If you desire to spend some time in nature in Northern Michigan while having very comfortable accommodations, a lot of privacy, and the ability to do some kayaking, canoeing, and/or hiking onsite, you have found the spot! This is truly an amazing vacation rental property as it is an incredible combination of being in nature while still staying in very beautiful, modern, and comfortable accommodations.
INTERACTION WITH GUESTS:
We have a local property manager who lives in the area. He checks guests into the lodge in person and is available to address any issues that may arise.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
The home is in a rather rural and somewhat isolated area next to Goose Creek outside of Grayling, Michigan. There are only a few neighbors in the vicinity, none of whom live very close to the lodge. The home is basically in the middle of a large jack pine forest next to Goose Creek. With 13.5 private acres, the home offers a great deal of peace, privacy, serenity, and tranquility!
The home is conveniently only 10.4 miles (about a 16-minute drive) from downtown Grayling though. Downtown Grayling is on the Au Sable River and has a growing downtown area with a cute selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, a microbrewery (Paddle Hard Brewing Company), a fun vintage movie theater (The Rialto Theater), and a little park on the Au Sable River. There are also fast food restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and hardware stores in town outside of the downtown area. (We would recommend Ray's Barbeque and Paddle Hard Microbrewery as excellent dining options.) There are a number of hiking trails and small lakes in the area as well.
Outside of Grayling, this vacation home is also perfectly situated to allow day trips to a number of other popular northern Michigan destinations:
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* TRAVERSE CITY: Despite being quite deeply out in the woods, the lodge is only about 45 miles (or a 1-hour drive) from downtown Traverse City! Traverse City is the entertainment, shopping, dining, and cultural capital of northern Michigan. There is a vast array of shopping, dining, and entertainment options in Traverse City including museums, movie theaters, shopping malls, live theaters, and enough restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops to probably match whatever you are looking for!
* MACKINAC ISLAND: Mackinac Island is Michigan's treasured gem in the Mackinac Straits where the Upper and Lower Peninsulas come together. No automobiles are allowed on the island and it's necessary to take a ferry there The island is a beautiful and famous blend of history and nature. It is about a 90-minute drive to Mackinaw City, Michigan, where ferries take you on the approx. 20-minute boat ride to Mackinac Island. Leaving early in the morning allows for a great day trip to Mackinac Island and back!
* SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: Sleeping Bear Dunes is on the opposite side of Traverse City, about a 30-minute drive from Traverse City. (Thus, it's about a 90-minute drive from the lodge to the start of the national lakeshore.) Sleeping Bear Dunes offers incredible natural beauty, majestic overlooks of Lake Michigan, miles upon miles of nature trails, pristine beaches on Lake Michigan, and great family fun going tubing, kayaking, and/or canoeing down the Platte River, which flows through the park out to Lake Michigan. It's possible to spend multiple days exploring the park or you can easily just take a day trip to the park, perhaps even adding on a driving tour along M22 around the Leelanau Peninsula going through the various cute little beach towns on Lake Michigan that are dotted around the outside of Leelanau County.
GUEST ACCESS:
Guests have access to the entire 13.5 acres of property including the lodge, three-quarters of a mile of private hiking / ATV / snowmobile trails, a deck on the river, 4 adult kayaks, a child's kayak, a canoe, and 2 outdoor fire hearths for safe bonfires!
THE SPACE:
This vacation rental home is situated on 13.5 private acres of jack pine forest in northern Michigan. The property extends to Goose Creek, which is a beautiful, serene, and slow-moving creek that eventually flows into the Manistee River. The creek is great for kayaking and canoeing and the slow speed of the water allows guests to easily paddle either upstream or downstream on the creek. Don't have a canoe or kayak? Four adult kayaks, a child's kayak, and a canoe are included with the rental! The kayaks and canoe are located at a private deck on Goose Creek that is on the property and the kayaks and canoe can be easily moved in and out of the water using the deck. There are also three-quarters of a mile of private trails on the property for hiking, ATV riding, and/or snowmobiling! In addition to the private trails on the property, the vacation lodge is located close to a wide variety of public hiking, ATV, and snowmobiling trails in the area.
In terms of the vacation lodge itself, it features three bedrooms (two on the second floor and one on the first floor), two full bathrooms (one on each floor), two living rooms (one on each floor), a gorgeous kitchen, a dining area, and a covered carport. The lodge also has a second story deck that faces Goose Creek and a first floor patio below the deck, also facing Goose Creek. There is a high-end gas grill on the second floor deck along with a fire table and outdoor dining! There is a picnic table on the first floor patio. The lodge also includes two outdoor fire hearths for having outdoor fires with s'mores! (Note that jack pines are particularly susceptible to forest fires, so outdoor fires are only permitted in the outdoor fire hearths that are provided.)
Inside the vacation lodge, the lodge has modern amenities to provide wonderful comfort year-round while relaxing in the beautiful nature of northern Michigan. The lodge has a gas forced-air furnace for staying warm in the winter as well as central air-conditioning for staying cool in the summer. The home has satellite Wi-Fi and on both floors there are smart televisions with streaming. The kitchen is very modern and includes an electric range, refrigerator, microwave, and a dishwasher. There is also a laundry room with a washer and dryer. The vacation home is beautifully decorated throughout with a lovely nature theme.
TRANSIT:
It is recommended that guests have their own vehicle. During the winter and early spring, it is recommended that guests have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1) FIRE HAZARD: The lodge is located in the middle of a jack pine forest. Jack pines are particularly susceptible to forest fires, so please be very careful with fire!
2) PETS: All pets are strictly prohibited!
3) CARPORT AND GARAGE: The carport that is attached to the house is available for guests to use and at least 2 large vehicles can easily fit in the carport. The large detached garage is not available for guest usage, except for the covered picnic tables next to the garage.
4) MAIN ENTRANCE: The main entrance to the home is on the second floor and does require walking up a flight of stairs. Most of the living space, including the kitchen, is on the second floor. As such, the layout of the home may not be well-suited for older individuals or individuals that have difficulties with stairs.
5) VACATION RENTAL HISTORY: The property was previously managed by Agape Vacation Rentals as "Callahan's Goose Creek Lodge". The property then went up for sale and was not available for rent for several months. The property has now had some additional updates made by the new owners and, starting in October, 2024, it is now being marketed as "Hazel's Goose Creek Lodge" (named after the family's dog).
