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The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake

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"like something out of a Ralph Lauren catalogue"
Now
new dock 2017, room for Pontoon, ski and wake boats
Beach
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Balcony or patio
  • Air-conditioning
  • Fireplace
  • Dryer

Explore the area

View map
Walloon Lake, MI
  • Place, Bear River
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, beach near Melrose Township Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Lake Charlevoix
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Airport, Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional)
    ‪45 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

4 Single Beds

Bedroom 6

1 King Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Double Bed

Bedroom #2

2 Double Beds

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Price is avg per night

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About this property

The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake

The historic Shadow Trails Inn, or "the Lodge" as it is known locally,, is great family destination..

6 big bedrooms.
1st floor Master suite
Eat in kitchen, Thermador / GE appliances
Dining room with fieldstone fireplace
Large flat lawn
170 ‘ of private lake frontage
Large dock can handle any size boat or pontoon
House is 50 ‘ from water’s edge, with three steps to the water
AC on second floor and in first floor Master Bedroom

Every room has a view of the lake !

Great location,
Boat or drive to Walloon Village
Close to Boyne City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, Bay Harbor

Originally built in 1908, this rustic red pine log home played a significant role as one of Walloon Lake's earliest fishing lodges. The Lodge is a featured landmark on historic section maps that continue to be reproduced today. It is one the last remaining authentic landmarks from early Walloon and the time of Hemingway.


The Lodge has hosted and entertained vacationing families for more than 100 years.

If you have questions about the Lodge, Walloon Lake, or Northern Michigan, please feel free to call or email anytime,
davidnrentschler@aol.com

Keywords: Family reunions, historic, Lakefront, authentic, romantic

House Rules

Check in after 3:30 PM
Minimum age to rent: 35
Check out before 10:30 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
Guests with less than a 4 star average review rating are subject to review and may result in cancellation
Absolutely no pets and no price reductions. Do not move furniture without permission. No food or drink in the second floor.
Booking are subject to owner's approval and may be canceled 72 hrs after booking. You must have chat with owner via inbox within 72 hrs after booking.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 342663vb
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit

Frequently asked questions

Is The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake located?

Situated on a lake, this lodge is 2.5 mi (4.1 km) from Bear River and within 6 miles (10 km) of Old City Park and Boyne Heritage Center. Lake Charlevoix and Peninsula Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

The Shadow Trails Inn- 'The Lodge' on Walloon Lake Reviews

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. 34 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa N.

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

Wonderful

We had a wonderful stay! Classic Walloon Lake Log Cabin with an amazing history. The home was clean, comfortable, and exactly as pictured. Great outdoor space and we really appreciated the thoughtful touches of fresh flowers placed throughout the home. Communication with the host was easy and prompt. We’d absolutely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

john f.

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

July Lake Walloon

Amazing time - loved every minute!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie F.

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

Wonderful home on the water

The Lodge is the perfect gathering spot for family and friends. Well-appointed and spacious. Highly Recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Edward M.

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

Summer vacation

Best house on the lake. Perfect size for my family. will be renting every single time. Owner was responsive and kind. Don't tell anyone how great this place is because everyone will rent it
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John A.

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

Perfect family vacation

The Lodge was the perfect place to spend a week with my wife, three daughters and their family's. In total there were eleven of us, each of us having a very comfortable bedroom arrangement. The property was very well maintained, clean, and comfortable. The location was superb, three miles from Walloon Village. The views of the lake were exceptional, easy access to the water, dock and water toys. Definitely give this property a perfect 5 star rating.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Classic Walloon experience

The lodge has fantastic and serene views from the South arm of the lake. There's plenty of room for guests to space out. David is immediately responsive!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James F.

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

Comfortable Rustic Lodge in a great location

This is a classic old wooden lodge right on Walloon Lake in the ideal place for pontooning. It is not fancy, it harkens back to yesteryear! Fun going back in time. Only thing we would have liked would have been for the cleaners to make sure the floors were well-vacuumed and the windows were washed.
Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dan T.

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

Fantastic property and hospitality

Our family loved the Lodge and had a fantastic trip. The property is wonderful and the lodge has the charm of a classic historical log home combined with all of the modern comforts of modern appliances, ample kitchen supplies, a/c, etc. We enjoyed the sandy bottom swimming area and docked our boat for easy access to boat rides. We enjoyed the kayaks and paddleboard as well. The host and the property caretaker were very helpful and responsive to our questions and we highly recommend renting this property for larger groups / extended family vacation. We will plan to be back again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

christina c.

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

June 2022

Our family has rented several vacation homes on Walloon over the years. Shadow Trails Inn is by far the most beautiful, home we have rented on Walloon. Our family created lasting memories at Shadow Trails Inn. Father’s Day was spent in the stunning dining room, we felt like we were dining in a fine restaurant. The kitchen was stocked with bottled water, and a chef’s dream. The bedrooms were spacious with very comfortable beds while offering views of the lake. There were separate wings for the bedrooms!!! Our family enjoyed the ample outdoor seating with views of the lake and the covered front porch. The new gas grill was a plus. David communicated before and during our stay to make sure everything was taken care of and we were enjoying our vacation. Again, the best communication that I have had with a property owner. We loved David’s home and hope to return again. I also recommend Walloon Central for the pontoon boat rental. They dropped off and retrieved the boat from the house. This allowed us to start our vacation with an evening cruise.!! Overall, I highly recommend Shadow Trails Inn. Family memories are priceless.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Joan G.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Communication

A Week at the Lake

Spacious for our family of 12. Kitchen and baths need some updating and cleaning. Pots and pans were scarce and needed constant tending. Scorched easily, even at lower temps. Grounds, dock and parking were a 10. We had a pontoon boat for three days and all enjoyed the experience greatly. Kayaks and canoes were used by the younger cousins and by the time we left, all were proficient sailors. Bedrooms were spacious. Again, found the mattress pads dingy, blankets and bedspreads questionable. As for the bath, in fact, all doors squeaky and rarely easily secured. Toilets, sinks and showers worked and drained well. Three, actually 2 upstairs baths were a challenging for the numbers who had to use them morning and night. All that being said, everyone said they loved their week on Shadow Trail Lodge. Tried to contact property manager, left voice mail regarding the check out procedure. No response
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

A wonderful week

We were a bit apprehensive the days prior to our arrival. (Anytime you send thousands of dollars to someone you've never met to reserve a place you've never seen--it's a bit unnerving!). But our reservations were alleviated as soon as we drove on the property. We had 4 families meeting there, driving from 3 different states. There were 7 kids with us (ages 11, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) and 4 sets of adults. The house layout was absolutely perfect--a great place for the kids with privacy for the adults. The kitchen worked great, the living areas were cozy. The place, as you know by the description, isn't new--but it's well taken care of with modern amenities. There is air conditioning on the upper level (where you need it) and a cool breeze on the lower level. We had 2 minor maintenance issues, and the local caretaker group answered our needs immediately. The lake is beautiful. We brought 2 jet skis and 1 speed boat and spent hours on the water. It was surprisingly non-busy, even on the weekends in the middle of June. The water is very shallow close for 30 or 40' which made a great place for the little guys to play in the water without safety fears. We had one adult with us who has disabilities, and he was able to enjoy himself. He stayed in the bedroom on the ground level, and had only a couple stairs to maneuver to sit down by the water. The LODGE will definitely be a place we will consider returning to again next summer!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nanette B.

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

Another good time!

The Lodge is a special place. This year we especially appreciated the location - It's a quiet spot, protected from some of the weather that blew through. Thanks for another great vacation on Walloon!
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Justin H.

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

Excellent stay

Beautiful area, spacious home, and David was excellent with communication. I highly recommend staying at this home. We look forward to returning.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

scott h.

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

wonderful place

our only issue was that the place likely hadn't been opened in awhile. the house was pretty cold and the hot water wasn't turned up - do that when you get there! The bigger issue was that the sink was leaking and the garbage disposal didn't work well. But it's a great place and we were skiing all day, and relaxing at night. We enjoyed it.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa G.

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

Perfect Getaway

Staying at the lodge this weekend was the highlight of my year so far! I came with a group of friends and enjoyed every minute of it. The pictures on here do not give the house justice! It’s beautiful, with so many bedrooms, bathrooms and gathering rooms. The living room was a perfect size where we could all gather and play games. The view of the lake and the sunrise was a bonus! We all want to come back for the summer!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lauren T.

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

Ralph Lauren worthy

This amazing treasure is a log home with multiple stone fireplaces, exposed beams and sits on a beautiful lake. What more could anyone ask for? Doesn’t get any better than this one and we’ve stayed in many. Feels like staying on the Ponderosa Ranch worthy of Ralph Lauren’s log cabin. Authentic northern Michigan as it gets. Host was very accommodating to us.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katie L.

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

Fantastic Place - It is a GEM!

We loved our stay in this cozy lodge right on the lake. We loved our family time in the amazingly large family room with the fantastic fire place. The perfect location on Walloon; it is close to both Boyne and Petosky. Highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nanette B.

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

Everything I had hoped for.

Fantastic 2 weeks with family and friends at The Lodge. Could not have been better. Plenty of room, lots to see and do, wonderfully quiet location on the lake (late Aug timing). The owner, David, went above and beyond to address all of our questions/needs, and his recommendations were perfect. Highly recommend. It was a dream.
Stayed 13 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary M.

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

Very memorable family vacation!

The Lodge was perfect in every way for our family. There was plenty of room for 10 of us. The kitchen was such a pleasure to cook in and to gather. The bathrooms had all of the modern amenities. A very special place indeed!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda R.

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

Amazing property & awesome host

My family enjoyed a beautiful visit to the lake! everything was perfect and i couldn't say more about David as the host. He was generous and gracious, checking on us periodically to help ensure a great trip. The property is on a nice part of the lake and had plenty of room for our family to spread out. A first floor master meant privacy for my husband and me while the kitchen was well equiped for backyard bbq. Log cabin comfort :)
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peggy R.

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

Spacious & Comfortable Log Cabin on Walloon Lake

Our large family felt immediately relaxed and at home in this spacious, comfortable Walloon Lake log cabin. We appreciated the convenient kitchen, large dining room, numerous bedrooms/bathrooms, and roomy main room with stone fireplace and game table for the 1000 piece puzzle that we worked on all week. Shadow Trail Lodge provided everything we needed to unwind and spend time together. We enjoyed the large grassy lot for games of corn hole and can jam... we circled around the fire pit at night... we spent hours on the porch overlooking the magnificent view of Walloon Lake, especially at sunrise... we used the available kayaks and canoe... and the deck was perfect for docking our rental boat. The owner, David, was thoughtful, attentive and communicative. All in all, we highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jaime O.

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

Thanks!

Thank you for making an exception for a 2 day stay - it was great to have our executive team close by!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elsie V.

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

Beautiful Walloon Lake

It was an amazing week. Location is great. Our family had fun with the kayaks, canoe and paddle board. A great lawn for entertaining. The owner was very helpful.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sandy K.

Serenity on Walloon

Our family had a great time at the Lodge! We have stayed at several places on Walloon, but this was our favorite. The Lodge is in a great location on the lake and has character consistent with the history of Walloon. We had siblings with families, plus our parents, who are celebrating their 80th birthdays this year; we were all very comfortable at the Lodge. The kitchen is well-stocked, bedrooms are large, and we all had enough room to eat meals together. The side yard was perfect for mini-soccer games. On the lake, we enjoyed swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, tubing and sunset cruises. David was very attentive and provided us with great information on boat rentals, local activities and any other information we needed. We made many memories that we will forever cherish. Highly recommend the Lodge!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

SB

This is an absolutely stunning place with a neat family history. There were charming pictures and memorabilia around the house that spoke to the 100+ year history of the lodge. It is extremely roomy and full of character. It was a great winter getaway with the perfect ski lodge feel. The owner had a very nice property manager come over and help us with any needs. We also appreciated that we were asked when it would be convenient for us to have the driveway plowed and the fireplace pilot light lit. We also spoke about how amazing the property would be in the summer. This is a place we would visit again!

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