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Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family.

Photo gallery for Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family.

Property grounds
Living area
Private kitchen
Dining
Interior

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Manistee, MI
  • Manistee Lake
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Little River Casino
    ‪32 min drive‬
  • Portage Lake
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Double Bed

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family.

Nestled within the Huron-Manistee National Forest, Matson's Lodge is located on the Big Manistee River in Manistee Michigan. The lodge has 6 spacious bedrooms with two queen size beds, 5 full size beds and two twins. Two large bathrooms and two fully equipped kitchens with three refrigerators for all of your food and beverages. Enjoy cooking outdoors under the awning on a charcoal grill while you relax on the patio furniture or picnic table. The lodge offers three TV’s with Direct TV programming offering 150 channels for all ages which can be enjoyed in one of two living rooms or the Master bedroom. All linens and towels are provided, but ask that you bring your own beach towels.
(The lodge has two complete living areas, so if your family or group only needs 3 bedrooms you may rent one half of the lodge for a reduced rate of $150 or $160. Depending on which side you choose, the back half will sleep up to 9 people in 3 bedrooms or the front half will sleep up to 7 people. Both sides have their own kitchen and bathroom as well. Please contact owner by email regarding dates and rate change before booking.)
In the evening, family and friends can gather around the large firepit complete with comfortable chairs and a glider bench. Many stories have been shared as our guest enjoy the warmth and glow a campfire.
The Big Manistee River has been designated as one of the US Forestry's Wild and Scenic rivers in Michigan. Enjoy the great outdoors and the beauty of nature by renting a canoe, kayak, tube, or fishing boat (or bring your own) and float down the Big Manistee River. River trips are available through Matson's Campground; when taking a trip, your group is shuttled up river to a drop off spot and float back to the lodge. Be sure to reserve your kayak, canoe or tubes early to ensure availability when you book your reservation.
Wildlife abound with Bald eagles, whitetail deer, birds of many species, and maybe a sighting of a bear. If you enjoy fishing, the Big Manistee River is well known for some of the world's greatest salmon and steelhead. Other species include walleye, northern pike, bass, and brown trout. Many master anglers have been caught on the Big Manistee River, in fact the world largest brown trout was caught up river from our place!
Other amenities in the area include beautiful Lake Michigan, Historic Victorian City of Manistee, several Golf courses and Little River Casino is just 15 minutes away.
If you forgot something, Matson’s Campground offers a convenience store, ice, campfire wood and other amenities. The adjacent campground is a family owned business for 28 years which also offers additional cabins and campsites.

Property manager

Scott and Cheryl Matson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

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

Children allowed: ages 0–17
All ages welcome
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Events

Events allowed
Quiet hours 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
Maximum of two pets allowed, $35 per pet.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No Smoking allowed in Lodge, Fine will be assessed
Maximum guests in the lodge is 16 (adults/children)
Alcohol is allowed, however all parties must drink responsibly and respect other guest. Drinking age is 21 yrs, NO UNDERAGE DRINKING WILL BE ALLOWED.

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
Parties and events are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 16
Note from host: Quiet hours 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM
Host has indicated that there is no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Manistee

Located in Manistee, this holiday home is on a river. WaterWorks Museum and Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Huron-Manistee National Forest. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Manistee, MI

What's nearby

  • Manistee Lake - 26 min drive - 19.3 km
  • Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary - 29 min drive - 24.6 km
  • Little River Casino - 32 min drive - 24.3 km
  • Manistee County Beaches - 34 min drive - 31.5 km
  • Portage Lake - 35 min drive - 37.0 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Blue Slipper Tavern - ‬36 min drive
  • ‪Yellow Dog Cafe - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪Papa J's Ice Cream & Eatery - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪Douglas Valley Winery - ‬34 min drive
  • ‪Rapids Bistro - ‬30 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family. pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Lodge on the Big Manistee River, with cabins for extended family. located?

Located on a river, this family-friendly holiday home is steps from Huron-Manistee National Forest and 12 mi (19.3 km) from Manistee Lake. Douglas Park and First Street Beach are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 26 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 26 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 26 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Dan D.

