Lakeside Retreat with Fire Pit & Pet-Friendly Escape in Houghton Lake, Michigan

This is only about 28 steps from the lake. It features 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and a full kitchen with gas stove, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, drip coffee maker and enough cooking utensils, dishes and flatware to get you by. There is a small dining table and a futon with an armchair for you to relax in too. We are a pet friendly resort, so please bring your furry friends along!



1 GB of WiFi works all the way to the end of the dock, and there’s also Roku Television with Spectrum.



It also has a NEW live edge countertop, sink and backsplash! We also added new fans to each bedroom. And do provide towels and linens for the beds now too!

Outside there is a picnic table, Weber Charcoal Grill, and a couple of chairs.



Shared amenities are the beach, dock, fire pit, kayaks, tetherball, shuffleboard, and a fish cleaning station. There is plenty of private parking right across the street for your vehicles and trailers.



We are a pet friendly resort, so please bring your furry friends along! There will be a fee of $25/pet/night charged for the stay of our furry friends.



The Houghton Lake area almost has too many things to mention. We are walking distance to the copper gazebo where the birdwatching and fishing are incredible. Swimming, boating (several places to rent pontoons, or we have some small fishing boats to rent too), waterskiing, GOLF (many great courses in the immediate area), fishing, hiking, ORV’s are for rent right down the street (snowmobiles too), geocaching (one of the largest in the state), shopping, eating, kayaking, color tours, cross country skiing, sledding, and many, many more things to do here.





-- THE PROPERTY --



0.5 Mi to Snowmobile Trails | Community Shuffleboard & Horseshoes | Community Fish Cleaning Station (Take Remains to Dumpster)



Hallmarked by its proximity to greenery, this 2-bedroom, 1-bath Houghton Lake retreat comes with a simple interior so you can reconnect with nature and family.



Bedroom 1: Full Bed | Bedroom 2: Full Bed | Living Room: Futon



SHARED AMENITIES: Boat dock (boat rentals available), beach access, fire pit (BYOW), kayaks, splash boards, swing set, tetherball

OUTDOOR LIVING: Picnic table, charcoal grill (BYOC), 2 beach chairs

INDOOR LIVING: Roku Smart TV w/ Spectrum App, 4-person dining table

KITCHEN: Well-equipped, cooking basics, dishware & flatware, microwave, toaster, drip coffee maker, knife set

GENERAL: Free WiFi (high-speed 1GB, reaches dock), starter toilet paper, trash bags & paper towels, hangers, bedding, 6 bath towels

FAQ: Step-free access, 5 external security cameras (facing out), linens/towels provided, pet fee (paid pre-trip)

PARKING: Community parking lot (1 vehicle), additional vehicle & RV/trailer parking available across the street

ADDT’L ACCOMMODATIONS: There are 7 additional properties available on-site, each with separate nightly rates. If you would like to reserve multiple rentals, please book them individually online:-)



-- THE LOCATION --



HOUGHTON LAKE (on-site): Boating, fishing, tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, Houghton Lake Marina & Power (2.4 miles), Houghton Lake State Forest Park (3.6 miles), Lakeland Recreation (4.5 miles)



POWDER DAYS: Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Cross Country Ski Headquarters (14.0 miles), Skyline Ski Resort - downhill skiing (16.4 miles), Snow Snake Ski & Golf (29.9 miles)



NATURE SITES: Trestle Park (10.8 miles), Hartwick Pines State Park (27.2 miles), Mason Tract Pathway (29.5 miles), Ogemaw Nature Park (32.5 miles), Traverse City State Forest ORV Trailhead (48.5 miles)



CELEBRATE AT A FESTIVAL: Tip-Up Town Ice-Fishing Festival - Houghton Lake (4.8 miles), National Cherry Festival (64.7 miles)



FUN STOPS: Pineview Highlands Gold (golf course, 6.7 miles), Pines Theatre (6.8 miles), Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf (11.7 miles), Campbell's Canoe & Kayak Livery (19.6 miles)



