we rented mat's property for a last hurrah before school started, & ended up inviting our extended family so we had a large group, with the cousin crew ages spanning from 3 to 21! the layout was perfect for a big multi-age group (like the mix of bunk beds in a room with a king) & the main floor was open yet cozy... lots of little seating areas for people to gather & chat, but still felt like we were all together hanging out. the kiddos LOVED the pop-a-shot basketball in the garage, & the deck out over the boat house was a fan favorite for all ages :) the house was well stocked -- we found everything we needed in the kitchen & everyone was excited to find all of the extras in the boat house as well (kayaks, paddle boards, tubes, noodles, etc). the house was great -- beds were comfy, decor was beautiful & well-represented in the listing photos. & tons of towels (always a bonus)!
the lake was probably the best part -- specifically for parents of young kiddos (mine are ages 3, 5 & 7), as the water level was *very* shallow, so much so that my toddler was easily able to be 50-100ft from the yard & still could easily touch & enjoy some time in the water feeling independent (vs. having to be held or kept super close)... we definitely didn't let our guard down & kids had life jackets on always (mat also had a good variety of life jackets available for use in the boat house), but with the super shallow area & soft, sandy bottom, it gave the kids a bit more freedom to roam around (vs. trying to maneuver a steep drop off). my kiddos also had a ball doing catch & release fishing off the dock... my 7-year old & his cousins caught several bluegill -- they were thrilled! we rented the pontoon for our stay as well & were so glad we did... mat provided a thorough & informative use video prior to our stay so we felt comfortable navigating through some shallow waters.
mat was a wonderful host -- super easy to communicate with & had some great recommendations for local eats. would highly recommend mat's property for anyone looking for a quick getaway (only took us about 2 hours from the greater chicago area) -- bass lake was a lovely place to unplug & enjoy some quality family time on the water. would definitely stay again!