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Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres

Photo gallery for Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres

Exterior
Beach
Beach
Master bedroom
Guest room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the sand and sea.
  • Walkable and wonderful
    Guests love the walkable location for its easy access on foot.
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Empire, MI
  • Place, South Bar Lake
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, beach near Village Park
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, beach near Downtown Mmpire
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

2nd Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

3rd Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

Master

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Additional Second Floor Bathroom

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

First Floor Bathroom

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Master Bath

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres

Spectacular, custom home (built in 2020) located in Empire with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This exquisite property sits on 30 acres to explore with private Lake Michigan frontage (3000 feet). New steps to the beach were recently built giving guests direct, private access to Lake Michigan. This immaculate home offers stunning sunsets and sensational natural beauty in the heart of the area dubbed the “most beautiful place in America”. More than 3500 square feet of living space; over 4000 square feet with the basement. On the main floor you have a large open concept with cathedral-height windows and panoramic views of Lake Michigan. Main level kitchen has a large pantry and designated ice maker, second refrigerator and wine cooler. Three bedrooms (plus a large rec room/bunk room); Three bathrooms, and an additional outdoor shower. Accommodates 8. Queen beds in two second-floor bedrooms; King in master bedroom also on the second level, with a whirlpool in the master bath; Two sets of bunk beds on the third level. Queen sleeper in lower level family room. Central air conditioning; Linens and Towels provided; Washer and Dryer; ceiling fans. Gas Fireplace with a stone facade. Wireless and High-Speed Internet; Two Wi-Fi-enabled TVs (Amazon Firestick and Google Chromecast compatible). Incredible decking with over 1200 square feet of outdoor living for dining, relaxing, listening to the waves or taking in the breathtaking vistas. Gas grill. South Bar Lake frontage. Walking distance to the quaint village of Empire with restaurants, bars, antique shops and a Farmer’s Market during the Summer months. Only a 15-minute scenic drive to the charming town of Glen Arbor; 25-minute drive to Traverse City. The rare property offers a memorable opportunity to experience unparalleled beauty and serenity among 30 acres of natural forest and private access to the white sands of beautiful Lake Michigan. The unique property is only available for very limited periods during the year. This property can accommodate a maximum of 3 cars - no exceptions. Limited Summer rentals only are Friday to Friday.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
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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
For a variety of reasons, we cannot allow more than 8 people inside the property at any time. Thank you for your cooperation.
No more than 3 cars are allowed at the property location at any time. Strictly enforced. Thank you for your cooperation.
No travel agents making reservations please. I like to have a conversation with the actual guests before arrival.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2220801vb
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Empire

Located in Empire, this holiday home is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing, waterskiing and water tubing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
View more Holiday homes in EmpireOpens in a new window
Map
Empire, MI

What's nearby

  • South Bar Lake - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • beach near Village Park - 7 min drive - 2.0 km
  • beach near Downtown Mmpire - 7 min drive - 2.0 km
  • Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 10 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Little Glen Lake - 13 min drive - 8.9 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 46 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cherry Republic - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Trattoria Funistrada - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Boonedocks - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Cherry Public House - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Shipwreck Cafe - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Sleeping Bear Spectacular: Private Lake Michigan Lakefront on 30 Acres located?

Nestled on the beach, this Empire holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of South Bar Lake and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away.

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. 5 out of 5 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful setting and view. Convenient to tasty restaurants. A relaxing get-away.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a fabulous experience in this home and the host was very responsive. The home and location is beautiful, spacious, and well appointed. The nightly sunsets and the view of the dunes were gorgeous and the option to kayak, bike, hike, or walk on the beach keeps you active. We were celebrating family summer birthdays and this home allowed us to have enough room to for all ages, from 13 to 90 years old, of the family to eat, spend time together as well as spread out, and create wonderful memories. Additionally, the house is a 45 minute drive from Traverse City airport and there are many towns, restaurants, and shops to explore as well as outdoor and indoor activities for all different interests. We would highly recommend a family curling lesson at Broomstack Kitchen and Taphouse.We loved our stay here and look forward to doing it again.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jun, 2026
Thank you Jennifer for such kind words. So happy you had a wonderful time in this special part of the world.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christa M.

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

Gorgeous Property, Wonderful Stay

What a special property and wonderful stay! The views of Lake Michigan and nearby dunes were absolutely spectacular. We loved sitting on the wrap around porch and gazing at the miles of blue water, the dramatic sunsets and stars. The long stretch of private beach, accessible by a new staircase, was pristine, secluded and quiet like the rest of the property. We loved kayaking and walking along the shore each day. The gorgeous, light filled house - with views of all this lovely natural scenery - was immaculate, comfortable, and well-equipped. Communication with the owner Tim Jemal was fantastic - he was so helpful and welcoming. We were sad to leave this truly lovely spot and hope to return in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tom R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christa M.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

About the host

Hosted by Tim Jemal

Host profile image
I grew up in Michigan and now live most of the year in Southern California. The very best memories of my childhood were spent at our Empire cottage.

I am fortunate to be able to travel much of the world and I can't find a more spectacular location than our house on Lake Michigan in Empire. With majestic dunes, crystal clear Lake Michigan, South Bar Lake and beautiful 30 acres of untouched landscape at your doorstep you will fall in love just like I have. That's what I like most about being a host - sharing this incredible destination with others.

In 2020, we completely rebuilt the "cottage" into a beautiful lake house that's both modern and respectful of the history of creating a sanctuary for our family, guests, the forest and wildlife.
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