofa in the living room plus a full bed in the loft--Plenty of space for everyone to unwind!
Enjoy newly renovated open-concept living with a cozy sofa, vaulted ceiling and lake views surround a dining table that seats everyone. Relax after a day of exploring. The loft is a fun place for the kids to chill-out and play games. AC, electric heaters and a gas fireplace ensure a comfortable stay, while the Wi-Fi, smart TV, and many amenities add convenience.
Park two cars easily on a gravel parking pad. There is also room for a boat or a third car in front of our 'barn' off of Rainbow Drive.
We look forward to welcoming you to our place!
Cooking: Fully equipped kitchen with
-a coffee bar,
-full fridge,
-air fryer,
-microwave,
-gas stove.
-Pots, pans, and a decent selection of spices.
-Plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, and silverware available for use.
-coffee bar stocked with K-cups, sugar and creamers.
The Table seats 10! Gather around for meals, lively games or great conversation.
Outside: cook over a propane grill or roast marshmallows at the firepit with cooking grill. Enjoy amazing sunsets and star-gazing! Private lake access to launch the rowboat, canoes, and kayaks.
Water life: Three single-person Kayaks with paddles, Two canoes (2 & 3 person), Launch paddling boats from property, enjoy exploring Tawas Lake, Bird watching and great fishing. Swim at beautiful Lake Huron Beaches.
Trails: Hike, Bike and Cross Country ski on extensive area trails. Walk (or drive) to play Disc Golf.
Indoor Entertainment: TV, Cable, Wi-fi, Stream your apps. The kids will love the Ms Pacman machine in the loft. Enjoy Family-friendly board games, cards, and reading from a varied library.
Sleep 8 people:
-Queen Bed in BR#1 (2)
-Bunk Bed in BR#2 (2)
-Queen Bed in BR#3 (2)
-Full-size Bed in BR#4/Loft (2) Note: Ladder entry
Plus: Queen Pull-out Sofa in Living Room (2)
Cleanliness: Expect a clean cottage, all beds made with fitted and flat sheet, pillows, and a comforter, plus blankets appropriate for the time of year. A vacuum, broom, and mop are available as needed.
Well-stocked Linens: Clean Sheets, bath towels, wash cloths, dish towels, comforters, pillows, and extra blankets are available for use. Plus teddy bears!
Toiletries include toilet paper, cotton balls, Q-Tips, emergency extra toothbrushes and toothpaste. Hair Dryer. Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash.
Pet-friendly! A medium dog or 2 small dogs are allowed, but please clean-up after them. Poop bags to keep the area clean. Bring your own dog beds, food, toys and essentials.
History of the Cottages:
These 3 cottages were originally built around 1920 in the forest along Tawas Lake outside of East Tawas city limits. Originally used for gambling and drinking during prohibition, their remote location gave them insulation from direct oversight. A signaling system (still attached to one of the trees!) told their clients when they were open for business.
When prohibition was repealed they became vacation rentals for families. One proprietor during the 50's and 60's made boats that he rented to the public to take out on the lake. He also sold bait and the edges of the tanks are still visible in the front yard. At that time the land sloped down the the lake front and their was a beach that people fished from or swam in. He had a small shack that he placed near the road to run his business out of. Its still on the property but tucked away and used for storage.
Later, a sea wall was built to create a flat yard in front of the cottage which makes a great space to gather for a bon fire. Its also a great vantage point for bird watching! We've seen flocks of hawks, swans, and ducks. Cranes, great Hurons and Loons fly overhead and nest around the lake. There is an area that still slopes to the lake for launching boats. The fish are regularly jumping to feast on bugs. Frogs will loll you to sleep with their croaks. It is a shallow lake not suitable for motor boats, but heavenly for nature lovers.
Most recently the front cottage (closest to the lake) has been renovated to create an open concept kitchen, dining room and living room. The attic has been opened up and turned into a sleeping loft. The ceiling and walls of the loft are lined with the original knotty pine. Unfortunately, years of deferred maintenance has left the exteriors in a rough state. Over the next few years, we look forward to restoring their charm and sense of family fun!
East Tawas has a lot to offer...
-Beautiful Lake Huron Beaches 5 minutes away
-Tawas State Park for more beaches, hiking, motor-boating-- less than a 15 minute drive
-Buy groceries from well-stocked Neiman's Family Market or a local Walmart.
