Property Details

Explore the details, amenities, and comforts that make The Dragonfly Cottage the perfect Northern Michigan getaway.

Our Story

Discover the Heart of The Dragonfly

Step back to a golden summer at The Dragonfly Cottage. This vintage 5-bedroom lakefront retreat wraps your family in nostalgic coziness. Enjoy morning kayaks on the misty lake and evenings around the firepit with s’mores and stories. A Star Wars pinball machine, hammocks, and a private sandy beach for pups and kids let every generation play, relax, and reminisce together.

At home at the lake

Just steps from the back door, Intermediate Lake invites you to swim, paddle, and play from sunrise to sunset. Guests have full access to our private sandy beach, dock, and a collection of water toys — including kayaks, a canoe, and a paddleboat — perfect for exploring the calm, crystal-clear water. Spend lazy afternoons floating near the shore or cast a line for bass and bluegill right off the dock. Whether you’re watching the sunset from a hammock or gathering around the lakeside firepit, The Dragonfly Cottage makes every moment by the lake unforgettable.

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Amenities at The Dragonfly

Dog-Friendly, Lakefront, and Designed for Relaxation — Explore Our Full List of Amenities.

5  Bedrooms

Lakefront with private dock

Kayaks, canoe & paddelboat for exploring

Outdoor & Indoor

Near Wine Tasting

BBQ Grill
 for cookouts

Proximity to Hiking

Family-Friendly
Amenities

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the house rules?
  • Maximum Occupancy: 12
  • Minimum age of primary renter: 25
  • Pets are welcome with pet fee
  • Smoking is not allowed
  • Parties are not allowed
Is the cottage near a lake?
Yes, the cottage is located directly on Intermediate Lake in Central Lake, Michigan. You'll have a small private backyard beach as well as lake views from most of the house.
How many bedrooms are there?
The cottage has two bathrooms. One bathroom has a tub/shower combo and the other has a walk-in shower. Essential toiletries are provided, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion. We also have "forgot something" jars that have an assortment of items you may have forgotten to pack!
How many bathrooms are there?
The cottage has two bathrooms. One bathroom has a tub/shower combo and the other has a walk-in shower. Essential toiletries are provided, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion. We also have "forgot something" jars that have an assortment of items you may have forgotten to pack!
Do you provide any watercraft?
Yes, we provide 1 paddleboat, 1 canoe, and 2 kayaks. We also have a dock - so you can bring your own boat or rent one from our preferred vendor.
Can we stay in the winter?
You can stay in certain times during the winter. We are open from April 15th through January 5th each year. We close in January, February, and March due to heavy snow fall.
What is there to do nearby?
There are many activities locally and you can find a full list on our Local Area page, but you'll be near restaurants, wineries, breweries, hiking, golf, live music venues, Lake Michigan, and more!
Our Story

Discover the Heart of Lake House

Just 25 steps from the back door to the private beach, The Dragonfly Cottage is a cozy 5BR vintage lakefront retreat where timeless memories are made. Spend days paddling the kayaks, canoe, or paddleboat on Intermediate Lake, and nights by the firepit with s’mores and stories.

Woman leaning against doorframe looking out at scenery.Cozy living room corner with a couch

More Details About The Cottage

Just 25 steps from the back door to the private beach, The Dragonfly Cottage is a cozy 5BR vintage lakefront retreat where timeless memories are made. Spend days paddling the kayaks, canoe, or paddleboat on Intermediate Lake, and nights by the fire pit with s’mores and stories. With a Star Wars pinball machine, hammocks, Smart TV, fast Wi-Fi, games, and dog-friendly touches, this is a warm and welcoming escape for families, friends, and all generations. Near wine tasting, Torch Lake & Bellaire.

25 Steps to the Lake – Private Beach & Dock
Step outside and feel the sand between your toes on your private backyard beach. The lake’s shallow entry is ideal for kids and pups to splash safely, while further out a 75-foot drop-off depth makes for great fishing right off the 90-ft private dock. We provide free watercraft – two kayaks, a canoe, and a paddleboat – so your family can paddle the Chain-of-Lakes, look for turtles, or enjoy a serene morning ride. In the evenings, gather by the lakeside fire pit (we provide firewood and marshmallow kits) and watch the sunset paint the sky. Fairy lights in the trees and the call of loons create an unforgettable ambiance.

Cozy Vintage Charm & Modern Comfort
Built in the 1960s and lovingly updated, The Dragonfly Cottage wraps you in nostalgic charm without sacrificing comfort. Exposed wood beams, a vintage Star Wars pinball machine, and a record player give the living room a retro vibe, while high-speed Wi-Fi and a 55” smart TV let you stream or work remotely. The dining area features a handcrafted table with lake views. The kitchen blends retro style with modern function: full-size appliances, 2024-updated countertops and fixtures, a stocked coffee bar, and pantry staples.

More Details
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Room for Everyone – Family-Friendly Amenities
With 5 bedrooms plus a loft, the home sleeps up to 12 guests. The main floor includes a king bedroom with lake view and two full bedrooms. Upstairs has another king room and a large room with two queen beds. The loft offers a daybed with trundle and a game nook. For families: a Pack ’n Play, books, sand toys, and outlet covers. For pups: a dog bed, crates, bowls, leash, tie-out, toys, and waste bags. Two full bathrooms (one with tub/shower, one newly renovated with walk-in shower) include towels and extra essentials.

Fun for All Ages – Rain or Shine
Indoors: board games, puzzles, pinball, and loft gaming space. Outdoors: lawn games, hammocks, fishing gear, and a lakeside fire pit (with wood and s’mores kits included). The Wi-Fi supports multiple devices—but you might forget the screens once you’re here.

Year-Round Northern Michigan Beauty
Summer means swimming, paddling, and boat rentals (with dock delivery). Fall offers leaf-peeping, apple orchards, and cider donuts. Winter brings ice fishing and skiing at Schuss Mountain (15 mins away), with cozy fires waiting after. Spring is quiet, peaceful, and filled with wildflowers, birds, and hiking.

Explore the Area – “Up North” Adventures
Located in Central Lake, the cottage is minutes from downtown Bellaire (Short’s Brewery, shops), Torch Lake (15 mins), and Shanty Creek for golf or skiing. Charlevoix, Traverse City, and Sleeping Bear Dunes are easy day trips. We provide a guidebook with our favorite restaurants, trails, beaches, and local gems.

Peace of Mind & House Rules
This is a cherished family home—not a party house. Quiet hours 10PM–7AM. No parties or events. Primary renter must be 25+. Exterior cameras at entry points for safety. Professionally cleaned and maintained. We’re always just a message away if you need anything.Come experience lakefront living at The Dragonfly Cottage—where childhood memories are made catching fireflies by the water, and every generation finds something to love.


Important to Know: To maintain our peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere, no parties or events are allowed (and the primary renter must be age 25+). Quiet hours are in effect from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM to respect our neighbors and the tranquil lakeside setting. For security, we have exterior cameras on entry points (monitoring the driveway and front door). The cottage uses well water; it’s clean and fine for cooking and bathing, though you may wish to bring bottled water for drinking if you prefer. Also, since we’re right on the lake, please supervise children and pets near the water – there’s no lifeguard on duty, so all water activities are at your own risk.
Verified Reviews

Hear from our guests

Discover what makes The Dragonfly a favorite Michigan lakefront getaway.

Wonderful lake home on Intermediate Lake for our summer vacation.  We made use of the kayaks and dock every day.  The house is very well stocked and Amanda was also responsive to any questions we had.  We made a few day trips including sleeping bear dunes, Charlevoix and Mackinac Island.  We also enjoyed our time in Bellaire which was very close to the home.  It was a beautiful stay.  Thank you!
Morgan S.
July 2025
Our family of seven adults, an 18 month old and two dogs had a nice time at the Dragonfly. The table in the dining area is wonderful- large enough for all of us to sit for a meal, play games, or do crafts. The lake is great- shallow for a distance so that our grandson and the dogs could jump around and touch bottom the whole time! Ample supply of outdoor games, sand toys, kayaks, canoe. Cooling system worked well for those too humid days. Communication with owner was outstanding! We had a great time at the Dragonfly!
Janet L
June 2025
Perfect Up North Michigan lakefront house. Everything is thoughtfully done (dog stuff- bowls, toys and a tie out/ human stuff- coffee bar, books and hammocks, a great view) it’s a beautiful, comfortable place. All communication with Amanda was easy, timely and helpful (she helped recommend a boat rental, and eased nerves about payment). It was a fantastic experience, and look forward to booking again.
Sara Jane N.
August 2024
We recently stayed at the Dragonfly for a weeklong family vacation. Our group consisted of seven adults and children ages 4, 3, 2 and 1. The Dragonfly accommodated our family beautifully! There was plenty of room in each bedrooms and had everything you needed for storage and comfort. The mattresses were very comfortable.

The gathering space worked great for our family too. There was plenty of room on the sectional and lots of room for the kids to play. We loved all the windows that face the lake to determine whether it was a good time for a kayak or paddleboard trip. We didn’t use the loft very much because the kiddos were small, but it would be a great place for preteens or teens to hang out.

The kitchen provided everything we needed! Unlike many rentals, that don’t provide much in the way of cleaning products, this rental included everything we needed to keep the kitchen spotless. In addition, they provided a great coffee bar and a s’mores basket for us to enjoy.
Julia A.
June 2024
We have stayed at many Airbnb’s, and this one was definitely at the top!  Amanda was such a wonderful host- great communication with information we needed, and very fast to respond to all of our questions.  Our family had 11 people and 2 dogs, and there was PLENTY of space and rooms/beds for all of us!  We loved the lake- we went fishing, used the kayaks and paddle boat, had bon fires, and played a lot of corn hole! This was a perfect fit for us, our 6 adult children and their spouses who came in from all over the country!  The kitchen and bathrooms were stocked with a ton of extras- it was very thoughtful and we had everything we needed!! The coffee bar was a special treat!  We really appreciate Amanda for the extra effort she puts in to make this such a memorable experience!
Kelly
May 2024
Absolutely loved staying here! Our family celebrated Christmas and NYE and felt right at home. It was so cozy, clean, and well stocked with everything we needed, including our pup! It was close to Boyne Mt for our ski, day and a close drive to other outings if we had more time. She also had great recommendations of things to do during the winter season. Would highly recommend, and stay again!
Brooke
January 2024
The Dragonfly was a fantastic place for my family to stay for Christmas! We had the best time exploring the surrounding areas including the nearby ski towns. The cabin is absolutely adorable and extremely clean. We were right on the water and overall it was a fantastic location. Our pups throughly enjoyed their stay as well and the cabin provided a dog bed, bowls, crates, and toys. Amanda is an incredibly friendly and communicative host. Definitely hope to stay again next time we are in the area! Probably one of the most put together airbnbs I’ve ever stayed at. We had the best time.
Dakota
December 2023
The Dragonfly is a beautiful cottage on Lake Intermediate. The house is cozy and welcoming. It was perfect for our weekend getaway for my husband’s birthday. Amanda is a perfect host- the house manual is available online prior to the visit and has great recommendations for food and things to do in the area. We enjoyed the board games, the turn table music and the fabulous views of the lake. There’s a kayak and paddle boat available for use. There’s plenty of outdoor games also. All in all a perfect weekend. Would love to be back again.
Sapna
October 2023

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drone shot of a beautiful cabin