PURCHASE UNIQUE ITEMS: Journeys Unique Boutique (4.1 miles), Just Around the Corner (4.3 miles), Knitty Gritty Treasures (6.0 miles), Attic Treasures (6.8 miles), Rockin Chair Gift Shop Inc (7.6 miles), Arnies Arts and Crafts (7.7 miles), Morning Glory Mercantile (10.1 miles)



AIRPORT: Cherry Capital Airport (61.1 miles)



-- POLICIES --



- No smoking

- Pet friendly with a $25/pet/night fee

- No events, parties, or large gatherings unless the entire property is booked

- Must be at least 25 years old to book

- Additional fees and taxes may apply

- Photo ID may be required upon check-in



- NOTE: There are other bookable vacation rentals on-site; other travelers may be present during your stay and share the WiFi connection



- NOTE: Your safety matters. This property features 5 external security cameras. These cameras are outward-facing and do not look into any interior spaces. Camera 1 is located in the parking lot, camera 2 is located in the parking lot across the street, camera 3 is located on the front of the lodge facing the road, camera 4 faces the yard, and camera 5 faces the beach and dock. All cameras actively record video and audio when motion is detected and will be turned on during your stay



- NOTE: Linens, towels, and pillows are provided at the property. It is recommended that you bring a few more for an extended stay. :-) Also, please bring your own beach towels, they are not provided.



-NOTE: For safety reasons, please make sure you include the correct amount of people and pets per cabin/house when making the reservation.





The Smolinski family fell in love with the Whitetail Family Resort as soon as we saw it. The lake is incredible, peaceful and serene especially in North Bay where it is located. We bought the resort in 2021 with the goal of having a place that would give guests a place to make memories with their family and friends and hopefully bring a smile to their faces that will last a lifetime…just like the stories we’ve heard from guests that have been coming back year after year after year for decades.



It is formerly Morris’ Northernaire Resort in the 50’s where they used to raise bear cubs right here on the resort for guests to play with. It is amazing hearing the stories from past guests that have enjoyed staying here.



HOUGHTON LAKE: Boating, fishing, tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, Houghton Lake Marina & Power (2.4 miles), Houghton Lake State Forest Park (3.6 miles), Lakeland Recreation (4.5 miles)



SNOW-COVERED SLOPES: Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Cross Country Ski Headquarters (14.0 miles), Skyline Ski Resort - downhill skiing (16.4 miles), Snow Snake Ski & Golf (29.9 miles)





LET’S GO OUTSIDE: Trestle Park (10.8 miles), Hartwick Pines State Park (27.2 miles), Mason Tract Pathway (29.5 miles), Ogemaw Nature Park (32.5 miles), Traverse City State Forest ORV Trailhead (48.5 miles)



FESTIVAL LIFE: Tip-Up Town Ice-Fishing Festival - Houghton Lake (4.8 miles), National Cherry Festival (64.7 miles)



AROUND TOWN: Pineview Highlands Gold (golf course, 6.7 miles), Pines Theatre (6.8 miles), Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf (11.7 miles), Campbell's Canoe & Kayak Livery (19.6 miles)



DO SOME SHOPPING: Journeys Unique Boutique (4.1 miles), Just Around the Corner (4.3 miles), Knitty Gritty Treasures (6.0 miles), Attic Treasures (6.8 miles), Rockin Chair Gift Shop Inc (7.6 miles), Arnies Arts and Crafts (7.7 miles), Morning Glory Mercantile (10.1 miles)



AIRPORT: Cherry Capital Airport (61.1 miles)

The Houghton Lake area almost has too many things to mention. We near the copper gazebo where the birdwatching and fishing are incredible. Swimming, boating (several places to rent pontoons, or we have some small fishing boats to rent too), waterskiing, GOLF (many great courses in the immediate area), fishing, hiking, ORV’s are for rent right down the street (snowmobiles too), geocaching (one of the largest in the state), shopping, eating, kayaking, color tours, cross country skiing, sledding, and many, many more things to do here.



RENTALS: Please call a local marina for pontoon rentals.