A familiar roadside property in Whitehall is getting a major refresh—and the team behind it is no stranger to creating spaces that feel memorable.
Jeremy and Melanie Garcia, owners of DreamStay, recently purchased the Lake Land Inn and are in the middle of transforming it into Lake Land Getaway—a boutique-style destination designed for couples, weekend travelers, and anyone looking for a true reset in the White Lake area.
And while there’s plenty changing inside the walls, the Garcias plan to keep a little piece of the property’s history right out front: the iconic sign will stay—with one small update. The plan is to change it from Lake Land Inn to Lake Land Getaway. For now, the sign hasn’t been changed yet, but it’s part of their vision to evolve what’s already there rather than erase it.
From the greenhouse industry to DreamStay
Before building DreamStay, Jeremy and Melanie both spent years working in the greenhouse industry, building their careers through management roles and frequent moves.
“I spent 11 years—I did operations management for large screen houses,” Jeremy shared.
Melanie worked her way up through leadership roles as well, and the two moved multiple times over a short span of years. Eventually, they landed in Muskegon, bought a house, and jumped into their first real “fixer-upper” experience—living in it while renovating, which laid the groundwork for what came next.
A turning point came when Jeremy heard a radio advertisement for a real estate event. While the next step came with a hefty price tag, the advice they did take was simple and practical: start local.
“Go to your local REIAs,” he said.
From there, Jeremy got into rentals and flips. Melanie, who also had a staging company at the time, began leaning toward short-term rentals—even before the boom that followed the pandemic.
At first, Jeremy wasn’t sure it was for him.
“She wanted to get into the whole Airbnb thing. I didn’t want anything to do with it,” he said with a laugh. “I was like, if you want to do it, that’s on your own.”
But after their first short-term rental, the Garcias saw something important: people weren’t just paying for a place to stay—they were paying for how it made them feel.
“We quickly realized that people are willing to pay more for an experience,” Jeremy said.
Designing stays that feel like more than “just a room”
As DreamStay grew, the Garcias began paying close attention to short-term rental markets across the country—places like Orlando and Pigeon Forge, where themed stays and experience-driven lodging are more common.
They noticed something else too: here in the Midwest, short-term rentals often felt dated.
“The Midwest always seems to trail behind,” Jeremy said. “Most things up here looked like grandma’s house.”
DreamStay set out to do something different: create spaces that are stylish, elevated, and intentional—without losing that welcoming, relaxed feel people want on vacation.
That vision evolved into larger projects too, including Scenic Drive Resort, and now, Lake Land Getaway.
“It was kind of that natural evolution,” Jeremy explained.
Why Lake Land Inn—and why the White Lake area?
For DreamStay, buying a property isn’t just about what a building is. It’s about what it could become.
The Garcias shared that they often talk about concepts months (or longer) before the right property appears. They’ve had ideas waiting in the wings simply because they haven’t found the right fit yet.
And when it comes to the Lake Land property, the fit came down to two key things:
- Location that makes sense for guests
- Land that allows them to add experiences outdoors
They explained they want their properties to be either close to downtown or close to water—ideally both—because that’s what their guests are looking for.
“We wanted to be as close to a downtown area as possible or as close to water as possible,” Jeremy said.
And they’re not guessing about who their guests are—DreamStay pays attention to the data.
“We have a 55% chance that it’s going to be a female between the age of 35 and 45 that books our places,” Jeremy shared.
That insight shapes everything: from amenities, to design, to location.
This property also includes additional land behind the inn—space they can use to create outdoor features that add to the experience and give guests a reason to stay longer.
“Back there, there’s an extra half acre, three quarters of an acre where we can put all the fun stuff,” Jeremy said.
The name change: a small shift with a big meaning
DreamStay isn’t completely scrapping the “Lake Land” identity. Instead, they’re evolving it.
They shared that the word “inn” can imply two very different things: either a cozy, charming place—or a low-end overnight stop.
That’s not the vibe they’re going for.
“We’re just rebranding it to Lake Land Getaway,” Jeremy said. “We don’t want this to be like your overnight stop. We’re really trying to attract people who are gonna be here for multiple days.”
That’s also why they’re keeping the existing sign and simply adjusting it—just swapping “Inn” for “Getaway.”
A boutique vision—with comfort first
Inside the property, the focus isn’t on squeezing in as many people as possible.
“For us, it’s not maximum occupants,” Jeremy explained. “Our goal is a maximum experience.”
The Garcias plan to keep the layout and overall character intact, but updates will be extensive. The building has been gutted, and they are actively working through renovations.
Planned improvements include:
- Completely renovated bathrooms
- New flooring
- Electrical upgrades
- A refreshed, comfortable look with a mid-century feel and warm wood tones
They also talked about modeling some of the in-room “feel” after upscale hotel experiences—adding comfort features that make the space feel inviting, not just functional.
Most rooms will feature a king bed and a seating area (rather than focusing on extra beds), with only a couple units potentially offering a second bed option.
Adults-first (and they’re parents, so they get it)
One of the most unique things about Lake Land Getaway is who it’s designed for.
DreamStay has kid-friendly spaces in their portfolio. But this one is different—and intentionally so.
“We’re really gearing it towards couples and adults to get away,” Jeremy said.
Melanie agreed, noting that as parents themselves, they understand the value of getting away from the noise—even if you love your kids.
And that adults-first design carries through into their planned amenities.
A “getaway experience” that extends beyond the room
DreamStay wants guests to feel like their stay is part of the vacation—not just the place they sleep between activities.
They also want visitors to experience Whitehall like locals do.
“We’ve always been big on living like a local,” Jeremy said.
That means helping guests get on the water, get on the trails, and experience what makes this area special.
They’re already in conversations about possible kayak and bike rentals—creating a simple, guest-friendly way for travelers to hop right into outdoor adventures.
“You can’t experience Whitehall without going along the water,” Jeremy said.
Outdoor amenities: hot tubs, fire features, and “analog fun”
While plans are still fluid, the Garcias shared several exciting ideas they’re actively exploring for the outdoor space:
- Hot tubs under tall pines (a feature they’ve loved at Scenic Drive Resort—especially in winter)
- Saunas
- A bocce ball court
- Outdoor seating areas and gathering spaces
- A fire feature with supplies provided
- Potential additions like pickleball, an herb garden, and even a pizza oven area where couples could make pizzas together
They also plan to turn one of the outbuildings into an analog-style game room, featuring:
- Shuffleboard
- Pool table
- Foosball and other classic games
- Possibly a nostalgic touch like Super Nintendo or N64 (with the kind of throwback instructions that remind people how we played games before everything went wireless)
It’s all part of encouraging guests to unplug—without feeling bored.
Supporting local businesses—on purpose
DreamStay also sees Lake Land Getaway as a way to bring more visitors into local restaurants and businesses in Whitehall and the surrounding area.
The Garcias shared that at other properties, they work with restaurants by allowing promotional materials in their rentals and making direct recommendations—because guest experience and community success go hand-in-hand.
“We don’t want to say, ‘Hey, run down to McDonald’s,’” Jeremy said. “We want to say, ‘Go to these restaurants.’”
They’ve already been exploring the local food scene and meeting business owners—stopping in during slower hours to have real conversations and build connections.
Opening timeline and what’s next
The Garcias’ goal is to start welcoming guests this spring, with April as the target and May feeling more realistic for a broader public opening—understanding that construction schedules can always shift.
They also hope to host a public open house once the property is ready, giving the community a chance to see the transformation in person.
And so far, the support has been overwhelming.
“We did not expect such a big welcome,” they shared, noting how positive the response has been compared to what they’ve experienced in other areas.
Follow the progress
Lake Land Getaway is still actively under construction, and updates are ongoing. The best way for the community to follow along is through DreamStay’s social media—especially Facebook, where they’ve been sharing renovation progress and behind-the-scenes looks at what’s coming next.
For more information about DreamStay and their other unique stays, readers can also visit: bookdreamstay.com
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