Places to Stay : Ephraim

Park's Edge Lakeshore Homes & Cottages
Park's Edge Lakeshore Rentals
9813 Water Street (Hwy 42)
Ephraim
Reservations is 414-481-2654

By far, Ephraim is the most picturesque town in Door County, and Park’s Edge Cottages sits on 2.4 acres right along the shore of Eagle Harbor – from the water’s edge, you can see the beautiful vista of the Ephraim town, the church steeples on the hill, the road as it winds north. And on the 2.4 acres, with about 200 feet of shoreline, are 5 cottages or homes that you can rent. What an idyllic setting – read on!

The 6 buildings, all available for rental, are:

• The Lake House: 4 bedrooms, sleeps 12 with a sleeper  sofa
• The Lake Cottage: 2 bedrooms, can sleep  6
• Bayview: 3 story, 3 bedroom, sleeps 8  
• Lake Cottage: 2 bedrooms, sleeps 6 with sleeper  sofa  
• Moose Haven Cottage: 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 with sleeper sofa
• Log House: 100+ year old 3 bedroom, sleeps 8 - 10  

Of these, the Lake House and the Log House are all season – so rent them year round! We met with the owners and toured the property – these have all been rehabbed and done so beautifully. We took an in-depth look at the Lake House, the Bayview and the Log House.

Lakeshore Home
This is a beautiful home, all season, with gorgeous views of the glistening waters of Eagle Harbor and Ephraim. The living room boats original oak flooring, a stone fireplace, sofa, loveseat and white painted bookshelves. This room is tastefully decorated and so well done, you feel immediately comfortable walking in. You will find the same in all the rooms – coordinated by someone with a lot of talent for this!

On the first floor, the first bedroom has a king bed, ceiling fan, wrought-iron night stand and coordinating lamp, and a door leading out to the porch which overlooks the water! Excellent! Bedroom 2 has a queen bed, with a headboard/nightstand unit, natural oak floors and a ceiling fan. Still downstairs is a bath with shower.

The kitchen is complete – maple cabinets, breakfast counter, table and 6 chairs, dishwasher, coffee maker, microwave, double sink, full 4 burner stove. Once again, tasteful, roomy, functional.

Upstairs has all knotty cedar planking walls and ceiling – the aroma is wonderful, the look, crisp and clean. In the main rooms as you walk upstairs, under an eaves, is tucked away a couple of twin beds – a unique sleeping experience for a couple of kids – very cool, cozy and fund. See picture. A third bedroom sports 2 twin beds done up in a nautical theme, while the 4th bedroom (second upstairs) has a queen bed draped in a floral quilt of yellows and blues. Another bathroom with shower is on the second floor.

Bayview Cottage
We strolled over to the Bayview, which has a rustic, woodsy feeling to it. A nice screened in porch would be a welcome spot in the evenings to relax and enjoy a mice bay breeze.
The living room sports a large sofa and easy chair, a burgundy leather wing back and area rug. The walls are all natural pine bead board, while the ceiling is exposed beans and joists. You really get a cabin feel here. A gas pot-belly style fireplace graces a corner.

The full kitchen has a table with built-in benches and chairs, a tile floor, maple cabinets, full fridge and stove, and again, pine bead board walls and ceiling. A half-bath is off the kitchen. The kitchen window provides a partial water view.

Heading upstairs, grasping the bentwood natural railing, we found a bedroom with staggered bunk beds, in stained wood – perfect for a couple of kids! The second bedroom had a queen bed with a white metal headboard, antique=style lamps and nightstand, a dresser and closet. Bedroom 3 has a huge king bed that takes up a great deal of the room! The walls are painted mauve, and a dresser and nightstand complete the room.

There is a full bath upstairs with a standing shower, cedar walls and ceiling. New carpeting throughout.

If you like rustic feel with all the modern conveniences, this Bayview is a must for you.

Lakeshore Cottage
With a newly shingled roof, this one is ready to go! The living room has pine board walls and a wood burning fireplace. A sleeper sofa and oversized comfy chair, a table with chairs and a ceiling of pine and exposed beams, completes the cozy look.

From the porch, you get an absolutely gorgeous view of the water and the shores of Ephraim. Wow! There’s a full kitchen, and 2 bedrooms. Bedroom 1 is stained pine, with a queen bed with tan and rose quilt. Nice room. Bedroom 2 has 2 twin beds done in blues and yellows, light pine walls, acoustic ceiling tiles, and a view out its 2 windows that is awesome: grass, trees, water, Ephraim!

Log Homestead
The fabulous 100+ year old Log Homestead, is all updated and very nicely decorated.  The full logs, exposed on the interior as well as the exterior, are light in color, so this space is very bright and pleasing.  The hardwood floors, made from Douglas fir throughout the home, are accented by Oriental rugs.  You feel like you are in a lodge - and the lodge is all yours!
 
The kitchen is fully equipped, including a dishwasher. Nearby is a table for six and a family room with a sofa sleeper and TV/VCR.
 
We loved the great room. It has a stone fireplace, a dining area that seats 12 and it’s accented by the original barn’s loft. The lovely sitting area includes a sofa sleeper.
 
Three bedrooms and two baths are on one level; in fact there are no stairs to enter the home, making it a nice choice for those who prefer a sprawling flow plan and the elderly.  
 
The master has a queen-size bed and its own fireplace. Another bedroom is furnished with two twin beds and a third has a queen-size bed as well.   The baths are updated with pedestal sinks and cedar walls.
 
The overall feel of the place is natural and contemporary, kind of like a Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn look. The 1920s architecture provides a charming backdrop to modern conveniences.  Don’t miss an opportunity to take a break on the screened-porch.
 
“The house reflects a lot of hard work on the owners’ part,” said Sally Nantell, one of the owners at Lakeshore.  “People tell us, ’We wrote down the color of all your wall paints, and this doesn’t smell musty.’”

This is first class all the way, and the property, right on the water with 200 feet of shoreline, is perfect.

"The Village of Ephraim has told us they like how we kept these buildings in their original state,” Sally, one of the owners, adds.

Peninsula State Park is the second oldest park in Wisconsin. The 3,776-acre park features an 18-hole championship golf course, bicycle trails, ski and snowmobile trails, beaches and campsites.
 
Sally is a cross-country snow skier, who hits the trails on the Door Peninsula-- winter weather permitting.  She says her guests love to bike and kayak.
 
Many also walk from Park’s Edge to the village, where they enjoy shopping and perusing the exhibits at the Hardy Center for the Arts, located on Anderson Dock, a national landmark overlooking Eagle Harbor waters.  Nearby is another icon of sorts--Wilson’s Ice Cream Parlor, which serves up Wisconsin-made ice-cream, its own brand of root beer and much more.
 
“They also love to take a morning walk to Leroy’s Water Street Coffee. It’s a nice walk,” Sally says. “It’s peaceful here. It works out well for people. They like the location by the park and the village at night is so lovely to look at.”
 
We agree! Park's Edge Lakeshore Homes & Cottages offers wonderful accommodations in a peaceful area in the heart of the Peninsula.  Here, you have an opportunity to stay on the water in a private and spacious home.  Give Sally or one of her partners a call, and please tell them DoorCountyNavigator.com referred you.

How to Find It
You can drive by this place a hundred times and not know it’s there since it is tucked away in the woods and on the water. As you head north from Fish Creek, just when you pass the Peninsula State Park driving range (golf), there is a road. Just past the road you will see a driveway on your left, flanked with stone pillars. Take a left and drive down a bit and you are there! And please tell them you found them on DoorCountyNavigator.com!