Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town

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Entire home

Aerial photo of Park Place and Park Place Guest House

Southern elevation facing the street with South Bar Lake in the background.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7204.4 sq m

Popular amenities

Beach view
Dryer
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Washer
Fireplace

Explore the area

Empire, MI

Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
‪12 min walk‬
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
‪3 min drive‬
Empire Bluff Trail
‪4 min drive‬
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
‪49 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

From the porch/deck of this exceptional 2200sq.ft. home, enjoy the spectacular Lake Michigan sunsets. Walk 600 ft. to the Lake Michigan shore and play on the magnificent sugar sand beach that connects 35 miles of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The back yard adjoins a nature preserve where deer, wild turkeys, fox and other wildlife are seen. The side yard rolls gently down to a mowed grass park and the edge of South Bar Lake, a 1 mile long lake just 200 ft. from the Michigan shoreline.

Within walking distance of one block to the east are the Post Office, Bank, Friendly's Tavern and Tiffany's Ice Cream Parlor. Two blocks to the east is the Public Library and Three blocks to the east is the gas station/ convenience store and Shipwreck Cafe.
This is truly a unique location.

Because our Lake Michigan home is special to us, we request great care and consideration from our renters.

Please note that sheets and towels are not supplied.

Property manager

Randall Parks

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

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 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

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Empire

Located in Empire, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.

Empire, MI

What's nearby

Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
Empire Bluff Trail - 4 min drive - 1.8 km
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive - 7 min drive - 6.0 km
Little Glen Lake - 8 min drive - 7.7 km

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬10 min walk
‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬11 min walk
‪Food For Thought - ‬8 min drive
‪Friendly Tavern - ‬4 min walk
‪Tiffany's Ice Cream - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town located?

Nestled on the beach, this Empire holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Empire Bluff Trail is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) away.

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

John S.

4 Sept 2024

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

Hope to stay again!

Wonderful home, very welcoming. The location is so convenient and although in the middle of everything it feels serene, the views are breathtaking, and the owner has added nice amenities. Hope to stay again!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle D.

17 July 2024

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

The Best View in Empire!

We had a wonderful week at Park Place with a glorious view of Empire Beach and South Bar Lake. The house was clean, comfortable, and the kitchen had what we needed. It was perfect for us and our two sons. The kids enjoyed coming and going on foot to the basketball court, beach and to town. We headed to the nearby Platte Point beach a few days to catch up with grandkids, and were able to get a lot of hiking in, too. Our 25-year-old even rented a bike, packed a lunch, and rode the Heritage Trail to Good Harbor and back. No matter what we did, we ended up back at Empire Beach for the sunset, a fire, and to play with grandkids at the playground. We were fortunate that the property owner, Randall, was in town and we were blessed to get to talk to him and his newly adopted dog.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jesse H.

19 July 2023

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

Great location!

Our family enjoyed our stay very much. You simply can't beat the location, just yards from a great public beach with two playgrounds for kids, fire pits, grills, basketball courts, and a smaller lake with dock. The village of Empire is right out your door, too, and Sleeping Bear park right north of you. You can watch the sunset nightly right from the deck. House was as described and fine for our needs. Beds were the worst part, fine but some of the more uncomfortable and old I've slept in in recent years. As a whole, we'd definitely return.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Dory S.

12 June 2023

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

Lovely setting!

You cant beat the views from the deck-Lake Michigan beach, South Bar Lake and a marsh filled with beautiful birds. The house is adequate, but had a mild scent of musty which lingered. We had to bring our own sheets and towels. Enjoyed being able to walk to the beach and into quaint Empire.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary H.

13 Aug 2022

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

Perfect week with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan

Cannot wait to come back

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

James R.

26 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for views, quiet and location

Property was just as advertised. Very nice, great views! Would definitely stay again. Note, you must supply your own towels and bed sheets. This information has not provided by the owner or VRBO before we arrived.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lisa Z.

19 Aug 2021

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

Perfect location!

This property is in the perfect location and even better than the pictures! We had a fabulous time and had plenty of room for the 7 of us

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Scott G.

14 July 2021

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

Family vacation

Very good location!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Siusan S.

1 July 2021

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

Perfect

Will definitely return. This property is perfect for a stay in Empire.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Doreen W.

15 June 2021

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

Beautiful location

My family enjoyed being able to see the Lake Michigan sunsets from the deck and the closeness to get to the beach. The house was very clean and comfortable and we made happy memories there.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

john h.

28 Sept 2020

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

Park Place

The house is in an idea spot and was everything that the listing described. We had a great time and we are looking forward to next year.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jeff R.

22 Sept 2020

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

Charming lakeside home

Park Place provided the perfect beach/lakeside location in charming Empire. A terrific home base for exploring Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore. We loved joining with others at Empire beach for nightly sunsets. We enjoyed the view of Lake Michigan and South Bar Lake from the dining room table and the great deck. The accommodations were very comfortable with a well appointed kitchen. Wifi and streaming services were also appreciated. We highly recommend at stay at Park Place. Note the property does not provide linens and towels, which we initially found odd, but in the COVID period, that was actually okay for us.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Sandra C.

25 Aug 2020

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

Park Place

The location is perfect, the house is comfortable and homey. I think this is one of the best VRBO rentals I have used. Would do it again and again.

Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

14 July 2019

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

Best Lake Michigan bores!

