See all properties
Entire home

Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich.

Photo gallery for Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich.

Front
Private kitchen
Back Yard
Living area
Living area

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 674.3 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
copemish, MI
  • Crystal Mountain
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Michigan Legacy Art Park
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Interlochen Center for the Arts
    ‪28 min drive‬
  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪47 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 6)

Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich.

a one-bedroom, one-bath, pet-friendly cottage situated on 10 acres of land. The cottage is recently renovated with wood flooring, newly tiled bathroom, flat screen televisions, and memory foam mattresses. Amenities include sleeping accommodations for up to six, a full kitchen, and outdoor sauna.

Located just five minutes from Crystal Mountain Resort, the cottage is centrally located between Traverse City, Manistee and Cadillac, providing the ideal base from which to explore everything the region has to offer. In the winter, enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing at Crystal Mountain Resort, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling (ride-in, ride-out access). In the summer, fish, hike, bike, golf, canoe, or spend the day at the beach, on the Manistee or Betsie Rivers, or at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In the spring and summer, hunt for mushrooms on the property and in the surrounding fields and forests. And you can always head into one of the nearby towns to enjoy the shops, restaurants, or wineries. Check out Ironfish Distillery just down the road in Thompsonville. Or try your luck at one of the nearby casinos.

Traveling with a bigger group? Visit our sister properties, Hilltop house (HomeAway #3486317) and Hilltop Loft (HomeAway #3486317), right down the lane. Rent more than one property and have space for everyone.

If you are seeking a relaxing atmosphere with easy access to some of the best Up North attractions, this is the place.

Amenities: Sleeping Accommodations for Six: 1 Full Bed (bedroom), 1 full-size pull-out sofa bed, 1 bunk-size pull-out sofa bed, 1 twin Hide- a-bed chair. Bedding and Linens Provided. Full kitchen (refrigerator, freezer, stove, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, utensils), Sauna, Air Conditioning, Satellite TV, DVD Player, Washer/Dryer, Deck & Outdoor Furniture, Fire Pit, charcoal
Grill, Trailer Parking (boat, snowmobile, jet ski, etc.)

Please note: There is a step down when you walk through the doorway leading from the living room to the bedroom, laundry room, and bathroom.

Attractions: Lake Michigan beaches, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Skiing (Crystal Mountain Resort for downhill and cross country, Big M for cross country), Snowmobile trails , Hiking, Fishing (Betsie and Manistee Rivers), Golf, Morel Mushroom picking, Hunting, Michigan Legacy Art Park, Interlochen Arts Academy, Casinos, Wine Tasting.

Property manager

Dusty Myers
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Exterior

Charming 2-bedroom house with intimate Betsie River setting, AC, and WiFi

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.6 out of 10, (11 reviews)
Charming 2-bedroom house with intimate Betsie River setting, AC, and WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 3 total)
default

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
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 deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Copemish

Located in Copemish, this cottage is in a rural area. Michigan Legacy Art Park and Benzie Area Historical Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Kresge Auditorium and Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
copemish, MI

What's nearby

  • Crystal Mountain - 7 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Mountain Ridge Golf Course - 8 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Michigan Legacy Art Park - 11 min drive - 8.9 km
  • Interlochen Center for the Arts - 28 min drive - 26.3 km
  • Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course - 37 min drive - 34.7 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 47 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Geno's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Thistle Pub & Grille - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Iron Fish Distillery - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Rosie's Country Cafe - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Laughing Horse Saloon - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Pet Friendly - No Cleaning Fee - Centrally Located Within Lower Northwest Mich. located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 9 miles (15 km) of Crystal Mountain, Michigan Legacy Art Park and Glovers Lake. Huron-Manistee National Forest is 9.3 mi (15 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

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. 245 out of 291 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 38 out of 291 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 291 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 291 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 291 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ann H.

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

Great weekend stay

We really had a nice weekend. It is super pet friendly and our dogs enjoyed their weekend as well. There are walking trails for the dogs and there is a dog park about 15 min away. They have couch covers for the dogs which was great and looked better than the mismatch of sheets I always bring to cover. We took in a show in manistee and spent an afternoon in traverse city. Kitchen is well stocked with everything you need. There are plenty of towels too. The sauna was great and such a nice feature to have. My only complaint is the main bed is super hard. My shoulder and hip joints were super sore from it. They have pull out beds in the living room with a memory foam pad so I slept a little better on that, but pull out beds aren’t the most comfortable either. If we stay again, I would bring a camping mat to put on the main bed. Quiet and peaceful there. Also, everything well labeled with good instructions. Everything was very clean! Thanks for a great weekend.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Cindy M.

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

Nice place

Bigger than expected. Great sunset and sunrise views!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nels L.

