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Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome

Lakefront vacation home with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome

Fridge, microwave, stovetop, dishwasher
Exterior
Terrace/patio
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Escape to the heart of the midwest and unwind at this Effingham home, perfect for a family getaway. Enjoy relaxing afternoons by the private pool, lounge on the waterfront deck with Lake Sara views, or practice your swing at Cardinal Golf Course nearby.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 6232 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Washer

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome

Perfect for days spent lounging poolside or out on the lake, this Effingham home is perfect for the whole family! The 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom vacation rental invites you to feel at home in the bright living space or cook up dinner in the modern, fully equipped kitchen. For a relaxing sunny afternoon, practice your swing on the greens of Cardinal Golf Course, grab a bite at Firefly Grill, or head down to the private dock to cast a fishing line into Lake Sara, just steps from your back door!

-- THE PROPERTY --

Private Pool | Pets Allowed | Free WiFi & Smart TV | Waterfront Deck

Perfect for those seeking a quiet getaway, this family home will have you relaxing lakeside and exploring the charming town of Effingham in the heart of the midwest!

Bedroom 1: Queen Bed | Bedroom 2: Queen Bed | Bedroom 3: Twin Day Bed, Trundle Bed

OUTDOOR LIVING: Private pool (open mid-April to mid-November), patio space, furnished deck, private dock, hammock, covered front porch
INDOOR LIVING: Smart TV, decorative fireplace, large windows, wooden dining table
KITCHEN: Fully equipped, dishware & flatware, dishwasher, stainless steel appliances, kitchen island
GENERAL: Free WiFi, air conditioning, complimentary toiletries, linens/towels, washer/dryer
FAQ: Quiet hours (11:00 PM - 7:00 AM), pet fee (paid pre-trip), step-free access
PARKING: Driveway (4 vehicles), RV parking available, no street or lawn parking

-- THE LOCATION --

OUTDOOR RECREATION: Lake Sara (on-site access), Cardinal Golf Course (1.3 miles), J & J Marina (1.7 miles), Evergreen Hollow Park (6.4 miles), Bliss Park (7.5 miles), Wildcat Hollow State Habitat Area (20.9 miles), Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic State (37.1 miles)
THINGS TO DO: Sculptures of the Avenues (7.0 miles), Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum (7.0 miles), Village Square Mall (8.2 miles), My Garage Corvette Museum & Retail Store (8.3 miles), Dr. Charles M. Wright Mansion (12.5 miles)
EFFINGHAM EATERIES: Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse (5.0 miles), Firefly Grill (5.3 miles), Niemerg’s Steakhouse (6.4 miles), Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill (7.2 miles), Puerto Vallarta (9.2 miles)
AIRPORTS: Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (89.8 miles), Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (111.0 miles)

-- REST EASY WITH US --

Evolve makes it easy to find and book properties you'll never want to leave. You can relax knowing that our properties will always be ready for you and that we'll answer the phone 24/7. Even better, if anything is off about your stay, we'll make it right. You can count on our homes and our people to make you feel welcome — because we know what vacation means to you.

-- POLICIES --

- No smoking
- Pet friendly w/ $50 fee (+ fees & taxes, max 2, must be leashed at all times)
- No events, parties or large gatherings
- Please observe quiet hours from 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM
- No loud music is allowed at any time
- The person who books must be present on premises
- Additional fees and taxes may apply
- Photo ID may be required at check-in
- NOTE: RVs may be parked on the property but may not be used for sleeping accommodations due to Lake Authority Ordinances
- NOTE: The pool is open mid-April to mid-November
- NOTE: There is a strict max occupancy of 6 guests

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Heated pool
  • Private pool

Internet

  • Available in the house: Internet access

Parking and transportation

  • Limited onsite parking (max 4 spaces)

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2.5 bathrooms
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Dock
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washer/dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Heated pool
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Motor boating nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,500 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

439077
New! Family Home W/deck on Lake Sara Pets Allowed
Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome Effingham

About the neighborhood

Map
IL, Effingham

What's nearby

  • Cardinal Golf Course - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Effingham Performance Center - 10 min drive - 9.3 km
  • Lake Sara - 12 min drive - 11.8 km
  • Effingham County Courthouse - 14 min drive - 12.8 km
  • Lake Shelbyville - 45 min drive - 53.9 km

Getting around

  • Effingham Station - 17 min drive
  • Champaign, IL (CMI-University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Williard) - 77 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Golden Corral - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from Cardinal Golf Course and within 9 mi (15 km) of Effingham Performance Center and Lake Sara. Evergreen Bark Park and HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Reviews

Family Home w/ Deck on Lake Sara: Pets are Welcome Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.4

Cleanliness

9.6

Location

10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 72 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 72 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 72 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 72 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 72 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Anne K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to get away!

We loved our stay here, especially the lovely pool! Everything was as pictured and the home is very comfortable and clean.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Joni W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love the house

Carpet stains , yes, host said hair dye for one - but tired. Pool cover is rotting & underneath is filthy. Am surprised the pool is so beautifully clean. House is for sale … neighbors built next door….too close.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Faith B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family

We enjoy this property. The pool is always clean and kept up. The inside is welcoming and comfortable. The only issue we have is the steps going into the water. It would be great if they could be fixed getting in and out of the water is difficult. We hope to continue to make many memories at this house.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marilyn J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful and Relaxing

We had a wonderful stay. The home is extremely comfortable and clean. Neighbors are friendly, actually everyone is very friendly and helpful. Instructions were easy to follow and well written. Suggestions on what to see and do were given and we thoroughly enjoyed them also. Firefly Restaurant, Pinky’s and Gabby Goat. Also enjoyed the shopping. Only negative and miner issues was place was a little dusty in certain areas, bushes in front entrance need trimming back, pool bottom needed cleaning and stove burners tic the whole time they are on. We definitly would stay there again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Team S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Holiday Getaway

Spacious home with lots of living and outdoor space. Large kitchen was great for hosting holiday meals. Master bedroom has a lovely,spacious jacuzzi tub as well. Appreciated the added holiday touch! We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Paula R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We loved it!

We really enjoyed our time spent here. Other than battling a couple of things that would not work for us, that were not extremely important, we had a fabulous time!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Joe

Long weekend on the water's edge of Lake Sara

Beautiful scenery with all of the full length windows facing the lake, very relaxing. There is an abundance of outdoor seating and gas grills for outdoor cooking. The interior seating was abundant and comfortable. Would definitely suggest this home for having a wonderful week/weekend on the lake. Also would like to share that Effingham has all of the usual conveniences that you would expect in a much larger city and everyone was very friendly and helpful with your inquiries.

8/10 Good

Peggy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Pleasant Week

We feel the inside of the house was well stocked and maintained. However, There were no dish cloths available, very few wash cloths and very few Kleenexes. The furniture here was more comfortable than other places we have been. While we enjoyed the deck and other outside spaces, we feel the deck railings, deck chair cushions and the boat dock area would benefit from being updated. Overall, we enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Terri L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Well, when it would rain all the stuff from the clogged gutters would run all over the back deck and also on the pool cover, which needs replaced because the nasty stuff would run into the pool. They had old broken pool floats that were in a bin full of water. The bushes in the front of the house are so overgrown and it needs yard maintenance for sure.The deck down at the lake is not safe, the boards to the upper level are soft and we did not even dare to venture onto the top deck for fear of falling through.The Sunroom furniture is not comfortable at all.There are no shades or curtains that could be closed at night for privacy on the dining room windows or in the sunroom.They need to update their photos for outside because there is now a new house that was just built in May of this year.This house needs some updated maintenance before renting it out to someone else.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Mark S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Home is in need of serious TLC. It is for sale and we had an uninvited prospect “stop by” to view the outside of the home. BBQ grill was not operable and microwave only worked when the door was held closed. Great location on a channel but boat dock definitely needs updating. Pool was a definite plus. Overall an average experience.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

A Good Week

Overall, it was a good week. There was plenty of kitchen supplies, the pool was wonderful - cleaner than a year ago and the temp was perfect. We called during the week regarding an issue and it was taken care of immediately. The host responds quickly and courteously to all questions and concerns. The home was clean, comfortable and supplied many amenities. There is some concern about the safety of the dock over the boat. Boards are missing. It feels very spongy and unstable. It might be nice to consider having blinds on the windows for privacy especially with the new house next door and the houses across the lake. This was our second week long visit to the home and we are considering going back again next year. It was a great place to meet and enjoy family.

10/10 Excellent

Priscilla C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Super clean spacious totally stocked home, awesome pool, and fun fishing on the private dock. Would have given more than 5 stars if I could.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Denise L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Close to Home

enjoyed stay so much, already booked for future stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christine R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice getaway

We enjoyed our stay. The pool was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy residence on Lake Sara

Accommodations were good. Pool was well maintained and our kids had a great time swimming in it, despite the rain all weekend. Residence seems to be in a quiet area of the lake. Only drawback is the wifi did not reach through the entire house. We would definitely like to stay here again and would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dave F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake house

Very nice, clean my family really enjoyed the stay
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kris W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Get Away Spot

My family and I stayed here for a sewing gathering and the set up was perfect! Kitchen was nicely stocked, everything was clean and the location was beautiful & quiet.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous place

Tracy’s place is top notch. From the heated saltwater pool overlooking their Lake Sara inlet to the walk in showers and amazing kitchen this place has it all. We played backyard games, fished and grilled it was everything 4 buddies could need to celebrate a birthday. Thank you Nick
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

kathy k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake Sara in The Fall

We had an amazing time during our stay. House was nice and cozy for our fall getaway. Weather was beautiful enough for us to enjoy the pool. Lots fishing and relaxing. The house is well stocked with anything you may need.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

6/10 Okay

Tam

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Disliked: Communication

nice place

Very nice pool, outside area could really use a cleanup at the boat deck area and the deck itself could really use an update for sure. The Hammock is not in a very good spot at all. Ok place but personally didn't think it was worth the money... had better for cheaper price
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynn D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect get-away

Spacious! We had a group of 5 adults. Enjoyed the pool and appreciated the space in the kitchen. We had a great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly

Great trip!

The house was exactly as stated. Grandkids loved the pool, dock for fishing and location!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Faith

Summer at the lake

We had a great stay everything is very nice. The house and the pool are always beautiful. This was our second time staying here and we will probably book again next summer.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very clean and comfortable

This home was just as described. Outside could be maintained better but inside the home was clean and well-appointed. Lots of room and resources.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ronni T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A nice little getaway.

The house had a great set up. The pool by far was our favorite. The kids loved fishing but I was a little nervous because the dock area is pretty outdated along with most of the outside furniture but my family still have a great time! Would definitely rent again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024