SANDUSKY — Think of a tiny house. Now put it on water. Now make a small fleet of them.
A floating tiny houseboat village.
This was Joe Lisa’s vision, which has come to life in Sandusky.
“There’s not really been anything like this,” Mr. Lisa said. “It’s kind of a one-of-a-kind thing.”
Where: SōLSTAY cottages and tiny houseboats are at 2312 River Ave., Sandusky.
Cost: Bookings run $85 to $212 per night.
More info: Go to solstaylodging.com.
He said he’s seen some houseboat villages in California, but said they’re not rentals. This new village on Lake Erie, the owner hopes, can serve as a “cozy retreat” for individuals and groups.
“You can't just stay in a houseboat every day,” Mr. Lisa said, the calls of seagulls sounding from overhead during a recent conversation at the property, called SōLSTAY, at 2312 River Ave., Sandusky.
“It's the cool factor, the different factor,” he said of what draws people to tiny houses. “And then I think ‘tiny’ has an intimate feel.”
Mr. Lisa, 26, has developed a number of out-of-the-box glamping sites including geodomes at the Grand Canyon, a yurt in northern Michigan, and an ambulance-turned-camper in Bowling Green.
His newest addition is nestled in Castaway Bay, with outdoor common areas including a boardwalk, hot tub, firepit, grills, and a shower house consisting of three full bathrooms.
Three larger cottages on shore, sleeping four or eight guests, come with a kitchen, bathroom, work space, and TV.
Back on the water, there are eight unique houseboats to choose from, each with its own charm and the smell of fresh-cut wood. Some boats sleep two people, others sleep four. They’re all solar powered, and each is fitted with a bed, seating, games, Wi-Fi, a cooler, and a safe. They also have glass doors, large windows, and a small deck.
Visitors can’t take the houseboats out on the lake, but the site offers paddle board and kayak rentals for $75 per day.
Reservations are made through Airbnb. All of SōLSTAY’s lodges and amenities are listed at solstaylodging.com.
The property will be open for bookings from around April to October each year. The grand opening was celebrated May 12, but some of the retreats were open in April.
“We’re already booking up pretty well,” Mr. Lisa said. “We’re excited to see which boats are the most liked boats, because they are all a little bit different.”
Mr. Lisa and his team had been working on his latest project since November, but he described the property as a “forever work in progress.” He’ll finish up two more units this summer, and hopes to fill the marina with a total of 20 houseboats for next year’s season.
Olivia Hartley, director of operations, has been building relationships with local businesses and vendors to create experiences for guests throughout the summer. Her focus had been on SōLSTAY’s open house, which welcomed a taco truck and celebrated the property, the team, and an artist. California-based graffiti artist Jules Muck spray-painted this month a nature landscape mural that incorporates aspects of Sandusky and Cedar Point.
The marina will continue to host events — like outdoor movie nights or bringing in local breweries, food trucks, and musicians — periodically throughout the season.
“Being able to create something new, be part of something different, and bring more life to it by adding events and special things,” Ms. Hartley said, “it's fun for me.”
The destination is just five minutes from Cedar Point and downtown Sandusky. There are also nearby parks, museums, and other activities.
“We chose Sandusky because it's an up-and-coming area,” said Mr. Lisa, who is originally from Van Wert. “There's a whole other side of Sandusky outside of Cedar Point that's its own escape.”
Even with all the prospects for entertainment and events, both on and off site, Mr. Lisa said, "we're not trying to make this like a party place; we're trying to make this more of just a cool, relaxing place."
He encourages getaway guests to lock away their devices to reduce distractions and be present with their floating neighbors.
“You could turn your phone off, but I think there's a whole element of locking your phone away,” he said. “This is more toward focusing on that intimate time with humans.”
First Published May 21, 2023, 11:00 a.m.