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

Cozy winter getaway

This place was very comfortable and cozy. We stayed here during a blizzard and it felt like we were in our own world. Copemish is small and charming, very quiet, with proximity to some nice restaurants and Crystal Mountain. I would describe this vrbo as picture perfect.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne D.

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

Cute place

Great one bedroom cottage for a ski trip weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

adam m.

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

winter retreat

This is a great place to stay in the winter. Close to skiing. The sauna is a nice touch.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly W.

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

Great location and very cozy!

Wonderful and convenient location allowing us easy access to Crystal Mountain for our overnight ski vacation. The living room was very spacious and the home was warm and clean. The board games and pantry essentials were much appreciated and extra blankets and pillows made it so each member of our family slept comfortably. We definitely hope to stay again. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andy C.

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

Great place and great locations. Close to crystal mountain.

Our stay was wonderful
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marvin R.

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

Perfect for family

Visiting family for the holiday, but with 2 dogs and a toddler, our own space is a must. This place has all the amenities we needed and more! Kitchen is well stocked with pots/pans, cutting boards, knives, etc. everything needed to prepare your own meals. There's also a washer and dryer which is nice to have in case of any wardrobe emergencies (toddler). The sectional couch has an attached pullout ottoman that converts it into a huge couch/bed hybrid, and there is a big flat screen TV - awesome for family movie time. Our dogs loved running through the field that's right across the street and belongs to the property owners as well. It snowed quite a bit during our stay and there was someone to shovel and salt the deck, front stoop, and walkways. We could tell the family who owns this place puts a lot of care into maintaining the property and making guests feel comfortable and welcome. We can't wait to come back the next time we visit the area!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ryan B.

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

Great Getaway Location

Nice place for a weekend getaway for the two of us plus our little hound. Great little walking area up the hill for short dog walks.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

T V H.

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

hunting trip

Good place to stay, perfect for our needs.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie O.

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

Quick trip up north

We took a last minute trip up north and were lucky enough to find this cute cabin. The place has everything you could possibly need and the owner could not be more helpful. The location offers an easy drive to all the amazing areas in Northwest Michigan. Looking forward to staying again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie F.

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

Second Year

This was the second time we have stayed at George's Hilltop Retreat (the first time was one year before). It is difficult finding places to stay that allow dogs, especially dogs that weigh more than 20 lbs. That is one of the things I like about George's. Not only are dogs welcome, but there are supplies in the house to make the stay with dogs easier for the guests (couch covers, food dishes, etc.). Also, there's a nice amount of outdoor space, as well as a firepit. We went up the trail to the top of the hill to view the Northern Lights. Beautiful area to do so. Both years, we have had a comfortable, enjoyable stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeff E.

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

excellent

The place was perfect for me, my wife and our 2 dogs, great little town, just what we was looking for, defentley be back. To bad we to cut our trip a day short
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Edward F.

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

Quiet and cozy home in a great location

We traveled north to do some sight seeing and found this to be optimal. Wooded lot provides separation from neighboring properties and there is a trail leading uphill to an awesome view of the area!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Connie W.

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

Cw

As always very much apprecite how on point everything is thank you againmaintained and amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

John Z.

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

Very comfortable country living stay

We were visiting friends locally and wanted a quiet stay in country living style comfort. Very comfortable in a clean home with amenable features. Check-in and out was very simple. I'd recommend staying here if you're looking for some solitude in the Michigan countryside.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara H.

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

Family vacation

The vrbo met all our needs. Anything we could possibly need from the kitchen was available. There was plenty of room for the four of us to be comfortable. We had questions about the station settings for the TV We called the owner and he answered and walked us through the set up and answered all our questions. We also enjoyed the sauna on the property. :)
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather A.

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

Great location and peaceful cottage

The cottage is centrally located, close to Crystal Mountain, Traverse City, Frankfort and interlochen. Very peaceful, dog friendly - my dog loved to run in the meadow and fields. Good size kitchen and laundry for a one bedroom and pullout couches were comfortable. Highly recommend for a small family get away. Dusty the owner was easy to communicate with.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lee K.

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

Loved this cottage

This property is quiet with a large yard and beautiful shade trees. It was well stocked with everything we needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda K.

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

Memories were made

Finding the cottage was easy. It was clean, spacious and comfortable. It was well stocked and nice for a family of 5. We enjoyed the hammocks, the deck, bonfire pit (mosquitoes were bad), and the charcoal grill! The pull out coaches were perfect and the blinds to keep it dark were Great! Really the only complaint we had were the neighbors. The loud vehicles and constant yelling and cussing at their dog. Not the Owners fault but disappointing to hear that when enjoying such a peaceful looking cottage in what I would describe the perfect northern cottage experience. For older children that might not be an issue. Overall I like to think we would and could rent again and enjoy ourselves. We were able to travel to Traverse City and Leland in less than a hour. Thank you for such a lovely place to make memories!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tricia S.

