Chicagoans open French cottages in New Buffalo
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Petite Acres features multiple cottages, a main building, a fitness center and even yurts on a 4.25-acre property in New Buffalo. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
As someone who has rented summer homes in the Harbor Country area for decades, I was intrigued by the new Petite Acres cottage compound in New Buffalo, which feels like a hybrid cottage, luxury hotel and summer camp.
Background: Chicago couple Jeana Anderson Cohen and Justin Cohen dreamed up the facility after a 2020 trip to a resort in the south of France.
What they're saying: "We walked away from that trip knowing that we wanted that French aesthetic, but we also wanted something where the property itself told you to just chill," Anderson Cohen, who formerly produced wellness events in Chicago, tells Axios.
The vibe: Cozy but indulgent, with cabins outfitted with marble countertops, high-end appliances, and plush towels and robes.
Check out the modern fitness center, outdoor wellness classes, passes to a Pilates-yoga studio in town, and sauna with a cold plunge.
My stay: I was the sole guest (Scooby-Doo-style) on my one-night stay, so I can't speak to the community aspect.
- But I loved attending the included Prana yoga class in town, working out in the gym, wandering on the wooded grounds, relaxing in my cottage, and taking a sauna and cold plunge before bed for a great night's sleep.
Prices: One-bedroom cottages start at $360 a night in the off-season and can be more than $500 in high season. The biggest cottage starts at $1,900 a night.
Extra: While Petite Acres stays don't include beach access, Anderson Cohen says they will offer shuttles for guests to the nearby New Buffalo beach, where parking can be limited.
- She's also planning programs with live performances, wellness events, chef dinners and cocktail hours in their main building.
Full disclosure: I tried out a cabin at a special press rate before the facility was fully open.