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The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan

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Photo gallery for The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan

The Old Dam Inn is located on a wide channel leading to four beautiful lakes.
Fall colors along the Penoyer Creek Channel as seen from The Old Dam Inn.
Emerald Lake from the bridge at The Old Dam Inn. Great spot for group photos.
Front of The Inn, with large enclosed porch. Private boat launch 50 feet away.
The Old Dam Inn is located on a quiet cul-de-sac with privacy for your group.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Parking available
  • Laundry
  • Kitchen
$1,250
avg per night

Explore the area

View in a map
Newaygo, MI
  • Place, Emerald Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Pickerel Lake
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Sylvan Lake
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Airport, Muskegon, MI (MKG-Muskegon County)
    ‪51 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

8 bedrooms (sleeps 25)

Inner Sanctum

1 Double Bed

Lava Lounge

2 Double Futons

Newt's Nook

1 Double Bed

Raptor's Roost

1 Double Futon and 1 King Bed

Sunrise

1 Double Bed

Sunset

1 Double Bed

The Crow's Nest

1 Double Futon and 2 Twin Beds

White-tail Point

1 King Bed

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

First Floor Common Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

First Floor Private Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Second Floor Common Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Second Floor Private Bathroom 1

Toilet

Second Floor Private Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
Price is $1,250 avg per night

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About the neighborhood

Newaygo

Located in Newaygo, this lodge is in the city center and on the waterfront. Waters Edge Golf Club and Hardy Dam County Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Newaygo State Park and Emerald Lake. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Lodges in NewaygoOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Emerald Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Pickerel Lake - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Foster Park - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Sylvan Lake - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • John Ford Lake - 19 min walk - 1.6 km

Getting around

  • Muskegon, MI (MKG-Muskegon County) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪KFC - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Biggby Coffee - ‬10 min drive

About this property

The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan

NOTES: We require the home address and drivers license number of potential guests before approving reservation requests. There is one security camera in use that shows the parking lot only. This camera, which may be recorded, is used by the host to confirm guest departures so that cleaning services can be initiated.

The Old Dam Inn is a great historic vacation spot for families that love the outdoors! Enjoy 300 feet of frontage on the Penoyer Creek Channel plus direct boat access to four beautiful lakes totaling 650 acres. With eight bedrooms and five baths (three in private suites), you'll have plenty of room to stretch out and relax.

Central air conditioning was installed in May of 2018. Six of the eight bedrooms also have large ceiling fans. A whole-house standby generator was added in 2023.

Easily accommodates 20-25 overnight guests with privacy. Private, wooded setting in the Manistee National Forest. Commercial style kitchen with two ranges, two refrigerators, two ceiling fans and two dishwashers. All cookware, utensils, paper products and linens provided - just bring your toys and your treats. Parking on-site for up to 20 vehicles, including room for several boat trailers.

Two large covered porches, washer/dryer, fire pit, BBQ/Smoker, 36 inch flat top griddle. Two paddle boats, a two person kayak and three-person rowboat are included (seating for thirteen people). Only three miles by car to the Mighty Muskegon River for excellent Trout, Salmon and Steelhead fishing.

Close to cities of Newaygo and Fremont for fun shopping and dining. Many other lakes and rivers also in the area. Travel time from Chicago is about 4.5 hours and 3.5 hours from metro Detroit. We are less than an hour from Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan.

Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. EST and Check-out time is 11:00 a.m. Early Check-in and late Check-out may be available depending on adjacent booking schedules. Much more detail can be seen by clicking on the "Links & Video" section of this listing.

Unfortunately, VRBO prohibits us from showing you any floor plans for The Old Dam Inn. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Well behaved kids always welcome.
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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
Thank you for smoking only outside of the home.
We do not host weddings, receptions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, high school/college student groups under 25 years of age, or similar gatherings.
Prior to approving reservation requests we require the guest to provide their home address and drivers license number.

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
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Frequently asked questions

Is The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan?

