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Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres

Photo gallery for Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres

Front of house with fire pit in foreground
picnic table at firepit
Back of house - - main entrance to kitchen. parking area behind.
sideview showing porch off tv room
living room looking from fireplace to dining area. Room is 40 ft. X 20 ft.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 12278.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Empire, MI
  • Place, Little Glen Lake
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Glen Lake
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪49 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Common area 1

1 Double Bed

hallway upstairs

1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres

Located across the street from Little Glen Lake - - an authentic historic home with vintage up north character. The home was built in 1938 by
Frederick Dickinson, a gifted local artist & photographer - - and many of his photos of the area are featured throughout. The house is featured in a book of original homes in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area - - and sits on 5+ acres of land which abuts the national lakeshore. There are 4 bedrooms, a TV/game room and a very large (40 feet by 20 feet) living/dining room with working fieldstone fireplace. The TV/game room can be used as a 5th bedroom (there is a full daybed in one corner). There is a full bath downstairs and one and a half bathrooms upstairs. We do not allow pets - - occasionally exceptions can be made for well behaved/non shedding dogs. The kitchen provides plenty of cooking supplies, dishes, stemware and etc. The basement features a seating area, game table, regulation dart board, and laundry room. Outside is complete with a fire pit with wood provided, picnic table, gas grill and plenty of parking for guests. We do not have central AC, and it is rarely necessary. If needed there are 2 window AC units that can be used in upstairs bedrooms - - & window and floor fans are plentiful throughout the house. While we have no direct lake access - - there is public lake access located on the northwestern shore of Little Glen Lake & the eastern shore of Big Glen Lake. Boat rentals are available at nearby marinas. Empire, Glen Haven and Glen Arbor beaches on lake Michigan are within a few miles. Please note: there is an additional fee for linens if you would prefer not to bring your own. Kitchen linens are provided free of charge. Our rate is for 10 people, additional guest fee of $50 per person per night applies. Please feel free to reach out for more information!

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking not permitted inside the house.
we request that guests bring their own sheets and towels if possible. kitchen towels provided. sheets and towels available for $300 per week
no fireworks permitted on property.
the rate is for up to 10 guests. above 10 guests is $50 per person per night.

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Empire

Located in Empire, this holiday home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Travelling with kids? Consider Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • Little Glen Lake - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Glen Lake - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 4 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum - 14 min drive - 12.3 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cherry Republic - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Mill - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Art's Tavern - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Boonedocks - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co. - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Sleeping Bear Hideaway near Sleeping Bear Dunes - - historic home on 5+ acres located?

This family-friendly Empire holiday home is located on a lake, within a 15-minute walk of Little Glen Lake and Glen Lake. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

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. 44 out of 54 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 54 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 54 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 54 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 54 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Kristina M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lots of roomEasy check in.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was our second time staying at this property. Hosts are great with communication. House was perfect for our family fall getaway-great location to the dunes and Canoeing. All ages (4-66) had a blast playing cards and games in the spacious common areas. Nice to have 3 bathrooms! The yard was perfect size for our flag football games.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tristan S.

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

Great stay!

We had an excellent stay at Shawn’s place! The host was very responsive and accommodating, quick to answer on any questions we had and proactively reaching out to make sure we were comfortable and settled in. Beautiful house in a fantastic location, everything exceeded our expectations!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

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

M-22 challenge weekend event!

Great location, great hosts, and such a cool decor throughout the property! We all had a great stay and will gladly stay again! Thanks for sharing your unique home with all of us!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Amanda Z.

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

Location, location, location

We had a great stay at this rustic cabin at Glen Lake. The location is perfect for the dune hikes, pontooning on the lake, and shopping and eating in Glen Arbor and in Empire. It’s a super unique property with vintage photos, elk and bears on the walls, and enough historic plates and dishes to serve 200 people! With opened windows and fans we were comfortable without air conditioning, and Steve and Shawn were quick to communicate and helpful hosts. Check it out!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill F.

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

Sleeping Bear Retreat

Everyone loved this house on our Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes vacation this past weekend. Plenty of beds for our 3 families. We had lots of space and seating with 2 huge living rooms and a dining area with big windows. The house is filled with interesting photographs, artwork, and taxidermy. The kitchen was more than well equipped with cooking and dining pieces. We used the fire pit every night. We were close to the Park, Glen Arbor, and the beaches. The hosts responded quickly when we contacted them. We definitely want to come back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra J.

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

Perfect Historical Home Getaway

Stunning historical property surrounded by trees directly across from Little Glen Lake. There is so much to see and explore within the home. Photography from original owner covers the walls showcasing the dunes from a bygone era. This house is a must-see. In addition, all amenities are provided from toilet paper, kitchen utensils, fire wood, and gas grill. The home was well-stocked. Owners were welcoming and friendly. Always greeted us with a smile and responded to text messages quickly during a busy 4th of July week.Overall, the property is minutes from downtown Glen Arbor and Empire Beach. Truly the perfect location. It was a stellar experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dennis P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pictures do this place no justice, we were looking for rustic with modern amenities, it was bigger than anticipated and the artwork and photographs from the original owner made it feel like a step back to the 40s. More than enough room for the kids not to be heard and the adults to have their private time. Dont be scared of insects, spiders, and slugs if your coming here theyre everywhere. We had one issue with the fridge but there was a second fridge in the basement and Steven showed up in within 15 minutes of sending the text and wanted to get it fixed during our stay. We declined since we moved everything already. This is definitely the place for glen lake and the sleeping bear area if you have more than 8 people. We had a total of 18 people in the house at one time and there was more than enough seating for all of us to eat comfortably inside. Very secluded, but less than 10 minutes away from everything youd ever want to do at Sleeping Bear.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Taylor B.

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

Great spot

Great host definitely a big roomy house our trip was great
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carl A.

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

Great time

The hosts were very helpful and communicated well. We had a great family vacation!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

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

Perfect Location!

This property is charming and unique and was close to everything we wanted to be near. We had a wonderful stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Karin M.

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

Family vacation

Completely relaxing week, everything we wanted was available. House was a great place to stay and everyone had a good time.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Pamela W.

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

Great location

A nice place in a location right in the middle of the places and things we most enjoy in that area. The owners were exceptionally welcoming and helpful, went the extra mile to be sure we had a good experience there.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin O.

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

Perfect place for large group

Love the location. Five minute from downtown Glen Arbor and Empire. Plenty of space for large group, lots of beds and plenty of kitchen amenities. The home itself is beautiful, well maintained and super cozy. Would definitely stay here again for my next visit to the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah F.

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

Great house and great experience!

Our entire party enjoyed every bit of this big house! From the FULLY stocked kitchen to the game tables in the basement- there was something for everyone. We will definitely stay here, again. The hosts were quick to communicate and very hospitable!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

maureen f.

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

We loved our stay!

Fun classic summer experience! Hosts were excellent and a good time was had by all!!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alice E.

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

Bear in the woods

The home was charming and smelled like my great grandmother’s! We took advantage of the chess set and the puzzles and just made ourselves at home. The yard was big enough for the volleyball net we set up. The family enjoyed playing newcom and volleyball! We were located so centrally that traveling to the area sites was easy! I just loved northern Michigan!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

James A.

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

Brown Lodge

From the time we arrived it felt like we were in a cabin in the middle of the woods. The kitchen was big and the living area was huge. Plenty of seating for a large group. With a fire pit on the property, and plenty of parking. Close to Glen Arbor shops and Empire pizza. Unfortunately the week went by so fast, and we can't wait to get back up there next year. Thank you for everything Shawn.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Great location, great accomodations

The house was exactly where we wanted to be and enabled us to do exactly what we wanted to do: hang out at the lakeshore, visit the tourist attractions and come home for a campfire at night. The kitchen was well organized and we had no trouble finding the utensils and equipment we needed for cooking big family meal. Sleeping was comfortable.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2017

10/10 Excellent

Diane L.

