See all properties
Entire home

Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches.

Photo gallery for Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches.

Family room with TV - Family room with TV
Screened-in porch facing spacious backyard
Exterior
Dining area within small living room - Dining area within small living room
Living and Dining Area - Living and Dining Area

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 11

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Empire, Michigan
  • Empire Bluff Trail
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪49 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

3 Single Beds

Other Space 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches.

Watch the deer from the screened-in porch at this lovely centennial home in Empire. Deer Hill has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and sleeps 11. It is less than a 1/2 mile to a beautiful Lake Michigan beach.

This house has three levels, so there is room to spread out. Its location on a quiet side street is perfect for walking or biking.

Outside, you will find a large, grassy yard with a deck and fire pit. The Sleeping Bear Dune Climb is just five miles away. This area is stunning and offers many outdoor activities, great places to dine, and beautiful sunsets to watch.

No pets allowed.

-- THE PROPERTY --

Sleeps 11.

Bedroom 1: queen bed || Bedroom 2: queen bed || Bedroom 3: two twin beds || Basement family room: two twin beds and trundle (three twins) || Living room: queen sofa bed

OUTDOORS: Fire pit, charcoal grill, grassy lawn, deck, screened porch, outdoor dining table & chairs, bikes (single-speed cruisers)

INDOORS: WiFi, YouTube TV, Roku, smart TV, DVD player

KITCHEN: Fully equipped, cooking basics, dishware & flatware, microwave, toaster, drip coffee maker, dishwasher, trash bags, paper towels

GENERAL: Washer & dryer, towels & linens, toilet paper, bar soap, two portable A/C units

MISC: EV charging station, living space on three levels

PARKING: 4 spaces

-- POLICIES --

- No pets allowed

- No smoking

- No events, parties, or large gatherings

- Must be at least 18 years old to book

- Additional fees and taxes may apply

Property manager

Visit Up North Vacation Rentals
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Front of the house

Welcome to our farmhouse! Come and enjoy Empire. You will be happy you did.

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking available
10.0 out of 10, (32 reviews)
Welcome to our farmhouse! Come and enjoy Empire. You will be happy you did.

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Empire

Empire is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with power boating and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking.
Map
Empire, Michigan

What's nearby

  • Empire Bluff Trail - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive - 7 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Little Glen Lake - 9 min drive - 7.9 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Friendly Tavern - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Tiffany's Ice Cream - ‬7 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Home in the charming village of Empire. Walk to Lake Michigan beaches. located?

Situated in Empire, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Empire Bluff Trail and Philip A. Hart Visitor Center are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 45 out of 70 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 70 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 70 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 70 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 70 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

8.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

2/10 Terrible

Maripaul M.

Great location but that is all it has to offer

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The house was full of clutter. There was duct tape on the screen on the porch that a previous guest had noted. I could not buy and food because all the cabinets are full of junk. Pots and pans that are a century old and need to be thrown out. All the space has so many nick knacks looks terrible. The beds were fine. Upstairs has one bedroom with AC the bedroom with twin beds needed to find a book to prop it open. Downstairs bedroom has no AC. but front room has Ac with duck take attaching it to the window. Not very efficient. The coffee maker is so old and brews terrible coffe that I brought from home as I really like my morning coffee. Deer were there every day and that was cute. I did have an issue with the dryer that was handled very quickly. This is a great location just needs a complete overhaul. Also maybe provide beach chairs as it is supposed to be a beach house. Sorry for the bad review but I was really upset at what we were provided for the price we paid.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

wilma k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place

Mostly clean all though it could use a deep clean. Everything you need is available except a cupboard for your groceries. Was a beautiful spot to hang out even when you didn't go to the beach
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Heidi P.

Quaint comfy cozy stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The kitchen, laundry room, book shelves and games cabinets are well stocked. There are so many different ways to make coffee it’s a little bananas. There is tons of room for everything you need to do. A deer visited the Apple trees in the backyard multiple times a day. The upstairs is hot and the east facing room gets full sunlight at sunrise and the temp begins to climb. It was not the cleanest, most modern place but it served our purposes well. I cleaned the window AC unit that had years of gunk in the return and set that up to battle the heat, and fixed the screen door from closing so slowly that bugs were joining us indoors. Empire is a cute little town with a fabulous beach and access to trails. We had a perfect July 4th.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Lynne M.

Lake St vacation

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: we have always stayed in empire. This is the first time renting this home. Great location. Great yard, screened porch and deck. Interior is very spacious. Sleeping 11 was comfortable. Kitchen was limited on storage space due to the homeowners several pots and pans skillets, small appliances and leftover food in cabinets and pantry. If large free standing pantry was cleared out for renters food would be helpful. It should also be secured to the wall. Less clutter in kitchen cabinets would make it feel cleaner. Over all this home was nice. We would rent again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

jody h.

Deer hill

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Vacation went well. Broken headboard fixed immediately

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for a crowd!

We enjoyed our stay at Deer Hill! What an ideal location! Plenty of room for our crowd!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Laura D.

Deer Hill

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We have stayed in this house a few times before and we like it a lot.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Scott B.

Good place to stay for the Empire Hill Climb

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Location was great for the empire hill climb. There was a lot of room for our whole family. I didn’t like the extra steps I had to take to accommodate the rental management company, or their app.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Diane R.

Labor Day Weekend Stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We enjoyed our stay at Deer Hill. The location is fantastic with just a few blocks from the beach, ice cream, restaurants and the cute town of Empire! The house is dated but bedrooms and bathrooms up to date and very clean and neat. The kitchen was very well stocked and clean! I highly recommend staying in this rental!

