Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.

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Entire home

Full kitchen with dining area. - Full kitchen with dining area.

Guest cottage with deck - Guest cottage with deck

Living room with cable TV - Living room with cable TV

Upstairs bedroom with full bed - Upstairs bedroom with full bed

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Good

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 7

Popular amenities

Barbecue grill
Dryer
Washer
Outdoor Space
Kitchen
Free WiFi

Explore the area

Empire, Michigan

Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
‪8 min walk‬
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
‪15 min walk‬
Empire Bluff Trail
‪18 min walk‬
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Twin Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

About this property

Charming and cozy! This 1891 Centennial Home is located in the heart of old Empire on a calm side street. It is only a five-minute walk to Empire beach (Lake Michigan), with miles of sugar sand in each direction to enjoy. This property has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on 2 levels.

The main level bedroom has one queen. Upstairs there are two bedrooms with one double bed, two twins, and a twin rollaway bed. The house has cable, WIFI, and a DVD player. This home has original interiors with modern conveniences. There is a washer/dryer available.

Relax in the spacious backyard with a deck, chimnea for outdoor fires, and grill. There is a beautiful peach tree in the yard, wonderful when the peaches are ripe for picking. Stroll down the street to Tiffany's for ice cream or Joe's Friendly Tavern for a burger. The Empire Beach boasts a beautiful sandy beach and a large playground. Come in May for the Asparagus Festival! It's only a 5-minute drive to the Sleeping Bear Dunes climb and a 25-minute drive to Traverse City.

No air conditioning.

-- THE PROPERTY --

Sleeps 7.

Bedroom 1: queen bed || Bedroom 2: double bed || Bedroom 3: two twins & twin rollaway bed

OUTDOORS: Grill, Deck/patio, Sand toys

INDOORS: WIFI, smart TV, DVD player, Board games

KITCHEN: Coffee maker, Dishes & utensils, Microwave, Oven, Pantry items, Refrigerator, Stove, Cookware

GENERAL: No A/C, Iron & board, Linens & towels, Washer & dryer

PARKING: Space for 3 vehicles (includes roadside parking)

-- 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

Outdoor Space

Barbecue grill

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed, service animals permitted

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

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 there is a smoke detector on the property

About the neighborhood

Empire

Located in Empire, this vacation home is near the beach. 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 fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and cycling.

View more Vacation Homes in Empire

Empire, Michigan

What's nearby

Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Empire Bluff Trail - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive - 5 min drive - 5.8 km
Little Glen Lake - 7 min drive - 7.5 km

Getting around

Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬6 min walk
‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬7 min walk
‪Food For Thought - ‬7 min drive
‪Friendly Tavern - ‬3 min walk
‪Tiffany's Ice Cream - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach. pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

What time is check-in at Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach. located?

Situated near the beach, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Philip A. Hart Visitor Center and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is 0.8 mi (1.2 km) away.

7.6

Good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.

Learn more

7.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

4.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Jamie L.

Jul 31, 2024

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

4th of july stay

enjoyed

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

tom b.

Oct 9, 2023

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

Sleeping Bear Marathon

Our stay was nice

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Jennifer D.

Oct 21, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Empire House

While the house is old and has funny angles and spaces, it fulfilled out need. Location to Empire Beach was perfect. Our group of seven ran the Sleeping Bear 5K, 1/2 and full marathon and location couldn't be better. Bed covers could be cleaner, and the rollaway bed mattress could be updated. No outside porch light so arriving late at night took some effort. Overall, decent place for the price.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

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

8/10 Good

Oct 6, 2022

Sleeping bear marathon

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Very nice

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kathy L.

Aug 2, 2017

Wonderful!

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: My extended family stayed in both the Blue Jay and The Summer Place. We loved it. Very clean.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

Amanda S.

Sep 4, 2023

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

Great location

The location is amazing. The house is around the block from Empire’s little downtown and a short walk or bike ride to the beach. We had two families in our group and the property worked out well for us. The backyard was great, with plenty of space for the kids to play and a porch to eat meals together. Our families each took a house. The main house, Summer Place, is bigger and nicer. Blue Jay was smaller, but not bad. The homes were clean.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

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

8/10 Good

Scott S.

Oct 12, 2022

Family getaway

Rating Details: The property manager was very 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: Property is a bit older but comfortable. The main house has a musty order which may be a problem for some people. The guest house is very spartan and has no heat, other than some electric space heaters.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

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

8/10 Good

Christine K.

Sep 30, 2021

September in Empire

Rating Details: The property manager was more than 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: The Summer Place in Empire was in a perfect location. We walked to he beach every morning. We stayed in the Blue Jay ( the trailer in the side yard). It was clean but really needed some updating, especially the bathroom. Our other guests stayed in the main house which I thought was lovely. It could have used a little more thorough cleaning; the fans needed dusting and a dehumidifier would have helped.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2021

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

6/10 Okay

Lauren E.

Oct 6, 2024

Could be better

Rating Details: The property manager was somewhat unhelpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Overall we enjoyed the area and vacation. We were not impressed by this rental. It was a place to stay but the beds could've been more comfortable and the house could use some updates. Our kids wanted to play some of the games but it seemed they were all missing pieces and not nicely kept. We were also very disappointed that we did not have access to the Blue Jay rental. I was led to believe we would have access to the other rental and was even given a code for entry but there was no code box. It wasn't until I reached out and asked about it that they said the owner shut down that rental. We have little kids and would've liked to use the bath tub in that rental since the main house only has a shower. I would not have rented this property if I would have know beforehand

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

Bethany L.

Aug 11, 2014

Ideal set-up, but too many problems to be worth price

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was more than 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: We liked the location and rooms of the house, just what we wanted. But, the maintenance issues made us generally uncomfortable. We saw mice each night in multiple rooms. The company sent someone with poison and traps but the mice still showed up each night and sometimes during the day. Had to keep washing kids blankets and hiding all our food supplies. Several lights were broken or missing. The grill & bikes were in a shed that reeked of cat feces. The closet in the bathroom had a shocking odor - we just didn't use it, we rewashed all the towels. And many windows did not lock. The kitchen sink pipes weren't connected so our first dishload flooded the floor, but my husband fixed that. We found items from the previous renters under the kids beds (dirty socks), so that had not been vacuumed. Nothing unliveable but just not worth the pricey rent.

10/10 Excellent

Connie S.

Aug 20, 2024

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

Great for large family

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Kathryn P.

Sep 12, 2022

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

It was okay

We had a nice stay, but we ran into some issues. The guest house ran out of hot water after one shower and it was not clear how to lock the door. I would have preferred nicer beds in the main house and the upstairs could use some carpet/flooring. We also had an issue with not being able to turn on the outside light when it was raining - thought maybe we blew a fuse, but we could not locate a fuse box. We had a decent stay, but I would probably not book this property again. Proximity to the beach was nice and we took advantage of that for sure. The rainy weather (out of everyone’s control) made it so we couldn’t enjoy the outside yard/back decks as much as we wanted. I’m glad that we did not overpay for this property - it was a good value.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

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

6/10 Okay

suzanne M.

Aug 24, 2022

Summer Place

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was more than 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: I was disappointed in with a couple things. The back door did not lock however I called the office and they did remedy it quickly. The mattress in the downstairs bedroom was VERY bad. Needs to be replaced asap. The kitchen smelled of vomit. I washed the floors with a bleach solution before we could unpack. The location is good but for the amount of money charged, improvements need to be done. There were dirty, stinky clothes left in the Blue jay bathroom as well as the upstairs bedroom. I asked beforehand if the property was fenced and was told yes. Only ONE side has a fence.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

6/10 Okay

Kasandra A.

