Entire home

Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach

Photo gallery for Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach

Beach nearby
Interior
Smart TV, DVD player, books
Exterior
Property grounds

Reviews

9.0 out of 10

Wonderful

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 684 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Pet friendly
  • Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach

The Guesthouse at the Miller Beach Dream Retreat is located at the end of a quiet, residential, cul-de-sac street, with direct access to the park/beach access trail. This sandy trail winds through a sliver of the Indiana Dunes National Park (America’s 61st!) and leads to a sugar-sand beach where one can view the Chicago Skyline and breathtaking sunsets. The walk to the beach is approximately 1/6 of a mile and takes the average person about ten to 12 minutes along a mostly sand, partially paved path that winds past Historic Chanute Hill, the location of the first manned glider flight in 1896 by Octave Chanute. Lake Street Beach, the closest public beach area, has a seasonal (Memorial Day through Labor Day) small vessel boat ramp and a paid parking lot for those who would prefer to drive to the beach.

Amenities:
* open floor plan with Great Room and full kitchen, dining for 6, bath with jetted tub, private entrance, and small deck with weber gas grill and café string lights
* (2) Two private, Queen bedrooms
* Queen sleeper sofa in Great Room
* sleeps an additional 2 people on a deluxe high-rise Aerobed (all bedding is provided)
* Additional guest fee applies over 4 people: $25/person per night (not including children less than two years of age on arrival date), regardless of length of stay or purpose of visit
* Maximum occupancy is 8 individuals total not including children less than two years of age on arrival date
* parking for two cars in tandem in the driveway, overflow parking (free, overnight) available nearby

The Guesthouse is adjacent to the Dream Retreat Main House, however, there are no shared spaces.
The outdoor amenities of Main House are not available to Guesthouse renters as the two units are separate, however, they can be rented together, please see our listing for the Entire Compound.
The Guesthouse entrance is accessed by a flight of exterior stairs.
.......................

Additional amenities
* free, high-speed Wi-Fi
* Keurig coffee maker with complimentary coffee pods
* three smart TVs with digital cable and video streaming
* stackable laundry with purwash ozonator, which does not require any detergents, bleach, fabric softener, or even hot water
* most supplies including basic soaps, paper towels, toilet paper, tissue, trash bags, etc.
* three independently controlled Mitsubishi ac wall units with thermostatic zones for customized cooling comfort; separate heating thermostat which operates the radiant boiler heating system
.......................

Kitchen
* opens to the Great Room and dining area
* cherry cabinetry and Carrara quartz counters
* island with a 60/40 double-bowl stainless steel sink and Grohe pull-out sprayer faucet
* fridge with auto-ice maker, gas range and built-in microwave and convection oven, dishwasher, all small appliances, cookware, bakeware, flatware, glassware, barware, and supplies
* Keurig coffee station with an assortment of k-cups
* built-in desk with leather office chair

Deck
* overlooks the beautiful Indiana Dunes National Park, the panne, and Lake Michigan
* Weber gas grill

Great Room
* 16 ft vaulted ceilings with skylights
* table seating for 6
* leather sofa
* 50" smart tv w/ digital cable, video streaming, and Blu-ray player

Bedrooms
* high thread-count linens, comforters, and pillows
* ceiling fans
* smart TVs w/ digital cable, video streaming, and DVD players
* ample closet space, dressers, and nightstands with lamps

Bathroom
* jetted-tub
* fluffy towels and bathmats
* shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, toilet paper, tissues
* hair dryer
.......................

Add-on options (fees and taxes apply, invoiced separately after booking):
* Our Guesthouse is dog-friendly and up to two adult, house-trained dogs are allowed. Fees per dog: $60 (2-night stay), $20/night (3+ night stay) or $140/week
* Guests may request early check-in (1:30 pm cst) for a fee of $59 during if peak season and $39 during non-peak season, and/or late checkout (1pm CST) for a fee of $59 during peak season and $39 during non-peak season. Due to COVID restrictions and enhanced cleaning procedures, Early Check-in and Late Checkout may not be available.
.......................
2 night minimum (observed Holidays require a 3 night minimum)

Licensee must be at least 30 years of age.

Abide by all Terms and Conditions of the signed vacation rental agreement required for rental of any Miller Beach Vacation Rentals property, regardless of booking method (direct or via a third party)

No high school, college, after-prom party, or any other underage groups allowed.

No bachelor or similar groups permitted.

Additional Guest fee applies over 4 people: $25/person per night. This covers maintenance/replacement of aerobeds, pullout sofas, extra laundry, increased utility costs, wear and tear, and more.

Maximum Occupancy is 8 individuals total, not including children less than two years of age on Arrival Date

Excessive cleaning (if required)is billed at $35/hr. Repairs due to damages are $45/hour. If anything becomes ruined or missing, you will be charged accordingly.

In certain cases, an additional Holiday Premium may apply to your dates

No illegal, dangerous, or non-family oriented activities or items are permitted including, but not limited to, underage drinking, illegal narcotics, strippers, beach fires, kegs, deep fryers, fireworks, other flammable items, etc.

No commercial or retail entities or third-party service providers (e.g., catering companies, DJ’s, VJ’s, rental equipment companies, etc.).
No smoking inside or anywhere within 15 feet of any open door or window ($1000 fine).

Care for the Premises with all due care, leave it undamaged, clean, and keep conditions safe throughout your stay.

Parking for 2 cars in the driveway, street parking not permitted. Overflow parking (free, overnight) available nearby.

Our property has exterior security cameras that are checked regularly. Only outside areas, including the driveway and stairs to entrance, are under surveillance.

Safely Trust and Safety Damage Waiver Fee provides up to $10,000 of accidental coverage for contents damage and up to $100,000 coverage for accidental property damage and bodily injury during your stay. Full terms provided upon booking.

Licencees agrees to identity verification and background check preformed by SafelyStay, Inc.

Neighborhood quiet hours are strictly enforced from 9PM-9AM; Parties / events, lack of decorum and disruptive noise will not be tolerated; If the neighbors are disturbed, Miller Beach Vacation Rentals reserves the right to ask the tenant to vacate the premises with no refund.

Outdoor Music is not permitted after 9PM.
Small, wireless bluetooth speakers are permitted except during Quiet Hours (9pm - 9am). Not permitted are party speakers, amps, subwoofers, stereo surround systems, or other high-powered audio equipment, etc.

We use smart home technology to measure noise decibel levels throughout the property and you will be notified immediately if a noise event has been triggered. Tampering with monitoring devices is strictly prohibited and will result in a $350 fine.

Property manager

Miller Beach Vacation Rentals

Property amenities

Beach

  • Near the beach

Internet

  • Free WiFi, with speed of 500+ Mbps (good for 6+ people or 10+ devices)

Parking and transportation

  • Self parking on site (surcharge)
  • Limited onsite parking (max 2 spaces)
  • Onsite parking includes off-street options
  • Free offsite parking
  • Street parking available
  • Onsite parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Toaster
  • Kitchen island
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Coffee/tea maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Gas grill

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Laundry detergent

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • On the waterfront
  • Near a hospital
  • Near outlet shopping

Things to do

  • Swimming nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Hiking nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Security system
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 904 sq ft (84 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 5:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 30

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Guests can access their accommodation through a private entrance
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Access methods

Private entrance

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Dream Retreat Guesthouse Lake Mich. IN Dunes Chicago
Dream Retreat Private Guesthouse Lake Mich. IN Dunes Chicago
86037

About the neighborhood

Map
Gary, IN

What's nearby

  • Marquette Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Marquette Beach - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Indiana Dunes National Park - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Ogden Dunes Beach - 12 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana - 18 min drive - 20.0 km

Getting around

  • Portage - Ogden Dunes Train to Chicago - 8 min drive
  • Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - 61 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Flying J Travel Center - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪John T McCutcheon Travel Plaza - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Denny's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Polekatz Indiana - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach?

Self parking is available for a fee. There is free parking nearby.

What time is check-in at Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach located?

This family-friendly Gary vacation home is located on the waterfront, within a 5-minute walk of Marquette Park and Lake Michigan. Marquette Beach and East Shoreline are also within 10 minutes.

Dream Retreat Guesthouse, Indiana Dunes Nat’l Park, 10 min hike to Beach Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 33 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Kristal B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Little tight for two families
In general nice property, quiet neighborhood. We had two families with one child each and it was a little tight on space and managing with one bathroom however not the properties fault we know better next time we need more space. The proximity to the beach was nice and a selling point. House did not have a lot of games or laundry detergent/extra trash bags so I would pack a few if booking. The management company was quick to respond and accommodated our requests.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Jernanna G.

Disliked: Cleanliness
I requested a refund . I tried chatting with someone never received a response. Not able to be reach
The air wasn’t working at this property. Very humid my son have asthma.. I had to leave facility asap. Never benefited what I paid for . I would like a refund . Do to very hot in the house Also .. They took a picture of my debit card
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mitch R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Place to Explore the Dunes
The guest apartment was clean and well maintained, but the location is the story. Directly adjacent to the Indiana Dunes and a 10 minute walk to a beautiful, quiet stretch of beach. We hope to return.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

4/10 Poor

Michael N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Make sure you type Miller beach as G A R Y, IN
As my title states you will be informed this property is in Miller beach. You won’t get there by using that city name. Your phone won’t recognize the address. A quick google search of the real city name will show you an area that has high crime and many violent crimes. If you make the mistake I did not being from Indiana and haven’t researched the area, you’ll head to the house and come to a city called Gary. You will feel uneasy. You will notice an area with many, many abandoned buildings. Later you’ll notice the streets are completely empty at night. Arriving to the home you’ll see it’s in a residential area and one of only 3 nice modern homes in the area. You’ll see security cameras nearly everywhere and many bright lights on. There is this level of security for a reason. I’m not out to harm anyone’s business and I sincerely hope this community continues to improve as the owner has stated it is trying to. I also find that while my trip was uneventful, and maybe yours would be to, you deserve to know of the homes location.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Joanna S., Madison, WI

Liked: Cleanliness
A lovely gem
We stayed at the Guesthouse - four adults, two young kids. The proximity to the excellent beach can’t be beat! The property was super clean, with ceiling fans and individual wall a/c units in every room. The appliances were high quality and check in and check out were easy and done by email and text. We would highly consider a return trip!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andrew J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, comfortable, filled with light.
This was the perfect spot for a low-key get away at the dunes. The space is over a garage, accessible from a wooden deck and stairs. The fixtures were high quality--the small kitchen has a generous white marble island. The beds are firm, but comfortable. The main room is filled with light. Everything was clean and tidy.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Samuel M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very clean and pleasant
It was a dream.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

6/10 Okay

Kayoko L.

Liked: Cleanliness
It could be nice place to stay with a couple
It is right on beach but neighborhood was so scary and We are so afraid to stay there with kids. The place was connected to a main house and we didn’t get any warm shower or warm room for 3 nights. Toilet was broken. You have to be ready to bring all your foods because you don’t want to go any grocery shopping in that neighborhood. It is that scary. I lived in national city in San Diego but it was worse. For single couples no kids will be a great hide out place.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

Carole D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just as pictured.
The guest house is beautifully decorated and the kitchen is very well stocked. I cooked full meals not needing a thing. Beds very comfy. 2 things however. The guest house is not beachfront, it faces the street. I was disappointed. Also be aware of noise from the main house. Luckily no one was in there day 1 & 2 but night 3 it sounded like we had a bunch of kids in the house. So, if you are not taking the main house, just the guest house, beware. The Building Manager was available whenever we needed her which was great.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2021

6/10 Okay

Latrice W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just NOT what I EXPECTED
It was all good until it got dark which was Valentine’s Day Eve, the thermostat was locked on 73 temp dropped to approximately 5 degrees. They furnished a space heater but with those temps it wasn’t good enough. I contacted the manager and I was told the owners have it locked . Then I had an extra blanket in my car so I was going to bundle up and just watch tv couldn’t do that either do to the televisions were not cooperating with me so I just went to sleep. I woke up the next morning with a slight cold and had to make an emergency doctors appointment. As I’m preparing to leave I attempted to use the water I let it run for 10 minutes and it still ran cold. I communicated this all to the manager my 2 night stay turned into 1. I have requested a refund and have yet to get a response.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021

8/10 Good

Meredith H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Dream Guest House
We had a good stay - the house itself was clean and well organized. The property manager was super welcoming, very helpful and responsive. I would definitely recommend this property if you're looking for nice spots in Miller Beach. The only real issue we had were some missing "essentials" from the kitchen (salt, cooking spray, etc) and that we wish it had been closer to the beach/ lake (it's like a 10 minute walk through the dunes).
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Janelle K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Right on the Dunes!
The property is beautiful and location is great if you are looking for something right on the dunes and next to the water! You don’t really have a great view to the water from the guesthouse but you can see it. If you are looking for somewhere to go and sit and do nothing this is the place to go. No touristy stuff around. Perfect weekend getaway. Neat and clean and everything you could possibly need was supplied!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Katherine G., Central IL

Liked: Cleanliness
Good spot to enjoy Indiana Dunes
We enjoyed this property! It’s a good location for enjoying the beaches and the Indiana Dunes State Park and National Park. There are trails right behind the house that lead to the beach and the bike trail. We stayed in mid September and it was beautiful. Only issue we had was with WiFi, but the house manager was helpful throughout our stay via text. The WiFi issue for the TV in the family room was never completely resolved, but we were there to mainly enjoy the outdoors and there are two other TVs. Overall, it was great and we enjoyed our stay. Recommended hikes (even for young families): Mount Baldy (great beach!) 3 Dunes Challenge Bike trail from Lake Street to Marquette Park (nice playground!)
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

8/10 Good

Eric R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Review
Overall, our stay was very nice. We did have an unexpected power outage due to a severe storm that moveD through the area and the housekeeper was very gracious in bringing Us a flashlight and checking on us. We could tell that the area was going through a revitalization but was still appeared a bit run down.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Mindy B.

Liked: Cleanliness
A very nice stay
This is a nice property with a good location near the dunes. The path to the beach is beautiful, and the beach is perfect for families.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Brock S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyable
Was a very nice stay
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Peter S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyed our stay
Very little complaint if any. The unit is indeed "compact" as I believe the description says. Everything was very clean and communication was great with the manager.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Concetta E., Clancy

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location and property to enjoy the Dunes!
The property was just as pictured and very comfortable. Had a bit of difficulty communicating with the manager, but got that worked out. I have usually communicated through the HomeAway website, but some emails came through in other ways which was a bit confusing especially when in transit.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Dorrie H., Lafayette, IN

Very clean.
The unit was very clean. Close, easy access to the lake. Owners were very easy to work with.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

James K.

Clean, comfortable and cozy
Five of us stayed here comfortably! Loved the easy access to the beach and dunes.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2018

4/10 Poor

Leigh R.

Guest House not same as Main House, Miller Beach quite different from "the Hamptons"
Although comfortable, clean, and well-equipped, and close to a good hiking trail and the dunes, the "guest house" for this rental lacks many of the key amenities that make the larger property seem attractive. There is virtually no view from the guest house (the guest house is over a garage facing a suburban street, rather than the dunes or the lake) and has no real deck. Given that we were paying a rate appropriate for a lakefront home with a view, this was disappointing to us. Miller Beach is also a very industrial part of the Indiana lakefront in a part of Gary that has seen better days, so be aware of that. (We have stayed at other rentals in Indiana in towns such as Porter Beach, where you also see the power plants and the steel mills, but they are much further away so the setting is quite different). Can't comment on the main home, which seemed nice from the outside, but for smaller groups renting only the guest house just be aware of what you are getting, and not getting, for the rate. If you know the area and like it, and rent the full house, could be a good option. But this was not an appealing property overall for our interest in a lakefront rental with a nice view for 2 people.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2016