So many friends have asked: So what exactly are you doing with this property?
We’re actually building a retreat center.
You already know we have cabins to rent as well as private group camping, but the underlying goal has always been to open a retreat center. When we bought the property in January of 2025, we wanted to make a place for people to do a re-set. Away from the noise, away from technology, away from environments and conditions that are becoming increasingly pressurized.
A place for people to get back to knowing who they are and why they are here.
On March 19. 2026, we got permission from the zoning board to use the property to host overnight retreats for groups of up to 25 people. That permission was key. Today, we’re excited to announce “Water & Woods” – our new retreat center. Humble beginnings that will grow with time.
What’s Next?
Retreats. We’ll be hosting our first retreat this year. In fact, we’ll be hosting four. Our first will be a trial run and we are so thankful for friends and family who are helping us test out our first retreat and give us much-needed feedback.
Stay tuned for more information on our retreats, starting in August.
Private group camping. We’re open for groups of friends or family who want a private campground to call their own for a weekend – we have 2 cabins, 4 campsites (furnished glamping tents are also available), and 80 acres to wander and unplug. Six kayaks and 2 paddleboards take you to a smooth swim raft in the middle of a large clean, spring-fed lake – all yours while you’re here. Limited weekends are available – reserve yours by emailing us direct at info@waterandwoods.com.
Cabin Rental. Our two studio cabins are recently renovated with queen beds, bathrooms, kitchenettes and yes, even air conditioning. Perfect for the bougie nature lover! Each cabin is designed for 1-2 adults plus up to 2 children. You can book these direct – we have early bird pricing available through the end of July for our 90-day kick-off special.
If this is your first newsletter – Welcome!
We’re glad you are interested in following us on our property development journey. You can find out more about the space at www.KalevaCabins.com (our new website, www.waterandwoods.com, is coming soon)Everyone needs some joy in their life and our intention with this newsletter is to:
1) spread joy and wonder
2) update you on our progress
3) invite you to participate in this adventure with us
Hopefully you find a little bit of that in every newsletter.
And Now for some Joy & Wonder
Family & Friends. We were delighted to welcome family and friends up this past weekend to introduce the space and share the cabins.
They amazed us with their interest in helping us with projects – nonstop. Together, we were able to remove dead trees, privatize one entrance with strategically placed logs, build a compost pile, pull down an enormous, partially attached branch from a large cottonwood tree, and safely manage our biggest brush/campfire yet.
We also managed a quick trip to Manistee one night for a taco break. We closed the weekend with a perfect campfire under a beautiful half moon sky.
Wildlife Moment. A new-to-us bird find, rare in Northern Michigan: the American Bittern. We heard it, but we didn’t see it. We almost didn’t believe it was a bird at all. Click here to hear its mating call .. Hint, it does not sound like a bird…
We promised you more bloopers last month…
And this one’s a doozy.
Waders are like waterproof overalls with built-in booties. We bought the kind that don’t stretch, so when you’re wearing them for the first time and trying to get out of a large flat-bottomed row boat on a cold day, well… let’s just say grace is not your friend.
Special thanks to Jen for allowing the sharing of this very special clip (apologies if there’s no thumbnail below – trust me, it’s worth it!)
You’re invited to join us on the land
We welcome friends to join us in Kaleva anytime we are there (most weekends) and not rented. Our upcoming projects include: trail clearing and dock repair. Come keep us company!
Thanks for reading this newsletter, we hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to share it with anyone – we’ve officially gone public. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (see below).
Have some thoughts you want to share? You can reply directly to this email – get in touch and let us know what you think!
Until next time,
Kat & Jen