SPACE:

The studio apartment is on the first floor behind the detached garage. The apartment is a cute and cozy space with a kitchen, full-size bed, and bathroom. There is a minisplit A/C unit available for guest to cool down on hot days. The bathroom is fully stocked with bath and body products as well as towels. The fenced-in backyard has plenty of comfortable seats on the wooden patio and is perfect for relaxation. The apartment accommodates all that is needed for a great vacation!

The owner who lives above the property is of no concern as he will not bother the guests. The larger home (The Glarum House) is rented out separately and may have guests, but the home and its backyard are separated from the apartment and its fenced-in backyard by a tall fence.

HISTORY OF THE LARGER HOME:

The Glarum House was built in 1895 by Nils and Mary Jane (Jeanne-Marie) Glarum on the southwest corner of Steele and George M (which is now Cartwright Street). At that time, they had 4 children. Nils unfortunately died in 1899 of tuberculosis as a result of his work at a lumber camp in the Betsie River valley. The house was passed down to the family's oldest son, Sivert Glarum. after Mary Jane's death in 1931. The home remained in the Glarum family until the 1960's. The home was a treasure for the Glarum family for many years and is now available for guests to make treasured memories!

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1) GARAGE: The attached garage is not available for guest usage. The apartment itself is behind the garage.

2) OWNER: The property owner lives in the small apartment above the attached garage. The apartment is completely sectioned off from the rest of the house though and the property owner will not disturb you.

3) PET POLICY: Up to 2 dogs are permitted at the property. If bringing 1 to 2 dogs, please make certain that they are included on the reservation and that the pet fee is appropriately paid. More than 2 dogs is strictly prohibited and any pets other than dogs are also strictly prohibited.

5) NUMBER OF GUESTS: Please note that our pricing is based upon the number of guests, with pricing being higher with each additional guest that is included on the reservation. Please make certain that the correct number of guests is specified on the reservation so that the pricing is correct.

6) EARLY CHECK-IN: Our policy is to allow early check-in on the day of arrival if the property is available for check-in. We will not know until the day before arrival whether or not the property will be available for early check-in or not. You can check with our local property manager the day before arrival or on your arrival day to see if the property will be available for early check-in or not.

7) LATE CHECK-OUT: We maintain a very strict and structured cleaning schedule. As such, late check-outs are strictly prohibited.

NEIGHBORHOOD:

Elberta is a delightfully eclectic little town on Lake Michigan just south of Betsie Bay (which is also called Betsie Lake). It is just across the bay from nearby Frankfort. (Downtown Frankfort is just a 5-minute drive from the house.) Elberta is famous for its huge natural sand dunes, which are between the village and Lake Michigan. There is a wonderful hiking trail through the dunes (Elberta Dunes South Natural Area) that starts just 0.7 miles from the house. There is also a great bike trail (the Betsie Valley Trail) that goes right next to downtown Elberta and is less than one-half of a mile from the house. There is also a small public park with a full court outdoor basketball court just across the street from the house.

Downtown Elberta is just a short walk from the house and it has a wonderful traditional breakfast cafe (The Lighthouse Cafe) along with a few shops and restaurants. Elberta has a fun collection of different sizes and styles of homes, including several large and beautiful historic homes like The Glarum House. There is a public kayak launch in downtown Elberta for kayaking around Betsie Bay, including the option of kayaking out to Lake Michigan or else up the Betsie River. There are 2 marinas in Elberta on Betsie Bay, both of which are only about 100 yards from the house. Between the 2 marinas is the famous Cabbage Shed historic restaurant, which is a great place for dining outside on the water and enjoying live music.

Elberta has its own beach on Lake Michigan (Elberta Beach), which is only 0.9 miles from the house. Elberta Beach is dog-friendly, allows bonfires at night, and does not get a lot of traffic as it is somewhat hidden behind the beautiful dunes. There is also a waterfront park on Betsie Bay in Elberta that has playground equipment for kids and has live music in its amphitheater on Monday nights in the summer.

ACCESS:

Guests have access to the apartment, its backyard, and the parking area for the apartment. The larger home, the detached garage, and the second floor apartment above the garage are not available for guest usage.

TRANSIT:

The is public transportation available (the Benzie Bus), but neither Uber nor Lift operate in the area and there is no local taxi service. As such, it is recommended that guests have their own means of transportation.