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Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

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Exterior
Private kitchen
Room
Dining
Room
Reviews
9.6

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6111 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Lake viewLake viewLake view

Explore the area

Map
AuGres, MI
  • AirportEast Tawas, MI (ECA-Iosco County)30 min drive

Most relevant reviews

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bunkhouse

+2
6 Queen Beds

Upstairs Loft

4 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!

A 400 acre wildlife preserve with 4 miles of pristine, undeveloped shoreline with an inland harbor. Charity Island is a nature lovers paradise complete with a mature hardwood forest canopy covering most of the Island and a night sky unblemished by artificial lights. Charity Island lodge has a master bedroom with a queen bed and a loft with 4 twin beds. The new Bunkhouse contains 6 queen bunks and a bathroom with shower. The Lodge kitchen has an electric refrigerator, gas range and a coffee percolator. The cupboards are stocked with dishes and cooking utensils as well as most common cooking spices. Please do not bring electric cooking equipment as our power is limited but propane is plentiful. There is also a gas grill and a grate over the fire pit for outside cooking. Our water system is an NSF approved system that draws water from Lake Huron and is filtered and treated with Ultraviolet light and stored in an elevated storage tank for continual water service to the Kitchen and bathroom.

Charity Island Lodge added an off-grid power system in 2019. The cottage has 24-7 power via a battery bank that is charged by wind and solar and is backed up by a generator. The cottage is completely wired as any cottage on the mainland. New in 2022, we have screened in the front porch of the lodge!
Charity Island Lodge is the only cottage on Charity Island with the exception of the historic Charity Island lighthouse. Seven miles from the closest land, you will feel the isolation as recreational boaters depart the surrounding waters of Charity Island and the spectacular sunset sky begins to unfold. It's now bonfire time and the spacious fire pit is the place where stories unfold and lasting memories are made. Folding chairs are provided.

Whether you like hiking, fishing, kayaking, recreational boating, bird watching, night sky watching or just chilling out on a secluded island beach, Charity Island Lodge will be your new favorite destination in Northeast Michigan. There are no stores or restaurants on the Island so come prepared.
..
Beginning in 2023, we are requiring 4 night minimum stays due to the extensive logistics and time required in getting to and from the Island and making it available for guests. If you require transportation, that can be arranged separately from either Brown's Landing in Tawas City or Captain Tom Cariveau in Caseville. Both services offer ample room for all your passengers, gear and are Coast Guard licensed vessels. You can also come via your own boat (no cost) and tie up to our 24' dock. The fishing around the Island is legendary and having your own boat is nice to have! Lastly, as with any back country experience, mosquitos and black flies can be bothersome on the hottest days and when the breezes do not cooperate. We have two kayaks for exploring the 4.5 miles of shoreline on these days and usually you can find some wind on the other side.

Dear Fall Guest to Charity Island, September and October are absolutely our favorite times of the year to enjoy the island. Autumn sun, cool nights, minimal bugs and total tranquility make for an amazing experience! With all of this grandeur however comes the reality of unstable fall weather patterns that can disrupt travel to and from the island. Lake Huron can turn vicious in a matter of a few hours so we must always be monitoring the weather. When we see potentially dangerous weather in the making, we will contact you and advise you of options. In short, travel can be delayed or postponed to and from the island We will never make an unsafe crossing for ANY reason and it is conceivable that your departure could be delayed or you could get stuck on the island for an extra day or two. We do provide full refunds when weather prevents safe travel.

Property manager

Dean P. Wiltse

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Lake view
Barbecue grill

House Rules

Check in after 1:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:30 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

North America

Map
AuGres, MI

Frequently asked questions

Is Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks!?

Checkout is at 11:30 AM.

