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The 40 Acre Wood

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· Shelby, Oceana, Michigan

40 acres hosted by Dave A.

1 lodging site

Staff verified

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Romantic

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is romantic.

Off-leash friendly

Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.

www.facebook.com/the40acrewood Before our forest was "owned," it belonged to the Odawa people. Once white settlers arrived and governments were established, land deeds were written. We traced those deeds back through the Oceana County Register of Deeds and found that larger tracts of land were owned by people from Chicago and California, which were later divided into smaller parcels. Interestingly, one owner lost the property after failing to pay back taxes of $3.50, shortly after World War II. It is likely that he never returned. In the mid-1900s, Ed Dewey was the owner. Today, we have a cabin on the east side of the 40 acres that was built by Ed, entirely constructed with oak. He had three sawmills there, each powered by the engines of old Studebakers. He cut and milled enormous oak trees, using the wood to construct crates for transporting cherries. Today, you can still see old oak crates on various farms, but they are slowly being replaced by plastic. Ed never finished the little cabin, and the story goes that he died there. The next owners were a couple from Inkster, near Detroit. Despite Ed leaving an acre of "yard art" all over, the place was used as a vacation home after a 50-foot long mobile home was placed near the cabin. As they aged, they sold off their property to us. First, we acquired the 20 acres where the Cozy Camper Cabin resides, then the 7 acres near Weaver Road and 44th, and finally, the remaining 13 acres with the cabin. We began purchasing the property in parcels in 1992 for $500 an acre and owned it all by 1998. From 1998 to 2008, we removed the mobile home, cleaned up all the yard art, refurbished the cabin, added a garage, and built a new shed nearby. The Hipcamp shed was originally built in 1999 and has been used for storage until it was converted into a unique little place in the woods in 2021. Over the years, our Forester has carefully managed the property. We have logged three times. The first round was to remove 75 huge oak trees. The second round involved culling mature poplar trees. The last time, we took out 276 mature oaks and beeches. A Woodsman spent a year cutting down the tops of the trees. Clearing these old growth trees revitalized the forest, as planned. Today, there are over two miles of trails running throughout the property. Some were logging roads, while others were carved out over time. The land is flat to the north but hilly to the south, as these are forested sand dunes. There are approximately a million trees on the property, densely forested with many large "mother trees" such as oaks, beeches, maples, and pines. The poplar trees are growing rapidly, as they do. Wild cherry, sassafras, beeches, oaks, and maples are also growing quickly and thickly. To the south, there are fenced-in asparagus fields and cherry orchards. To the north, on the other side of Weaver Road, is the privately owned Silver Lake Airport, which remains quiet most of the time. On the east side of our 40 acres, you'll find our cabin and buildings, and we kindly ask you to avoid wandering onto that side of the property. Signs will alert you when you get close. To the west, there is a 20-acre section occasionally occupied by some "Dunners." The area is famous for Silver Lake State Park and the sand dunes, located about 2.5 miles northwest of us. Our neighbors in that area have dune buggies, and they sometimes drive around their property, creating more noise than we prefer. It's possible that you may encounter this during your visit, so please be aware. Deer are abundant in the area, and in 2021, we spotted a porcupine for the first time, although we have occasionally seen evidence of their presence through bark-stripped maples. Raccoons come and go, while turkeys are frequent visitors at times. You can hear coyotes yipping away at night, and depending on the time of year and migratory season, you'll see lots and lots of birds. We're pleased to report that there is no poison ivy on the property! It is a beautiful place in the woods, not far from many entertaining activities suitable for both the young and old. Come and visit, but please be respectful of the land and our privacy while enjoying yours. Love Mother Earth while you are here and nourish your soul.**Winter camping is available by request. Please message with dates and we will do our best to accommodate you! It is very quiet in the area between December and March. Trails are wonderful for snowshoeing. Message us for details** Just 10 minutes from Silver Lake in Oceana County, enjoy our air conditioned Cozy Camper Cabin. Head out and play in the sand, relax on the beach or tour the area! Or stay in and set up a hammock, hike or mountain bike the 1.5 miles of trails on the property or sit by a fire. Use the grill or campfire to prepare a meal. Some of the best experiences West Michigan has to offer are within your reach. - **BRING YOUR OWN WATER** - Cozy Camper Cabin sleeps 2 adults comfortably on a queen-sized bed. Adults 3 and 4 may pitch a tent. There is a 12x12 platform nearby for your convenience. - There is no water source here. You will NEED to bring your own drinking and utility water. - Beautiful wooded campsite with shelter, queen bed, power, air conditioning and heater. - Park Style Grill by Pilot Rock - Picnic table - Full Shade - Converted 10x18 ft. shed with queen size bed and sleeping/storage loft. - 5 power outlets (4 indoor, 1 outdoor on the pole near the picnic table) - Newly constructed outhouse, toilet paper provided. - Refrigerator with freezer (3.1 Cu Ft) - Space Heater, Air Conditioner (Seasonally) - Room to pitch tents if additional sleeping is needed. There is a tenting site near the Camper Cabin with a 12x12 platform , picnic table and another fire ring. Cozy Camper Cabin guests are welcome to use this space as well when sleeping more than 2 adults. - Large Fire Ring - 1.5 miles of trails for hiking/mountain biking/cross country skiing/snowshoeing - It is recommended you bring your own pillows and or sleeping bags for custom comfort. - Approximate drive times to area attractions (check Google Maps for hours and seasonal availability: Hansen Foods (Grocery Store) - 13 min Wilson's General Store (Backside of Open Hearth Grille & Bar) - 9 min Silver Lake State Park Off-Road Vehicle Area - 15 min Mac Wood's Dune Rides - 9 min Double JJ Resort, Golf Course, Riding Stable, Indoor Waterpark - 19 min Silver Lake Resort and Campground - 9 min Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo - 13 min The Fox Barn Winery - 8 min Hart-Montague Bicycle Trail - 6 min (S Logging Rd and Buchanan) Craig's Cruisers Silver Lake - 11 min Whippy Dip - 10 min Little Point Sable Beach (Great for catching sunsets) - 11 min Big Hart Brewing Company - 12 min Val-Du-Lakes Bar and Grill - 11 min Brown Bear Bar and Grill - 10 min Open Hearth Grille and Bar - 9 min

