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Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St.

Photo gallery for Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St.

Exterior
Deck, grill, fenced in yard, rose garden, and a wagon for going to the beach.
Empire beach is an easy walk.
Empire bluffs. Just up the hill from town.
Pyramid Point in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Sledding nearby
    A rare find — snowy slopes for sledding are just minutes away.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near beach near Downtown Mmpire
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Deck or patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Free WiFi
  • Kitchen
  • Refrigerator
  • Washer

Explore the area

View in a map
Empire, MI
  • Place, Philip A. Hart Visitor Center
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, beach near Downtown Mmpire
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
    ‪12 min walk‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bath

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St.

Enjoy living in the heart of Empire, a cozy town with a great public beach. Empire Rose is a clean, comfortable home owned by Bruce and Cindy Taggart. It has a modern kitchen and bath, living room, family room, fenced in yard with a fire pit, and two large bedrooms. The master bedroom has a TempurPedic California King-size bed, the large upstairs bedroom has two double beds. Wireless internet and cable TV are provided. Linens are provided.

Rates: Weekly rental ONLY: $1500, Sat-Sat. Off-season (after Labor Day): $1400/wk.

Load up the wagon and take the short walk to the beach for the day, enjoy nearby galleries and shops, and eat out across the street. Empire is in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, voted by Good Morning America as 'The Most Beautiful Place in the Country'! Drive the scenic drive. Hike the trails. bike on miles of beautiful roads, visit the many endless beaches. After dinner, stroll back to the beach for some of the most beautiful sunsets in the country.

Keywords: Downtown, sleeps six, modern kitchen, near beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Traverse City, Sand dunes, Lake Michigan, West Michigan, Leelanau Peninsula, Crystal Lake, Glen Lake
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
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

Important information

You need to know

Property # 387795
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
Onsite 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 there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the neighborhood

Empire

Located on a lake, this vacation home is in Downtown Mmpire, a neighborhood 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. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or check out other outdoor activities such as sledding and snowmobiling.
View more Vacation Homes in EmpireOpens in a new window
Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • beach near Village Park - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Philip A. Hart Visitor Center - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • beach near Downtown Mmpire - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Empire Bluff Trail - 4 min drive - 2.2 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Trattoria Funistrada - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Empire Village Pizza & Spirits - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Joes Friendly Tavern - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Food For Thought - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St.?

As of Jun 19, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St. on Oct 6, 2026 start from $236, 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 Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St.?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Empire Rose: Cozy Home in the Heart of Empire on Front St. located?

Located in Downtown Mmpire, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Philip A. Hart Visitor Center and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is 0.6 mi (1 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 12 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 12 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

wendy k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location for Salmon fishing and hiking. Easy walk to the beach for sunsets. The house had everything that we needed.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura R.

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

Lovely Vacation

Enjoyed our stay at Empire Rose. Very convenient location and easy to walk or ride anywhere! House was very clean, comfortable, and cozy. Would recommend highly!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LORI M.

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

Empire treasure.

The property was so much better than the pictures. It is spacious, updated and decorated with beautiful pieces of vintage and current furniture. The Empire Rose is located close to everything, beach, shopping, bike and hiking trails. Other than the weather being finicky it was a wonderful stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laurie T.

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

Excellent Choice in Every Way

Empire Rose was the perfect lodging because of the lay out of the home and patio deck. Everything for cooking was available in the kitchen; easy chairs in the living room with large picture windows and lighting for reading a good book; a quiet and charming outdoor patio that felt very private. Generally speaking ...the home afforded a creative and pleasant decor, yet humble, throughout. The area amenities are just right to experience some small town experiences ( dining, galleries, ice cream shop, and a chocolate shop). There is the most quaint walk to Lake Michigan Shore for day excursions to enjoy the lakeside. Day trips to local towns, including Glen Arbor, are possible which add adventure and interest. The most communicative and pleasant hosts! Thank you for your lakeshore home and the tranquility of this residence.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John T.

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

Great getaway in central Empire

Very comfortable stay in delightful town on Empire. Within walking distance of everything including beach and restaurant. Very comfortable bed in main bedroom and well stocked kitchen. Especially appreciated the remodeled bathroom with walk-in shower and grab bars. Owners were very responsive to any questions we had.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan D.

