This home was built by the Vogt and Reilly family, who have spent their summers vacationing along the shores of Lake Michigan, as their grandparents did before them. This property is a place meant to bring families together (as they never-endingly grow), appreciate the slower side of life, and watch the sunset over the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan. 

Built as a summer retreat in 1937, the classic Prairie-inspired cottage that stood on this spot welcomed six generations of families. It boasted over three acres of wooded shoreline land perched above low dunes on Lake Michigan.

Transformed into a year-round home in 1969, its original architects emphasized natural light, overhanging eaves, and sweeping 360° water views designed to catch every breeze off White Lake and Lake Michigan.

Between 2019 and 2022, exactly 3.5 adjacent lakefront lots were consolidated into one expansive estate (~3.7 acres), including 150 ft of private Lake Michigan frontage, low bluff, beach access, and protective dunes.

In 2023, the old structure was torn down and a new lakeside residence, the one you are currently standing in, was erected, expanding the footprint of the house that once stood here and preserving the spirit of the original cottage. 

White River Light Station Next Door – History & Hauntings

Perched where White Lake meets Lake Michigan, the White River Light Station has guided sailors since 1875. Built from durable limestone and brick, the lighthouse was commissioned to protect ships navigating the narrow channel between the lake and the open waters. For over six decades, lighthouse keeper Captain William Robinson and his wife Sarah faithfully tended the beacon, living on site and raising their family within its sturdy walls.

But the story doesn’t end with Captain Robinson’s passing in 1919. Visitors and staff have long whispered that the lighthouse is haunted by the captain himself. Footsteps echo on empty stairwells, windows open on their own, and the faint scent of pipe tobacco sometimes lingers in the air. Some say the captain continues to watch over the tower, unwilling to leave his post.

Now a charming museum, the White River Light Station invites guests to climb the spiral staircase, explore maritime artifacts, and soak in panoramic views of Lake Michigan, all while wondering if they might just encounter the lighthouse’s most loyal guardian.