Where is Exclusive Island Getaway ~ An Outstanding Secluded Experience ~ Includes Kayaks! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Lake Huron and 17.4 mi (28.1 km) from Tawas City Park Beach.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrea K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome stay
Good times
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing getaway
what a fantastic vacation. if we would have brought extra food, we would have stayed a couple extra days. Host Dean was very fun, helpfull and informative on everything. A lot of neat ingenous things on the house and property. All of which worked to the T. Good thing we brought some warmer clothing, as it gets a little chilly when the wind comes in from the lake. we had 6 unbelievable sun rises right on the front porch. We had an ATV to use to go check out the lighthouse property and go to the beach on the other side of the Island. Huge tip...when going to the beach, DO NOT drive off the main trail. Its only a 2 minute walk. there are rare and sensitive plants on the island. the beach is definitly wotrh the walk. we will be back. also, our 3 dogs had a blast
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joe L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Getaway
Had a great time staying on the island! It's an adventure destination, so it is not for everyone. But me and my family had a great time. The island is very peaceful, especially on the weekdays. Stargazing is the best in Michigan as light pollution is no-factor. You still get decent phone reception if you stand in the right spot, so you are not totally cut off from the mainland if you should need to reach out. Everyone we met from the ferry captain to our host was super helpful and accommodating. Don't be afraid to ask questions, Dean is always happy to help. The bugs were not bad for us at all. We landed in mid-August, and this had a lot to do with it. Previous tenants recommended immediately retreating to the other side of the island if the flies were bad, as their location was wind dependant. The beach on the sandy-side of the island is totally amazing. You will likely have a mile stretch of beach all to yourself. It is a bit rocky for the first few feet of water, then quickly turns into a gradually sloped sand bottom. Great for the kids. The fishing in the harbor is great for the kids also. Lots of small aggressive sunfish. We thought we'd catch something big, but weren't experienced enough to land anything. Saw some large smallies jumping around and teasing us. The house was very clean, though this may depend on the previous tenants because there is no cleaning service on the island. The off-grid power system could be a bit challenging. I would go in expecting to only run the basic utilities of the house and maybe the chance to charge your phones. Generator power is available, but if you don't want to hear the noise, plan for minimal consumption. Overall a great experience and a great value. Would recommend it to anyone wanting to get far away from everything without wanting to go very far!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
This place is great to get a short taste of off grid living. A couple of hiccups to be expected with off grid houses. Exactly what we expected and Dean was a great host. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

David W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing Escape
We had an amazing adventure to Charity Island. We would highly recommend this escape to those that enjoy connecting with each other and the outdoors. If camping is in your repertoire, this is your place. Like any “outdoor” adventure, weather dictates many things. The beauty of the island are the options that exist from one side to the other. The right amount of adventure!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

About the host

Hosted by Dean P. Wiltse

Host profile image
As owner and operator of a very busy restaurant and brewpub in Oscoda Michigan since 1979, we began looking for a quiet escape where one could regroup and recharge far from the madding crowd. Born in Northeast Michigan, I grew up with a deep love of all things outdoors. Birdwatching, hunting, fishing, canoeing, boating and a love of the natural environment are all part of my life's endeavors. Oh, did I mention the love of great beer and wine also? lol

Why they chose this property

As fate would have it, my brother and his wife, Bob and Karen Wiltse, purchased the 400 acre Charity Island in the middle of Saginaw Bay in 1992. Bob and Karen built an inland marina and planned to sell a few exclusive lots and preserve the rest of the Island including the lighthouse tower and lighthouse keepers home. Soon thereafter, the Nature Conservancy got involved and the Island was purchased and placed into public ownership managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Bob and Karen kept the lighthouse property and a total of four parcels were left in private ownership. In 2007 Charity Island Lodge was constructed and the lighthouse keepers home was rebuilt. In the end, we got the dream getaway we worked a lifetime for and Charity Island got a couple of stewards to make sure she preserved in her natural and glorious condition.

What makes this property unique

Located in the middle of Saginaw Bay, at the mouth of Lake Huron, Charity Island is over eight miles from the closest points of land. Charity Island was named for it's safe harbor in the middle of what can on occasion be an angry sea. When spending the evening on Charity Island, there is nowhere else in the State of Michigan where you may be further than seven miles from the next human being. Passing freighters, a brilliant night sky, lapping waves and the comfort of knowing you are truly getting away from it all makes this property a one of a kind in Michigan.

Languages:

English
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