Hot Tubs, Saunas and Fireplaces for Benzonia, MI Homes
Phillips Lifestyles is a Northern Michigan dealer for hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, fireplaces, fireplace inserts and pellet stoves, and it serves Benzonia and the rest of Benzie County. The company was established in 1980, is family-owned, and has showrooms in Traverse City and Grawn. Benzonia is roughly 28 miles west of Traverse City. For a home on the hill above Crystal Lake, Phillips Lifestyles offers products, installation and long-term service from one local team.
What Makes Benzonia Different
Benzonia was founded in 1858 as an educational Christian colony modeled on Oberlin, Ohio. Grand Traverse College was chartered here in 1863 and later became Benzonia Academy, which closed in 1918. The Civil War historian Bruce Catton grew up in Benzonia, where his father taught at the academy.
The village sits at the southeast end of Crystal Lake, right beside Beulah. US-31 runs through, and M-115 meets it at the junction on the south side of town.
Northern Michigan winters shape daily life in a small town. Snow arrives in November and stays, and neighbors spend more time indoors and close to home. Comfort at home matters more because of it.
Benzonia is mainly a year-round community of village homes, with lake cottages and country properties nearby. It is the commercial crossroads for much of Benzie County.
Hot Tubs for Benzonia Homes
A hot tub gives a home in town its own private retreat, a few steps from the back door. 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.
Fireplaces, Inserts and Pellet Stoves
Older village homes often have a fireplace that is more decoration than heat, and that is easy to fix. Phillips Lifestyles sells and installs gas, wood, pellet and electric models from Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Napoleon, Enviro and Mendota. The fireplaces and inserts page shows the range, including gas fireplaces such as the Novus nXt.
A fireplace insert slides into an existing masonry fireplace and turns it into an efficient heater. The Quadra-Fire Castile pellet insert is rated at 30,600 BTUs and heats 700 to 1,800 square feet. Freestanding pellet stoves give the same steady, thermostat-controlled heat without an existing fireplace.
Phillips Lifestyles has its own installers. Rob Horton leads the fireplace crew, working with Randy Johnson, Jason Jones and Ron Magee. For background, read the blog guide on how to choose a fireplace insert.
Custom and Ready-Made Saunas
Phillips Lifestyles can supply a sauna in two ways. Ready-made saunas from Finnleo and Tylo come in traditional and infrared designs for indoors, and the Finnleo Patio Series covers outdoor use. For a custom room, the Traverse City Sauna Company builds to your dimensions, with Don Ruff and Chris Champt doing the craftsmanship.
The Phillips Lifestyles Process
Phillips Lifestyles keeps the process simple. First, talk with a sales consultant in person, by phone or online. Second, for a hot tub, take a test soak and schedule a free in-home consultation; requests submitted through the website get a response within 24 hours. Third, the company delivers the product, arranges wiring through approved electrical contractors, and fills and starts the spa. Fireplace, insert and stove projects include a site visit to confirm venting and clearances, then installation by the company's own crew.
On an in-town lot, measure gates and side yards before you shop, because delivery access often decides which models are possible. Check local setback and electrical permit requirements, and consider privacy screening from neighboring windows.
Billiards, Grills and Massage Chairs
Comfort is not only about heat and water. Phillips Lifestyles stocks Brunswick and Olhausen billiard tables and game tables, grills for outdoor cooking and massage chairs. They are a good reason to visit a showroom even if a spa or stove is what brought you in.
Who You Will Work With
Phillips Lifestyles is family-owned and has been part of Northern Michigan since 1980. Dennis and Debbie Riedel own the company, having relocated with their children to carry it forward, and general manager Ryan Gubbins runs daily operations.
The sales team includes Tony Fifarek, who is also the head mechanical consultant, Cherryland store manager Tyler Hanna, Kenny Smith and Wesley Bonesteel. Warehouse manager Glen Wirth and the delivery crew get products to your door, and service manager Jim Eddy oversees the technicians who maintain them. Meet everyone on the About Us page.
Keeping Everything Running
Good products last longer with regular care. The Phillips Lifestyles service team handles installation, maintenance and repair, as described on the services page.
With the Spa Maintenance Program, a technician visits on the schedule you choose, from weekly to every four weeks, to balance the water chemistry, clean the spa and its cover, clear out debris and rotate the filters. Technicians also offer advice on best practices. For anything else, use the service request form.
Frequently Asked Questions from Benzonia Homeowners
Does Phillips Lifestyles serve Benzonia?
Yes. Phillips Lifestyles serves Benzie County from its two showrooms near Traverse City, roughly 28 miles east of Benzonia by way of US-31.
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.
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.
Does Phillips Lifestyles build custom saunas?
Yes. Through the Traverse City Sauna Company, Phillips Lifestyles craftsmen design and build custom saunas. The company also sells ready-made Finnleo and Tylo saunas for indoor and outdoor use.
Plan Your Showroom Visit
Seeing products in person is the quickest way to decide. The Chums Corner showroom is at 5161 US-31 in Grawn and the Cherryland showroom is at 1151 W South Airport Road in Traverse City. Both are open Monday to Saturday. Call ahead, contact the team or submit a product inquiry so staff can prepare for your visit to help with your Benzonia project.