The Tree House in the Heart of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore

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Apartment

Ship wreckage washed ashore on Lake Michigan

Sleeping Bear Dunes..a short hop from the Tree House

Sunset over Lake Michigan near Glen Arbor 2015

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.6

Exceptional

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 365 sq m

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Outdoor space

Free WiFi

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Check-in time

5:00 PM

Check-out time

10:00 AM

Explore the area

Empire, MI

Glen Lake9 min drive
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore11 min drive
Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum15 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)46 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Convertible bed(s)

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

NOW TAKING SUMMER 2024 - 2025 RESERVATIONS.

Welcome to our Tree House in the Sleeping Bear National Park. The Tree House is a carriage house in the forest approximately 3 miles from the Village of Empire and 3 miles from Glen Arbor. Twenty to 30 minutes to Traverse City.

. You may rely upon the accuracy of the calendar that appears on VRBO.
>Minimum stay during peak season (Memorial Day - Labor Day) is 7 nights. (Saturday-Saturday)
>Check in on Saturday, and check out on Saturday. Sorry, we do not break up weeks.
>Maximum fire law occupancy is 4
>We are pet friendly, within reason. There is a pet fee to consider and crates are required for a pet left alone on the property. We have purchased a crate that you may rent if you cannot bring one. We no longer allow cats.
>All guests are required to purchase VRBO rental insurance and we also participate in the refundable deposit program.

National Geographic
2012 TOP 10 BEST SUMMER VACATION PLACES.

The Tree House is located in the heart of Good Morning America's Most Beautiful Place in America...Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.

This completely furnished carriage apartment was built by the owners. The house is situated on 30 acres, on a secluded road with minimal traffic, directly across from the Sleeping Bear National Forest. Comfortably sleeps 2 adults but can sleep 4. The apartment is upstairs, essentially a tree house in the woods and separate from the main house. Exactly half way between Glen Arbor and Empire. Less than a mile from the beautiful Glen Lakes; swimming, jet ski rental, boat rental and fishing. Empire and Glen Arbor restaurants, shopping, art galleries and more within a 10 minute drive. Golf, horseback riding, hiking, less than a mile and only 20-25 minutes from Traverse City.
There is also an art studio on the property and a large garden. Down the hill from the apartment is a large natural pond and from the apartment balcony deck you can observe the wildlife at the pond. Anytime you might see cranes, deer, foxes and even an occasional coyote. There is also a small pond off the garden, near the main house.

Please check the calendar for available dates during your intended stay. During Peak Season (May - September ) check in day is ONLY on Saturday and check out the following Saturday. In the upper right side of the main page there is a link to the reservation calendar. You can view the available dates there. Check in Saturday, 5:00 pm - Check out Saturday 10 am.

The property is closed to rentals from October 15 until Memorial Day weekend.

PLEASE: when you inquire about reservations, please email me back and let me know your decision ! Thank you.

Keywords: Sleeping Bear, house, apartment, upstairs, gay friendly, pets, Empire, Glen Arbor, Traverse City.

Property manager

Norm

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 27

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)

Pets left alone in the house MUST BE CRATED

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

OUTDOORS ONLY

We reserve the right to limit or withdraw pool use.

Only those people on the reservation may occupy the facility. If the reservation is for 2 people, then only two people may stay.

Pets left alone on property MUST be crated at all times for safety and damage purposes. We have a crate to rent if necessary.

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

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Empire

Located in Empire, this apartment is in a rural area and on the waterfront. 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 Great Lakes Children's Museum are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Empire, MI

What's nearby

Little Glen Lake - 5 min drive
Glen Lake - 9 min drive
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive - 9 min drive
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 11 min drive
Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum - 15 min drive

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

‪Cherry Public House | Glen Arbor - ‬10 min drive
‪Boone Dock's - ‬10 min drive
‪Arts Tavern - ‬10 min drive
‪Friendly Tavern - ‬9 min drive
‪Cherry Republic - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Tree House in the Heart of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at The Tree House in the Heart of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore ?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Tree House in the Heart of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Tree House in the Heart of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore located?

Situated on the waterfront, this apartment building is 2.5 mi (4 km) from Little Glen Lake and within 6 miles (10 km) of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Glen Lake and Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are also within 6 miles (10 km).

9.6

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

23 Sept 2023

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

Peaceful getaway

We have been coming to Sleeping Bear Dunes for years and this was our first stay at the Tree House. The location is great. It is nestled in the woods on a quiet lane which was perfect for an evening stroll with our dogs. The unit itself was very clean and nicely decorated. The kitchen had everything needed to make all our meals and the furniture was comfortable. The bathroom was up to date with a beautiful shower but the bedroom was my favorite. I loved all the wood and large windows. It was nice to meet the owner. Norm was available for questions and super nice person. There are a few steps to go up so unless you have issues with those we would recommend the Tree House to anyone without hesitation and will be back ourselves.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carol S.

