500′ to Torch Lake & the park

Walk to downtown Alden, to the historical Train Depot Park and Museum, up and around the preserve on Coy Mountain, and walk to the stunning Torch Lake shore and the nearby beach — all from this circa 1870s historic Victorian home. Enjoy the amenities home in this three bedroom, two bath, two story Alden village house.
Three bedrooms (2 with Queen Beds and 1 with 2 twin beds) and 2 bathrooms (one on the first floor and one upstairs) provide for a comfortable stay for up to 6 people. Fully equipped kitchen allows eating at home if you wish. Dining area choices include in the kitchen or front porch or even the original family dining room.
The exterior colors will remind you of the power and depth and beauty of Torch Lake itself. If it’s been a few years since you’ve rented the home, welcome back to the ‘new look’ of our vacation home in quaint Alden.
You will be located just across the main east-shore road from Torch Lake. Locals and visitors know what a great lake Torch is for vacationing, sight-seeing, water-sports (including swimming, boating, kayaking, tubing and more). You’ll be just a couple blocks from charming downtown Alden itself and its marina, unique shops and restaurants. And you are at the foot of the 17-acre preserve that is ‘Coy Mountain’.
Experience beautiful sunsets and Torch Lake views from the kitchen and living room and from the west-facing porch on its settee or swing. Swim in Torch Lake and the connected chain of lakes, Boat through the lower ‘chain of lakes’ (Torch, Bellaire, Elk, Clam, Skegemog). This smoke-free home is very close to area pro golf courses, Traverse City shopping and the wineries of Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau County. Boyne, Petoskey and Harbor Springs are pleasant round-trip same-day excursions.
Sleeping Bear Dunes is just over an hour to the west.
You will be staying in what long-time locals still call ‘the Chapelle’ house, which in the late 1800s and early 1900s was the rooming and guest house for visitors from downstate and from Chicago and Ohio. The home was even larger then, with a 2-story guest room area, connecting at what is now the French doors in the formal dining room. In fact, you’ll find the postcard of the home circa 1910 in the postcard collection at the Historical Museum, just across the main road from you, toward the Lake.
The double corner lot provides room for children of all ages to play right in your yard, if you and they prefer.
Alden is just 25 minutes northeast of Traverse City and the Old Mission Peninsula (and its great wineries) and just 15 minutes southwest of Shanty Creek and Bellaire. A little further west past Traverse City’s dining and shopping pleasures are the wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula.
Alden is on the southeast shore of beautiful Torch Lake. Your boat will slip easily into and out of Torch Lake at the public marina and slips in town. Then, the entire chain of lakes lie ahead of you to explore and enjoy. No boat of your own? Rentals are available at your choice of local marinas. We can provide their contact numbers, if you wish.
If you prefer to stay home some day or evening, prepare your dinner on the Weber charcoal grill and enjoy it in the dining room or as a picnic on the porch or in the nearby park, or up on Coy Mountain.
Quiet evenings in on the porch or watching videos or TV are also your entertainment options. Cable TV service is provided with basic ‘network’ and cable channels.
Need to work or keep up with emails? (We know many have to do that) Our High Speed internet modem is provided for your use. Free, secured WiFi is provided. Or you can connect by Ethernet. If you do not have your own connecting cable, please borrow ours.
Alden’s and surrounding Helena Township’s history may be of interest to you. Research on the area tells all that “Helena became famous as a summer resort area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The principle resorts were Belden Heights at Alden (the are our home is in and you will see the platting on the living room wall); Lone Tree Point and Waswagonik near Clam River; Crystal Beach Hotel on the south end of Torch Lake; and Watson’s Inn at Torch River. Many beautiful homes and cottages were built on the shores of Torch and Clam Lakes. The Pere Marquete railroad officials stated that more tickets were sold from Chicago to Alden during the season than to any other point on their line in the resort area. It is still very popular and continues to grow in this respect.”