Lake Michigan Lodge With Raw Tree Branches Woven Into Its Design Is Listed for $4 Million

Summer is here, and so is one buyer’s chance to spend it lakeside in Michigan at a "magic" property that was designed to feel like your own private summer camp.

The Lake Michigan estate blends the romance of a vintage camp with the comforts of a modern luxury home, offering the kind of nostalgic lakeside magic that feels straight out of a childhood vacation—all just minutes from the lake's stunning beaches. 

Aptly known as Camp Deerborn, the five-bedroom retreat at 14657 Lakeshore Road in Lakeside recently came to market for $3.95 million, listing with Rob Gow and Chris Pfauser of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. 

Built in 1999 for its current owners as a gathering place for family and friends, the 5,463-square-foot residence was designed for entertaining and multigenerational living. Nestled on nearly 2 wooded acres, the home feels like a private retreat hidden among the trees, yet it remains close to the best of Michigan's coveted Harbor Country.

And the beauty of nature doesn't just surround the home; it has been incorporated into every room, with raw tree branches used to add a natural feel to many of the spaces.

"The home was built to live like a timeless rustic log cabin or lodge," says Gow. "Wood, stone, and tree limbs were used to create the magic."

That magic is evident from the moment visitors arrive. Inspired by the great American lodges of the past, Camp Deerborn combines heavy timber framing, exposed steel gusset-plate joinery, natural stone, and handcrafted branch detailing to create a home that is both authentic and enduring.

Vintage lodge-style beadboard paneling, log railings, stone columns, and soaring ceilings reinforce the camp-inspired aesthetic while maintaining a sophisticated level of craftsmanship.

At the heart of the residence is a dramatic two-story great room anchored by a wood-burning fireplace.

Exposed beams and a vaulted ceiling add grandeur to the space, while stone columns provide a rustic touch. Elegant built-ins add a sense of depth and comfort to the home.

But the great room is just the beginning of the home's many living and dining spaces. The open floor plan offers a seamless flow between rooms, as well as easy access to the property's many entertaining areas.

A modern kitchen space provides ample space for entertaining and dining, while a formal dining room is set up for more upscale occasions.

The expansive primary suite rounds out the living spaces found on the main floor—complete with "a private den with fireplace and spacious bath with stone floors."

A beautiful wooden staircase, crafted from the aforementioned tree branches, leads to the upper stories, which are home to multiple guest bedrooms, tandem bunk rooms, a loft bunk area, and a spacious upstairs family room that can serve as additional sleeping quarters.

Four fireplaces—in the great room, office, bunk room, and pool area—add warmth and character throughout.

The finished basement area can be used as a guest suite or for additional entertaining, offering its own kitchen area and a living space.

Outside, the magic continues. Stone terraces unfold across the grounds, leading to a swimming pool, screened pool house, koi pond, lush gardens, and multiple gathering spaces.

The pool house comes with an outdoor grill and fireplace, creating the ideal setting for summer entertaining. 

Listing images also capture the picturesque foliage surrounding the home, creating a lush green curtain around the dwelling during the summer. In the fall months, it becomes a kaleidoscope of color as the leaves begin to change.

The property is just minutes from Lake Michigan, as well as premier dining, shopping, golf courses, hiking trails, and the prestigious Chikaming Country Club. The property is also an easy getaway from Chicago.

For Gow, it's the combination of privacy, scale, and location that sets Camp Deerborn apart.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own an estate-quality property and an unusually large parcel close to Lake Michigan,” he says.