Creative Retreats at Batts Cottage has electricity, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, an open living area, access to trails, and a breathtaking view of Brewster Lake. The cottage is heated. There is no air conditioning, but it is nicely shaded.

Batts Cottage was originally built for Dr. Lew Batts, the past property owner, who used it on his occasional stays. To begin a nonprofit environmental education center, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute purchased 555 acres in 1998. This rustic cottage on Brewster Lake is the only original building remaining on the Institute’s property. Located approximately ½ mile east of the Institute’s main campus, which includes an earth-bermed visitor center, education building, maintenance facility, and additional rental housing, Batts Cottage remains a hidden gem.

Since the Institute’s opening in 2001, the property has grown to 850 acres of wetlands, forests, marshes, streams, lakes, and prairies with nearly 10 miles of trails. As a result, the property boasts an “up North” feel of Michigan’s upper peninsula without the travel time!

Creative Retreats at Batts Cottage are available from April – September and offered on a one-, two-, or three-week schedule. The cost is $400 for one week, $700 for two, and $950 for three weeks (plus tax). For those who cannot commit to a full week, a minimum 3-day rental is available. The cost is $130/ night plus tax.

Applications can be submitted at any time. Check-in is at noon Tuesday, and check-out is at 9 am on Monday. Check-in for shorter stays can be made Tuesday through Friday at noon and check-out is at 9 am on your departure date. A maximum of two people may stay in Batts per residency, and a well-behaved dog is allowed (see the application for more information) with an additional charge of $10 a day and a small cleaning deposit. Dogs are required to be leashed at all times while outside.

Residents are not required to provide programs or displays for the Institute’s members and guests but are welcome to speak to staff about such possibilities. Residents also have access to staff who can answer questions about flora and fauna on the property. A plant list is available, along with a small herbarium.

There is no internet service at Batts, but cell service is reasonably reliable, and residents can use a phone as a hotspot. Internet service is available at the Institute’s main campus. The small towns of Hastings and Delton are approximately 12 miles away, and the Grand Rapids International Airport is about 35 miles away. Holland, on Lake Michigan, is about 55 miles away.

A brief statement of intent is required, including the medium to be used and/or an explanation of the project, is required, along with a $30 nonrefundable application fee. The application fee is waived through February 19, 2024.  Applicants will receive an email confirmation and timely processing of their submission. A maximum of two weeks may be required to process an application.

Please contact our Facility Rental department with any questions at FacilityRental@cedarcreekinstitute.org or 269-721-4131.