Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Bendon, MI Homes
Homeowners in Bendon, Michigan turn to Phillips Lifestyles for hot tubs, saunas, swim spas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves, along with the installation and service that go with them. Phillips Lifestyles has been in business in Northern Michigan since 1980 and operates two showrooms near Traverse City. Bendon is roughly 18 miles southwest of Traverse City. If you own a home in the woods of Inland Township, this guide explains what the company offers and how its staff can help.
A Short History of Bendon
Bendon was settled in 1888 and grew up around a sawmill. It was first called Kentville, after Albert Kent, a farmer who served as the first postmaster, and was renamed Bendon in 1892.
The community is in Inland Township, with its eastern edge on the Grand Traverse County line. Interlochen is a short drive to the northeast, and the Betsie River and Pere Marquette State Forest are close at hand.
Winters are serious in this part of the state, with deep snow, cold snaps and the occasional power outage. People who live here plan for it, and a heat source that does not depend entirely on the furnace is part of that plan.
Bendon is a quiet, wooded place where lots are large and neighbors are few. Many residents work in the Traverse City area and value coming home to privacy.
Heating a Bendon Home with Fire
In the country, how you heat is a serious question, and a good stove pays for itself in comfort. Phillips Lifestyles offers fireplaces and fireplace inserts from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota in gas, wood, pellet and electric versions.
Each fuel has its place. Gas gives instant heat from a remote. Wood suits owners with a supply on hand, and the Quadra-Fire Discovery II wood stove is a proven choice. Pellet stoves such as the Quadra-Fire Santa Fe feed themselves from a hopper and hold a set temperature.
Installation is done in-house by a crew led by Rob Horton, with Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee. Not sure what size you need? The blog explains how many BTUs a room requires.
Hot Tubs for Bendon Homes
After a day of work outside, few things are as welcome as a soak under a dark country sky. Phillips Lifestyles carries Hot Spring, Caldera Spas, Jacuzzi, Nordic, Sundance and Marquis, which you can browse on the hot tubs page. The range runs from compact models such as the Hot Spring Jetsetter LX to the seven-person Hot Spring Grandee.
Choosing is easier with two free services. Book a test soak at a showroom, bring a suit and a towel, and compare seats and jets in the water. Then schedule a free in-home consultation. A team member measures your space, confirms the cover and lifter have room to open, reviews the delivery route and helps match cabinet and shell colors to your home. Wiring is handled by approved electrical contractors, and startup and fill are included.
For swimmers, swim spas from Endless Pools provide an adjustable current for exercise in a fraction of the space a pool needs.
Add a Sauna
More homeowners are adding a sauna alongside, or instead of, a hot tub. Phillips Lifestyles sells Finnleo and Tylo saunas for indoor and outdoor use, with both traditional and infrared heat. The Finnleo Patio Series can be placed on a deck or pad. Custom work is available through the Traverse City Sauna Company, where craftsmen Don Ruff and Chris Champt build saunas to order.
From First Visit to First Use
Here is how a typical purchase goes. Start at a showroom, where you can see spas filled and fireplaces burning. If a hot tub interests you, book a test soak and a free in-home consultation; the team responds to online requests within 24 hours. When your order arrives, Phillips Lifestyles delivers it, has approved electrical contractors connect it, and fills and starts it for you. Hearth products follow a similar route, with a site check for venting and clearances before the in-house crew installs the unit.
On a country property, plan for how you will reach the spa or sauna in deep snow and where firewood or pellets will be stored under cover. If you are adding a stove, have the chimney inspected first so the installer knows what liner or venting is needed.
Game Rooms, Grills and More
Phillips Lifestyles also carries billiard and game tables from Brunswick and Olhausen, including shuffleboard, foosball and air hockey. There are premium grills for the deck and massage chairs for the den. Everything can be seen in person at the showrooms.
Installation, Maintenance and Repair
When you live outside town, it matters that your dealer will come to you. Phillips Lifestyles provides all three with its own staff. See the services page for details.
Spa owners can enroll in the Spa Maintenance Program for scheduled visits every week, two weeks or four weeks. Technicians balance the water, clean the spa and cover, remove debris and change filters. When a spa or fireplace needs attention between visits, an online service request reaches the service team directly.
A Family-Owned Company Since 1980
Phillips Lifestyles has served Northern Michigan for more than 45 years. Owners Dennis and Debbie Riedel moved their family to the Traverse City area to take over the business and continue its community-minded approach, and Ryan Gubbins is general manager. The About Us page introduces the whole staff.
You will work with experienced people. Tony Fifarek is lead sales associate and head mechanical consultant, Tyler Hanna manages the Cherryland store, and Kenny Smith and Wesley Bonesteel round out the sales floor. Behind them are a warehouse and delivery crew and a service department led by Jim Eddy.
Frequently Asked Questions from Bendon Homeowners
Which Phillips Lifestyles showroom is closest to Bendon?
The Chums Corner showroom at 5161 US-31 in Grawn is the closest, a short drive northeast of Bendon past Interlochen. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 to 6 and Saturday from 10 to 4.
Where are the Phillips Lifestyles showrooms?
Phillips Lifestyles has two showrooms: Chums Corner at 5161 US-31, Grawn, MI 49637, and Cherryland at 1151 W South Airport Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Both are open Monday to Saturday, with Sunday visits by appointment.
Can I use a hot tub all winter in Northern Michigan?
Yes. Modern hot tubs are insulated for year-round use, and many owners use them most in winter. A fitted cover, a cover lifter and a clear path through the snow make cold-weather soaking easy.
Does Phillips Lifestyles install the fireplaces and stoves it sells?
Yes. Phillips Lifestyles employs its own fireplace installation crew, led by Rob Horton, and installs gas, wood, pellet and electric fireplaces, inserts and stoves across Northern Michigan.
Visit or Call Phillips Lifestyles
To get started, visit the Chums Corner showroom at 5161 US-31 in Grawn, (231) 888-0721, or the Cherryland showroom at 1151 W South Airport Road in Traverse City, (231) 412-1884. You can also contact the team online or send a product inquiry. Phillips Lifestyles looks forward to helping you enjoy your Bendon home.