Lake James is one of the most sought after lakes to be on in Indiana! It’s crystal clear waters, stunning real estate, a vibrant sandbar community, beautiful state park, excellent bars and restaurants on the lake, rich history and countless activities make it a premier vacation destination to visit in the Midwest.
Cooks Cottage lakefront vacation rental is centrally located between Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit & Indianapolis. Many of our guests have friends and family residing in those cities and they choose Cooks Cottage as an annual meeting place to catch up and reconnect! It’s a beautiful, serene environment that is great any time of the year!
If you enjoy cooking you will LOVE our kitchen!!! This is NOT your normal vacation rental kitchen with just the basics. We have SO many appliances and kitchen gadgets that are a joy to use, including a VitaMix, a sous vide, air fryer, a custom concrete island, kitchen aid mixer, to see a complete list click below. And if you’d like to brush up on your culinary skills during your stay, you can book a cooking class with Michelle!
Lakeside – The guest side of the cottage consists of the chef’s kitchen, full bathroom, one large bedroom, deck and yard, sleeps up to 5 guests comfortably and is totally private and not shared.
Roadside – In the back of the cottage, there is a small owner’s suite (with a private entrance) where your hosts reside when hosting guests. The only time you may see us is in the drive, accessing our boat or if you invite us over to make you lattes! We respect our guests’ privacy so you can enjoy your stay, unless you need assistance.
Being self employed most of our lives, we’ve spent countless hours over the last several decades in some amazing coffee shops. So naturally we wanted to be able to provide our guests in our cottage rental that same level of quality when it comes to coffee. We pick up freshly roasted beans from our favorite shops each week and absolutely LOVE making cappuccinos, lattes, espressos or americanos for our guests upon request.
We do have a regular coffee brewer and a french press that are self serve for guests who don’t mind a regular cup.
Established in 1936, Cooks Cottage is a 4th generation lake cottage on the shores of Lake James in NE Indiana which is available to rent.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Corey & Michelle have over 20+ years experience in the hospitality industry.
We love hosting and curating memories for our guests that will last a lifetime!
Book a sunset cruise or a historical tour on Lake James with your host Corey! Commercially licensed/insured providing hundreds of tours each year to visitors!
Book a cooking class with your host Michelle! Several options to choose from based on your tastes! Please message us in advance if you’d like to discuss menus and costs!
Wanting to rent a wave runner, pontoon, fishing boat, stand up paddle board or kayaks during your stay? Check out our listing of vendors who provide rentals on Lake James!
We have stayed in Airbnbs across the US and in Italy. I would say Corey and Michelle’s Airbnb on Lake James ranks #1. Corey and Michelle were very responsive, accommodating and the place is fully equipped! I typically carry a couple of containers for Airbnbs because they always lack in something… I never had to open my containers, not once because everything I needed was available. The furnishings are very comfortable, there are books to read on every subject, games, great sound system, bedding so comfortable and cozy, tons of streaming TV options, etc. The kitchen /eating space is a chef’s dream. It made me want to redo my kitchen at home! Even though we loved the winter time staying in to snuggle and hiking at the State Park, we are really looking forward to visiting in the summer and experiencing all the outdoor activities. Side note… we let Michelle and Corey know we were there for my daughter’s birthday and they put up birthday decorations when we arrived. We were beyond touched by this kind gesture!
This home is beautiful and the lake views are stunning. Cooks Cottage is welcoming, cozy, and feels like the inside of an interior design magazine- that kitchen!! Not only are the amenities endless, but that island is the kitchen island of my dreams! Corey and Michelle have thought of everything- amenities, comfort, recommendations, and more. Their attention to detail is absolutely incredible. They are quick to respond and proactive- they are by far the most communicative hosts I’ve experienced using AirBNB. The local state park is beautiful and great for hiking in the winter. The town square has a variety of shops, bars, and restaurants. My partner and I enjoyed exploring the town, but more so staying in the cottage cooking, reading, and playing games. 10/10 would recommend and hope to come back soon!