-Just around the corner there is a huge selection of meat from Klenow's Butcher shop on Newman St (plus some basic essentials)
-Practically private Bird-watching on quiet Tawas lake-- get close in the canoes & kayaks!
-Bike on Paved Tawas Bike Path shadowing U.S. 23 along the sparkling waters of Lake Huron--Bring your bikes!
-East Tawas has many delicious restaurants from Barnacle Bills for great pizza and burgers, enjoy Mexican food at Mangos, BBQ at Route 23 or delicious Chinese food at China Buffet. Social Oaks has steak and seafood for special celebrations.
-CORSAIR TRAIL
Take advantage of this 44-mile groomed trail system to hike, run, walk, birdwatch, snowshoe, and ski, depending on the season. The trails are a series of loops that offer users a variety of challenges from easy to difficult. Trails cross forest and meadows, hills and valleys, taking you through sunny open vistas, into hushed stands of sweet-smelling firs and towering hardwoods, and along the edge of winding streams.
-FISHING
The Tawas area has fishing galore, regardless of season or how much gear you have. Fishing in Tawas Bay includes walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, brown trout and smallmouth bass. During the spring and fall, whitefish, steelhead, brown trout, lake trout and walleye move along the shoreline of the bay. Fish from riverbanks, the shore, the dock, your own boat or grab a charter. In the winter, ice fishing is very popular. And, don’t forget to try your luck on the AuSable River, Tawas Lake, Sand Lake, Van Ettan and Cedar Lakes in Oscoda, along with a host of 60+ smaller inland lakes throughout the Tawases and surrounding areas.
GOLF
Grab your clubs for a change of pace and tee it up at your choice of a variety of award winning golf courses. All courses are well maintained and each has their own personality, from breathtaking views, to wide open fairways, to delightful and challenging hazards. Pick your favorite, or better yet, try them all; you won’t be disappointed!
HURON-MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST
With almost a million acres of public lands (much of which comprises Iosco County around the Tawases), this gorgeous forest provides recreation opportunities for visitors, habitat for fish and wildlife, and resources for local industry. Whether you like camping, hiking, walking, or spending time on the AuSable River that runs through the forest, you won’t want to miss the only National Forest in Lower Michigan.
RIVER ROAD NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY
If you haven’t driven the River Road National Scenic Byway, you’ll be amazed by this 22-mile long byway showcasing the beauty of the AuSable River valley and all the roadside (and riverside) parks. Be sure to visit the Eagle’s Nest Lookout or Canoer’s Memorial. Lumberman’s Monument features a visitor’s center and gift shop, a log pile for climbing, a stairway down to a floating logger’s kitchen and trails through the woods to an observation deck overseeing the river and dunes. Largo Springs has a lovely observation deck and interpretive kiosk; 294 steps down a wooden stairway lead to a mystical place where underground springs come together and form cold water streams featuring a 1,000 feet of elevated boardwalk to meander on and enjoy the serenity.
SNOWMOBILING/ATVS
Iosco County has 94 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. The Huron Snowmobile Trail has five starting points in Iosco County and connects to trails across the state. The two trailheads closest to town are the Tawas Area Trailhead (off Monument Road on the left before Camel Road) and the Sand Lake Area Trailhead (off Esmond Road and Indian Lake Road). ORVs are allowed on parts of the Huron Snowmobile Trail.
SHOPPING
The Tawases are full of beautiful and interesting shops just waiting for you. Resale, antiquities, an art gallery, souvenir shops, sporting goods and more. Wide, brick paved sidewalks are lined with trees and benches making shopping an enjoyable experience. Plus enjoy ice cream after a day at the beach!
TAWAS POINT LIGHTHOUSE
In operation since 1876, the lighthouse is the feature of the Tawas Point State Park, situated on a 200 acre peninsula that defines the southeast boundary of Tawas Bay. The 70 foot lighthouse is open for tours six days a week from May through September. Ask about the Lighthouse Keeper Program that allows registered volunteers to stay in the keeper’s cottage for up to two weeks while serving as lighthouse volunteers. Special events include the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival, the Haunted Lighthouse, and Christmas programs.
