Tonawathya

Spacious Lakefront Gem w/ Private Beach, Dock & Amazing Location Near Glen Arbor

This cozy cottage is located on the west shore of Big Glen Lake with amazing views and private frontage. You cant ask for a better location, close to Glen Arbor, Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Park, The Heritage Trail and more!
Get ready to spend all of your time outside! Tonawathya has an amazing location directly on Big Glen Lake, with its own private beach, mooring, jet ski hoist, and fun swim platform. Almost every room in the house has incredible views of the lake, and the open-concept kitchen and living room are perfect for family gatherings. Just a mile or two from all the beauty of the Lakeshore, including Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Heritage Trail, and downtown Glen Arbor, there’s plenty to explore nearby.

All you need is the lake! Welcome to Tonawathya, with amazing views of Big Glen Lake and its own private sandy beach. Take in gorgeous sunrises from the deck, then spend the day boating, jet skiing, and swimming from your own beach. After a day of adventure, gather with family and friends in the completely open kitchen and living area, retreat to spacious bedroom suites, and take in stunning views from every room in the house.

BONUS! If you need more space for your family gathering, check out the cozy cottage next door and rent both! Directly next door to Tonawathya, the Annex is also available to rent and sleeps 6. For groups of up to 14, book both homes for an amazing vacation with an even bigger stretch of private beach all to yourself. The Tonawathya Family Retreat is the listing for both cottages.

Living Spaces

As soon as you enter Tonawathya, you’ll feel right at home. The expansive open living area is bright and airy with a huge wall of windows overlooking breathtaking lake views. A spiral staircase brings the eye up to vaulted ceilings that make the living room even more spacious.

It’s the perfect place to gather, with tons of seating options, a flatscreen TV for family movie nights, and a gas fireplace to make rainy days extra cozy. And the slightly retro vibe makes the space feel just like home.
Kitchen & Dining
In the same wide open space, you’ll find the kitchen and dining area, allowing everyone to spread out while still enjoying time together. There are multiple options for places to dine – with four seats at the eat-in kitchen table, four stools at one of two kitchen islands, a formal dining table for six, and an additional table for two.

Tonawathya’s kitchen doesn’t feel like a rental at all – it feels like home. It’s completely open, light, and bright, with white shaker-style cabinets, fun light fixtures, and huge windows showcasing the lake. It’s also fully equipped with everything you need to make meals, snacks, and drinks for your crew. And with not one, but two large kitchen islands, it’s any chef’s dream!

Bedrooms & Baths

In this home, no one has to fight for a room with a view. Each of the three spacious bedrooms overlooks the lake. Need to check in with the office on vacation? Two bedrooms have workspaces that will make your coworkers jealous if you flip the camera.

Bedroom 1: Primary suite on the main level, King bed, lake views, flatscreen TV, and full ensuite bathroom with a shower
Bedroom 2: On the lower level, King and twin bed, lake views, workspace, and attached half bath
Bedroom 3: On the lower level, Queen and twin bed, lake views, flatscreen TV, workspace, and ensuite bathroom with shower

Bathroom 1: Primary ensuite, shower
Bathroom 2: Bedroom 2’s half bath
Bathroom 3: Bedroom 3’s ensuite, shower

Outdoor Amenities

Open the sliders and step out onto the expansive deck for incredible views of Big Glen Lake and your own private beach. Rent or bring your own boat and jet skis – Tonawathya has a mooring and jet ski hoist to make getting out on the water easy. Hang out on the swim platform and splash in the water, then take a break to fire up the grill on the deck. It doesn’t get any better than being right on the lake.

The Neighborhood

With such an amazing lakefront location on the west shore of Big Glen Lake, you may never leave the house. But there’s also tons to explore nearby – only about a mile away, you could even walk or bike to downtown Glen Arbor!
Within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, endless outdoor adventures await. You’ll find scenic hiking trails, streams for kayaking, sandy beaches for swimming and picnicking, a lighthouse, coastal villages, lush forests, inland lakes, and more.
Explore the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, with access only a mile from the house. It’s a 22-mile trail that’s almost completely paved (3 miles are crushed stone), so it’s perfect for walking, running, and biking, and it’s even stroller-friendly and handicap accessible.
Make your way to Sleeping Bear Dunes, with miles of sandy beaches and high dunes offering incredible views across Lake Michigan.
Also just a mile away is downtown Glen Arbor, where you’ll find restaurants, shops, and galleries. There’s so much to do that you’ll want to come back year after year to keep exploring.

Other Things To Note

No pets. No smoking/vaping. No parties or events.