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

Great space to stay

We enjoyed our stay in this small little Michigan town. We travel with our dog and needed to be near Interlochen Mi for a few days. It was an easy 20 minutes away from Interlochen. The house was comfortable, clean, and provided plenty of amenities.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dana M.

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

Cute House

We were in the area to check out some of the local disc golf courses. The house was as described. Very well stocked and close to what we needed. The television was a little tricky to get working properly but we were able to figure it out eventually. We did not use the sauna, but did use the fire pit which was lovely to have. There was a dog that wandered into the yard from next door. It took a moment to get the people to come get him. Our dog is nervous around new dogs so we had to make sure we were keeping an eye out in case he wandered back over. Pretty sure he was using the yard for his bathroom as there were a few poop piles that did not come from our critter kid. Overall we enjoyed our time here and found everything to be great!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Michelle B.

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

Quiet getaway with outdoor space for pets to play!

We had a really great time here. The place was very clean and our pets loved the acreage to run and play. Very close to Traverse city where we took our 3 year to play for a day at Great Wolf lodge. I would highly recommend a stay if you are planning to visit the Traverse City area. I noticed there was even a place to go kayaking about 15 minutes down the road but it was too cold in March.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Rhonda S.

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

Lovely quiet little home

The cottage is well equipped, clean and quiet. We used the cottage as our base visiting Frankfurt, Empire and Glen Arbor. The cottage is the perfect spot to getaway from it all yet near enough to visit the fun spots in northwest Michigan.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Patricia S.

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

Wonderful place to rest for a gew days. Jus t what we needed. Thank you that we could bring our cat

Clean, all bedding and linens we provided, pots, pans, washer and dryer. Luckily. We stopped in Messick and bought a few groceries. No grocery store in Copemish.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

About the host

Hosted by Dusty Myers

Host profile image
Don and Shirley previously owned the Copemish Hardware Store and raised their family, including son and co-owner Dusty, in the home on the adjacent property, Hilltop House. Dusty's wife Mary has more recently joined the family business. We take great pride of ownership in maintaining this cottage and sharing this beautiful area with our guests.

Why they chose this property

The Myers family has owned the nearby property atop "Pickle Hill," named for a pickle processing facility once located at the base of its western slope, since the mid 70s. In the 80s, we purchased the meadow across the road and what became our family home, Hilltop House. It only made sense for us to buy George's Hilltop Retreat, when our neighbors George and Zelda Zendra decided to sell in 2005.

Up to that point, the property had been in George's family for quite some time. His extended family used to gather here to play cards, gather around the bonfire, and enjoy one another’s company – much like we do today! It is our understanding that Zelda grew up in the farmhouse across the meadow, now called Hilltop House, and that her parents, the Gibbs, lived in the farmhouse in the 1940s and 50s, until the time they died. It was in the late 60s that George and Zelda inherited the home. They lived in Muskegon and enjoyed the property as their “up north” retreat, a base for activities like skiing, hiking, canoeing, and fishing.

George, Zelda, and her parents moved two 1930s buildings from a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) logging camp located in Brethren, about twenty minutes south in the Manistee National Forest. One was the storage shed now connected to the sauna building. The other was moved to the farmhouse across the meadow where Zelda’s parents lived, and it housed a sauna for a time. A few other such buildings, from the CCC camp, can be spotted around the local area. In the late 1980s, George and Zelda built a sauna in the outbuilding and added the bedroom, the bay window area, and a deck to the back of the house. It was around that time Don and Shirley purchased Zelda’s family home across the meadow, where Dusty and his sister grew up.

What makes this property unique

At George’s Hilltop Retreat, we hope you’ll enjoy grilling and sharing meals, gathering round the bonfire, playing games with family and friends, relaxing in the sauna, and more. You are welcome to walk in the meadow across the road. Following the paths up Pickle Hill leads to splendid views of Crystal Mountain to the west. Dogs and kids of all ages will love running, walking, snowshoeing, and playing on the surrounding 10 acres.

George’s Hilltop Retreat is one of three properties available from the Myers family. The other two include Hilltop House across the meadow and a one-bedroom loft apartment (Hilltop Loft) above the garage on the far side of the farmhouse. When bundled together, the three homes offer a great option for extended family get-togethers.

Inside the home, we love the roomy and recently updated kitchen with the charm of old-timey Hoosier hutch and sturdy kitchen table. The firm Tempur-Pedic mattress in the bedroom and the rustic sauna offer rest and relaxation after a long day of skiing or romping in the woods. The freestanding gas stove in the living room makes for cozy lounging in the winter.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback