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Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI!

Lakefront vacation home with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI!

Terrace/patio - Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! (Arcadia)
Interior - Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! (Arcadia)
Exterior - Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! (Arcadia)
Smart TV, video games, DVD player, books - Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! (Arcadia)
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop - Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! (Arcadia)
Upper Herring Lake Schoolhouse is a modern retreat with 360-degree views of the lake and countryside. This creatively designed home features cherry wood flooring, ceramic tile, custom woodwork, Pottery Barn style decor and antique furniture. Enjoy separate spaces for grown-ups and little ones alike on the quiet country road surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12204 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Washer

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

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

Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI!

- NEAR CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN!

- We now have Wi-Fi!!

- As always, we never charge Host, Cleaning, Pet (up to two dogs) or Extra Guest fees!

Just when your kids thought they were safe from school . . .

Creatively designed and decorated to resemble an old, classic school house, but modern, comfortable and cozy with a touch of class. Cherry wood flooring, ceramic tile, custom woodwork, Pottery Barn style decor, a mix of antique and custom furniture are just some of the home's touches. Enjoy 360 degree panoramic views of Upper Herring Lake and surrounding countryside from the 4th floor bell tower. 

The Home was also designed with the family in mind with separate spaces for grown ups and little ones alike.

Located on all-sports (not all-crowded) Upper Herring Lake, with 140' of private water frontage*. The Home sits on 2.5 acres and is on a quiet, peaceful country road. It is surrounded by a blend of rolling hills, woodlands, orchards, and vineyards. This 2100 sq. ft. home is in a word - FUN!

You will be just minutes from Lake Michigan beaches and the resort town of Frankfort. Not much further are many of Northern Michigan's premier vacation spots such as The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Traverse City.

Also, just 2-3 minutes** walk down the boardwalk trail *through the protected natural area, await enough waterfront amenities to fill a school bus... make that two school buses! There is a row boat, 2 - kayaks, 1 - 12' x 6' Floating Foam Aqua-Play-Mat, life jackets in various shapes & sizes, full dock w/moorings for extra boats, fire pit w/chairs, rope hammock, chaise lounge, and as an extra bonus we include the use a ***pontoon boat free of charge ( a $1,000 value). Oh, and did we mention 10 gallons of free premixed fuel!

When these Amenities are available: Pontoon boat w/10 gal free fuel (Memorial week til early October), Floating Aqua-Play-Mat (Memorial Week thru Labor Day Week), kayaks (May 1st til Nov 1st), and row boat(April 1st til Nov 15th), dock (Mid-May til Nov 1st).

*Typical Northern Michigan soft mica bottom, NOT SANDY. The lakefront feels mucky near the shoreline.

**2-3 minutes for healthy adults and children, for those with health issues it could take a little longer. Home also sits on a slight grade so the walk back could be a concern for those with health issues.

***As a FREE bonus to our guests in our summer months, we offer you the use of one of a pontoon boats. They are nothing special. They are clean and well maintained. They range in size from 18-24ft. They range in age from 20-30 years old w/2stroke motors ranging from 25 - 35 hp. While these boats may not fulfill the boating dreams of some people, they are perfect for a sunset cruise or a family fishing outing. We even supply you with 10 gallons of pre-mixed gasoline!. To get the most enjoyment from these boats it is recommended that person with a knowledge of boating and two stroke motors be involved operating them. If not we do have full instructions, and technical assistance available if necessary. See photo of typical pontoon boat.

---- Also we provide a starter supply of paper/soap products which should be enough for a typical 2 night stay for smaller groups of 2 - 4 people. For a complete list of "what is provided" and "things to bring", check out "Using the property”, on your “My Trip” page.

- For our winter guests we recommend bringing an all-wheel-drive vehicle or at the very least a front wheel drive with good snow tires!

Keywords: School, Pontoon Boat, Family, Waterfront, Lakefront, Beach, Winter Getaway, Northern Michigan, Private

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
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

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

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

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

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • 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.
  • 5 steps to reach entrance
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Cobblestone flooring in public areas
  • Handrails in stairways
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Thin carpet 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
  • Near the marina
  • 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
  • Ecotours 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
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing 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
  • Garden
  • No plastic coffee stirrers
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • No plastic soft drink bottles
  • No plastic water bottles
  • Reusable cups
  • Reusable tableware
  • Unit size: 2,200 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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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).
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

Check out list: -Start a load of laundry -Wash dishes & put away -Put back furniture that was moved -Trash out to receptacle -Clean all dog hair & poo
Smoking damages the the home. If smoking has occurred inside the home, there will be a $200-$500 Cleaning Repair Fee depending on the level of damage.
Quiet time: 10PM - 8AM. No parking on rd. By booking guest agrees to VRBO and host's (sent by VRBO after booking is complete) Terms and Conditions

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

Events

No events allowed

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
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

Property is also known as

Pontoonboat! Newer Home! Open ALL Year!
Open ALL Year! Water Trampoline! Pontoonboat! Gameroom! Kayaks!

About the neighborhood

Map
Arcadia, MI

What's nearby

  • Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve - 6 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Inspiration Point - 7 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Arcadia Area Historical Museum - 9 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Betsie Lake - 10 min drive - 13.7 km
  • Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course - 14 min drive - 17.5 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪A&W Restaurant - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪MT Plate Diner - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Chestnut Hills Golf Course - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Upriver Pizza - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI!?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Lake Michigan and within 6 mi (10 km) of Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve and Inspiration Point. Chestnut Hills Golf Course and Arcadia Area Historical Museum are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Ski Crystal! 4 FLOORS of FUN! Gameroom! PONTOON BOAT! Kayaks! NEW WIFI! Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 44 out of 48 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 48 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 48 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Mary P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location close to beautiful Elberta beach.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

marlene k l.

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

Fall getaway

I was very interested in this property for future family vacay’s, very fun place, loved how they include the school integrity with antique’s & decore, loved exploring the area ! Would be happy to stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen M., Northville, MI

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

Wonderful stay!

We wanted a family-friendly place for a getaway. The schoolhouse cottage was perfect! Great location, just like photos, fun features like movies, pool/ping pong table, swing set, and a telescope, very comfortable and inviting. We’d love to stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Todd I.

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

Fabulous location

We really loved the location and access to all the small towns. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and the use of boat, kayaks, and dock. Would love to come again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Robert S.

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

Great place

We had a great time on this stay. The property manager was very helpful and provided excellent communication. The propert was very clean, had a lot of things to do and was a great environment. Would definitely stay there again and we huge recommend it.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

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

Great week!

House was perfect for the 11 of us. Great location.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie M.

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

Absolutely wonderful winter getaway

GREAT! Hope to be back soon.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

LORI A.

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

Close to Crystal Mt

Great stay close to Crystal Mt. Wonderful host! Great with communication throughout the visit.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Beverly P.

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

Family fishing trip

Great property! A lot of fun things to do. The kids loved it!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aimee F.

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

Great Getaway

This property was a wonderful get away. Having access to the pontoon boat and kayaks was so much fun. There was a little bit of a walk from the house to the lake on a private path but not to bad maybe 2-3 mins. It is fairly close, 45 mins-ish, to Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore and is a really cool place to visit. Climbing the dune is no joke but fun. The only thing that could make it better would be to have some 9x13 or 8x11 bakeware. We had to improvise using a loaf pan to make brownies one night. lol! But still, its great and I would stay there again if we are visiting that area again.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer K., Montague, USA

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

Quick get away with famiky

We had a lovely time. Great house to hang out in and enjoy each others company.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Holly R.

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

School House Vacation

Wonderful property with plenty of room for our group. Lake Perch were plentiful, and delicious. Exciting to hear the wildlife at dark and enjoyed the peacefulness of the surrounding county side by day.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bryan H.

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

Summer Vacation

12 mostly adults stayed comfortable here. Close proximity to lots of things. Make sure you take kayaks to lower herring and kayak out to Lake Michigan.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ryan M.

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

Great Rental!

Our extended family stayed for a week and had no complaints at all. The property was very clean on arrival and the instructions were clear and concise. The pontoon boat was an absolute bonus and the house itself is unique and well cared for. We would recommend a stay to anyone interested and would make plans to come back without hesitation.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terry L.

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

school house

The school house is just as pictured on the website. There is plenty of room for family and friends.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Terry R.

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

Welcoming experience

Beautiful schoolhouse property & very clean! Plenty of things in a & around the home to keep all ages busy! Having the pontoon boat was fun for cruising & fishing! We had precious family time! Thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chrissy V.

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

Amazing Northern Michigan Retreat!

We were lucky enough to have three nights at Valerie's place! It is such a spectacular location, close to Frankfort and the beach and restaurants, as well as numerous beautiful hiking trails. Our favorite was Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve. We also had a wonderful day driving M22 north to Leland, Northport and Glen Arbor. All within an hour/hour and a half of the property. There are so many great hiking spots within Sleeping Bear National Park. We did Alligator Hill and loved it! So much to do. Great location. And fabulous autumn colors!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Scott J., Rochester, MI, U SA

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

Family Generations Vacation

Nice accommodations. Enjoyed location and hike to water. Pontoon boat was wonderful add on. And the Aquamat. Great fishing (fish the zones shown on map included with cottage handbook). Close to Sleeping Bear dunes (note: Dune walk is quite a challenge!) and nice beaches. Spacious kitchen. Lack of wifi actually a bonus (got youth to spend time on family games). Everyone had a good time. Many thanks!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tami S.

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

Wonderful house!

This was a great place to stay with our 4 adult, 4 kid group. It had everything we needed, was comfortable, and clean. The telescope room is really cool and a unique part of the house. It was further than we'd hoped from Crystal Mountain, but the trip back and forth was manageable. We would love to go back in the summer and take advantage of the lake. No Wifi--my fault for not reading the description well enough to realize this. Not a big deal, as one of our group had a hotspot, and it was better to mostly unplug for the weekend anyway.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Dan O.

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

5 Days in the Schoolhouse

The building is charming inside and out, and the area down by the lake with the pontoon, fire pit and chairs is lovely. Blue Lakes should know that one of the stools at the bar was completely cracked when we arrived so might not be safe to use and there was no battery in the smoke alarm in the main floor bedroom. Typically the standard of care for a property such as this is for toilet paper and trashcan bags to be included. The surrounding area is beautiful with trees and is close to several quaint villages.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kitty R.

What a wonderful place!

From the moment I walked in the door, I knew my expectations were going to be exceeded. There was a lit Christmas tree and Christmas music playing softly. I was wondering what I could do to make it feel Christmasy for my granddaughter's first Christmas. The answer was nothing! It was perfect. The school house is nicely located, we didn't here any noise. The house itself is lovely with room to spread out when someone needed space. I would highly recommend this property to anyone who is looking for the "up north " experience.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kristeen J.

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

Best Vacation Ever

Everything was perfect with our stay. The home was very clean and the owner thought of everything we needed to enjoy ourselves. The home is decorated like an old school house. The "bell tower" was so amazing to sit up in the morning with coffee and just watch the lake over the trees. DH and I were able to watch movies while the kids played pool and the PS2 in another room. Plenty of cooking necessities to make all our meals. We went for drives during the day and tried out a few of the restaurants recommended in the info book at the house. We had several walks down to the lake and that all looked nice too though we didn't use the fire pit. We also all went for walks along the road with our dog. It's a very beautiful road with barns and orchards all over. Not much car traffic. Would have loved to see it during high color season.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barb A.

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

Getaway w/ the Granddaughters

Beautiful home, beautiful area!! Our group was a little larger than originally planned yet there was space for all of us. One of my granddaughters is getting married next month so I thought I'd take all of the cousins on a quick getaway to bond and celebrate. What a blessing this home was! The home is decorated like an old school house. There is a bell tower at the top w/ a mini library. It's accessed by a spiral staircase. The kitchen is large and was stocked with everything we needed. We knew going in that there was no wifi and it ended up being perfect. We went for walks (saw cows) and watched DVDs at night. Some of the girls even watched their old favorite cartoons in the morning (while eating cereal) just like when they were little. We perused an old year book from 1930 in the home and drove into the little town of Frankfort for dinner one evening. We even tried Gravity Hill near the house. Put our cars in neutral and yes, rolled UPHILL. Thank you so MUCH!! I think we're all closer and we really want to come back sometime soon (maybe when I get news I'll be a great-grandma.). ;).
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kathy N., Holland, MI

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

50th Anniversary Celebration with Family

Our family left the "Schoolhouse Cottage" with so many magical memories including: The quiet stroll down the wooded path to the lake listening to birds and rustling leaves blow. We loved having the pontoon boat to cool us off on warmer days. An eagle blessed us with its successful dive for a fish. We had plenty to do with games and the ping-pong table, chalkboard art, cooking contests, picnics on the deck, and much more. It is also located near Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve which a MUST for hikers. We canoed beautiful Lower Herring Lake which flows out into Lake Michigan - a sight to behold. Thank you for sharing your cottage with us and helping us to make these memories a reality!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

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

Great Place

Was a nice place to stay while we had a ski weekend. Quite a bit removed from any of the local towns, but within easy driving distance. Kids really enjoyed the rustic-ness of the school house cottage.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022