22 Aug 2023

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

The treehouse

Very peaceful and quiet

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

6/10 Okay

Chelsie D.

21 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

TOO CLOSE TO HOSTS' HOME

I want to preface this review with the fact that my husband owns & operates short-term/vacation rentals for a living & has been doing so for years. We have stayed at numerous properties in Northern MI with our dogs + around the country & have never had any issues or complaints. PROS: Great location, very clean, upgraded bathroom. CONS: While Norm seems like a nice guy, in our professional opinion, he holds his rental property a little too close to home, literally & figuratively, which caused us to not enjoy our stay to its fullest potential. #1: The “tree house” is located right next to his house. This is not accurately described in the description. #2: There is no key to the property. We were not aware of this until 48 before check-in when we received the instructions that said “There is no key, there hasn’t been for 15 years.” This is something that needs to be properly communicated in the description of the listing as some may not be comfortable with this. #3: While this property accepts dogs, our dogs seemed to be an issue for him. On our first morning, we woke up to a text message that said “I’m not angry but…” followed by a long paragraph of things Norm was not happy about (ie: barking, not crating our dogs, having them off-leash, etc.). We had so much anxiety about leaving our dogs at the property and upsetting Norm that we ended up taking them with us everywhere we went and left them in the car with the AC on when needed. Overall would not stay at this property again.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tom C.

25 July 2023

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

Lovely Stay in the Treehouse

The treehouse was comfortable, quiet and a great base from which to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes and the western shore of western Michigan. Beautiful setting in the woods and our host, Norm, was most responsive to our questions and requests.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maija P.

19 July 2023

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

Exactly what we needed

Our stay was cozy, comfortable, and serene. It was wonderful to be surrounded by trees. It also was close to everything we needed. Thank you for a wonderful time!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Haley J.

7 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Great Location

This rental was in the perfect location for those wanting to explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes Lakeshore and Traverse City. The property feels like a cozy cottage up in the trees and I loved the surrounding nature. My only qualms were that we chose the property for the pool, but the pool was broken (and it will be until about August). I didn't notice the fine print that indicated the pool was broken upon booking and felt mislead because the pool was still listed in the amenities and in the description at the time we booked our stay. So we were disappointed about that, but we still had plenty to do in the area. There is no key to the property which some renters might not like, but that wasn't a big deal for us since we kept our valuables on hand. Check-in was very easy, and the host was easy to communicate with.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas S.

11 Oct 2022

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

Great Stay

Enjoyed the location and 'treehouse' - perfect for two. Very quiet place to relax and nearby everything you may want to do. The unit was as described, check-in/out simple. Would definitely stay again when visiting in the future - thank you!

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rob S., Stow

24 Sept 2022

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

Quiet and very comfortable

Located close to everything we wanted to see. Very quiet and very comfortable stay. Enjoyed our time at the dunes!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Vincent B.

21 Sept 2022

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

Comfortable, clean, convenient

Pleasant stay. Few minor items could be repaired or upgraded.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christopher L.

12 Sept 2022

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

Tree House

Tree house because you are enveloped in lovely tall leafy woods. The place is a little larger than the pictures might lead you to suspect. It is well appointed and well thought out. Everything you can think of is provided; it's quite comfortable. Would go again.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

29 Aug 2022

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

Perfect 'Up North' Location

We loved our stay at the Tree House! The location is perfect being convenient to our favorite beaches in Glen Haven and Empire, the golf courses, and the Leelanau peninsula. The property is located in a peaceful forest. The unit is comfortable, clean, and well-equipped. Norm was easy to reach and responsive while respecting our privacy. We will definitely be back.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Nancy E.

24 Aug 2022

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

Lovely flat deep in the woods

This was our second visit to the Tree House and it was a wonderful week. The flat is very well appointed: the kitchen is fully stocked with cookware and easy to cook in, the dining area is convenient, the living area is comfortable (2 chairs and a couch/futon), well lit, and well stocked with screen and dvd player & an assortment of dvds. The bedroom is very nice (double bed, single bed/couch, loveseat) although access to one side of the bed is quite limited.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jason P.

