About Us

Not really...we won't be there...but, we are all about your experience.  This is not about just booking a place and getting the key or code...there is more to a family or friend get-away than that.  We are Bob & Karen Ekman.  We grew up together and are also best friends.  We have been married for 26 years.  We love our pups and are dog friendly...not cats as we are allergic.  We also own Grass Lake Lodge in Big Rapids, MI...on 65 acres with a private 6 acre lake with great fishing, miles of trails, an outdoor bar, two fire pits, gourmet kitchen, game room and great reviews.  If you want to know how we treat our guests, please read the reviews section in www.vrbo.com/1491632.

Karen and Bob have been this vacation rental business for years and they know what it takes to help create memories!  This is the first place "Up North"!  You can check our reviews, photos and can even book at www.vrbo.com/1491632 or https://www.airbnb.com/h/grasslakelodge.

Karen is a professional Interior Designer.  She has created amazing living spaces with all of her projects.  She did it all at our Grass Lake Lodge and will always be changing things at our 

Clearwater Shores on Smith Lake, AL.

Bob has been in the hospitality industry for 40 years...with Marriott, IHG and has founded and run several hospitality-oriented companies.  He has experience in hotels, resorts, development, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.  He is now officially retired...yeah right!

They are both originally from the Chicago area and now reside in Brentwood, TN...just South of Nashville.  

They both LOVE our vacation rental homes!  Please call Bob if you have any questions at 630-240-4747 or e-mail at robert.ekman@moream.com.

Lewis Smith Lake is the second cleanest lake in the United States next to Lake Tahoe.  It has over 500 miles of shoreline and is 21,200 acres.  It is about an hour Southwest of Huntsville, AL down I-65 and about 45 minutes Northwest of Birmingham, AL.  It is about 2 plus hours from Nashville and less than 3 hours from Atlanta.  Smith Lake is just West of I-65 and Clearwater Shores is just 15 minutes from I-65.

Trident Marina is only 10-15 minutes by boat and 9 minutes by car from Clearwater Shores.  This centrally located marina has a showroom, boat rentals, service and The Grill at Trident Marina...right on the water near The Big Bridge!  https://www.tridentmarinas.com/

There are other marinas and restaurants / bars on Smith Lake as well.

Smith Lake is truly one of the incredible water ways in the United States.  Well known in the Southeast and becoming known throughout the country.  There are several marinas with great restaurants, bars, and boat rentals.  There is excellent fishing with many tournaments being held each year...Striped Bass, Hybrids, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass.

Lewis Smith Lake has some of the best Bass Fishing in the Southeast.  There are several Bass tournaments.  The fishing is great for Striped Bass, Hybrids and Smallmouth Bass as well as the Largemouth like above.