More than just a canvas tent in the woods.
I originally came to Beaver Island for the stars. What I experienced was an island with magic around every corner.
The island is now home to Michigan’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary—one of the rarest designations in the world. That means zero light pollution. Just open sky, ancient constellations, and a Milky Way so bright it pulls you to your knees.
Before my trip to Beaver Island, I spoke with Maria. She and her husband, Brian, own and operate Beaver Island Retreat—a luxury camping retreat nestled deep in the woods and about five miles south of town (St. James). She offered me a place to stay while I explored the island’s newly designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary. I thanked her, but declined.
I briefly looked at the website, but I figured it was nothing more than just a canvas tent in the woods—probably nice, but not what I needed. I wanted to be close to the water. Something simple.
Then I visited. And everything changed.
I didn’t stay overnight, but I walked the grounds while I chatted with Maria and Brian. I viewed the Safari tents, listened to the silence between the trees, and suddenly, I understood what this place really is.
This isn’t camping. And it isn’t pretending to be a resort, either.
It’s something else entirely.
Intentional Comfort, Without the Noise
Beaver Island Retreat sits on 30 acres of quiet forest, just far enough from the shoreline to feel hidden—it is located on an island, afterall. You don’t stumble upon it. You arrive by invitation, or by intention.
From the outside, the tents look simple. Clean canvas, cedar decks, hammocks strung between trees. But step inside, and everything shifts. Hardwood floors. Queen-sized beds. Thick bamboo linens. And outdoors, a fully equipped kitchen set up that meets all your needs.
The grounds also hosts individual private bathroom houses with full running water, flush toilets, rain-style showers, and natural soaps to leave no trace. Maria and Brian’s sustainable practices are at the core of their values and you find them in every detail.
This isn’t a yurt with a heater and a dream. It’s a sanctuary within a sanctuary, if you will—built for rest, not performance.
There’s Wi-Fi if you want it. But most people put their phones down. Because when the trees are talking and the fire pit’s roaring and the sky above is glowing, nothing good comes through a screen anyway.
Every corner of this place is intentional. The design is clean, calm, warm—and as mentioned, sustainable. There’s a fully stocked kitchen that is open 24/7, guest laundry fully stocked (again, with leave no trace in practice), a coffee bar in the morning, firewood already stacked when you arrive.
And then there is the open air guest pavilion. Also available 24/7. It was originally fashioned with custom designed and built Douglas Fir dining tables, chairs, and bar tables. Maria tells me that all added furniture is reclaimed oak, maple, pine, and cedar from bunks of lumber that were rotting in the woods. This cozy and welcoming pavilion is where guests gather to mingle and share in conversation or a few libations.
No stress. No second-guessing. Just the feeling of finally being still.
The Kind of Dark You Can Feel
You don’t need a telescope here. Just time. And maybe a blanket.
While the designated area for the Dark Sky Sanctuary spans further south, Beaver Island Retreat sits in an incredibly dark zone of its own. And with no other light sources around, you get that same sacred stillness without needing to leave your tent site. You can walk to the clearing at the pavilion, or stay curled up on your private deck, watching the stars blink into existence one by one.
It’s hard to explain the shift that happens when you experience true darkness. Your eyes adjust. Your mind softens. Your body remembers what it feels like to not be constantly interrupted.
That’s the real draw. Not just the stars—but the space to see them.
Prepare Your Trip
Beaver Island Retreat is open seasonally and books fast—because once people stay, they tend to come back. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or planning a small group retreat, this place makes space for whatever you bring with you.
You can learn more and book your stay on their website.
Fair warning: if you think it’s just a tent in the woods, you might miss the magic.
I almost did.