6 Aug 2022

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

Very close to the all the great sites

This is close to the sand dunes, especially Empire Bluff as well as near Glen Arbor. We biked the Heritage Trail and Leelanau Trail and this was a great location to stay for biking. Also paddle boarded many areas around and kayaked down Platte River. Cooked a lot of meals on the grill (salmon, corn, etc) and made nachos in the toaster oven. Quiet nights and loved the dark nights with the tree covering. Norm also was great when we had questions or concerns.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

5 Aug 2022

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Not A Tree House

Location was excellent. A LOT to do and a very historic and beautiful area. We had a lot of fun. The property is really an apartment above a garage with a balcony surrounded by trees. It Is NOT a tree house as listed. Bathroom floor was NOT clean. Needs maintenance.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paul B.

9 July 2022

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

AMAZING PLACE!

What a great place! Close to the lake but secluded and quiet! Wonderful property and great hosts!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrea W., Port Huron

8 July 2022

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

Perfect Spot

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in the Tree House. It was nestled near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and centrally located. It was a short trip in to Empire to the SBDNP Visitor's Center and Empire's Beach. I was able to hike several place north and south of Empire, bike the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, and shop/visit numerous towns off of M-22 throughout Leelanau Peninsula area. The Tree House was comfortable for one adult, but would be great for up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children. It was the perfect size and the owner was terrific!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Todd K.

26 June 2022

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

Just what I needed

Clean, comfortable, well stocked kitchen, a comfortable bed, and a location convenient to Empire, Glen Arbor, and Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. The property description is accurate.

Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lyn R.

9 Oct 2021

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

Quiet and Comfortable

The Tree House is a cozy apartment nestled in the woods. The amenities were just as expected, beds are very comfortable and the location is perfect for visiting the rest of the peninsula. We so appreciated the cleanliness of the space. We had a small medical emergency right at the beginning of the week and it was perfect place for recuperation! Norm and Craig are great hosts.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nancy E.

22 Aug 2021

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

Lovely Stay in the Woods

Overall, our week in the Tree House was superb. The flat was perfectly appointed, our host was warm and welcoming, and the location could not have been better for exploring towns and beaches. We were minutes from Frankfurt (to the south), Empire (just down the road), Glen Arbor and Leland (to the north). We went for short hikes, visited several beautiful beaches, hunted the shores for Petoskey Stones and Leland Blues, swam and relaxed for the entire week. The flat has the best kitchen we've seen (at any VRBO rentals) to support us as we cooked all week. We grilled, we watched favorite films, our dog was happy to be with us. Five stars - not a single negative!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mike N.

17 Aug 2021

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

Great place and location

The place was just what we were looking for: quiet, relaxing, close to the dunes, and was appointed with everything we needed. Norm, the host, was great. He even hooked us up to his generator when the power went out after a storm. Communication, check in/out was seamless. Would definitely stay here again!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maureen B., Grand Rapids, Michigan

10 Aug 2021

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

Cozy and comfortable apartment

We had a nice time in this cozy, comfortable apartment. It is nicely furnished and tastefully decorated. It also had everything we needed. It was in close proximity to many beautiful places!

10/10 Excellent

Stephen T.

1 Aug 2021

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

Quiet setting, clean, close to all!

Firstly, this property is close to everything. If a short drive is not a problem for the days activities, then The Tree House is worth a look. Close for to Lake Michigan over the dunes, or on the bay, both are great options. Biking cannot be any easier. Kayaking has endless possibilities. The house is clean, and in good shape. Perfect for 2-3. The kitchen well appointed. Beds really comfortable. Outside deck and living room space the right size. We love the location with access to all. We will be back.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Natalia B.

26 July 2021

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

Nice secluded getaway

Very quiet and comfortable. Close to Sleeping Bear and Glen Arbor

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ann K.

18 July 2021

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

This was a fine location with a quick hop to Empire in one direction and Glen Arbor in other

Cozy place, secluded, private, wooded, natural. The shower could stand improvement.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melanie G.

11 July 2021

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

Great Stay

Lovely and unique property! Close to beaches and other tourist spots. Owner was gracious and considerate.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Norm

Please check our reviews. Some of the best reviews for the area. We have hosted many guests over the 15 years from performers at the Manitou Music Festival, to artists in residence of the Glen Arbor Art Association. Whatever we can do to make your stay in Empire/Glen Arbor/Traverse City better, we will be happy to help in any way that we can. Please be sure to leave a review after your stay.Thanks for your kind support.

Why they chose this property

Just read the reviews ! We have many return guests year after year.

What makes this property unique

In the heart of Sleeping Bear National Forest, the Tree House is centrally located, with quick access to the Glen Lakes, Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan. Within a 20-30 minute drive, guests can find themselves in the midst of Traverse City. Come stay with us during the National Cherry Festival or the Manitou Music Festival. Everything is within reasonable driving distances. Benzie, Honor, Cadillac, Suttons Bay, Acme, Williamsburg, Bear Lake, Northport, Leland, and Lake Leelanau.