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Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire

Photo gallery for Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire

Property grounds
Terrace/patio
Children’s area
Exterior
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Family fun awaits
    Top-rated for families.
  • Outdoor pool
    The outdoor pool is a refreshing retreat under the open sky - a rare gem in this area.
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Private pool
  • Deck or patio
  • Arcade/game room
  • Barbecue
  • Internet access
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Honor, MI
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Empire Bluff Trail
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Darla's room

1 Double Bed

Pool Bedroom

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Primary bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Sunroom

1 Double Bed

3 bathrooms

Entry Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Middle Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Primary bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire

Fifty-acre retreat offers green pastures, natural forest and horizon views of Lake Michigan dunes and Old Baldy. Fully appointed 4 BR, 3 Bath ranch-style home offers peace and quiet in a sunny setting. Take a dip in the heated pool with a slide the kids will love(open May-Sept.). You can relax, unplug and unwind while watching sunsets from the deck. Full basement is its own getaway with a large screen TV, pool table and ping pong. Play baseball on your private ballfield and gather for a game of horseshoes or volleyball. Countless stars appear above the firepit, so pack the s’mores fixins. Trails through the woods lead to wildflowers, birdsong and signs of wildlife. A camping area is available for extra guests. Close to beaches, golfing, kayaking, fishing. Eight miles to Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail for walking/bicycling plus numerous Nat. Pk. hiking trails. Leelanau County offers wineries, fine dining, breweries and shopping. But once you get here it will be hard to leave the tranquility and privacy. Great for large family gatherings. A working hobby farm next door offers tours by appointment. Check with the host for a list of all amenities.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This is a working farm. No one is allowed in the fenced areas or barns unless accompanied by the host.
No Fireworks. This is a working farm.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2300546vb
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

About the area

Honor

Located in Honor, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Travelling with kids? Consider Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.
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Map
Honor, MI

What's nearby

  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 10 min drive - 7.5 km
  • Empire Bluff Trail - 11 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 11 min drive - 8.6 km
  • beach near Downtown Mmpire - 13 min drive - 9.4 km
  • beach near Village Park - 13 min drive - 9.4 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Joes Friendly Tavern - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Empire Village Inn - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.

Is Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Ultimate privacy beside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, 3 miles to Empire located?

This family-friendly Honor holiday home is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Empire Bluff Trail and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Lake Michigan and Philip A. Hart Visitor Center are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

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. 21 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Zach W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property and house were great! The pool was incredibly well maintained, the house was stocked with plenty of toys and supplies for the pool and property, and we’d love to come back
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Aug 2025
So glad you enjoyed your stay and had fun in the pool!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Charles

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful relaxing property beautifully decorated. I loved the pool. We had a very relaxing time.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew G.

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

Secluded but close enough to do things

This house was perfect for our family vacation. The house was on a large, private property, but wasn’t too far from nearby activities. The pool was the large enough for our group of adults, but small enough to keep an eye on the kids. Plus, since it was heated, we could use it on the cooler days/nights. The owner was also very easy to work with and took good care of us during our visit. Would highly recommend staying here.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 June 2025
Thank you Andrew. I am glad you enjoyed your stay. You and your family were the perfect guests!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joan W.

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

Beautiful property in great location

Kids and adults enjoyed the sports play space on the property, the swimming pool, the peacefulness, the observation of sheep herding, and the very short drives to trails, beaches and dunes. Our host stayed in good touch and cared daily for the cleanliness and temperature of the pool.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cory P.

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

Beautiful Property

We had such a relaxing time The house was well kept and the property was beautiful, the kids enjoyed the pool table and swimming. The herding demonstration form our host was fun too! Our host was great to work with. The sleeping bear dunes and beaches were a ton of fun for all of us.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janice R.

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

Beautiful, private and perfect location!

Spacious, clean, beautiful, family-friendly location close to the activities we all wanted to accomplish on our vacation to Sleeping Bear Dunes area. The swimming pool and the game room in the basement were big hits with everyone in our group—ages 4-68. Chris took good care of us! We’d rebook in a heartbeat!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 July 2022
Thank you Janice. I enjoyed having your family here.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Greg H.

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

August 2024

A wonderful property in a great location. The grounds of this property are spectacular, and the pool is perfect for a hot sunny day. Location and proximity to dunes and beach are perfect for a family vacation. Chris is supportive and attentive as needed. Highly recommend.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine V.

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

A little slice of heaven

Loved our stay here. The pictures don't do it justice. The house and grounds are immaculate - clean and very well maintained. We were looking for a peaceful retreat and this property definitely fit the bill. We enjoyed watching the babydoll sheep grazing from the beautiful deck. The pool was small but perfect for our needs - and also very clean. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Jan 2022
Thanks for your review. We enjoyed having you here and glad you enjoyed the peacefulness!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

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

Great Location.

This property is central between Frankfort and Empire. Pool is great, house is great, has all you would need to support a family or two. We were two families of four and had plenty of room. Chris was very attentive to our needs and checked in often to see if we needed anything. We love this part of Michigan and is our go to area for a summer getaway. We will rent here over and over again if the schedules work out.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gwendia O.

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

A SLICE OF PURE HEAVEN

The property sits on some of the most picturesque and secluded property I've seen. Rolling hills, ball diamond, herd of sheep, professional landscaping, firepit, wonderful breeze (as the rental is on top of a hill), heated pool.....my list could go on and on. Chris is top notch with communication, friendly, and did a herding demonstration with one of her three border collies. Well stocked kitchen, linens, blankets, pool equipment, patio furniture. This weekend was a girl's week to enjoy Empire and Esch Beach. Both beaches were within 10 minutes of the property. There are many fresh fruit and vegetable stands where you can also purchase homemade breads and honey. Our group also enjoyed horseback riding at Outrider Horseback Riding. Chris, thank you for making our trip memorable and relaxing. We will be back.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug 2023
Thank you Gwendia. I enjoyed you and your group and am so glad to share my special spot with you.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything about this stay was perfect. The rolling hills, the landscaping, the view, the quiet, all so beautiful and spacious. The sheep with an incredibly well-trained herder dog put on quite a show. That was fun! We used the kick ball field, the bonfire pit, the horseshoes, the volleyball net and brought our own badminton net, cornhole game and croquet..... all set up at the same time in what we came to call the "bowl". We walked the trails, had coffee on swings on the hill and spent countless hours in the heated and very well kept up pool. Indoors we found time to play hide and seek with the kids and lots of ping pong! The finished lower level would be a great place for watching movies/playing games, but the weather was so nice we were outside most of our stay. We only had a couple of questions for Chris because everything we needed was on site.and laid out clearly. She was great at responding quickly and we enjoyed meeting her and chatting as she cleaned the pool in the mornings. She's really a cool person!We had six adults and three children....everyone loved it and hopes to return!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 July 2025
Thanks Rhonda. I enjoyed having you and your family. It warms my heart when my guests really "get it" and enjoy all there is here.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bridget S.

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

This place is special

This place is really special, almost magical. If you're looking to really relax and focus on family, this is where you'll want to be. We traveled with my brother and his family; we had kids ranging from 4-18. Everyone agreed that this was one of our best vacations ever! The pool is heated and lots of fun. It was 65 and overcast when we arrived, but the pool was warm and the kids had a blast swimming every day. They also enjoyed riding their bikes on the property. We played soccer, kickball and baseball in the field, hiked in the beautiful pine forest and spent time with the sheep. Chris was kind enough to give us a tour of the farm and even gave a demonstration on herding. The property is beautiful; really clean, and well-kept. Chris came by every morning and cleaned the pool. The house is well-stocked with plenty of utensils and cooking supplies, pillows, sheets, blankets, pool toys and yard games. The basement is finished and huge! The teen boys enjoyed playing pool and darts. The house is a short drive to great beaches and Sleeping Bear Dunes. I really wish I could describe how special this place is. All I can say is that we all came back well-rested and with full hearts. Chris made us feel welcome and at home. You won't regret staying here.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 July 2023
Thanks for the review. It was great to share my special place with you. I enjoyed having you and your family here. I hope you will come again.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael W.

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

Up North

The family trip up north was amazing 🤩 this year as we enjoyed time swimming, playing baseball/kickball, volleyball, horseshoes and every evening had amazing times under the stars with cozy campfires. The property is a must to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. We took advantage of the local “must sees” like Sleeping Bear Dunes and Glen Arbor as well dinner and shopping in Traverse City. All within 15-20 miles of the location. Definitely rate the experience and place high and expect to return again one day soon! Thanks again to the hosts who made the trip easy to book and manage check in and check out. Michael
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marcus H.

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

A perfect getaway for groups

This property has it all. To make this easier I can break it down. Location/Setting - The house is set back on a private drive. It sits on a small hill with fields on two sides of the house. You can spend your afternoons on the deck/swings watching the sheep graze. And I think all of our group commented on how quiet it was. You’re also within a very short (5 mins) drive of Empire and the Sleeping Bear Parks. Amenities - This house is large and has 4 bedrooms which sleep 10 (as long as 2 are kids or willing to sleep in bunk beds). The owner has thought of everything. The kitchen is stocked and ready for your cooking needs (there was even a crock pot). There are two coffee makers (Kueirg and nice regular pot) and cutting boards and tons of silverware. The fridge is large and we had no issue storing the massive amount of food we had. There is a washer and dryer if you need it. The game room/den in the basement was nice to provide more space for people to be. The deck has a very nice table and set of chairs. And there are two swings set in the yard looking east, which is perfect to watch the sunset over the trees. And I cannot forget to mention the pool. It’s heated and has a slide. Our little travelers loved the slide and the toys the owner had available for them to play with in the pool. The older travelers loved the ability to run out for some swimming even if the weather was questionable for the next few hours (reduced stress of packing everything up to go to the beach when it might start raining). The pool was a perfect addition to our stay. The garage has some additional chairs, yard games, toys and a grill for use. I think numerous times our group would exclaim “Oh they have some….X in there”. Owner/Communication - Chris is great. She communicated via text and let us know if she needed to stop by the pool. She made sure we had what we needed and gave us a heads up about the area and house. This is a beautiful house set in a private area while still being easy to access the Sleeping Bear park system and within a short drive of Traverse City, Frankfort and the natural beauty of the Lake MIchigan shoreline. If you are planning a trip up to this area or are looking for a quiet retreat this is the place to stay. You won’t be disappointed.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Regina J.

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

Couldn’t be more perfect

The property is incredible and well equipped. The host goes above and beyond to be helpful and make sure you have no needs. From the pool to the campfire to the baseball field, our experience couldn’t have been more perfect. There is plenty of space in the house and outside to roam. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Krystle E.

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

Best VRBO Experience

Chris’ home was the cleanest, most well-stocked, cozy, fun places we have stayed at Up north! The property was centrally located to all the best towns for day trips and a perfectly peaceful home base to come back to each night. We particularly enjoyed the pool, fires on the deck, swinging to watch the sunset and playing baseball in the field. We already booked our trip for next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steve C.

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

Awesome time, perfect place for our family gathering

We really enjoyed our stay. The house and grounds were beautiful; our family loved the pool and room to roam. The location is perfect for relaxing and watching the stars appear brilliantly after a beautiful sunset. Hope to return to this wonderful place.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason D.

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

Great place to stay

Such a wonderful property and so much to enjoy. The pool is amazing, the fire pit down the hill was a great place to enjoy the evening. So much space and the house is filled with anything you would need. So glad this place was available, we hope to be back again next year.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eileen F.

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

Much needed relaxation

This property was amazing. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The house was exceptionally clean. There were activities for the kids. The adults enjoyed the patio. The baseball field was a fan favorite. The whole family participated which was nice and got the kids off their electronics. There isn’t enough space to brag about this place. You have to check it out for yourself. Thank you for an amazing experience. We look forward to coming back.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie H.

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

Amazing property and outstanding property manager

The house was extremely clean and comfortable! There were plenty of pillows and blankets! The property manager was responsive, attentive, and so kind! She made the vacation a dream! The pool was lovely and the kitchen had everything a cook could need! Thank you so much for a memorable vacation! Would rent again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bethany K.

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

Excellent rental near the sand dunes

We loved this rental! The surroundings were beautiful, the house had so many amenities, and the host was very thoughtful. There were so many things to do on the property itself (heated pool, billiards, grounds to explore) and it was a short drive to everything we wanted to do in the area. We’d absolutely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Chris Stapleton

Host profile image
The host is a chicken and sheep farmer residing on the adjacent property.

Why they chose this property

The property offers a quiet and peaceful sanctuary to enjoy the outdoors and unwind. There is so much to do in the area but once you get here it is hard to leave!

What makes this property unique

Wide open spaces. Trails for hiking. Room for the kids to run and play baseball. Camping area available for overflow at an extra fee.

Languages:

English
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