Places to Stay : Jacksonport

Square Rigger Lodge
6332 Hwy 57
Jacksonport
920-823-2404

If you want to relax in a place that’s right on a sandy beach on Lake Michigan, with 300 feet of shoreline, then you must check into the Square Rigger Lodge!

A combination of cottages (5), housekeeping units (2) and motel rooms (17) offers Square Rigger guests lots to choose from. We toured the spacious grounds and the facilities with Elizabeth LeClair, the owner and innkeeper.

All of the motel rooms have cable TV, either two double beds or one queen bed, with a sleeper sofa, small fridge, phone and more. The cottages are each unique unto themselves and are closer to the beach, and the lapping waves of Lake Michigan!

The Motel Rooms
We toured Room #4, a water view motel room on the ground floor of the two-story motel building, with a queen bed with floral bedspread, a nightstand, table and chairs, small fridge, and TV. Typical bath with a shower/tub was clean, nice and functional. Sliding glass doors open up to a patio with a couple of lawn chairs for sitting, relaxing and looking at the water. The view was spectacular, just beautiful!

We went upstairs and looked at Room # 9, which had two full beds, rose floral bedspreads, blue carpet, a small table (like a Pembrooke table) and chairs, TV etc. as we said. This room also had the sink outside the bathroom, which is nice if you have 4 people staying in the room. A porch with chairs let you sit and watch a sunrise over the shiny waters of Lake Michigan!

The rooms are clean, comfortable and appealing, and offer some views you will not find in most places – anywhere! As a ballpark figure, these rooms are about $98 a night, but always check for current rates and availability.

The Housekeeping Units
Next we an toured efficiency, housekeeping unit (almost like an apartment), Unit #19. This unit, which can accommodate 2 – 4 people, has a nice living room area, which has a queen daybed complete with roll out trundle bed to accommodate a couple of more people. A separate bedroom was decorated with dark stained pine, with a colorful (greens/purples) country quilt on the bed. The wall treatment was interesting, with the top third of the walls in the bedroom horizontal pine boards – adding a cozy, woodsy touch to the room. The kitchen was nice and large enough to be very functional as well, and comes complete with pans, pots, appliances and more. The unit also comes with pillows and blankets. You can see it past the daybed in the photo here.

Of course, color TV and cable is included.

Unit #20, the second and final housekeeping unit, was not available for tour, but has a similar layout and can accommodate the same number of people. These units are about $130 a night, but again check for current rates.

The Cottages
There are 5 cottages, and we can write about them for a very long time. Each is unique, offering something special. Cottage numbers run 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 (we didn’t ask what happened to 6 or 7!). We toured all but #3. All the cottages have grills outside so you can grill up your favorites!

Cottage #2 is a nice two private bedroom, with a nice living room/kitchen combination, with a love seat, a table and 4 chairs. Of course, the standard small fridge, microwave, TV, toaster is all here waiting for you. The bathroom has a stand-up shower. The bedrooms (one has a queen, one a full) are very lovely: Bedroom 1 has pine furnishings, green and pink quilt, and beautiful pink “bow” stenciling along the walls near the ceiling. A nice floral arrangement hangs over the bed – nice country touch. Bedroom 2 had a similar feel, with green leaf stenciling. Very nice cottage, about a 200 yard stroll to the private beach!

Cottage #4 sports a small living room and kitchen combination, which has a futon, a wood and painted white table and matching chairs (4), a wonderful cherry stencil border near the ceiling, and cherry drapes against a blue background. Very nice! This 2 private bedroom unit has one bedroom furnished with a red metal-tube set of bunk beds (double on the bottom, single on top), and an attractive bookcase which is painted and stenciled. The second bedroom, has a double-bed, with a quilt in blues, burgundies and whites – very pleasing. More stenciling along the ceiling adds warmth and charm. The bath (only 1) has a stand-up shower, and is wallpapered with vertical floral patterns.

OK – onto the two cottages that are a stones throw to the water!

Cottage # 5: walk in to a small foyer, then a couple of steps up to the dining area, which has a table and 4 chairs, an area rug atop hardwood floors, a TV, a couple of cushioned chairs, end table and lamp. The kitchen has a 4 burner stove, oven, fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, and double stainless sink. Very nice and functional. Bedroom 1 has two twin beds, a nice chest of drawers, hardwood floors, and pine furnishings (headboard, dresser). Bedroom 2 has a queen bed, carpeted floor, dresser, and a door leading to the carpeted porch, also accessible from the dining area. The porch has 2 futons, a chair and windows on three sides – looking out right to the water! Awesome – yes! The floral wallpapered bathroom has a stand-up shower. This unit, along with #8 below, rent very quickly! If you want them, call way ahead of time!

Cottage # 8: now you are as close to the beach as you can get! This photo of the sand beach was taken right outside the cottage, sitting in a chair along the cottage wall. Wow – this is spectacular!

A nice living room has its finest feature: a door leading out to the beach! The kitchen is well designed, with a breakfast bar. The 3-bedrooms are configured with 2 twin beds in one bedroom, and queen beds in the other 2 bedrooms. Pine wood headboards, dressers finish off the rooms. Picture yourself eating at the dining table which has a window overlooking the beach! The living room has a swivel rocker, and plaid couch done in green and mauve fabric. This is one fabulous cottage!

The Grounds
Just a quick word about the grounds: very well kept, beach, beach, beach, a private children’s jungle gym, lounge chairs, swimming in the lake off the beach (did we mention the beach?!), plenty of sand for sand castles, elm trees casting patches of shade, and great views up the shore of the peninsula and sandy beaches.

The surrounding area in the town is nice too, with antique shops across the street, and Vi’s Grocery just down the street (a great place to purchase fresh meats for grilling). If you want to bring jet skis or boats, you can launch them nearby at Shauer Park. Cave Point and Whitefish Dunes State Park are minutes away.

Guests seem to like Square Rigger Lodge as well. Elizabeth told us that “they love the beach,” and that her guests really feel that there is a great relationship between them and the staff. People come back year after year to this friendly atmosphere, and family-run lodge. Even Elizabeth’s daughter, Courtney, helps out in the Square Rigger Galley, a restaurant right on the grounds with substantial breakfasts, and fish boils served at your table!

We can’t help ourselves writing about this place! So check into Square Rigger Lodge for a great time – and please tell them you found them on DoorCountyNavigator.com!

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