Activities

Biking

Boating

Hiking

Snow sports

Natural features

Forest

100%

55 ratings · 50 reviews

Alana M.recommends

October 18, 2024

Cozy Camper Cabin w/ Heat

We loved staying at the 40 acre wood!! We want to come back for a whole week. The little cabin is so cozy, and everything is exactly as advertised. Thanks for a lovely escape!

Bee H.recommends

October 13, 2024

Cozy Camper Cabin w/ Heat

Can’t wait to be back w/ our pups!!

Honestly, the photos don’t do this cozy cabin justice!! It is absolutely perfect for a little fall getaway with more than enough space to accommodate 2 people and 2 dogs comfortably. We were amazed and delighted walking around and exploring the gorgeous woodland surrounding the cabin and it felt like we had the entire woods to ourselves aside from some noises off in the distance here or there. A couple of intermittent louder sounds from the lumber yard nearby (possibly?) did spook our pups a bit one evening so that’s something to keep in mind for doggies who might be anxious about loud noises. Thankfully the cabin and its amenities were the perfect spot for them to take a safe little recoup so they didn’t even miss a beat after a small rest. Appreciated having access to AC/Heat as needed in mid-October and the outhouse was also quite nice and very private. We would very much like to come back and visit over the different seasons!! Would suggest you bring your own pillows and blankets for maximum sleeping comfort and we will also bring a good lantern for better outdoor lighting next time, too. Overall this spot has everything you could want for a cute and cozy stay in the woods!

Dustin H.recommends

October 4, 2024

Cozy Camper Cabin w/ Heat

We loved our stay at Dave’s cabin! The trails were well marked and we had fun exploring the land. The fridge and coffee pot came in handy. We would stay again if in the area. Thank you again!!

Mark B.recommends

September 14, 2024

Cozy Camper Cabin w/ Heat

On a wanderabout...

I loved the space, great tiny home shed, loved the quiet, peaceful location. My own 40 acres for a couple days. I kept thinking what alot of work the Dave put into it! Thank you 🙏 blessings I hold it in reverence and gave thanks!

Ethan F.recommends

August 30, 2024

Cozy Camper Cabin w/ Heat

great stay for us and the dogs

A great easy stay in a beautiful area on very nice piece of property. Was very well appointed and fit our needs and super easy to get to a lot of great spots in the area. Lots of nice touches like bowls for our dogs and a dog bed and felt really lucky to have the ac and even wifi. The property is big and wooded but we still could hear the rambunctious neighbors who really liked shooting their guns in the evenings. Would definitely stay again.

April B.recommends

August 14, 2024

Cozy Camper Cabin w/ Heat

40 acre wood

This particular hipcamp was pure perfection! Everything about it was just right. You can’t beat the price for a secluded, private, gated property complete with marked trails and a magical fire pit area. The cabin was sufficient for one (I traveled alone) but would easily sleep 3/4. Had the basics that I needed and I planned ahead for not having running water by bringing most of my food premade, paper plates and cutlery and then I brought a basic solar shower (less than 20$) to use at the cabin. Can also shower at some of the beaches. It felt like a great adventure and you won’t be disappointed by staying here. I have a feeling any season is just as beautiful and I plan on coming back as soon as I can!

Location

Shelby, Oceana, Michigan, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Odawa First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking