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The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.

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Property grounds
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Property grounds
Interior
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12139 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Effingham, IL
  • Lake Sara
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • Effingham Performance Center
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • Effingham County Courthouse
    ‪23 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Property entrance

Hampton Inn & Suites Effingham

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
4.7 out of 5, Exceptional, (593)
The price is €165
for 1 room
includes taxes & fees
5 Apr - 6 Apr
Hampton Inn & Suites Effingham

About this property

Entire place

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

The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires.

Located in the heart of central Illinois, the Redbud Cottage at Lake Sara is a great destination for families or friends, or a perfect stopover for a trip through the Great Midwest. With your own swimming beach, a floating dock to play on, a beautiful wood-burning fireplace, a dock for fishing, and a large deck for sitting in the sun, enjoy the peace and quiet of our little wooded cottage on the lake.

Our beach is SHARED by the Hartmann's grandchildren a few days each Summer. But our grandchildren are still young, will be supervised by adults, and won't use the beach while guests are using the beach or the dock (for example while fishing).

Every season is beautiful on Lake Sara, with Spring and Fall being particularly pretty and quiet. The Summer water is wonderful for swimming, and warm from May through September. Enjoy eating on our old family picnic table by the water. Watch the kids swim or play on the beach, or have fun taking a lovely float yourself in Lake Sara's clean, warm water.

Wake boarding, tubing, and water skiing are local favorites. There is good fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, and blue gill, especially in the Spring and Fall. Lake Sara sets aside special quiet hours for fishermen. Winter is a great time for crisp woodsy walks and warming fires.

Our 3 bedroom, 2 bath cottage sleeps ONLY 6 adults (per local regulations) and a "reasonable amount" of children. We have 3 "very comfortable" [Guest reviews] king size beds and a couple of wonderful wide sleeping couches in front of the fireplace. We have sleeping bags for children and a crib for babies. Our kitchen and downstairs were completely remodeled in early 2021. We have a Keurig Coffemaker, a French coffee press, a dishwasher, and all new dishes and pots and pans. Our washer and dryer and two-car garage make this a perfect spot for an extended stay. A canoe and 5 kayaks are available for the use of our guests.

Inside, enjoy the separation of a master suite upstairs, as well as the two-and-a-half story, book-filled living room with its massive stone fireplace. You can burn local wood that you'll find stacked at your door. One of our favorite sports is sitting with a book in front of the fire--wine and s'mores are optional.

Our lot is full of tall, beautiful oaks and maples, and is in a pretty neighborhood on the quiet western end of Lake Sara. Redbud trees line Lorton road and are being planted among our woods, bringing their vivid purple/pink flowers in Spring. Views from our huge deck are all water and trees--you can only see one other house. The Lake is surrounded by good Illinois farmland, so it's a wonderful spot for long flat bike rides and walks.
During your stay at this cottage, you'll be close to Cardinal Golf Course. The cottage includes amenities such as free WiFi and a kitchen.
  • Air-conditioned cottage with kitchen, washing machine and 2 bathrooms
  • Free WiFi
  • On-site recreation includes a playground
  • 4.1 miles (6.6 km) from Cardinal Golf Course and 8 miles (12.9 km) from Lake Sara
The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires. offers its guests barbecue grills and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

This Effingham cottage is smoke free.

Property manager

David Hartmann

Languages

French, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby
  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundromat nearby
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • In-room accessibility
  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking allowed out in our yard and by the lake.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the marina
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Bicycles
  • Boat
  • Golf
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Bicycles
  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,500 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed
  • Note from host: Sorry. We are always a No Pets property.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: On lake--Lifejackets needed! We have many sizes.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Renters having loud parties will be ejected.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

Redbud Cottage--beach Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront Wood Fires
Redbud Cottage--beach Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront Wood Fires
The Redbud Cottage beach Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront Wood Fires
The Redbud Cottage beach Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront Wood Fires
The Redbud Cottage beach Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront Wood Fires
The Redbud Cottage Beach Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront Wood Fires.

The Redbud Cottage--Beach & Quiet. Lake Sara Waterfront & Wood Fires. Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 382 out of 432 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 46 out of 432 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 432 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 432 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 432 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ashley C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wedding weekend
We stayed at the cottage for our daughter’s wedding weekend. The owners were amazing to work with & getting ready for the wedding on the property was perfect! We are so happy with our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet and Comfortable
We enjoyed watching the ice form on the lake in February. We especially enjoyed reading by the fire! Great library!!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gail H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect!
The Redbud Cottage was just perfect. The owners were very accommodating and helpful. The kitchen is well stocked and the beds are comfortable. The home is very clean. The lake views and sunrise were stunning.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erika B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Redbud Cottage
Lovely lakeside cottage. I especially enjoyed perusing the many bookshelves full of wonderful books.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shana D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect cozy cabin for Christmas
The home was decorated for the Christmas season and the kitchen has all the supplies we needed to cook for our entire family. Having the crib as well made it super nice to bring one less thing for some family members. The weather was yucky but at least we got to stay cozy next to the fireplace and enjoy the peacefulness. The only thing id mention is to recommend for the cleaners to double check all rooms to make sure there are no unwanted animals. We did have some surprise visitors that arrived before we got there but we were able to remove them and it didn't take away from our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christin N., Charlotte, NC

