Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 9179.9 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Explore the area
Empire, MI
Holden Lake
Place, Holden Lake
18 min walk
Armstrong Lake
Place, Armstrong Lake
5 min drive
Brooks Lake
Place, Brooks Lake
5 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
32 min drive
Rooms & beds
4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 3
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 4
1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed
2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom
basement bath
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
main floor bath
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
upstairs bath
Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
About this property
Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house
The "Ivy House" is a freshly remodeled 2-story 1890's farm house on a Centennial farm. With great country views and awesome star gazing, it is located on a quiet paved road that families and couples alike will enjoy. It is peaceful and quiet, yet close to the wonderful attractions of Northwest Michigan. Located 20 minutes from Traverse City, Glen Arbor, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore, and a short 30 minute drive to both Frankfort and Leland, there is something for everyone. With four bedrooms, 9 people can sleep comfortably. Please take note that 5 guests are included in the posted rent fee. For guests 6 thru 9 a $10 per guest per night fee will be added to the rent. The house has two full baths and one half bath with a bathroom located on each floor. On the second floor, bedroom #1 has a queen bed and bedroom #2 has two twin beds. In the basement, bedroom #3 has a queen bed and bedroom #4 has a full bed (sleeps 2) and a Victorian 3/4 bed (sleeps 1). Both rooms have large egress windows. All beds have new mattresses and bedding. Please note that ALL the bedrooms are NOT handicap accessible. You must be able to go up and down stairs. A spacious kitchen with shiplap walls, subway tile, new appliances, and an island seating area is a joy to cook in. The formal dining area has a large antique dining table. Hardwood floors are throughout the house including some of the original floors. A formal living room with TV is on the main floor and a family room with a large screen TV is in the basement. Outside is a patio under a gazebo with a dining table, extra seating and a gas grill. A fire pit with seating off to the side in the lawn has been added for roasting marsh mellows and hot dogs. Roasting sticks are provided along with one bundle of wood for your first fire. More wood is available for purchase at any of the many, many road side wood stands in the area. Two horseshoe pits are set up in the yard and a cornhole game is available for friendly family/friend tournaments. Wildlife frequently visits the yard, usually deer, turkeys, and rabbits. I frequently hear in the distant the call of loons as they travel to and from one of the many inland area lakes that are all within a mile of the house. There is lots of parking, but please note no campers, tents or RV's are allowed. WE ARE HAPPY TO HOST THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A PEACEFUL OR FAMILY ORIENTED VACATION. WE CANNOT HOST HEAVILY SPIRITED PARTIES OR GETAWAYS. We also cannot host bachelor or bachelorette parties or family reunions. Gatherings with guests other than those staying at the house is allowed with prior permission from the owner. Pets of any kind are strictly prohibited and if found, you will be asked to leave. The person renting the house MUST be one of the guests staying. The Ivy House is your perfect "home away from home" for your next getaway to Northern Michigan. Please note the house sleeps 9 guests maximum! I want to be upfront with you regarding guests over 9. If you decide to come with more than 9 guests, you will be asked to leave. Upon reserving a stay, you will be required to state the total number of guests arriving. If this number changes before your reservation date, then please notify me of the change and edit your booking with VRBO. Additionally, there are outdoor security cameras on the premises. A quiet destination awaits you at the Ivy House.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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No RV's, campers or tents
11 pm to 7am is quiet time
The mowed area on the property is the only area you are permitted.
Camp fires allowed only in fire ring. Do not leave fire unattended. Always use water to extinguish fire before leaving the premise or retiring to bed
Note that this is not a gathering location for other family or friends who may also live or be visiting this area.
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
About the area
Empire
Located in Empire, this holiday home is in a rural area. Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Burnett Park and Jacob's Corn Maze. Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Interlochen Center for the Arts are also worth visiting. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including fishing, winery tours and golfing.
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 35 min drive
Restaurants
Light of Day Organics - 10 min drive
Lake Ann Brewing Company - 10 min drive
Pegtown Station - 9 min drive
Papa J's - 7 min drive
Red Door Coffee House - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house?
As of 3 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house on 26 May 2026 start from AU$320, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Charming, quiet, country retreat 1890's Centennial Farm house located?
Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Holden Lake, Brooks Lake and Armstrong Lake. Courson Lake and Wiltz Lake are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
House was perfect for what we needed. Nice and clean. Nicely stocked with enough supplies needed. Enjoyed reading history of the house. Planning to stay there again.
Our stay was great! The house has been lovingly restored, in a quiet location that’s great to get to both Traverse City and Sleeping Bear. Beds are very comfortable, kitchen is well appointed and owner is easy to contact. Had a great stay!
LAUREN K.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 July 2025
Hello Lauren: Thank you for such a gleaming review of your stay at the Ivy House. Thank you, too, for being such good renters. You took very good care of the Ivy House and for this we really appreciate it. We hope you return for a visit again. Sandra
The Ivy house was fantastic. Great location, plenty of room with a peaceful setting. The accommodations were outstanding the house was exceptionally clean with all the amenities. Sandra was great to work with..Highly recommend!!!
We had a wonderful stay at the Ivy house. We came up to the area for a family wedding. The house was clean and convenient to everything in the area. We had a wonderful day at the Empire beach. I would definitely stay here again when visiting the area.
We have rented a lot of properties, and this was one of the best we have stayed in during our vacations. The house and property are beautiful inside and out. It is in a perfect location for many northern Michigan adventures. Sandra was a great host and very responsive. We hope to be back next summer and many summers beyond that.
The property was very private and the setting was lovely. We had plenty of space to spread out, and while the home has a vintage charm everything was very updated. The location was about 15-20 minutes to most of the activities but that really wasn't a problem for us, because we like to go to different spots in the area. Great place for a large family
Our stay was wonderful. The house was lovely, had everything we needed, and was impeccably clean. It was in a nice, quiet area with lots of privacy. They thought of everything and were great communicators.
Absolutely loved the farmhouse and it was perfect for our family! Great location close to Sleeping Dunes, the beach, Traverse city, wineries, and great Polish shop! Would definitely stay again!
The owner was very responsive. Instructions and expectations with our stay were clearly communicated. The house was very clean and comfortable. The kitchen is spacious and fully stocked. The outdoor patio is peaceful and there is plenty of outdoor space for throwing a ball or frisbee around. We had an excellent stay.
Our large family enjoyed a great time together in the Sleeping Bear Dunes region. The Ivy House was the perfect place for us to stay. It was clean, comfortable, had everything we needed and more.
Sandra's Farmhouse was amazing. It is in a peaceful setting, 25 minutes or so to everything (Bear Dunes, Frankfort for the fireworks, beaches, Fishtown, Traverse City).The outdoor seating was great for breakfasts. Inside was immaculate. Sandra was great to rent from and very thorough with communication. We would stay here again.
This century old house is absolutely perfect. It is out in the country and very secluded, which we love! This is our second stay there. The owners think of everything you might need and the accommodations are very very nice. We will definitely stay there again!!!
Judy S.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
About the host
Hosted by Sandra Noonan
I am retired after 30 years with the USPS. My husband is a full-time farmer. We have 3 married children and 8 grand children.
Why they chose this property
I inherited this property from my father (who was born in this house) and he inherited this from his mother. It was in very bad shape when we decided to restore it. My grand father purchased this property in 1899 and the house was already here. I lived here as a child until I was 3 years old. In 1999 we made application to have it registered as a "Centennial Farm" and my husband still farms it.
What makes this property unique
No close neighbors, always a breeze blowing, country beauty and privacy. It is a wonderful place to relax and unwind.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests