Located on the outskirts of Pentwater, Michigan, Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake encompasses 12 acres of land near Lake Michigan. Currently, under the ownership of Jeff and Lisa Hoffman and Fred Manning, the property offers 90 RV and tent sites as well as 3 cabins for visitors to occupy. The owners strive to keep their guests entertained by hosting several events throughout the campground's open season and providing several on-site activities, namely horseshoes, a playground, and a community-use firepit. According to Lisa, one of the owners, one of the most popular celebrations held at Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake is Christmas in July. This event gives guests the opportunity to adorn their site with Christmas-themed decorations in a competition against other campers who choose to participate.
Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake is located in the western region of Michigan between Bass Lake and Lake Michigan. The property's 12 acres comprise a total of 90 sites that guests can reserve, of which 78 are full hookups, 3 are tent sites with electric, 3 are rustic tent sites, and 5 are water and electric sites. In addition to the hookups that are available at each site, every space also provides a fire pit and picnic table. Nearly half of the 90 sites are seasonal sites that people can occupy throughout the establishment's open season. In the words of one of the owners, Lisa Hoffman, Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake encompasses "a heavily wooded area," however, she additionally notes that the campground is located in a sand dune area. On account of this, the majority of sites are sandy, while others are fairly grassy.
Along with the range of tent and RV sites, Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake also offers three cabins for guests to reserve. Lisa describes one cabin with bunk beds as "rustic." Those who stay in this cabin are required to use the bathrooms and showers that are found in the property's Lodge building, as this unit is not equipped with a private bathroom. The second cabin is a two-bedroom cottage with a full kitchen and bathroom. Similarly, the third cabin also has a full kitchen and bathroom, though this cabin is a three-bedroom cottage. The rustic cabin can accommodate up to two occupants, the two-bedroom cottage can sleep a maximum of four people, and the three-bedroom cottage can accommodate up to six occupants.
The aforementioned Lodge building on the premises contains a game room with several activities for visitors, including ping pong, air hockey, a pool table, and foosball. Oftentimes, the property hosts events in the Lodge. A main office building can also be found on the grounds where patrons check in upon arrival. Inside the main office, a store that sells toys, snacks, candy, nonalcoholic beverages, souvenirs, T-shirts, hats, toiletries, and food items is found as well. Beyond the buildings that are based throughout the acreage, a few on-site activities are available to those who want to engage in pastimes without having to leave the premises. Mini golf, horseshoes, a playground, a dog park, and a community campfire are some activities that visitors have access to during their stay.
A particularly notable feature of the property is its access to a private beach on Bass Lake adjacent to the campground. Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake is also within walking distance of the public beaches along Lake Michigan. Kayak and canoe rentals are available to those staying at the campground. Aside from the lake recreation, people also tend to visit the village of Pentwater, which composes a number of boutique stores. Lisa mentions that farmer's markets are periodically held in Pentwater on Mondays and Thursdays. A couple of other attractions that are found in the vicinity, which Lisa recommends her guests visit, are exploring the sand dunes and going go-karting at AJ's Family Fun Center. As for nearby dining options, Lisa suggests Brown Bear in Pentwater; the Clutch Food Shop, which is a sandwich and pizza shop in Pentwater; and the Crown and Cork in Ludington.
Jeff and Lisa Hoffman and Fred Manning—the three owners of Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake—strive to keep the grounds of their property clean. In an effort to achieve this goal, Lisa comments, "We pick up people's full trash bags so that they don't have to walk to a dumpster to get rid of their trash." The owners also intend to meet those who stay at the campground, as they try to interact with their patrons often. "We greet everybody as they come in, we escort them to their sites, and if they would like assistance backing into their space, then we can help," Lisa remarks. She also says that they try to keep in mind, "What do [our guests] need, and how can we make their stay more enjoyable?" One patron who had stayed at the campground commented on the owner's hospitality in a review, saying, "The campground recently passed into new ownership, and the new owners (Jeff and Lisa) are every bit as friendly and helpful as the previous owners; taking you to your spot, helping guide you in, picking up trash throughout the day, and delivering ice and/or firewood when requested."
Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake enforces a few policies which people are expected to conform to over the course of their stay. Quiet hours are in place from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. every night out of consideration for those who desire a noise-free environment while they sleep. With regard to pets, visitors are welcome to bring a pet, though Lisa comments that they are "strict on the leash laws in the park." Dogs are prohibited from entering the private beach area along Bass Lake as well as the other nearby beaches along Lake Michigan, according to Lisa. It should also be noted that a maximum of two dogs is allowed per site. Furthermore, guests must be over the age of 10 years old to enter the on-site Lodge building alone, and children must have an adult with them to rent any game equipment in the Lodge. Lastly, those who are staying in an RV are welcome to set up a tent on their site, provided that there are no more than six occupants per site.
As a seasonally operational campground, Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake is open for patrons to reserve a site or cabin any time from May 1st to October 15th. Lisa observes that the busiest time of operation for the establishment is from mid-June to mid-August due to the fact that "most people are out of school" during this time. The campground most commonly receives families and couples. "Some families have been coming to Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake for over 30 years," Lisa remarks. She continues, saying that the percentage is "half and half in terms of new and returning visitors."
When Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake is experiencing its peak season, the property holds fairly small gatherings, such as coffee in the Lodge and popcorn around the community fire on Saturdays. Moreover, during Mother's and Father's Day, a pancake breakfast is arranged in the Lodge for visitors. A particularly significant event that is held at the property is Christmas in July, which involves a site decorating contest. A pancake breakfast is also organized on the Saturday morning of this event, where the owners announce the winners of the site decorating contest. Near the end of August, a fishing derby is held, and the owners give prizes for the largest fish, the smallest fish, and the person who caught the most fish. A recently introduced event that is hosted at the campground during the fall is a Halloween celebration where visitors can participate in site decorating, trick-or-treating, and a provided breakfast.
According to Lisa Hoffman, one of the owners of Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake, this establishment is "Michigan's oldest privately owned campground." The site itself dates back to 1913, which is two years before the campground's present-day Lodge was constructed. Originally starting as a boy's choir camp, it wasn't until the 1950s that the property became an RV park, and it has operated as such since then. What is now presently the property's rustic cabin was formerly the main office building for the campground. The other two cabins were residences, one of which was used by the mother of one of the previous owners who had ownership over the park for roughly 56 years, as reported by Lisa. She further explains that the very first owner of Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake was a reverend by the name of Morrison, who eventually sold it to Reggie Yaple. After some time, Reggie fell ill, which led him to sell the property to Jane and Andy Hathaway —the owners who managed the campground before the current owners. Finally, in the spring of 2022, Jeff and Lisa Hoffman and Fred Manning—the present owners of the campground—purchased the acreage.
Fred, Lisa's father, had the dream of owning a campground, so the three decided that owning Whispering Surf Campground at Bass Lake would be the best-fit job for them. Since the owners purchased the property, their main addition to the campground has been the on-site store, which Lisa mentions is something they are very proud of. She also says that her favorite part of her job as one of the owners is "getting to know new people and providing a camping experience for them."
7070 S Lakeshore Dr
Pentwater, Michigan 49449
United States
Campground
Jeff and Lisa Hoffman and Fred Manning
Jane and Andy Hathaway
