Entire home

Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road!

Family-friendly holiday home in Sister Bay

Photo gallery for Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road!

The Refuge Log Home
Private Waterfront
3-Season Porch
Woods
Living Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8223.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Sister Bay Beach
  • Place, Waterfront Park
  • Place, Sister Bay Marina

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

1st Floor Master

1 King Bed

2nd floor bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2nd floor Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2nd floor Bunk room

2 Single Bunk Beds

2nd floor Combination Bedroom / TV Room

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

1st floor Ensuite

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2nd Floor Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road!

The Refuge Log Home is nestled in a beautiful, wooded 5 acres across the street from Lake Michigan and is 4 miles east of Sister Bay in Northern Door County, WI. Listen to the waves from the home or take a short walk (300 ft) down the road to our private property with 100ft of shoreline. Enjoy the water from an Adirondack chair, a canoe or kayak, or wade right in! The wooded setting is quiet and sheltered and the lake may be viewed from the separate waterfront property.

Have fun exploring the woods. Deer are frequently seen. if you're lucky, you might spot a turkey family, an owl, or the newly discovered porcupine that occasionally makes an appearance. Spend your evenings around the fire enjoying the incredible stars. The home is located on a peaceful dead-end street with light car and foot traffic. It is less than ten minutes to downtown Sister Bay, a wonderful town with fun shops and great restaurants to explore and enjoy. Sand Bay Beach is just five minutes away and the villages of Baileys Harbor, Ephriam and Fish Creek are close too.

These two properties, woods and water, are the perfect getaway for family and friends!

The open floor plan is spacious and comfortable. The whole family can gather around the stone fireplace. There are many cozy places to retreat to for some quiet relaxation. Enjoy the outdoors from the front porch or the screen porch in back. Or grab a book from the bookcase and head up to a window seat in an upstairs dormer for some quiet reading.

The home has four private bedrooms, one on the main floor with a King size bed and three more upstairs. The large bonus room with three sky lights over the garage is perfect for movie nights or reading. The built-in bunks in the bunk room are always a thrill for kids! Please note that the 2nd floor bunk room does not have doors to close it off from common areas.

The Refuge is a true retreat any time of year. Whether it's enjoying the long days of summer on the screen porch, the crisp Fall nights around the campfire, hunkering down on a cozy wintry night by the fire, or spotting the first sounds and sights of Spring, we sure you will enjoy your stay.

Lake Michigan Water change from year to year. The Photos show both high and low water levels.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Guest is required to sign and abide with the rental agreement terms. Photo ID is required. Minimum age to rent is 25.
Security deposit of $300 required.
No events/parting, pets, smoking, fireworks allowed. Quiet Hours between 10pm and 7am

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sister Bay

Located in Sister Bay, this holiday home is in a rural area and near the beach. The Skyway Drive-In Theatre and Historic Noble House are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Peninsula State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Sister Bay, WI

What's nearby

  • Sister Bay Beach - 12 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Waterfront Park - 12 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Sister Bay Marina - 12 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Newport State Park - 28 min drive - 22.7 km
  • Cana Island Lighthouse - 36 min drive - 23.8 km

Getting around

  • Green Bay, WI (GRB-Austin Straubel Intl.) - 100 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant & Butik - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Stabbur Beer Garden - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Husby's Food & Spirits - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Wild Tomato - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Boathouse on the Bay - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Log Home on 5 acres private beach-steps down the road! located?

This family-friendly Sister Bay holiday home is located near the beach, 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Michigan, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and Sister Bay Beach. Waterfront Park and Sister Bay Dog Park & Community Garden are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 160 out of 165 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 165 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 165 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 165 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 165 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Brianna G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice, fully stocked house. Great, quiet location. Close to Sister Bay, but far enough away to feel secluded. The private beach access was also a plus (just a little unclear as to where the entrance was). Would visit again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marcia P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This property was perfect for our long weekend. So close to all the shops/activities of Door County but also felt like we were camping in nature. The place had everything we needed plus so much more. Loved that it had puzzles, books and games available if the weather hadn’t cooperated. Enjoyed having coffee in the sun room. Would definitely recommend!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robin P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway

Overall, the property is wonderful. Did a family weekend here and it is exactly as discribed. We recommend and we will come stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A perfect place for gathering. Spacious, yet cozy and comfortable with lots of natural light. The kitchen is huge and well stocked with dishes, appliances and anything you might need to cook a big breakfast or dinner, which we did often. The front porch and surroundings are great for gathering and exploring without infringing on nearby neighbors. A private rock beach just a short walk away is a great place to sit around a fire pit and soak in the sights and sounds of the lake. We definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a nature fix that’s still close to the attractions and nearby towns that make Door County special.
One of the uniquely cool features of this one-of-a-kind woodland retreat.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Annette S.

Had a great time!

Enjoyed the weekend at the cabin. Had a great time. Perfect location and wonderful property.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sherri W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

The Refuge is close to downtown Sister Bay yet nestled in the woods, just what you need - great escape!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tammy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Teacher Retreat

This is the perfect cozy and comfortable property for a November stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Therese S.

Amazing Cabin Getaway!!

We so enjoyed this cozy cabin for a relaxing family retreat. The cabin was very comfortable and had everything we needed. Excellent place for getting together with family, nestled in the peaceful pines! The owners were a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend this cabin to anyone---perfect vacation spot!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Daniel H., Sycamore, United States

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house and location for family

Very comfortable home, which was very well equipped. Perfect for our family gathering. Great location for all points of interest in Norther Door County but secluded enough to feel like you are getting away.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lisa T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Return Trip

We enjoyed our stay last year so much that we came back this year! We really loved the new beach access area! Everything was amazing as usual! We already booked for next year!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Leslie E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous location and hosts

Highly recommend this lodge for some r and r. Lots of space, clean, great beach access, and super helpful and quick to respond hosts. I hope to be back and will recommend to friends and family. Thank you so much!!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rob K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing...

Our family of 5 had a beautiful and relaxing time. This cottage is well though out in the floor plan and location. This is true door county cottage!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jillian S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Getaway!

We loved our stay here. The cabin was comfortable and spacious (we had 9 in our group) and Marc and Lori are super prompt, professional, and friendly. The bonfire area is stunningly beautiful in September. This is a great distance from downtown sister bay - far enough away that it's very quite but still just a short 10 minute drive to get to town. Would highly recommend this VRBO!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Deb S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Roomy cabin in the woods

We had a great time at The Refuge. The house was beautifully secluded in woods and wildflowers. The property's private access to the lake just down the road from the house offered an awesome spot to sit and watch the water and the moonrise. The house was very spacious, the kitchen well stocked, and dining on the back enclosed porch pretty darn magical. Also appreciated the quality mattresses.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girls Weekend Getaway

This property was Beautiful. House was perfect for our Girls weekend. We had 5 young adults and 3 adults. The house had more than enough space for all of us. Kitchen was FULLY stocked. Far enough away from all the crowds but close enough to enjoy all the amenities Door County has to offer. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lauren H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great cabin in the woods!

Cabin was very nice! I thought the living room was bigger then it appeared in photos. Kitchen was well stocked with everything you need to prepare a meal. Screen porch was amazing! I wish it was a bit warmer while we were there so we could enjoy it more. I hope to return someday!!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lisa T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

The Refuge was amazing! It was extremely clean. The trails on the property were a hit with the grandkids. They loved the teepee! The lake was a just walk across the street. We couldn’t have asked for a better destination for our family getaway! We are thinking already about coming back next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kristin L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet cabin in the woods

Loved our stay. It's such a cozy home in a very quiet location, yet a short, beautiful drive to downtown Sister Bay. As a serious cook, I thought the kitchen was very well equipped, I always travel with my knife though. Charming touches throughout, and really loved the window over the kitchen sink that let in so many sounds of nature, and the great sunroom. Tons of space for the kids upstairs. The owners, Gary & Kitty, communicated wonderfully. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Frieda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Door Co. Retreat

Our family traveled to Door Co. for a memorial for my late husband. This was a hard time, but our stay at this wonderful home, made our life so much better. I wish we would have had more time, the book collection was so inviting. Games and tv helped keep the young ones entertained. But the highlight was the woods, trails and Lake Michigan waiting to be explored. There was plenty of room for all of us and very convenient to everything we wanted to do while we were there. I would recommend this place again and again, and I hope that we can once again visit this beautiful place in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Liz U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bachelorette Getaway

Overall impression of this property was that we didn’t stay long enough to enjoy all it has to offer. The amount of kitchen supplies and other small necessities you would have never thought to bring, they had there for you. The lock for the cabin is very user friendly. The lighting is a little tricky but you get used to it. We did have to make 2 beds upstairs (queens) upon our arrival [all the bedding was there, just not made]. There is only 1 TV in the cabin and is upstairs in back room. Wish they had one in the main living space for background/ games or movies. This cabin will be a repeat booking cabin for a few of the ladies in the group with their families. We may turn this into our annual weekend away. Short drive to multiple locations. Our longest drive was 30 minutes and that was to the Wine Tour Trolley.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenny H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful experience in a beautiful location

This property was a bit more north than we usually stay in Door County, so it took a bit longer to get to, but it was worth it. So much natural beauty and just a short drive into Sister Bay, Ellison Bay, and Rowleys Bay. The street has several other houses on it but the home itself is further back on the property so we never heard any noise from the neighbors and felt very secluded and private the whole time. Although the house is not on the water, you could hear Lake Michigan in the distance, which was lovely. The rental also includes beach/waterfront access just a short walk away. Our young kids loved exploring the backyard and the path to the lake! Despite not having any snow during our trip, the cabin itself had plenty of warm, cozy, winter vibes. We loved playing all of our favorite childhood games and checking out the collection of books in the main living space. Plenty of options for sleeping, good kitchen space, simple decor, excellent puzzle table. Everything we needed! We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katherine N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a lovely home. Their Team was very quick to respond to questions.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Felyce G.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was clean
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary a.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our family's second stay at this lovely cabin, and we hope to make it an annual event! We actually spent most of our time on the screen porch, wonderful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristin H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful place!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

About the host

Hosted by Gary & Kitty Brendemuehl

Host profile image
The Refuge Log Home is Owned and Operated by Gary & Kitty Brendemuehl. We have been married for 43 years and are blessed with three children and 6 grandchildren.

Why they chose this property

For our 40th wedding anniversary we stayed at The Refuge. The area is wonderful, quiet and peaceful and surrounded by nature! And it’s only 5 miles to resturants, shops and other activities in Sister Bay. We enjoyed hiking in the parks and taking the grandkids to the beach. We enjoyed our time together so much that we started looking for our own home away from home. When The Refuge became available, we knew that this was the place for us and we purchased it.

The Refuge was built in 2005 by the original owners. It was their family vacation home and vacation rental for 15 years. Many families made great memories over the years, and we are working carefully to help create memories that will last a lifetime.

We hope you will stay with us soon!

What makes this property unique

The open floor plan is spacious and comfortable. The whole family can gather around the stone fireplace. There are many cozy places to retreat to for some quiet relaxation. Enjoy the outdoors from the front porch or the screen porch in back. Or grab a book from the bookcase and head up to a window seat in an upstairs dormer for some quiet reading.

The home has four private bedrooms, one on the main floor with a King size bed and three more upstairs. The large bonus room with three sky lights over the garage is perfect for movie nights or reading. The built-in bunks in the bunk room are always a thrill for kids! Please note that the 2nd floor bunk room does not have doors to close it off from common areas.

The Refuge is a true retreat any time of year. Whether it's enjoying the long days of summer on the screen porch, the crisp Fall nights around the campfire, hunkering down on a cozy wintry night by the fire, or spotting the first sounds and sights of Spring, we sure you will enjoy your stay.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests