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Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees

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Terrace/patio
5 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets
Interior
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12242 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet friendly
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees

Maybe you weren’t born in a barn — but why not vacation in one?
This unique 5-bedroom, 2-bath home was designed and decorated in 2005 to resemble a classic old barn, offering a cozy, comfortable escape with a touch of rustic elegance. With 2,600 sq. ft. of space, it’s the perfect setup for families — separate areas for adults and kids ensure everyone has room to relax and play.

Set on 2.5 private acres along peaceful Upper Herring Lake, you’ll enjoy 140 feet of frontage, rolling hills, orchards, vineyards, and a quiet country road — all just minutes from Crystal Mountain.

What's Included:
WiFi now available!
FREE pontoon boat use during summer months (a $1,000 value!)
NO host fees, NO cleaning fees, NO pet fees (for up to 2 dogs), and NO extra guest charges!
2-3 minute walk (approx. 200 ft) down the boardwalk through a protected natural area to your lakefront setup

Lakefront Amenities:
Available seasonally, your private lakefront includes:
Row boat (April 1 – Nov 15)
2 kayaks (May 1 – Nov 1)
Floating Aqua-Play-Mat (Memorial Day – Labor Day)
Full dock w/ mooring (Mid-May – Nov 1)
Fire pit with chairs
Rope hammock and chaise lounge
Free pontoon boat (Memorial Day – early October) + 10 gallons of free pre-mixed fuel!
The boats are clean and well-maintained, ranging from 18–24 ft and 20–30 years old, with 2-stroke motors (25–35 hp). Ideal for sunset cruises or fishing, not high-speed boating. Operating knowledge is helpful, but instructions and tech support are available.
Note: The lakefront has a typical Northern Michigan mica bottom — soft, mucky near the shore (not sandy).

Additional Notes:
Walk to lake is 200 ft and slightly graded — easy for most, but may be a challenge for guests with mobility issues.
We provide a starter supply of paper goods and soap, typically enough for a 2-night stay for smaller groups.
For a full packing list, visit the "Using the Property" section on your My Trip page.
Winter stays: We recommend an AWD or front-wheel-drive vehicle with snow tires.

Property manager

Lizzie B

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video games
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 6 steps to reach entrance
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Tile flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Bicycle parking
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Casino nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Bicycle parking
  • Double-glazed windows
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic soft drink bottles
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Reusable cups
  • Reusable tableware
  • Unit size: 2,600 square feet
  • Water-efficient showers

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys
1. Start first load of laundry (can be either linens or towels). 2. Wipe excessive spills on surfaces.
3. Return furniture to original places. Please leave inside furniture inside and outside furniture outside. 4. Clean and empty the BBQ grill into provided ash can only.
5. Clean up after pets (including HAIR IN HOME (and "doo-doo" in yard).

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Map
Arcadia, MI

What's nearby

  • Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve - 7 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Inspiration Point - 8 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course - 17 min drive - 17.5 km
  • Frankfort Beach - 18 min drive - 17.3 km
  • Point Betsie Lighthouse - 25 min drive - 24.4 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Lighthouse Cafe - ‬11 min drive
  • A&W Restaurant
  • ‪Hilltop Soda Shoppe - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Mayfair Burger Bar - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees located?

This family-friendly Arcadia vacation home is located on the waterfront, 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Lake Michigan, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve and Inspiration Point. Elberta Beach and Frankfort Beach are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Charming Barn-Style Retreat Near Crystal Mountain – Free Pontoon, No extra Fees Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 39 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 42 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

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

Great escape

We stayed there a few weeks back. It was a beautiful place to watch the snow fall. Easy drive to skiing as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Martha B.

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

Beautiful spacious home

Great place to stay for our family.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary A.

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

We would stay there again.

We enjoyed our stay. Plenty of room for everyone,
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandy A.

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

Beautiful location and house.

Great for groups. Convenient to the M-22 locations and Traverse City. Would absolutely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ryan W.

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

Awesome weekend getaway

A great spot to relax, play cards, and enjoy time with friends after a long day of adventures.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Cecelia L.

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

Great area, beautiful home.

We had a great time, house is beautiful and comfortable with plenty to give you stuff to do but also can be as relaxing as ever. The surrounding area was also wonderful, we'll definitely be back to the area and maybe even another one of these rental properties.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patty A.

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

Great rental & location

We loved the communication, barnhouse, and amenities! Thank you for an amazing experience for our Ladies Retreat!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Katherine L.

Spacious and very clean

It was fun staying in barn house
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mike K.

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

Fall visit

Clean and comfortable property! Close to Sleeping Bear Dunes and lovely costal communities.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn K.

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

Barn Cottage on the lake

House is comfortably and artistically appointed - everything we needed and more provided. The boardwalk to the lake, bordered by woodlands and beautiful wildflowers, was a pleasant surprise. We enjoyed the pontoon boat and lakeside fire pit. Convenient to Arcadia beach on Laje Michigan and Frankfort.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Claire J.

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

Fall weekend

The Barn house was such a unique and cool property! It was spotless and the decor was unique and cozy. My son loved the pool/ping pong table downstairs and bonfire pit for s’mores. Thank you for everything!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

KC S.

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

Golf trip with friends and family

We picked this house for its location about 10 minutes from Arcadia Bluffs and it was extremely nice. It was large space with plenty of room for 5 adults to spread out when needed. The house was clean and decorated beautifully. The kitchen was well stocked and there were numerous games that kept us entertained for hours. Couldn’t be happier with the house and look forward to returning with my children as I know they will enjoy the house and surrounding area greatly!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Colin M.

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

Lovely lovely spot

We had a wonderful time staying at the house this week! It was peaceful and quiet and the nearby lake was a blast. We could hear the ice solidifying and melting throughout the week which was really cool. Saw the Milky Way a few nights at the lake which was gorgeous. Frozen enough to stand on and take in the view. Hopefully can come back some time soon!
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

David T., BEVERLY HILLS

Last Minute Ski Weekend at Crystal Mountain

The owner was great about accomodating last minute plans less than 48 hours before our trip. Their property management team did a great job getting us set up and into this home. The furnishings were updated and newer, the home was super clean, and our sons loved the pool table and playstation. We brought our dog and had a great ski weekend. The loft was really cool too.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kate H.

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

Perfect retreat for big families!

So much fun to stay in a barn-style getaway with scenic views and plenty of room for kids and adults to have their own space. Our children immediately "took over" the lower level with the ping pong/pool table; the two bunk-bed rooms and foldout futon were perfect sleeping arrangements for them, too. Something to note, the second floor primary bedroom is also access to the top floor sleeping area so it's not totally private. The house was well-stocked and there are really helpful instructions for where everything is located in the closets. Loved the big deck and boardwalk down to the lake as well. Great place!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danielle M.

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

Everything We Needed

We enjoyed our little snowy winter getaway to the barn house. The house decor was cute with some unique details. It comfortably accommodated our whole family, 10 of us including an infant. The kitchen lacked nothing we needed to prepare all our meals. Walks down to the lake were peaceful and the scenery beautiful, with plenty to do inside the house with games and movies, and close to Crystal Mountian for some skiing.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia B.

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

Amazing!!!

We were searching for areas in Michigan for our family trip and saw this property. When I tell you this place has everything you need believe me. We had 4 adults, a 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15 and 17 and each and everyone one of us loved it. There is plenty of space for everyone to move about. A sandbox and swing set for the younger kids and ping pong for older kids. All of us enjoyed the use of the boat, kayaks and canoe. Absolutely everything you could need is provided and house was very clean. They also accepted pets which is absolutely amazing. I would recommend this property 100%!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

James W.

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

Perfect

I booked this last minute for our anniversary. Home is even better than the pictures. Really creative. It was very clean and Lizzie was great to work with. We cooked most of our meals and the home had all we needed. We had a bonfire every night of our stay down by the water. For late nights, we turned on the lights in the living room and went up to the top floor so the lights shined up to us (hard to explain.) Perfect way to see all the stars. One morning my wife slept in and I took the pontoon boat out with coffee and a donut we got the day before from Crescent bakery in Frankfort - the best start to my day. That was the same day we had lunch at Arcadia Bluffs. We will absolutely return, but maybe bring more people next time because the house is huge.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristeen J.

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

Love, Love, Love

We had three generations all coming together for the weekend: my parents, 2 siblings, their spouses and kid(s) and husband and I with our little one. The weekend was perfect. The home was big enough for all 12 of us and it was beautiful, very clean and fun. There are a lot of little things to see if you walk around - definitely decorated by an artist. We went on walks along the road where you could see the lake over beautiful orchards, we had camp fires down at the lake and even stopped by the ice cream parlor in Frankfort and walked down to the Frankfort beach and enjoyed each others' company. The home had everything we needed so there wasn't anything to stress about. We forgot a few things and called Lizzie only to discover they had what we needed in a drawer. The guys took the pontoon boat out once and had a nice time. I heard coffee on the top floor is a must, but I slept in every day; the beds were very, very comfortable. Thanks Lizzie! We will be coming again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Communication

Great location, old property

We enjoyed the area, and had great weather. The lake is over 200 yards from the house, so we only had fires there 2 nights. We used a solo stove up by the house. The house needs a lot of maintenance, leaky tub faucet, key lock box just fell out! And uneven steps. The low lighting with dark lamp shades and made it difficult to read in bed or even see in the dark bedrooms. I would suggest painting the paneling the lighter colors than the dark green blue and black. The boats were not even worth mentioning they were so old and not maintained impulse tree was ripped in the motor were old and according to the starting procedure not easy to start. We didn’t use them the lifejackets provided would not save anybody’s life many of them were ripped and very old. The listing that says it sleeps 14 but six of those are on futons which is not comfortable for adults. And no bathroom on the 2nd floor and attic was not great.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert P.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

JOni G.

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

Great property in a great location

This was a charming cabin in a great location. Everything you needed was provided. Kitchen etc. was well equipped. There is quite a walk to get to the lake and the lake is unfortunately difficult to see from the cabin but once you got to the lake it beautiful and peaceful. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jose A.

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

The Perfect Getaway in Michigans Backyard.

The property was the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend with the family. Everything you could want in the perfect sized home. The home was so well equipped we felt very over prepared for our 2 night stay. My family is already asking how soon we can go back and we have every intention of booking the same property for our next weekend getaway. The cleaning and service fee charged at the property is completely reasonable. You feel like you are walking into a home that was set aside just for you. EVERYTHING felt clean and welcoming. We hope to visit again in the near future hopefully during warmer weather and with more time to actually enjoy the beautiful lake and site seeing this slice of paradise had to offer.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Jennifer G.

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

Nice stay

There is plenty of space for everyone. The kitchen is well stocked with cookware and dishes. The main floor bed left us with sore backs. I don’t really understand why they are so stingy with things like dishwasher soap, toilet paper, and trash bags. I also don’t appreciate their dish policy. They ask for all dishes to be cleaned, dried, and put away before checkout. It would be nice to be able to feed my family breakfast and leave with the dishwasher running.
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stacy D.

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

Grown ups getaway

Just what we needed for our grown ups only vacation!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021