Started looking for a vacation rental at least 7 months prior. This spot which we’ve never seen available had an opening! Clean, comfortable, well-stocked kitchen for cooking. Beautiful views of the beach while dining on the deck! Close to many of the National Park hiking trails and many other outdoor activities. We have rented many places on the Leelanau peninsula and this place by far was the best well-kept homes. We highly recommend to anyone to quickly set a date to rent this home!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

9 July 2019

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

Awesome vacation rental

Beautiful house, beautiful location! Easy walk to the beach and downtown. Gorgeous sunset views. Definitely would stay again!

10/10 Excellent

Scott G.

24 June 2019

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

Great location

My family loved staying here. Mr Parks got right back with me on questions I had. The location is great. We could walk everywhere we needed to go. The sunsets were beautiful! We definitely would rent this property again.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Melissa J.

21 June 2019

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

Fun weekend

Had a great time, hiked the sand dunes and the bluff trail and went into TC for a wine tasting. Love Empire, would return.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Frank V., Powell, OH

12 July 2018

Wonderful associations with an amazing location to all the activities we love.

Great vacation spot if you love hiking, swimming, biking, and kayaking like we do.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

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

10/10 Excellent

Steve K.

6 Oct 2017

Best Vacation Property in Empire!

We go back to this wonderful property each year in September and enjoy every minute we are there. The view of South Bar Lake and Lake Michigan is breathtaking and we walk to the sunset every night. You will be very happy if you are able to stay at Park Place in 2018.

Stayed 9 nights in Sep 2017

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

10/10 Excellent

Lu Ann B.

13 Sept 2017

Beautiful Place/Beautiful Area

We love Empire, MI. Park Place is wonderful and is in a wonderful location. You can't vacation better than this.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017

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

10/10 Excellent

Katherine M., Ann Arbor

21 Aug 2017

Perfect spot in Empire

This house has it all - beautiful views of the beach, walk to shops, close to everything. It's so comfortable and cozy inside we didn't mind bad weather days, and it was much nicer to have meals on the deck than to go to restaurants. Incredibly relaxing and beautiful location. A few tips for future guests: - The pantry staples are nil - like salt and pepper and that's it, and the local grocery store is limited and super expensive, so if you plan to bake, bring everything! The kitchen utensils and pans are pretty well stocked though. - There aren't any outdoor games, indoor board games, or interesting books, as we've had with other rental homes in Empire, so bring your own. There are beach toys, and lots of videos appropriate for young kids.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017

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

10/10 Excellent

Geralyn C., Bonne Terre

17 July 2017

Ideal for a relaxing location!

This property is comfortable and we'll kept!

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

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

10/10 Excellent

Marianne W.

10 June 2017

Greatest spot ever by Lake Michigan

This is a really great location, you are few minutes walk from a lovely county park. Sandy beach, fire pits and swings and slides for the kids. Empire is a small town, a gas station, several restaurants, a hardware, bike and kayak rental. A few gift stores and grocery story, sorry if I missed anything. About 39 minute drive from Travese city, and just a few minutes from Sleeping Bear dunes national park which is beautiful. Now for Park Place, Randall the owner is very easy to work with first of all. The house had 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, the best equipped kitchen ever, a small sitting room and large living room upstairs. Down stairs there is also a family room. The full porch with views direct to Lake Michigan was splendid, and a new Webber gas grill, table and chairs and lounger.You really need only pack sheets pillows and groceries believe me cause I way overpacked not knowing what was there. The house overall is nice, furniture is nice and beds are good but I will say a bit hard for me. There are generous closets and extra blankets if you need them. The bath rooms were roomy and clean with lots of drawers in the vanities. The property is close to a marsh with deer and bunnies,turkeys and I suppose other things too. You will need bug spray, we did find a tick on clothing and did not go near tall grass or woods. I do plan on booking next year too. We have been going to the area for several years staying at hotels and with family. But I was very please with this rental it was a great vacation.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2017

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

10/10 Excellent

Kevin P., West Bloomfield, MI

1 June 2017

Beautiful home, beautiful view!

Enjoyed our stay! Short walking distance to Lake Michigan. Beautiful porch for watching sunset, or enjoying a morning coffee. Lots of space. Love it!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2017

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

10/10 Excellent

16 Oct 2011

Awesome retreat

Everything was absolutely perfect! We went as a group of 7 adults and the accommodations couldn't have been any better. The decor was light and airy, just what you'd expect to find at a beach house. The beds were VERY comfortable, the adorable kitchen had all the modern conveniences of home, the bathrooms large and modern, the living room was large enough to comfortably seat all 7 of us, there was even a TV/sun room with laptop to help keep connected to the rest of the world; but the best room of the house was the deck that overlooks beautiful lake Michigan and a (somewhat) smaller lake about 60 feet away. The sunsets were magnificent and the trees were starting to change color. The days were warm and the nights nice and cool; a great time to be in Northern Michigan. Good friends, an absolutely beautiful location, a very comfortable home and great weather; the perfect recipe for a perfect vacation !

About the host

Hosted by Randall Parks

Although I rarely have the opportunity to meet our guests face to face, I enjoy getting to know you through phone calls, email and correspondence. I am a family man who is grateful to have found a little piece of heaven in Park Place which we enjoy sharing with others who appreciate and respect the home and the area.

Why they chose this property

The story including pictures about Park Place, it's acquisition and renovation, is chronicled in a notebook at the house. I was a counselor at Camp Leelanau in 1964-68 experiencing some of the best summers of my life. The seed had been planted to return to Leelanau County Michigan.

What makes this property unique

Location, Location, Location

Languages:

English

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Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town

Photo gallery for Park Place (Empire Beach) Best location in town

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

About this property