8/10 Good

Becky M., St. Charles

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable house and great time in Empire

We had a great time in Empire and surrounding area. The house is perfectly located to walk to The Friendly and the lake. The house was well stocked and was very clean. There were 6 adults and we were comfortable - we all slept well. We didn’t use the basement. The kitchen has just about everything you would need to cook a meal - the grocery in Glen Arbor is very good. We made breakfast at the house everyday. There is a screened in porch and it needed some bug clean up - but it was not a big deal. We enjoyed watching the deer eat the apples. There are lots of bikes and many games available for families. It is not a new house - screens are worn and floors sag - but is comfortable and big enough for people to gather and to get away for a nap. We had no issues and would happily go back.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

6/10 Okay

Lisa M.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Pros and cons

Pros...First off, lovely area with close proximity to the beach and lots of outdoor activities. There were bikes available to use. The deer visited daily to the backyard and ate from the apple trees and that was enjoyable to watch. House was spacious for 11 adults, but air matresses were used in place of twin beds located in basement and pull-out in living room. All the bathrooms were in good working order with good water pressure for showers and toilets flushed without issues. Wi-fi was solid. Cons...We arrived on an exceptionally hot and humid day and despite the portable air conditioner in living room, it was extremely uncomfortable. We knew there would be no central air, but half the windows would not open, so it was very hard to even get air circulated. Some fans were available, but they truly didn't help much, esp since some windows wouldn't open. Fortunately, it cooled down on day 3 and it was tolerable the rest of the week. The house was in need of some maintenance. Screened-in porch was not as pictured and truly disappointing. The screens were ripped in multiple areas and duct taped in an attempt to repair. Everything was dingy and very much needed a good cleaning. Door jams filthy, floor unswept with spider webs with giant eggs in corners of room, broken string of lights loosely hanging around windows, just dirty looking...housekeeping was DEFINITELY an issue throughout the house. The kitchen floor was dirty, there was no way it was mopped before our arrival. Bottoms of feet black after a couple hours walking inside the house. Multiple dishes pulled from cupboard were not clean, a lot had dried, crusted food on them. Cupboards crammed with left over food items from what I would presume previous renters. The entire house, especially the kitchen, needed a deep cleaning. The side door, which was main entrance had screen ripped and hanging half off allowing bugs to fly in. A chipmunk was a daily visitor to the back porch and one day climbed thru the open unscreened kitchen window and nibbled on fruit left on counter. Management company was apologetic about the housekeeping issues asked if wanted someone to come out. I initially said no, but after realizing how dirty the screened in porch was I changed my mind and told them I would, but no one ever showed up and we ended up cleaning it up enough to sit out there Overall, house has good bones, but needs a little more love and attention to bring it back to what it deserves
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer K.

Beach house

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Overall excellent
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shannon T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Room to spread out

So close to the beach, and cute shops. The apple trees in the back yard are a daily snack for deer, rabbits, and squirrels. Well stocked home.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Will rent again

Lots of yard and lots of space.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Susan A.

Deer Hill Empire

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Deer Hill is a lovely immaculate home, well-positioned in Empire Village, well-stocked with appliances, starter paper products, wifi, and streaming TV. Our grandsons delighted in discovering the many toys/puzzles. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

6/10 Okay

Noneof Y.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Communication

Standard Experience. Excellent Location.

Property was in passable repair. Location is excellent. Wouldn't use the property mgt company again, but the property was nice enough and in a great location.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Susan P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

close to beach

Great property to stay at for the Sleeping Bear Dunes Marathon
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jeff A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

familygetaway

Nice older home( with three levels) with lots of space that worked particularly well for four adults and three very active children. We were concerned that the house would be hot in late July but the two room A/C units performed well and the outdoor temperatures were cool each night.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Grant G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lake house

Great place to stay. Close to the beach. Lots of space for the family. Loved the screen in porch
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Empire Family Vacation

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We rented this cottage because it had room for 6 adults and 2 babies. We were not disappointed in the house layout; there was space for everyone and places "to go" if someone wanted private time. Bathrooms were great; linens were fresh and plentiful. Outside the cottage we had a great deck and room to walk around with the babies. The location is perfect; a short walk and you are at a nice restaurant, shopping, beach and the ice cream store (most important). It is also conveniently located to the beach and several other attractions in the Sleeping Bear shoreline area. We love the Empire Village and hope to return in the future.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

I recommend this vacation rental

Rating Details: I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. I was very happy with the location. The vacation rental was very clean. The property manager was very helpful. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Eileen L., Chicago, IL

Great place 3rd stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This is a great place. The kitchen is fully stocked (so ignore the emails you get from the rental place - I think the language may be canned). There are bikes in the garage and items to be used at the beach. While it is a bummer the close grocery store closed, there are still plenty of places to walk to, and great hiking and biking and kayaking nearby.

10/10 Excellent

Rayan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place!

Very nice town! Right down the street from lake MI
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020

4/10 Poor

Linda E.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Ok experience

Upside - Very peaceful environment, nice big back yard. You can walk to lake Michigan! Downside - only half the bikes worked (of the ones that did work, only one brake on the left side of a full side bikes was partially operational). House was hot - we we're glad we didn't rent in mid July :(. The 2 rooms with window air conditioners were comfortable. The house felt slightly unkept
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Matt S.

Nice place and location, needs maintenance

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Had to plunge sinks a few times; had to find electrical box and flip a couple breakers back on; side deck needs attention.

About the host

Hosted by Visit Up North Vacation Rentals

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests