Notes from the host
Hermitage Hills Estate In a rural location
Our Greek Revival graces 64 acres of rolling glacial till in rural south central Michigan. Hermitage Hills Estate was built in 1995 as a replica of Andrew Jackson's Hermitage: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, finished basement, 4 fireplaces, and 4 ponds.
Not far from Hillsdale College for parents' weekend, graduation, and CCA. Even closer to John A. Halter Shooting Sports Center.
Wedding pavilion and many extras for wedding weekends. See the end of description for how to book your wedding here.
At a Glance:
Weddings--Scroll to the end of this description for pricing and details.
Bedrooms--Four official bedrooms:
Main floor master with en suite--one king
Upstairs master with en suite--one queen
Upstairs I Love the USA--two queens
Upstairs Spring Green--two queens
Our finished basement sleepover space is not a bedroom since there's no egress window. There are seven queen beds in the basement, two of which are in the private room.
There are also several queen and twin airbeds that can be inflated. We have pillows and sheets for them as well.
The nightly base rate includes up to six guests (humans and dogs). For more than six guests, the price is the nightly rate plus $35 per guest/ per night.
Exterior surveillance camera records video, audio, and still images. Disconnection is not allowed.
All the Details:
Hermitage Hills Estate is a red brick estate with acres of wooded trails and sandy paths, bonfire pits, four ponds and a 4,000 square foot pavilion. There is radiant in-floor heat throughout the house on all three levels and central air-conditioning. It looks like President Andrew Jackson's Hermitage in Nashville, but with modern amenities like indoor plumbing and an in-house kitchen.
Children & Pets:
Children ages 24 months and younger stay free. Children older than 24 months count as guests and are included in the guest count.
We are pet friendly for friendly pets (with prior approval only). We require you tell us about your pets before a reservation is confirmed. We also require that the pet(s) you bring to Hermitage Hills Estate be counted as part of the total guest count as you book your reservation. Lastly, pets CANNOT be left alone inside the house, especially locked inside a room. We have had several beautiful six-panel stained oak doors get scratched by dogs who were locked inside a room by themselves. Please bring a cage for your pet. We have a few extra dog crates here as well available upon request.
Outdoors:
This 5,600 square foot home is a paradise for adults and children alike. Front and back porches grace the first floor and front and back balconies span the second floor. The balconies are relaxing spaces to take in the outdoors at the treetop level.
Hermitage Hills Estate has 10+ acres of water: four large fishing/ swimming/ kayaking ponds. No Michigan fishing license is needed since we own the ponds. Please bring your own bait, tackle, and poles. Ask Nick about the best fishing spots!
Our guests are welcome to use four adult-sized kayaks, canoe, paddleboard, and our old, leaky rowboat. Lifejackets in several sizes available.
Enjoy a large reading selection and cozy up by the bonfire pit to roast marshmallows while stargazing in the backyard. A charcoal grill is also available for your use. We have a large playset with a tire swing and slides.
Enjoy a stroll through rolling glacial till known as "hills and dales" in Hillsdale County, Michigan, including our black walnut grove of nearly 300 mature trees.
The House Amenities:
Bed linens, pillows, and towels are here for our guests. A washer and dryer is available for your use. We provide high efficiency (HE) laundry soap. If you use your own laundry soap, please make sure it's HE before use. Two quick squirts of HE soap is all that’s needed in this washing machine. If too much soap is added, an error message will occur that will disable the machine.
Entertainment:
Campus high-speed WiFi is always available. There's a 43" LG LED flat-screen TV with Charter Cablevision and integrated Bluetooth surround sound system in the family room and another 43" smart TV in the finished basement. There's a pool table in the finished basement.
Kitchen, Breakfast Nook, and Dining Room:
The kitchen is fully equipped with Le Creuset cookware, blender, Kitchenaid stand mixer, electric griddle, and more. There are dinnerware settings for 30+ people, cooking utensils, a drip coffee pot, (we provide filters and coffee), Keurig (with some K-cups) toaster, microwave, and a double oven. An extra fridge in the garage (just off the kitchen) is ready for your use. The formal dining room seats 14 and the breakfast nook has seating for eight.
We provide many basic pantry staples so guests don't have to overbuy for short stays (creamer, sugar, coffee, spices, cooking oil, bug repellent, sunscreen, etc.).
Bonfires/ Fireplaces/ Fireworks
Please bring your own firewood if you plan to use the outdoor fire pits or indoor fireplaces. Please read the rules about using the fireplaces in the house rules. Fireworks may be used in the designated area only, which is not by the house. We will show you where this is. You must have our permission beforehand to use fireworks. Other rules and local ordinances also apply.
Bedrooms:
Bedroom 1: main floor--king bed en-suite
Bedroom 2: upstairs--queen bed en-suite
Bedroom 3: upstairs--two queen beds
Bedroom 4: upstairs--two queen beds
Bedrooms 3 and 4 share the upstairs full bath and dressing room.
Finished Basement Sleepover Space:
Seven queen beds in our finished basement are here for large groups. Two are in a private room. There are 20 twin airbeds here that are available upon request. (These are not set up all the time.) A pack-and-play portable crib is available. The finished basement also includes a large sectional sofa, pool table, and a 43" smart TV.
Renewable Energy:
Although we are not off-grid, our solar panels produce as much as or more energy than is used at Hermitage Hills Estate. An outdoor wood boiler is maintained by us and provides radiant heat and hot water. It complements the solar panels in our efforts to use renewable resources.
Be a Hermit if You Choose:
Located on 64 acres with four ponds, Hermitage Hills Estate is rural getaway. Come with your groceries and firewood, fishing poles, cross country skis, and mountain bikes to our destination and just stay, enjoy and explore the outdoors, and rest. Enjoy the quiet serenity here.
Come From All Directions:
Hermitage Hills Estate is centrally located in south central Michigan about two hours from Detroit, about three hours from Chicago, and three hours from Cleveland. About eight miles north of I-80-90 toll road in Indiana and Ohio and a short drive to Hillsdale College. Only 45 minutes from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
Well-behaved dogs and children are welcome, though they must be closely supervised in and around our water features. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, ice fishing, etc. is done at your own risk as there is no lifeguard on duty. Life jackets are available for your use. We encourage all to wear a life jacket when swimming and kayaking.
Hermitage Hills Estate is a destination itself. Escape the city with your family and enjoy the peaceful beauty of quiet here.
Wedding and Reception Venue Information: Estate + Pavilion + Campground:
The pavilion can accommodate up to 300 wedding/ reception guests. On average, however, our bridal couples have a wedding and reception size of around 100 wedding and reception guests with families and friends from across the country and around the globe. The overnight lodging indoors plus camping and RV options outdoors at Hermitage Hills Estate is a definite draw and make it a true destination wedding experience.
We require the bride and groom to sign an event contract. For your convenience, we have a suggested vendor list of local providers whom we know and love. There is a $1,000 refundable security deposit. We require brides and grooms to purchase $1 million dollar event liability insurance (this is about $175 through wedsafe).
The Pavilion is 40'x100' with 400 white folding chairs, 120 wooden chairs, 40 8' tables, two Little Pole Barn bathrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and shower stalls, and a kitchenette. The bathroom building close to the pavilion has four more half baths.
There are over 25 acres of grass mown weekly, and several thousand feet of pond frontage that can accommodate many camping tents and travel trailers.
Enjoy our campus-wide, high-speed cable internet. Several groups have had over 50 devices connected simultaneously to our WiFi network. We have an Ion Gameday 50 watt Bluetooth speaker with microphone that can be used at the ceremony site and the pavilion.
Follow us on social media @hermitagehillsestate for the latest venue and wedding photos. Message us to schedule a guided venue tour.
We do not offer discounts for fewer wedding/ reception guests. However, if you're interested in having a small, indoor wedding or elopement during the off-season only (November through April) AND also have 30 guests or fewer, please reference the regular nightly rate and count your overnight guests. We will send you a price adjustment for more than 16 guests. Airbnb will also include their fees.
Venue Investment: Up to 300 wedding/ reception guests
One day only: $3,000 Friday / $4,000 Saturday / $3,000 Sunday
Please note, one day only does not include house access or overnight stay. Pavilion only. Check-in time is noon. Music off by 11:00 p.m. All people and items vacated by midnight.
Two nights: $5,800
Three nights: $7,300
Check-in is 4:00 p.m. and check-out is 11:00 a.m. The package includes two or three nights with up to 30 overnight guests (inside and/ or camping outside). Additional nights and additional overnight guests in campers or RVs are available at an additional cost. Please see the event contract for more information.