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

Golf and Relax

Comfortable accommodations in a beautiful, peaceful place. Cooling off with a dip in the river was awesome!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janelle R.

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

Great weekend trip

We enjoyed everything! Thank you for being so accommodating!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tim B.

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

Great lodge for multiple families

Plenty of space for our extended family weekend. We booked the whole lodge and there was plenty of room for us to spread out. Unfortunatly we didnt have time to get on the river, but we will be coming back to enjoy it next time! The hosts were super responsive and very welcoming.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Charles R.

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

A great time

The lodge was spacious and comfortable. We had a great time the property was beautiful . We would stay here again . 10 out of 10
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

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

Great location for Manistee River

Communication and location were excellent. Plenty of room for everyone to spread out. Location next to the Manistee River was fantastic.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chad F.

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

Had a great time.

Nice place. Lots of room for all us. Owners were very accommodating.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aimee C.

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

Great place for families!

Our cabin was clean, comfortable and we had plenty of room for our group. The river is just a short walk away and we did a little fishing. We loved the on-site tube and kayak rentals and had a great time on the river. Our hosts were great and definitely a place we’d like to return to.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa D., Swartz Creek, USA

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

Great for Large Family-Friends

More than enough room for 11+ adults. Loved that with renting the whole lodge never felt on top of each other. Kitchens had everything you need, beds comfy and whole lodge very clean!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michelle T., Grant

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

Awesome lodge and hosts

The property is just as described and can accommodate more than expected. Cheryl was right there for any needs or questions I had but otherwise was unseen or heard from while we stayed even though their home is a driveway away. I felt safe and comfortable there. Awesome linens and three fridges to hold extra food and drinks was fantastic. My friends were all impressed with the accomodations for our girls weekend getaway. Thank you so much!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019

8/10 Good

Gwen A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

Family get together

Overall the cabin was big enough for all of us. For the most part it was clean. It is an older cabin and could use some updating but it was fine. The negative part is the photos are miss leading on line: 1) the cabin looks like it three levels, and it actually one. 2) the river looks like it is right outside of the cabin and it is not. You can not swim in the river. Also when ever you go outside it smells like dog Pooh. There is not dog Pooh on the cabin yard, but there is a dog, don’t know if it is the owners, around the office, which is right next to this cabin. So sitting outside the cabin or by the fire or going to your car you smell dog Pooh. One of the bedroom doors, in the bigger section, the door knob needs to be fixed. Also the main kitchen freezer handle is broke on one side. Not the best area as far as the looks of the permanent campers. Some of the campers that look like they are permanent there are kinda sketchy or this may be a different park, but it looks like most are permanent and not in good shape. But I would rent the cabin again due to its size. Owner very nice and accommodating. We left several things and she mailed them back immediately.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

4/10 Poor

Ekaterina L., Niles

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

Dark and Cold

The property was not cleaned properly prior to our arrival. There was dust everywhere and our socks looked black after walking around on the floor. Half of the lights don't work so it was also really dark everywhere. One of the bedrooms had a door that can't be opened from inside the room if its closed all the way. One of the bathrooms had a door that could not be locked. A bathroom cabinet had one of the doors that was kept closed by tape. Owners only had one key for a 6 bedroom house. We rented the house out for end of December and once we got there we found that none of the bedrooms have central heating. The heat was just in the common areas. The owners did let us use two space heaters and we were lucky that it wasn't super cold, but it was not pleasant. Finally on the last night of our stay we heard mice. The place rents out very cheaply but in this case it's really true that you get what you pay for. I would have gladly paid more per night to have it be cleaner and in good working order.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019

6/10 Okay

Kimberly M.