Aug 18, 2022

Liked: Check-in, communication

Disliked: Cleanliness

Not 5 minutes from the beach

This property was OKAY. Cleaning crew can do better. We just finished a family trip where we stayed in both the house and Bluejay(trailer on property). The house was nice but rooms upstairs were not suitable for littles. The windows are very low and I had serious concerns about how easily my toddlers could access them. The main house was clean but there were ant traps on the window sill in the kitchen, upon our arrival I noted that but no ants. The next morning though, ants were crawling all over the counter tops and in the bathroom. I get that it’s up north but at the same time, it’s still gross. The Blue Jay was not the cleanest. Dust noted and upon arrival (at 4pm) there was a decent sized wet spot on the couch. Don’t even think about showering here as the shower probably won’t fit someone over 5’7” and the window in the shower, while it was screened in had cobwebs and a very large black spider crawling around in there. The description also states that it is a 5 minute walk to the beach, it is not. It is a 5 minute walk to the bar though so that was nice. Overall the stay was fine but I would not stay here again, especially for the price we paid.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenny K.

Jun 30, 2022

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

awesome

Our stay in Empire was great. We all want to do it again. Excellent experience and accomodations

Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Timothy L.

Oct 19, 2021

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

Great Stay

We really enjoyed our stay. Location is perfect for exploring Empire and heading to the beach. Easy access to great trails as well. House was very cute and the private backyard was awesome. Grilling, fire and new deck has plenty of room. Would book again for sure.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

katherine N.

Oct 5, 2021

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

Great location, lots of room!

We loved the location of this property, easy walking distance to beach, restaurants, shops and a fun park for the kids. House is older, but has character. Beds were comfortable and clean. Nice deck and back yard for visiting in.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

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

4/10 Poor

Yumie T.

Aug 30, 2021

Not clean

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very dirty. 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: 1. When we arrived, key box had already opened. Key was exposed before we arrive2. No mention about air conditioning was out of order. During our staying, outside was heat temperature. It was worst trouble 3. Dishes and pans were still dirty in the shelf.4. Used towels were left in the closet5. Disposable blue box was already fulled with messy trash 6. Have you smelled inside house? Mold and dust smell were full up room.7. Hot water limit is too low to use bathtubBut are is so quiet and charming . I wish if someone cleans up whole house, it will become good house....Anyway thank you for quick response when we were confused this situation

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Brian W.

Aug 26, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, fair-to-middlin' house

One preliminary hassle was filling out extra paperwork from the property manager (Up North Vacations, I believe), which hasn't been required for any other VRBO property I've rented (and I've rented many). The house was very clean when we arrived, and spacious. The kitchen, living room, and deck were comfortable. The kitchen had most basic needs. On our first morning, I found that the toaster wouldn't keep toast down long enough to brown it; but without us asking, someone showed up with a new toaster on our second day there. The house doesn't have AC (even though someone renting the place for 3 nights would cover the cost of a few window units); but several fans were provided (stored in closets), which was nice. Some of the beds were saggy. Be aware that Empire doesn't have a grocery store; and the convenience store has milk and some dry goods, but no eggs or produce. It was an easy walk to a restaurant, an ice cream parlor, and the beach.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

lora g.

Jun 25, 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

The main house was great...but the guest house was disgusting.

When booking at property, it was stated that a dog was allowed. However, only in the guest house which was disgusting. I cried as soon as I went into that house. The toilet didn't flush, so we had to take the tank cover off to hit the part that makes the water fill up. There were 1 light out of 3 that worked in the bathroom. The chairs were crusted. The guest room lamp shade had a hole in it. The bed was disgusting, the pillows and room was terrible. The door was off the hinge. The smells of body odor in the bedrooms and sofa was revolting.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

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

4/10 Poor

Angaline M.

Jun 21, 2021

Wasn't what we expected

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very dirty. I was 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: My experience with the houses are shared below. The lake/Beach is beautiful, neighborhood is friendly, and locals are very friendly. Summer PlaceWindows left unlockedStained carpet in living room (install got pushed back) wasn't aware of the construction until we were there.Sofa replaced however not with new based off of appearance, probably could have a younger child sleep on if need be.FULL Trash Bin in alley, trash overflowed do to construction No trash bin in house (did find outside but had to hunt for it)Wifi name/password not on bottom of router like instructions stateGames left to play are full of missing parts or mismatched parts and needs to be cleaned outUnfinished floor maintenance (upstairs full bed bedroom) - not provide a rug to walk on, felt like walking on fresh cut wood (could be part of the carpet delay that wasn't communicated to my rental, hopefully it gets fixed)Unfinished clean up from contractors/cleaners - found nails, screws, glass, staples, shards of wood all over the house and yardBedroom off of kitchen needs floor stickers for little dip in floor as it could be a tripping hazard.Closets are very unorganized and dirtyFloors were filthy (from maintenance speckled paint all over tile)Blinds were overly dustyCurtains crumbled when unfoldedThe musty smell in the house flared allergiesBaby gate left behind, couldn't use, it's partially broken (bent)spring windows (don't let kids open the windows without supervision) Blue JayBroken key lock box (duct tape) - wasn't closed, didn't stay closed, code not needed to openBroken/exposed metal door frame to entry doorCloset full of empty cans/bottlesPaint can and paint brushes left out on decksDeck table didn't have umbrella for table like shown in app picturesBroken lampshade in small bedroomConstant leak from faucet in bathroomBathroom door jammed/fell off

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

6/10 Okay

Oct 6, 2020

The summer place was located in the perfect place.

Rating Details: I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. I was very happy with the location. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. The property manager was more than helpful. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The summer place was located in the perfect place. However, when we arrived at the home, the microwave oven was a mess, there was opened food left in the cabinet and the garbage can under the sink was overflowing with garbage. I called the office and they apologized. When I am paying to stay somewhere I expect it to be clean. Unfortunately, I was scepticle with what welcomed us and I washed all the dished and glasses so I would be sure it was clean. That wasn't the greatest start to the vacation. Also, our son is 6' 3" tall the ceiling fans and ceiling where a little too low for him. They really need to get a new couch, the cushions are constantly falling off the base of the couch. Overall, The Summer Place served it's purpose, we had a wonderful time and great weather. The lower level bedroom was great for my mom. Overall, I don't think we would rent the summer place again. We need a little bit more room.

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

6/10 Okay

Oct 6, 2020

Great Location - Good Use a Few Updates

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The location was perfect for everything we wanted to visit. Close enough to walk to the beach and playground, visitors center, grocery store, ice cream shop and restaurant. The home could definitely use a deep cleaning, our son's feet were black just from running around the main floor. Window treatments on the bathroom window and the kitchen window just outside the bathroom was be nice- we placed towels over the windows for privacy. We only used the couch to watch the weather report, but the couch has seen better days - the cushions would just not stay on the couch and were touching the floor. We had to put it back together every time we sat on it. All and all the convenient and quiet location makes this a nice rental.

8/10 Good

Shayla F.

Oct 3, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Cute little town!

This property was very cute and was a easy walk to beach/downtown. Pictures should be updated online though and the lot next door made us feel a little uneasy but we did not have any issues. It would have been nice to have an open or bigger fire pit but I am not sure if it’s allowed or not. Overall, the property def could use some updates but we still enjoyed ourselves.

10/10 Excellent

Una M.

Sep 4, 2020

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

Great place for two families!

Really enjoyed our stay—it provided a wonderful setting for a vacation with another family during Covid. We spent most of our time in the backyard, which offered plenty of seating, shade, and sun. The kitchen was well-equipped and clean. Nearly everything in the house was in working order (expect one of the bedrooms had no lamp or overhead light). The beds could use an upgrade, though. Despite that, I would definitely stay again and recommend the place to friends.

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Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.

Photo gallery for Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

About this property