As of Mar 21, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan on Jun 14, 2026 start from $1,250, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan?

Check-out is at 12:00 PM.

Where is The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan located?

This family-friendly Newaygo lodge is located on the waterfront, within a 5-minute walk of Emerald Lake and Huron-Manistee National Forest. Pickerel Lake and Foster Park are also within 15 minutes.

The Old Dam Inn - A Spacious Waterfront Retreat in Northwestern Michigan Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 78 out of 83 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 83 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 83 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 83 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 83 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott C.

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

Family Gathering

Great location, very clean
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Milton S.

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

A “dam” good place to

A historical house with beautiful views and perfect for family gatherings Twenty members of our family had a great week
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deanna H.

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

Family Christmas

Great property for extended family stay Very clean. Large kitchen with everything you need.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura P.

A great place for a family reunion.

Our group of 14 enjoyed this place. It is clean, situated in a quiet area, has walking paths, lots of beds, big kitchen. There are various places in the Inn to have conversations. The hosts were very accommodating and easy to work with.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marcy E.

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

Great three generations, weekend getaway

Spacious, up-to-date home. Owners were gracious and home was clean and organized. Lots of fun activities to do on the property.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Old Dam Inn

Very fun house with an interesting history and more games than you can play. Awesome yard space and just a 1 minute paddle to the larger lakes made this a perfect spot for a reunion gathering.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica M.

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

Family Christmas

This property was perfect for our Christmas Party. The house was all decorated for Christmas and Kurt and Heather the owners were so very nice and helpful. My family loved the map room the most.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were a large family group staying at the inn for a reunion. It worked well for us. It is a very well-equipped and well-organized rental. We have stayed at many vacation rentals, including a half-dozen that accommodate a similarly large number of people, and this was the best organized of all of them. It was also very clean. We did wish that it was easier to go swimming in one or another of the adjacent lakes, but we figured out ways to do that.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Krystyna K.

Great Place

This was the best place ever! There was 14 adults and 6 kids and there was more than enough space for everyone. Kitchen was huge and everything was nicely organized and even labeled! Owners were so nice and they even cleaned out the fire place for us even though it was covered under tons of snow. Great place. We are coming back for Easter.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lori Z.

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

60th anniversary family reunion

We really enjoyed our stay. Great property! Very clean and as described. Very near lake access, enjoyed many kayak trips and swimming in the beautiful emerald lake. Kitchen is very well equipped and labeled. Could use a few more kitchen towels. Hosts are very helpful and responsive!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

HAD A REALLY NICE JULY 4TH WEEKEND

cannot thank Kurt enough. Never had a host wait for us until midnight with a camp fire for check in :-). the brochure at the inn was really helpful in knowing all the things we need to know about the inn, the town and attractions nearby. its a really nice place, the paddle boats and kayak were a plus, our kids really enjoyed it.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Gary K.

2015 Fishing Team

Our second visit to a wonderful house, and for six guys there's more then enough room. A spotless home with decorations even a guy would like. Just the place to relax, great cooks kitchen and a firepit to enjoy several cocktails at. Kurt many thanks....
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Shawn B.

Fabulous Experience in this Restored Home.

The owners have thought of everything in this beautifully restored home. Every room offers something new, something charming, something memorable. With 2 stoves, 2 refrigerators, and commercial equipment, the kitchen is perfect for your large group. With 20 people the home was more than large enough, and thanks to 4.5 baths there was never a wait for a bathroom. Thanks to our host for a very friendly stay.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew O.

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

100% Perfect

The Old Dam Inn was absolutely perfect! A group of 10 of us stayed here for a friend's wedding at Camp Newaygo, and it couldn't have gone better. The inn had more than enough space and the hosts have thought of everything. We couldn't get over how perfect the kitchen was for a big group! The garage was also the perfect place to watch the football game while shooting some pool. 5/5!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Duane V.

Great Place! Great Hosts!

