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Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.

Photo gallery for Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.

Exterior
Property grounds
New deck built in 2021 - New deck built in 2021
Sunroom - Sunroom
Living room - Living room

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Empire, MI
  • Place, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Empire Bluff Trail
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.

Charming and cozy! This 1891 Centennial home is located in the heart of old Empire on a calm side street. It is only a five-minute walk to Empire beach (Lake Michigan), with miles of sugar sand in each direction to enjoy. This property has three bedrooms and one bathroom on 2-levels.

The main level bedroom has one queen. Upstairs there are two bedrooms with one double bed, two twins, and a twin rollaway bed. The house has WIFI, a FireTV Stick, and DVD player. This home has original interiors with modern conveniences. There is a washer/dryer available.

Relax in the spacious backyard with a deck, hammock, chimney stove for outdoor fires, and a grill. Stroll down the street to Tiffany's for ice cream or Joe's Friendly Tavern for a burger. The Empire Beach boasts a beautiful sandy beach and a large playground. It's only a 5-minute drive to the Sleeping Bear Dunes climb and a 25-minute drive to Traverse City.

No air conditioning.

Kitchen updated in 2025.

-- THE PROPERTY --

Sleeps 7.

Bedroom 1: queen bed || Bedroom 2: double bed || Bedroom 3: two twins & twin rollaway bed

OUTDOORS: chimney stove, grill, deck, sand toys, hammock

INDOORS: WIFI, Smart TV, FireTV Stick, DVD player, DVDs, board games, sunroom

KITCHEN: coffee maker, dishes & utensils, microwave, oven, pantry items, refrigerator, stove, cookware, dishwasher

GENERAL: no A/C, iron & board, linens & towels, washer & dryer

PARKING: space for 3 vehicles (includes roadside parking)

-- POLICIES –

- No pets allowed

- No smoking

- No events, parties, or large gatherings

- Must be at least 18 years old to book

- Additional fees and taxes may apply
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
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, service animals permitted
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

About the area

Empire

Located near the beach, this holiday home is in Downtown Mmpire, a neighbourhood in Empire. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
View more Holiday homes in EmpireOpens in a new window
Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Empire Bluff Trail - 3 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Crystal Mountain - 33 min drive - 49.1 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 40 min drive - 55.8 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Joes Friendly Tavern - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Tiffany's Cafe - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach. pet-friendly?

No, only service animals are welcome at the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.?

As of 27 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach. on 14 Jul 2026 start from £358, 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.

What time is check-in at Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Centennial home in Empire. Walk to the beach. located?

Located in Downtown Mmpire, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Empire Bluff Trail is 0.9 mi (1.5 km) away.

Reviews

7.6

Good

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. 20 out of 68 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 25 out of 68 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 12 out of 68 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 68 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 68 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

4.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

tom b.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sleeping Bear Marathon

Our stay was nice
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jamie L.

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

4th of july stay

enjoyed
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
From a partner site

8/10 Good

David R.

A week in Empire

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Centennial home in Empire was in great location to access Empire Beach, Empire, and Sleeping Bear Lakeshore. House had everything we needed.
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jul 2025
Thank you ! Nice to know you enjoyed this historic home .
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Sleeping bear marathon

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Very nice
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Oct 2022
Glad you enjoyed your stay.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Kathy L.

Wonderful!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: My extended family stayed in both the Blue Jay and The Summer Place. We loved it. Very clean.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Apr 2020
We are thrilled you enjoyed the house and hope you come back again soon!
Verified

8/10 Good

Jennifer D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Empire House

While the house is old and has funny angles and spaces, it fulfilled out need. Location to Empire Beach was perfect. Our group of seven ran the Sleeping Bear 5K, 1/2 and full marathon and location couldn't be better. Bed covers could be cleaner, and the rollaway bed mattress could be updated. No outside porch light so arriving late at night took some effort. Overall, decent place for the price.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Amanda S.

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

Great location

The location is amazing. The house is around the block from Empire’s little downtown and a short walk or bike ride to the beach. We had two families in our group and the property worked out well for us. The backyard was great, with plenty of space for the kids to play and a porch to eat meals together. Our families each took a house. The main house, Summer Place, is bigger and nicer. Blue Jay was smaller, but not bad. The homes were clean.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Scott S.

Family getaway

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Property is a bit older but comfortable. The main house has a musty order which may be a problem for some people. The guest house is very spartan and has no heat, other than some electric space heaters.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Oct 2022
We are glad you found this home comfortable. As we say in the description for this home on our website, "guest cottage does not have central heat".
Verified

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Home needs updating. Ants were a horrible problem in kitchen.only one bar of soap in house
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Christine K.

September in Empire

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The Summer Place in Empire was in a perfect location. We walked to he beach every morning. We stayed in the Blue Jay ( the trailer in the side yard). It was clean but really needed some updating, especially the bathroom. Our other guests stayed in the main house which I thought was lovely. It could have used a little more thorough cleaning; the fans needed dusting and a dehumidifier would have helped.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Oct 2021
We are so pleased to know that you enjoyed the location of this home and the beach! We appreciate your suggestions and will follow up with our housekeeper.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Lauren E.

Could be better

Rating Details: The property manager was somewhat unhelpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Overall we enjoyed the area and vacation. We were not impressed by this rental. It was a place to stay but the beds could've been more comfortable and the house could use some updates. Our kids wanted to play some of the games but it seemed they were all missing pieces and not nicely kept. We were also very disappointed that we did not have access to the Blue Jay rental. I was led to believe we would have access to the other rental and was even given a code for entry but there was no code box. It wasn't until I reached out and asked about it that they said the owner shut down that rental. We have little kids and would've liked to use the bath tub in that rental since the main house only has a shower. I would not have rented this property if I would have know beforehand
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Oct 2024
We are pleased to know that you enjoyed Northern Michigan and had a good vacation. We appreciate your suggestions and will bring them to the owner.
Archival

4/10 Poor

Bethany L.

Ideal set-up, but too many problems to be worth price

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was more than happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We liked the location and rooms of the house, just what we wanted. But, the maintenance issues made us generally uncomfortable. We saw mice each night in multiple rooms. The company sent someone with poison and traps but the mice still showed up each night and sometimes during the day. Had to keep washing kids blankets and hiding all our food supplies. Several lights were broken or missing. The grill & bikes were in a shed that reeked of cat feces. The closet in the bathroom had a shocking odor - we just didn't use it, we rewashed all the towels. And many windows did not lock. The kitchen sink pipes weren't connected so our first dishload flooded the floor, but my husband fixed that. We found items from the previous renters under the kids beds (dirty socks), so that had not been vacuumed. Nothing unliveable but just not worth the pricey rent.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Kathryn P.

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

It was okay

We had a nice stay, but we ran into some issues. The guest house ran out of hot water after one shower and it was not clear how to lock the door. I would have preferred nicer beds in the main house and the upstairs could use some carpet/flooring. We also had an issue with not being able to turn on the outside light when it was raining - thought maybe we blew a fuse, but we could not locate a fuse box. We had a decent stay, but I would probably not book this property again. Proximity to the beach was nice and we took advantage of that for sure. The rainy weather (out of everyone’s control) made it so we couldn’t enjoy the outside yard/back decks as much as we wanted. I’m glad that we did not overpay for this property - it was a good value.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

suzanne M.

Summer Place

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was more than happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: I was disappointed in with a couple things. The back door did not lock however I called the office and they did remedy it quickly. The mattress in the downstairs bedroom was VERY bad. Needs to be replaced asap. The kitchen smelled of vomit. I washed the floors with a bleach solution before we could unpack. The location is good but for the amount of money charged, improvements need to be done. There were dirty, stinky clothes left in the Blue jay bathroom as well as the upstairs bedroom. I asked beforehand if the property was fenced and was told yes. Only ONE side has a fence.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Kasandra A.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness

Not 5 minutes from the beach

This property was OKAY. Cleaning crew can do better. We just finished a family trip where we stayed in both the house and Bluejay(trailer on property). The house was nice but rooms upstairs were not suitable for littles. The windows are very low and I had serious concerns about how easily my toddlers could access them. The main house was clean but there were ant traps on the window sill in the kitchen, upon our arrival I noted that but no ants. The next morning though, ants were crawling all over the counter tops and in the bathroom. I get that it’s up north but at the same time, it’s still gross. The Blue Jay was not the cleanest. Dust noted and upon arrival (at 4pm) there was a decent sized wet spot on the couch. Don’t even think about showering here as the shower probably won’t fit someone over 5’7” and the window in the shower, while it was screened in had cobwebs and a very large black spider crawling around in there. The description also states that it is a 5 minute walk to the beach, it is not. It is a 5 minute walk to the bar though so that was nice. Overall the stay was fine but I would not stay here again, especially for the price we paid.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jenny K.

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

awesome

Our stay in Empire was great. We all want to do it again. Excellent experience and accomodations
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Timothy L.

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

Great Stay

We really enjoyed our stay. Location is perfect for exploring Empire and heading to the beach. Easy access to great trails as well. House was very cute and the private backyard was awesome. Grilling, fire and new deck has plenty of room. Would book again for sure.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Nov 2021
So glad you enjoyed!
Verified

8/10 Good

katherine N.

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

Great location, lots of room!

We loved the location of this property, easy walking distance to beach, restaurants, shops and a fun park for the kids. House is older, but has character. Beds were comfortable and clean. Nice deck and back yard for visiting in.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Oct 2021
Thank you! We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed this home & location.
From a partner site

4/10 Poor

Yumie T.

Not clean

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: 1. When we arrived, key box had already opened. Key was exposed before we arrive2. No mention about air conditioning was out of order. During our staying, outside was heat temperature. It was worst trouble 3. Dishes and pans were still dirty in the shelf.4. Used towels were left in the closet5. Disposable blue box was already fulled with messy trash 6. Have you smelled inside house? Mold and dust smell were full up room.7. Hot water limit is too low to use bathtubBut are is so quiet and charming . I wish if someone cleans up whole house, it will become good house....Anyway thank you for quick response when we were confused this situation
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 May 2022
We apologize for any housekeeping issues you encountered. The home does not have air conditioning.. The outside trash container is only picked up once a week. At times guests willl arrive to trash in the bin until pick up day. We certainly will be more diligent about keeping up the home.
Verified

8/10 Good

Brian W.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, fair-to-middlin' house

One preliminary hassle was filling out extra paperwork from the property manager (Up North Vacations, I believe), which hasn't been required for any other VRBO property I've rented (and I've rented many). The house was very clean when we arrived, and spacious. The kitchen, living room, and deck were comfortable. The kitchen had most basic needs. On our first morning, I found that the toaster wouldn't keep toast down long enough to brown it; but without us asking, someone showed up with a new toaster on our second day there. The house doesn't have AC (even though someone renting the place for 3 nights would cover the cost of a few window units); but several fans were provided (stored in closets), which was nice. Some of the beds were saggy. Be aware that Empire doesn't have a grocery store; and the convenience store has milk and some dry goods, but no eggs or produce. It was an easy walk to a restaurant, an ice cream parlor, and the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Sept 2021
Thank you for staying with Visit Up North Vacation Rentals and Summer Place. Many homes in this area do not have ac. Many owners are reluctant to spend the money for a few weeks of warm weather. There are many road side stands where you pay- as you- go, that have fresh eggs, local produce and more. This is one of those neat things about our area. Then you also get to support our local farmers.
Verified

6/10 Okay

lora g.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

The main house was great...but the guest house was disgusting.

When booking at property, it was stated that a dog was allowed. However, only in the guest house which was disgusting. I cried as soon as I went into that house. The toilet didn't flush, so we had to take the tank cover off to hit the part that makes the water fill up. There were 1 light out of 3 that worked in the bathroom. The chairs were crusted. The guest room lamp shade had a hole in it. The bed was disgusting, the pillows and room was terrible. The door was off the hinge. The smells of body odor in the bedrooms and sofa was revolting.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021
From a partner site

4/10 Poor

Angaline M.

Wasn't what we expected

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very dirty. I was happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: My experience with the houses are shared below. The lake/Beach is beautiful, neighborhood is friendly, and locals are very friendly. Summer PlaceWindows left unlockedStained carpet in living room (install got pushed back) wasn't aware of the construction until we were there.Sofa replaced however not with new based off of appearance, probably could have a younger child sleep on if need be.FULL Trash Bin in alley, trash overflowed do to construction No trash bin in house (did find outside but had to hunt for it)Wifi name/password not on bottom of router like instructions stateGames left to play are full of missing parts or mismatched parts and needs to be cleaned outUnfinished floor maintenance (upstairs full bed bedroom) - not provide a rug to walk on, felt like walking on fresh cut wood (could be part of the carpet delay that wasn't communicated to my rental, hopefully it gets fixed)Unfinished clean up from contractors/cleaners - found nails, screws, glass, staples, shards of wood all over the house and yardBedroom off of kitchen needs floor stickers for little dip in floor as it could be a tripping hazard.Closets are very unorganized and dirtyFloors were filthy (from maintenance speckled paint all over tile)Blinds were overly dustyCurtains crumbled when unfoldedThe musty smell in the house flared allergiesBaby gate left behind, couldn't use, it's partially broken (bent)spring windows (don't let kids open the windows without supervision) Blue JayBroken key lock box (duct tape) - wasn't closed, didn't stay closed, code not needed to openBroken/exposed metal door frame to entry doorCloset full of empty cans/bottlesPaint can and paint brushes left out on decksDeck table didn't have umbrella for table like shown in app picturesBroken lampshade in small bedroomConstant leak from faucet in bathroomBathroom door jammed/fell off
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

The summer place was located in the perfect place.

Rating Details: I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. I was very happy with the location. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. The property manager was more than helpful. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The summer place was located in the perfect place. However, when we arrived at the home, the microwave oven was a mess, there was opened food left in the cabinet and the garbage can under the sink was overflowing with garbage. I called the office and they apologized. When I am paying to stay somewhere I expect it to be clean. Unfortunately, I was scepticle with what welcomed us and I washed all the dished and glasses so I would be sure it was clean. That wasn't the greatest start to the vacation. Also, our son is 6' 3" tall the ceiling fans and ceiling where a little too low for him. They really need to get a new couch, the cushions are constantly falling off the base of the couch. Overall, The Summer Place served it's purpose, we had a wonderful time and great weather. The lower level bedroom was great for my mom. Overall, I don't think we would rent the summer place again. We need a little bit more room.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Great Location - Good Use a Few Updates

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was more than happy with the location. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The location was perfect for everything we wanted to visit. Close enough to walk to the beach and playground, visitors center, grocery store, ice cream shop and restaurant. The home could definitely use a deep cleaning, our son's feet were black just from running around the main floor. Window treatments on the bathroom window and the kitchen window just outside the bathroom was be nice- we placed towels over the windows for privacy. We only used the couch to watch the weather report, but the couch has seen better days - the cushions would just not stay on the couch and were touching the floor. We had to put it back together every time we sat on it. All and all the convenient and quiet location makes this a nice rental.
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Apr 2020
We have been attending to many of these issues and am sure that your next stay will be more enjoyable.
Verified

8/10 Good

Shayla F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Cute little town!

This property was very cute and was a easy walk to beach/downtown. Pictures should be updated online though and the lot next door made us feel a little uneasy but we did not have any issues. It would have been nice to have an open or bigger fire pit but I am not sure if it’s allowed or not. Overall, the property def could use some updates but we still enjoyed ourselves.

About the host

Hosted by Visit Up North Vacation Rentals

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