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

Great stay for the M22 Race

We had a great stay. Great location, close to the dunes and Glen Arbor. This is a very roomy home. Some of us had to work remotely one of the days and there was plenty of places to spread out and internet worked great. This a very unique property. A rustic cabin feel with comfortable and fun furnishings. The host was helpful and easy to communicate with. We opted to bring our own sheets and towels. Just be aware of the fee if you don’t. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patty E.

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

Perfect for large family

My family and I can’t say enough about this wonderful property! The location is close to so many gorgeous beaches and sites, in the middle space between two little towns. It also was safe and large and fun for young children and very private. Charm is an understatement for the big, rambling, interesting house. There was more than enough room for everyone to spread out, find some privacy, take a nap or make a large meal. The kitchen is super well stocked, more than everything is there you would ever need. We all can’t wait to go back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

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

Great space

Steven and Shawn were fantastic, good communication from the initial booking inquiry all the through the trip. The location is great, and provides easy access to the Lake Michigan beaches within minutes, as well as Sleeping Bear Dunes. The home itself was spacious, and the kitchen was well equipped. Was worried about the house not having A/C, but it wasn't an issue with the fans on as needed and windows open at night. They also helped us secure a mooring for the boat we rented on Glen Lake, which was within walking distance. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience and the hosts were great to work with.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Judith A.

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

Dark, funky, with amazing space

An old, dark, funky house with amazing space -- rooms of all sizes, and beds of all kinds and size. (All beds comfortable.) Filled with mid-century memorabilia. Lots of space outside, too, including a firepit and ample firewood. Too old to feel completely clean, but the surfaces certainly were. The one problem is how dark it is. At some places, especially near the stairs, I could hardly see the floor. (My night vision is impaired.)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

4/10 Poor

Nicholas B.

Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Great house and location, hidden fees and poor communication

Everything leading up until check in went well. Then 2 days before our reservation began, I was informed there would be a steep fee to use their linens or else we would have to bring our own. The check in info on the listing was misleading and the owner was unresponsive to my messages for hours after our check in time has passed. The house is beautiful and I love TC, but would not stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Jim M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family get-together near Sleeping Bear.

We spent seven nights at the property and overall had a wonderful and memorable time. The location is excellent with its proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the village of Empire and Glen Arbor with all their attractions. The house itself is almost 100 years old, so I shouldn't have been surprised that it was a bit musty smelling. There have been some updates but probably not since the 80's. The kitchen was adequate but with up to 12 of us staying there some nights, it was challenging to cook for that big of a group. The plumbing all seemed to work fine. The electrical system had a lot of lights in most of the rooms, but not all of them were working (or missing bulbs). The house has electric baseboard heating which helped to take the dampness out of the air after having the windows open during the day. The upstairs bedrooms, in particular, had loose screens in the windows which let in a lot of bugs at night. The window frames and sills really need a good cleaning throughout the house! The décor is that of a hunting lodge with lots of big comfy chairs and a fireplace (appears to be working but we didn't use it in July). There is an abundance of trophy heads throughout the main rooms from someone's hunting days... The outdoors had a good grill for cooking, a fire pit for campfires with lots of wood available with chairs for sitting around the fire. Our hosts were very pleasant and helpful with any questions or if we needed any odds and ends for the house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by steven cacossa

Host profile image
Shawn and Steven live in the area full time.

Why they chose this property

our home is very peaceful and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle - - yet close to the towns of glen arbor, empire, the sleeping bear dunes and empire and glen arbor beaches.

What makes this property unique

our home is one of the few remaining authentic historical cottages in the area that is available to rent. it was built in 1938 and the original character has been maintained.
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