The Old Dam Inn is a wonderful property. The Gibersons have created an atmosphere that provides comfort as well as entertainment. They are available at a moment's notice to provide information and support as needed. Upon arriving, Kurt and Heather met us and took us on an informative tour of the facility, sharing the history of the house and surrounding area. The Inn allowed our entire family a meeting/sleeping place in order to celebrate our father's 90th birthday, ensuring a perfect weekend. Thank you.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lauren F.

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

Amazing! Pictures don't due it justice!

What a wonderful place to stay. We had 8 adults and 10 kids all stay here and sleep comfortably. From the game room to paddle boating on the stream, riding bikes and finding near by trails for dirt biking there was plenty to keep the kids busy and the adults happy. The hosts were easy to get a hold of if we had any questions and they were so accommodating with all the little extras inside the house making our stay super easy. They have everything you need in the kitchen, grill and bathrooms. The attention detail such as labeling everything was so nice so there was no guessing where anything is. The house itself is full of fun themed rooms with lots of history that was fun to read about. Lake Michigan was only an hour away and we also went tubing down the Muskegon River which was about 5min down the road. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katie P.

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

Perfect place to Retreat

Even better than the pictures! It is such a beautiful property and the themed rooms were such a fun touch. The owners were so friendly, helpful, and responsive. We were staying in the area for a retreat and we couldn’t have picked a better location if we tried. The owners have thought of everything for their guests. Everything was labeled clearly and easy to find, we had plenty of wood for daily campfires, and enough space for all 24 of us. The weather was perfect so we enjoyed the outdoors (boats, volleyball, griddle, walks) the most but the garage was a favorite hang out spot after dark. Thanks again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Alicia S.

Awesome Surprise 40th Birthday for My Husband

The owners were very helpful and accommodating to the arrangements for this surprise party gathering for my husband. I found the communications about the property and about the arrangements to be very helpful and thorough. The house was perfect for our needs; we had 15 adults staying there confortably. My husband and I brought our own kayaks but there was a tandem kayak, paddleboats, and a row boat for our other guests to use. We had fires each night, played lawn games, took walks around the lake and prepared many meals in the well equipped kitchen. There have been several discussions about a group of us returning again because we liked it so well and there are several nearby things we would like to go experience as well.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mick G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We’ve stayed at several VRBO and rental type properties over the years. This one was by far the most unique and had the most hospitable owners we’ve ever experienced. It really made a difference on the care and concern they showed to us when we arrived. Great property. Great setting. Great area. I recommend everyone try this place once.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hunter G.

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

Church retreat

Beautiful stay, such a great experience. Will be returning again in the future. The pictures do not do the property justice! Fantastic hosts! Newaygo is such a great town as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jill N.

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

Stay with extended family of all ages

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay with family ranging from 4 months to 80 years old. Everything at the Inn was as described online. House and property were clean and well kept. Everyone loved the garage space with all the fun games. This property is well-stocked with everything you need. Owners were quick to arrive with extra bedding when needed and they were very responsive the entire time. Pretty hard to beat this place.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janette S.

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

Relaxing week

This property was perfect for our family. The garage/game room and the outdoor activities kept the older kids occupied. The kids play room kept the younger kids happy. The lake and fishing kept the men busy. The large kitchen made preparing meals easy. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and had a wonderful, relaxing vacation week at the Old Dam Inn.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Riley W.

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

Loved it

My friends and I rented this property for a long-weekend reunion and we were so happy that we chose the Old Dam Inn. There was plenty to keep our group occupied, from the pool/foosball/poker tables to the numerous lawn games to the kayaks and paddle boats. We appreciated the thoughtful and charming decor, and several people expressed how happy they were that we rented here. Thanks for the great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jacob B.

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

Old Dam Lodge

A beautiful property with a cool house. Comfortable for our group of 15 and very nicely furnished.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Perfect

This place is absolutely wonderful. Very very clean and well appointed. The property is beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. The Innkeepers work hard to make your stay the best it can be. If we could give it 10 stars we would. Sharon and Friends - Michigan