Bear Lake Vacation

Looking for a slightly more isolated getaway to Bear Lake that provides the advantages of a large yard, scenic views of rolling hills and grazing horses, and plenty of room for an extra-large group? Lilac Haven may be the perfect choice for you. Lilac Haven is located in Garden City, only a few minutes up the hill from the popular Pickleville Playhouse. Pictured below is the view from the front yard looking west (away from the lake).

In July 2013, our extra-large group chose Lilac Haven as the spot for our annual Bear Lake reunion. We didn’t quite have 41 people staying at this location, though this three-story home can readily sleep that many in beds (and if some bring sleeping bags, you can push that number to as high as 57).

First impressions? This setup offers a lot of options for families of all ages. Many of our seasoned Bear Lake vacationers voted Lilac Haven as the best cabin they had stayed in to date. The spacious 6,000 foot floor plan allows many families to stay at the same time without feeling overly crowded. In fact, it’s easy to temporarily lose a kid or two in this place. With two large refrigerators (one in each kitchen), plus another refrigerator in the garage, we had plenty of room to store food and drinks.

The teens and kids especially liked the daybeds/trundles, which reside in two large rooms upstairs. These rooms provide places where kids can hang out and have their own part of the house. You can even put girls in one of the large rooms and boys in the other (or younger kids and older kids). The upstairs level also includes a pool table and air hockey. Plus, you have two regular-size bedrooms upstairs with queen beds, ideal for parents.

We had our grandma and grandpa stay on the main floor in the master bedroom (with a private master bathroom). Two other bedrooms on the main floor, as well as two more in the basement, gave more couples and small families privacy and space. The extra kitchen in the basement provided another place to prepare meals or cooler lunches for the beach. Without the second kitchen downstairs, the upstairs kitchen would not have been big enough to serve everyone. And the big winner—the home theatre with projector and large screen—gave young kids a place to be constantly entertained. The theatre room includes three movie sofas with reclining seat features and areas to hold a drink or snack. And yes, it’s also a nice place for adults to catch a flick after the kids have gone to bed.

The gathering room on the main floor is not quite as spacious as might be expected (the big room is upstairs), and the home decor is not as rustic or “cabin-like” as some other Bear Lake cabins—so you won’t find any animals on the walls or log-style furniture if that is more your style. However, the home is completely furnished with classic furniture, comfortable sofas, rockers and stone countertops. Plus the large, wrap-around deck offers great relaxing areas, tables to eat meals, as well as breathtaking views of the farm lands, horses and the lake.

If you have an extra-large group, and you want a secluded cabin with all the modern amenities and then some, Lilac Haven is an excellent choice.

Below is a view at sunset from the back deck (toward the lake).

Property Description:

Lilac Haven is a 6,000 square foot custom-built home located just south-west of Bear Lake in Garden City. It has a covered wrap around porch with a stunning view of Bear Lake and surrounding farmland. It has large, open rooms that can easily accommodate large groups. It has 7 bedrooms, 5 baths, 2 full kitchens, 2 laundry rooms, a large game room with 5 daybeds with trundles, a bonus room with 5 daybeds with trundles, and a theatre room with a projector and surround sound.

Sleeps 41 (Maximum Occupancy is 57)
6 Queen beds (12)
1 King Bed (2)
10 Daybeds with trundles (20)
1 Full bed (2)
1 Futon (1)
2 Queen mattresses (4)

Linens and towels provided
Plenty of room for additional sleeping bags

Main Kitchen
2 Ovens
Cook Top
Microwave
Full-Size Refrigerator
Dishwasher
Waffle Iron, Griddle, 2 Crockpots
Pots and Pans
Dishes and Utensils

Main Floor
Full-Size Kitchen, Laundry/Mudroom with additional cupboard space
Kitchen/Dining/Family Common Area
40-inch Flat Screen TV
DVD Player
Satellite
Dining Table seats six, additional folding tables available
Master Bedroom with 1 Queen bed/Master Bath with jetted tub and walk-in shower with bench seat
2 Bedrooms with 1 Queen each
1 bathroom with walk-in shower with bench seat

Upstairs
2 Bedrooms With 1 Queen Each
1 Bathroom with tub/shower
1 Bathroom with walk-in steam shower with bench seat

Game Room – 5 daybeds with trundles, pool table/table tennis, air hockey.

Bonus Room – 5 daybeds with trundles, 1 full bed, 2 queen mattresses, foosball

Basement (2 outside entrances)
Full-Size Kitchen
Laundry Room
Utility and Storage Rooms
Theatre Room with projector, DVD player, surround sound
2 Bedrooms, 1 queen and 1 king
1 Bathroom with tub/shower

Basement Kitchen
Electric Range
Microwave
Dishwasher
Full-Size Refrigerator
Dinette (seats 4)

Basement Sitting Area
2 Loveseats
1 TV

For additional pictures and information, visit the blog.