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

Mixed Thoughts

While the location was nice and generally quiet and the place was large enough to accommodate a group of 10 easily, the place definitely needs a deep clean and some maintenance. The beds and bedrooms felt mostly clean and comfy and the furnishings were ample for hangouts. The right half had a musty smell and I'm sensitive to that but was okay with sleeping on the left side. Many bulbs were burnt and switches hard to find, but the lamps helped. The newer bathroom vent fan did not work and had mold growth and lots of cobwebs, and would recommend a clear shower curtain as the brown one made it very dark in the shower. The worst part was the main kitchen. Most of the dishes were very dirty and there was a lot of mouse droppings under the kitchen sink. We ended up deep cleaning a few pots and pans for our use and buying paper and plastic ware and cups to eat off of. Also, the main door(slider) had no way of locking, it was hard for kids and older people to close it and came off the tracks several times while we were there. We told the hosts about this and they said they were trying to find a solution, but it won't likely be addressed during the peak season. Since they were keeping an eye on the entry for us and we needed to leave some expensive medication there when out fir the day, I didn't feel comfortable letting them know about the other problems. The hosts were super nice and full of info and the space in the accommodation is great for a large group or family. While the family enjoyed our time together, I think the overall consensus is we would find somewhere else next time just because of the cleanliness and maintenance issues. The guys did have a good time exploring the fishing areas and the gals the beaches. Not much else to do around Manistee and phone and internet service are scarce there, but that's what we were looking for. Otherwise relaxing spot, but don't forget the bug spray!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Jen J., muskegon

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

At the lodge

We had a great time. The lodge was nice and clean and fit all 16 of us easily. We had great conversations, games, fishing fires etc... it was very quiet at the camp ground also. We were a little disappointed as the listing and pictures show it is on the water, which is was not. We were hoping that it would have been a little more off on its on, but we still had a fabulous time and made many great memories.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Malinda L.

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

Wonderful location for the outdoor enthusiast!

The cabin was perfect for our large family gathering. Well stocked with all the things we needed. Close to biking, hiking and river activities!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Heidi P., Washington

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

Funeral

This place worked out great for us. We were there for unhappy reasons, but the host made our time there very stress free.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Paige A.

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

Perfect place for the whole family

We rented the lodge for three adults and nine kids. Fresh, clean, comfortable beds for everyone!! Lined up a tubing excursion for the second day there and had a wonderful time. Owners were super friendly and helpful for everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Beverly L.

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

Memories from Matson’s

We had plenty of room and the location worked well for us. Quiet and peaceful surroundings. Scott and Cheryl are very accommodating.

8/10 Good

Matt C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Nice place but not "on the river"

Nice, Clean property but it is in the middle of a campground and not a cabin on the Manistee River. Description doesn't really paint a realistic picture of where this is located.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alex G.

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

Great acc

Great location and wonderful cabin. We will definitely look into booking again for future events!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly O.

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

Such a great time!

Wonderful host, great time!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

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

Great family weekend

Highly recommend for a large family getaway ❤️It was perfect for us ! Everyone was awesome. Better than expected. Thank you all
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Sinead T.

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

Skiing week

Located about 35 minutes from Caberfae Peaks. It was a good property to stay in and the homeowners were very accommodating.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

LezLe P.

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

Overall great stay

My family of 14 stayed at the lodge. It was clean and stocked with all the necessary items. Cheryl and Scott are very pleasant and friendly. We especially liked the tubing/kayaking that was offered. I would stay here again :)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

ruby d.

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

Was lucky to find a place to rent on such short notice . Fantastic communication!

Loved the rustic camping area near the river . Great pls s to go for long wetting . They rent tubes and Kayaks snd drive you to try river . Fully stocked kitchen and bathrooms . Close to attractions .
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jeff L.

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

Fit us just right

Everything was as expected and fit our group just right. Thanks
Stayed 2 nights in May 2020

About the host

Hosted by Scott and Cheryl Matson

Host profile image
Scott and I have owned Matson's Campground and Lodge for the past 24 years. We enjoy the outdoors, fishing, boating and meeting new people. We have vacationed in the Florida Keys and Ft. Myers for the past several years in the winter. Our greatest joy is spending time with our children and grandchildren.

Why they chose this property

The peace and tranquility that the Big Manistee River provides is one of the reasons we fell in love with this area. The view of the river or Borski's Bayou is one of the greatest views in the state. One of our favorite pastimes is to take a boat ride on the river and enjoy nature's beauty and wildlife. Over the years we have improved the campground and added the Lodge, cabins and bathhouse.

Languages:

English