Nestled in a peaceful cove surrounded by trees, water, and wildlife, The Bunkhouse offers the ultimate retreat for families and friends. Enjoy swimming, fishing, or kayaking on the lake with walk-in access. Unwind on the front deck perfect for bird watching or roast marshmallows at the fire pit while taking in beautiful views of the lake.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Family Home on Lake Sara
The Bunkhouse is a fantastic place for families and friends to reconnect and make lasting memories. With walk-in lake access, this is the ideal spot to put in a kayak, canoe, or float. Enjoy swimming and fishing for a variety of fish including bass, crappie, catfish, or bluegill. Boat rentals and slips are available at both the Blue Gill Marina and Larson’s Landing. The Bunkhouse is quiet and peaceful, it is located at the end of Illini cove surrounded by trees, water and wildlife. This cozy cabin was constructed in 2020 and is a wonderful place to unwind and spend time in nature. Our front deck is perfect for bird watching and animal spying while soaking up some sun. Don’t be surprised if you spot a blue heron, turtles bathing in the sun, or even an occasional bald eagle. The lower walk out area includes a grill, picnic table and beautiful views of the lake. There is a fire pit for hanging out, roasting marshmallows and enjoying the night sky. Amenities include a washer and dryer, WIFI, 4 TVs, a dishwasher, air conditioning and heating, a full kitchen stocked with pots and pans, dishes, and everything needed to prepare your own meals. Downstairs is a kitchenette which includes a snack area and full coffee bar. Enjoy a night in by playing one of a variety of board games or simply find a quiet place to read a book. Numerous smart TV’s are available to stream your Netflix or Hulu account, as well as a DVD player for old school movie viewing. A large parking area is available for up to 6 cars. If you are bringing a pontoon or ski boat contact Blue Gill Marina for slip rental, no dock available at property.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Kitchenette
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
3 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Smart TV
Video library
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
On a lake
On the waterfront
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
All guests must park at rear of property, which is the back of house where you enter.
Boats can be docked at Bluegill Marina or Larson's Landing. A copy of lake rules will be available at the BunkHouse.
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: 1 small dog, extra charge
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
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
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
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
About the area
Located in Effingham, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Ballard Nature Center and Lake Sara reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Bliss Park and Effingham County Fairgrounds. Visit our Effingham travel guide
Champaign, IL (CMI-University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Williard)
80 min drive
Restaurants
Casey's General Store
21 min drive
McDonald's
21 min drive
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
21 min drive
Dairy Queen
21 min drive
Golden Corral
22 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Family Home on Lake Sara pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much is parking at Family Home on Lake Sara?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Family Home on Lake Sara?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Family Home on Lake Sara?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Family Home on Lake Sara located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is steps from Lake Sara and within 9 mi (15 km) of Cardinal Golf Course and Effingham Performance Center. Bliss Park and Ballard Nature Center are also within 9 miles (15 km).
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Family Home on Lake Sara Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
We loved this place! Perfect for our two families with children. Well stocked, lots of room and a beautiful private lakefront view. Will definitely stay again!
We absolutely love the Bunkhouse. It's well-appointed and maintained. It has plenty of space and much to offer adults and active kids. Thank you for the wonderful stay!
Beautiful place! Very homey. Wonderful location for a large group. Kitchen well stocked with everything thing you need to prepare meals.
Will definitely book again!
Our stay was amazing. We stay in a number of Places each year and this has been moved to top of list. House was perfect and fully stocked. Location is beautiful and host was great to communicate with.
The house was super clean and spacious. Kitchen was fully stocked with all the supplies we needed. We had plenty of room for our family gathering and the grandkids loved the bunk bed room. We used the fire pit both nights and enjoyed swimming during the day!
We had a wonderful time at this property. Perfect for our family of four with plenty of room to spare. Super clean and stylishly decorated. We spent every morning out on the deck having coffee and listening to the sounds of the forest - so tranquil! I wouldn't go anywhere else.
The house and property were awesome! The house was very clean and had everything we needed for our stay. We had so much fun swimming in the lake, going on the paddle boat and kayaks. Made some great memories with our family. Would highly recommend this place. Thanks for the memories.
Year 3 for my family from Chicagoland and St. Louis area. … short drive for everyone. Love this place … Diana and Ben provide the perfect summer landing spot for my wife, kids and grandbabies.
Second time we have stayed at this property. Great location. Quiet. Enjoyed using the kayaks. Perfect set up for our families to come together. Only thing that would have been better is if the fish were biting more! Will stay here again for family get togethers.
This is a gorgeous and spacious house with tons of thoughtful details! Would be perfect for a group wanting to hang out on the deck. We drove over to the public beach for the kids to swim & fish since it's a pretty shallow spot, but they did get to enjoy the paddle boat!
The House was just what were looking for .Very Quiet, Very Clear , Everything you would need was there, the fishing was great, what a great place to set back and take in the nature around us. We had no complaints.
Beautifully designed and decorated lake house on Lake Sara in Effingham; with plenty of room for a large family. The beautiful property is very secluded and peaceful (follow the host’s directions carefully)! This house had to have been designed by someone who grew up with a family lake house, because everything you need is here!
10/10, one of the best vacation rentals I’ve ever stayed in. Our group was very happy with the space, it was perfect for our yearly get together. We had 6 adults and everyone had comfortable sleeping arrangements. The lake is pretty shallow with the locations, however we were able to launch the kayaks and float around/hang out at the dock. Definitely would come back.
Comfortable and peaceful. A little off the beaten path so needed to be better prepared with meals and food. A little better clarification in regards to trash and recycling.
The nature sounds as well as the wildlife was amazing!
It started with 6 friends to celebrate my 70th birthday. 2 friends from out of state surprised me and slso a surprise party. This house was perfect! Very well stocked, comfortable and enough room to spread out to play cards or visit. I would definitely book again! And the host responded very quickly. We loved the scenery with the snow and watching the wildlife.
Group of 5 visiting the lake for a bass tournament. House was clean and comfortable, well stocked with most things you would need for a weekend. Plenty of parking for trucks and trailers. Had a dock but with water levels where they were it wasn’t usable, Normal levels not would be fine. I’d stay again for sure.
Don't tell anyone but this location exceeded my expectations. There are thoughtful things everywhere. The space to relax, the views, the quiet were wonderful. This property owner/manager knows what it takes to entertain guests. There wasn't a thing we needed. Being there in person, is the only way to experience this property, my family was so happy! Thank you for sharing this property.
I can not begin to say how the pictures of this property do it no justice. Absolutely beautiful home. Still smelled new! The amenities were over and above any other house I have ever rented. We very much enjoyed our stay, even in "off season". We can not wait to come back in the summer, so we can utilize the lake. I would give this property a 10+!!
We stayed 2 nights over the weekend. The house had all of the necessities needed for a great, comfortable, and relaxing stay. The only issue we had was the constant music coming from the local bar scene. It sounded like we were at a night club rave! We used the kayaks and had a big fire in the pit. The little extras made the difference between a good stay and an amazing stay. Thanks for the little things. We would highly recommend this to families and friends looking to have a great time. Make sure you check the live music schedule though!
My family is spread out from Wisconsin to Missouri and we only can get together during the summer. My sister and I each rented vacation homes on Lake Sara this year. The Bunkhouse was the perfect location on Lake Sara. We had lots of room to spread out and visit as well as enjoy fishing off the dock. We loved seeing the blue heron soar across the lake. The kitchen is large and well-equipped for preparing meals. The large living spaces on the first floor and lower level are comfortable and nicely furnished. We would love to meet family at the Bunkhouse again next summer! This is a great place!!