Master Bedroom with door to deck, whirlpool tub Spacious modern kitchen Covered front porch with glider swing View of the cove from front porch Bedroom with queen bed Bedroom with twin beds Master bath with whirlpool tub Master bath with shower Living room with leather furniture and 50\" TV, blue ray and VHS Lower level room with full size futon, 32\" flat screen, dvd and electric fireplace Lower level room with twin beds, patio and 1/2 bath. View of Cardinal Golf Course from deck in Spring Fishing dock on secluded cove Almost at your back door is the 9th Tee Cardinal Golf Course
Undoubtedly, the most peaceful location on the lake. Surrounded by dense trees and wildlife but close to water and golf. True Paradise.
Cardinal Cove Retreat is ideally located between a quiet cove on Lake Sara and Cardinal Golf Course. The fishing/boat dock is out the front door at the bottom of the hill. Golf is out the back door with the 1st and 10th tee just a short walk down the paved cart path.
Cardinal cove has proven to be a wonderful site for group get-togethers, business meeting/retreats, vacations and family reunions. The spacious living room/dining room area situated adjacent to the kitchen will keep everyone in the conversation. A step onto the large deck and the group can enjoy nature, the beautiful scenery and the wildlife that is plentiful and playful.
The kitchen is a cooks dream. Upscale appliances, plentiful cookware and a plentiful spice cabinet will all combine to allow you to truly enjoy your stay. If you want fresh organic farm produce, a short drive (3 minutes) to His Glories Farm will allow you to pick your own or just make the request to the owner. Additionally, if you are staying for a week, Vanessa Dukeman, the owner will deliver your order right to Cardinal Cove Retreat. Let us know in advance what you might want and we'll have it all ready for you.
Do you like to cook on the grill....our huge grill can cook up to 50 hamburgers at one time. It also has a station for searing that prime steak.
Do you enjoy watching TV and movies, the 50" flat screen TV has basic cable provided. The blu-ray/DVD is available for you to bring your favorite movie.
Do you just want to rest and relax, if so take a nap in the master bedroom where previous guests commented that the King sized bed in the Master Suite was the most comfortable bed they had ever slept on.
If you enjoy big name entertainment, Effingham Performance Center will host Rick Springfield, Charlie Pride Crystal Gayle and Herman's Hermits to name a few. In the past they have hosted Sara Evans, Steve Martin, Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys and many others. If you combine this type of entertainment with dinner at the renowned FireFly Grill followed by a night in front of the fireplace at Cardinal Cove Retreat, you will surely have a night to remember. And don't forget the whirlpool tub in the Master Suite.
The four seasons are a beautiful time around Lake Sara. The abundant wild life and scenic beauty that Mother Nature has provided makes a perfect setting for relaxation and reflection. We have found that hikes through the woods surrounding Cardinal Cove Retreat or simply walking the cart path around Cardinal Golf provides a remarkable improvement in ones attitude and outlook on life.
Many of our guests have commented that they felt pampered by the treatment and consideration we provide. Let us show you how special a weekend or week can be at Cardinal Cove Retreat.
The great room has a 50” flat screen TV w/Blu-Ray, WiFi, plenty of comfortable seating, a fireplace, table for 8. The equipped kitchen is fit for a gourmet cook and those who wish to watch and chat. Wrapped around 3 sides of the house, and connected to the covered front porch, the deck invites everyone, the few ready to go off alone, or a solitary swing on the porch!
The master has a deluxe private bath, its own deck access, a king bed. The other main floor bedrooms have a queen in one, 2 twins in the other, an adjacent full bath plus a two car garage. The lower level has 2 twins and a full size convertable futon, its own ½ bath and 32” flat screen w/DVD, french doors to a sheltered patio.
Outside, 5+ acres of dense woods, shoreline and a fishing dock within 100 yards, and year around nature! Within minutes, golfing, boating, award-winning restaurants, and much more!
Basic cable TV and internet are provided, as are bed and bath linens and laundry facilities.
Activities:
Golfers can walk to Cardinal Golf Course! From your wooded backyard, it’s just 300 yards down the cart path to the 1st tee! Fishermen can stroll down the drive to the shoreline and fishing dock for big and small mouth bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill for the hobby fisherman. Nature lovers will find the owners’ 5+ acres abounds with things to see in any season, and a forest preserve follows the shoreline. Boaters can rent a boat or kayak at The Marina at Lake Sara just 1/4 mile away. Lake Sara beach 1/4 mile away. The Effingham city area (5 miles away) is loaded with places to go and shop, including Mid America Motorworks (nationally known to Corvette and air-cooled VW fans), antique shops, water parks, Alwerdt’s Gardens, award-winning FireFly Grill restaurant and more! Massage therapy is available on-site from a licensed therapist and other health and wellness therapies may be arranged. These need to be scheduled when you book your stay, please.
Rates:
Basic Weekend two nights-550. Two night minimum.
Bonus 3 night weekend-750.
Each additional night is 200 when added to the 3 night weekend. For example a 4 night stay is 950. We do not require full week stays and will work to accommodate your preferred start date and end date.
Cleaning fee-75. Damage deposit-250
Additional charge for more than 10 guests. Each additional person is 25 per person per night.
Calendar is updated regularly. If shown as unknown we have a pending inquiry for that time, call 217-649-0531.
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"This is a great getaway for a couple or two at the lake 'You can sit on the deck watch people play golf but most of all watch the wildlife.When we were there we seen several variety s of birds and also seen deer and had a nightly visitor ( a coon ) friendly looking for a handout. If you want a get away to relax and enjoy THIS IS THE PLACE. the home is wonderful . Even better than the pictures look .We will go back again '"
Jun 25, 2010 - Tom & Kathi "Rosemary ... Dream a dream about a relaxing week-end and make it come true by spending time at this wonderful Sanctuary and Wellness Retreat. I've just returned and feel relaxed and energized from being pampered with wonderful massages, Reiki and having my first session with reflexology. Sara and Chuck are wonderful hosts, the food not only nutritious but delicious and the house is charming and beautifully decorated, surrounded by trees and you'll have glimpses of birds and wildlife. "
Jul 12, 2010 - Chuck Holmes "KimandMarylee We just returned from a wonderful relaxing July 9-11 Reiki/massage weekend at this really fun retreat! We are ready to meet this week head on. Sara and Chuck were wonderful hosts, the surroundings are really special and we slept like logs with good food in our tummies!"
Jul 12, 2010 - Chuck Holmes "Our week at Sara's Sanctuary could not have been better. It was a great retreat for our family, which included 3 couples and 2 children. There was plenty of room and the evenings sharing memories on the deck were great. From the minute we arrived it felt like home. Everything we needed and more was available at the house. We didn’t put out food for Rocky Raccoon (we didn’t know how he would do with the children), but we did enjoy seeing the cardinals out our bedroom window and the ever-present bunny hopping through the front yard. We cannot wait to return! Chris & Becky"
Jul 12, 2010 - Chris Huelsing "Cardinal Cove was an amazingly beautiful retreat home. It was even more spectacular than the pictures showed. The owners were very accomodating and helpful. We felt as though we were "home" from the minute we arrived! It was exceptionally clean, well maintained, and had every ammenity that we could have asked for (and then some!). We were able to entertain in the spacious dining room and on the patio. The views from the wrap around patio were breathtaking. I must admit that I was disappointed that the home was not directly on the lake like many of the other homes that were for rent, however, now that I have been there, I wouldn't stay anywhere else! It is perfect because it is just close enough to the lake and golf course to enjoy both attractions, however, just slightly away from the other homes on the lake, which makes for a very serene and quiet sanctuary . Just what we needed to get away and truly relax. This home is way more than a retreat... It's the ultimate home away from home."
Aug 14, 2010 - Mindy Duffey "Aleta and family from Tallahassee, Miami, Denver, New York City, & Phoenix
Guest: Aleta and family from FL, CO, NY & AZ (Tallahassee, FL)
Date of Stay: September 5, 2010 Review Submitted: September 16, 2010
The Cardinal Cove Retreat house is a pleasant home with very pleasant and hospitable owners. We were there for a very special family event at a relative’s house on Lake Sara. We wanted to stay closer than a motel in Effingham and were pleased to find this lovely house that could accommodate all of our family. The owners were even so kind as to pick up flowers for me in town and place them in the house before our arrival. The house is all that it is represented to be in the listing. It is very well-maintained and clean. We spent virtually all of our days at our relative’s house on Lake Sara and on the lake watching and videoing the family water-skiing and wake-boarding. We were not at Cardinal Cove long enough to enjoy all the amenities. Although the house does not have lake access, we wish we had more time there to enjoy the deck, peaceful outdoors, and wooded ambience of their home and yard. Thank you both Chuck and Sara Holmes.
"
Sep 22, 2010 - Chuck Holmes "Good evening, Chuck,Your letter arrived today with the two checks in it - thank you for your kind words and your extraordinary generosity! All of us absolutely loved your Cardinal Cove Retreat home. It was such a perfect place for us to relax with our sons and daughter-in-law and new grandson. We only wished that we could have stayed for an entire week! My husband and I agree with your wife - we love solitude in a woodland setting. We so much enjoyed watching the birds at the feeder - such an amazing variety! We would have loved to cook something on your impressive gas grill - but there just wasn't time. We most certainly hope to return for another stay in the near future. We began renting vacation homes for our family Christmas in 1989 and have traveled as far as Montana, Colorado, and Florida to find unique places to celebrate the holiday. Your home would perfectly suit our purposes, and it would be such a short drive to get there! We hope to spend a Christmas in your home on Lake Sara as soon as circumstances allow.May God bless you and grant you success as you share your lovely home with others, The Hensons
"
Oct 26, 2010 - Chuck Holmes "Great Location for Family Fun!
Guest: Erin(Ottawa, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 11/13/10 Review Submitted: 11/15/10
This location was the perfect meeting point for our family. With one of our kids stationed in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and several more spread all over the state of Ohio, Lake Sara in Effingham was the perfect meeting place! The kitchen was well equipped with everything we needed to prepare a Thanksgiving feast...and a large dining room table to sit around and enjoy! It was wonderful to relax in the living room with the fireplace...play games and enjoy each other's company without any disruptions or distractions. The home was super clean and Chuck was extremely accomodating! He was kind enough to answer my many questions as we prepared for our adventure! We are hoping to meet here again in the near future! Thanks!!
Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers, families with young children, people with disabilities, romantic getaway.
"
Nov 19, 2010 - Chuck Holmes "Another fabulous week at Sara's Sancuary. This house is just perfect for our family. Plenty of room for everyone, clean, great nature watching. It just really feels like home!!The new dock is great for relaxing and watching the sunset. This was our second stay at the house and will coming back as soon as time allows. Thank you Chuck and Sara for your warm hospitality and for sharing your home with us. We can't wait untill next time.
Chris and Beck and Family"
Jul 12, 2011 - Becky Huelsing
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