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

Love the Empire Rose Cottage

Everything from checking in to checking out was absolutely perfect. The cottage is even better in person than pictures can show online. Exceptionally clean and the owners have provided anything and everything you could possibly want in a rental. Looking forward to returning every year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shannon A.

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

Empire Rose

This is a great location to stay in Empire! Cindy made our stay so easy and quick to respond to questions. We cannot wait to visit again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denise D.

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

Perfect For Us

Not fancy, but quaint and nice. Location was perfect and the host was very helpful and accessible! We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Charles G.

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

Family memories on Front Street

What a wonderful home on Front Street. Our family of 5 came to Empire together for a family wedding. We are so grateful we found Empire Rose. The home had everything we needed, a clean and generous amount of space, yard and more. Prime location to everything, very responsive and kind owners. The beach is a short walk, our kiddos loved riding their scooters to the beach. We really appreciated our time here and thank you for having us. Looking forward to next year. THANK YOU!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Archival

10/10 Excellent

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Love the Empire Rose

My family stayed @ the ER the last few days of July and the first few days of August. We really liked it. Great location in a small beach town. The property was clean, neat and well kept. When I showed my girls pictures of the home they were not impressed but they liked it as soon as we walked through the door. The owners (very nice people) live next door so if you have any issues they'll be addressed. The location is perfect-maybe 5 minutes to the beach, 10 seconds for ice cream, 30 seconds to the grocer and 60 seconds to Joe's Friendly Tavern. Glen Arbor (north on M22) has more to offer as far as shopping and dining. We hope to be back to Empire in the next year or two and will definitely stay @ the Empire Rose when we do.
Archival

8/10 Good

Great M22 Experience

The owners of this house have done a great job of keeping this property fresh and very user friendly. I would have rated Excellent if there was a better way to manage the heat. They had several fans but think that during the hot summer days and nights, these werent effective enough. This is my only comment for improving the rating. Different weeks and different weather, it may not have mattered. Appliances are all up to date. The kitchen is stocked with all the accessories to cook with. The master bedroom is spatious with a walk in closet. Having two living rooms is also a plus if someone wants to read while the others play in the other room. Make no mistake, you are right in middle of this little sleepy town. There were many mornings where I would sit in the front room and read while watching and waving at the passers by. The nights were quiet for us. The beach is one of the best I have seen. Get there early for a parking spot. There are actually two sets of beaches, one on Lake Michigan and the other on an immediate inland lake. There are restrooms and a small pavillion. BBQ grills are spread out. There are a few places in town to spend you money. The grocer has limited offerenigs and convenience pricing. The bar restaurant is also the only game in the downtown and is also priced accordingly. There is a Post Office, ice cream shop, water sports and several specialty shops ranging from Art to collectables. There are some shops outside of the downtown but we did not explore them. Everyone was friendly in town and at the beach. I didnt witness any drunken or lewd behavior. The beach was a 10 minute walk and offered the convenience of popping home for a nap. The view at this beach is unique and breathtaking, with dunes to the north and south. We traveled to neighboring towns and experienced the M22 feeling. This was a nice change from the drone of a big city. My only regret was not going down to the beach and having a bonfire in one of the many designated spots.
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 6, 2020
Thanks for the nice comments! You're right that the upstairs can get hot. Since your stay, we have installed an attic fan that pushes the hot air out and pulls in cooler air. This helps keep the upstairs cool on our rare hot days.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Walter C.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

About the host

Hosted by Bruce F. Taggar

Host profile image
Bruce and Cindy Taggart taught in the College of Music at Michigan State University. Cindy also owns and runs The Secret Garden, a gallery of handcrafts in Empire, three doors down from Empire Rose. Bruce and Cindy live in Glen Arbor.

Why they chose this property

We have been summer residents of Empire since 1988. It really is 'The Most Beautiful Place in America.' We love the town, the beach, the National Lakeshore. Empire Rose is a house we have admired for many years; we purchased it in 2011. We are thrilled to own it and be able to offer it for others to enjoy.

What makes this property unique

Empire Rose is in an ideal location: easy walk to the beach (five minutes), restaurants, bank (with ATM), ice cream store, quirky shops, newly renovated library, National Lakeshore visitor's center.

Languages:

German
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