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Home
Perfect home away from home.We stayed for a work trip.Highly recommended!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer F., Chicago, illinois

Liked: Cleanliness
Best kept Secret for a winter getaway
This was our 3rd holiday visit. Just love the quiet and the house is great. Always decorated for the holiday. Great kitchen as well as we love to cook in while visiting. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roy L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peace & Quiet
The fall colors were beautiful, weather perfect, peace and quiet + campfire priceless
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing 20th Birthday
We loved the property! Exactly what we were hoping for! We'll definitely book there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Weekend
Our group of lifetime friends had an amazing, relaxing weekend at your property. Quiet location, beautiful setting, & and all the amenities. We're already discussing our return (before we even left). Thank you again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

theresa k.

Liked: Cleanliness
Girls weekend
We are 5 women who take yoga together and take a girl's trip every Fall. We love the view and enjoy having a fire down by the lake. The second bathroom is such a joy to have.This was our 2nd trip to Redbud and once we know our yoga schedule, we will book for next Fall.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Minda S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our yearly getaway
This property is lovely. We book it every year for a long weekend trip. We go when the weather is cooler and we love using the beautiful fireplace every evening. We like fishing off the dock and watching the wildlife too. Other activities are available, too, for the younger generations. And the host is so easy to work with. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Visitors from St. Louis
Very nice waterfront cabin. We enjoyed fishing (caught some really big catfish) and some kayaking. Also played a couple of rounds of golf while we were there. Great library. I am 72 years old and had read at least 20 of those books when I younger and have reread several of those books later on in life. David was an excellent host. Thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Dave P., Saint Louis, Missouri USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet, secluded lakeside getaway
Two older couples spent three nights here. We really enjoyed the wonderful fireplace each evening. Very clean. First floor bedrooms are easily accessible. Upstairs there's a third bedroom with its own bathroom with shower. Very clean! Owner is very communicative. As older adults, the only downside are the couches in the living room. They're overstuffed and very difficult to get out of.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gerrod F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Place!
We booked last minute so there was a delay getting checked in, but that was all worked out fine. The property is very accommodating, with a garage, kayaks and life vests, and various yard games available. The dock is on a wide point so we had deep water all around and caught a lot of fish. We saw deer every day. We definitely hope to stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Denver crew
Overall we enjoyed our stay. Host was most accommodating.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Merrie G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake
Location proximity to the lake was great. Alot of fun things to do in Effingham.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Halfway
Met friends who traveled about same distance as us for a week on Lake Sara. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and exploring the town. Nice restaurants.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cindy O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice!
Our family enjoyed a long weekend at Redbud Cottage. Cottage was extremely clean, nicely stocked kitchen, nice linens and comfortable beds. Communication with the owner was great as well. Will be back again sometime!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol M., Swansea

Liked: Cleanliness
Another wonderful stay at the cottage!
Always clean! As usual, everything we needed was provided. The dock, just a gentle slope, has lots of seating. Plenty of kayaks and canoes. The owners are wonderful and always immediately responsive. So close to restaurants (recommend Firefly Grill) and grocery stores. Can’t say enough about this place. Thank you again for another awesome experience. See you soon😄
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Another wonderful trip!
The family had a wonderful time at the cottage. This was the 3rd summer rental and it has never disappointed. The property is as beautiful as the pictures show, and it is close to a lovely town to supply all your needs. You can't go wrong with this property! The owner is very responsive to any questions or needs!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Had everything we needed in the place. This is my 5th visit to Redbud cottage and plan to book again
It was fun relaxing caught lots of fish.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Miriam R.

Liked: Cleanliness
3rd time staying at the Redbud Cottage
Another excellent lakeside family getaway at the Redbud Cottage! The owner was very responsive and offered solutions when needed. We enjoyed our stay very much - definitively recommended!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

David S.

Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect summertime lake house!
Beautiful cottage, very friendly and helpful host, well stocked kitchen, AC kept the cottage cool inside on even the hottest summer day, great selection of water toys (kayaks, canoe, floats etc.), nice small walk -in beach area, great fire pit. Beautiful scenic views from the backyard deck and down by the lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024