Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake

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Entire home

Living room with two big screen TVs & stone 2-sided fireplace

Great for gatherings: Dining room table seats 12, plus counter stools

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 162800 sq ft

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Fireplace
Washer
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Howell, MI

Howell's MainStreet Winery
‪4 min drive‬
Tanger Outlets Howell
‪11 min drive‬
The Majestic at Lake Walden
‪23 min drive‬
Pontiac, MI (PTK-Oakland County Intl.)
‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds

Bonus Area Above Garage

1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

garage/game room

1 Double Futon

main house loft

1 Double Futon

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3 - Garage

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

About this property

Heron Home is the perfect retreat for any season. A short drive (or 30-minute walk) to award-winning downtown Howell. Get that up north feeling without the long road trip! Located on all sports Thompson Lake, enjoy your own private dock and three kayaks for your personal use, or the nearby access to a public boat launch and beach. Family gathering? Dining table seats 12, or add the kitchen table and counter stools for even more.

The large backyard with its breath-taking views, has a built-in firepit, built-in gas grill (no tanks required!), a wood stove, and a hot-tub! Watch the resident swans, herons and muskrats while truly relaxing. It's the perfect setting for family and friends.

Other features:
* Primary bedroom with King bed and ensuite with double showers and a jetted tub
*Main floor bedroom with King bed; second floor bedroom with two full beds
* Bonus room above garage/games room with one King and 2 twin beds.
* Large dining table to host your family gathering (seats 12), kitchen table seats 6, terrace table seats 8!
* Great spot for family reunions, staycations, girls trips, or bonding with friends.
* Separate game/lounge room with ping pong, shuffleboard
* Full pull out sofa and third full bathroom in games room.
* Full pull out sofa and desk with monitor in the 2nd floor loft
*Fully stocked kitchen, beach towels, laundry, puzzles/games/toys, pack-and-play, insect repellant, sunscreen and more.

Property manager

Steve Parkhill

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

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Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No more than 7 cars in the driveway and absolutely no parking in the street (Carpool in if needed).

No more than 16 guests in the house at any given time.

Outdoor activities, music, excessive noise are prohibited after 10pm. (Howell and Subdivision Ordinance). Please respect our neighbors' property.

Important information

You need to know

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

About the area

Howell

Located in Howell, this cottage is on the waterfront. Howell's MainStreet Winery and Mt Brighton Ski Area are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Brighton State Recreation Area and Island Lake State Recreation Area.

Howell, MI

What's nearby

Howell's MainStreet Winery - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
Tanger Outlets Howell - 11 min drive - 9.4 km
Brighton Center for Specialty Care - 13 min drive - 14.4 km
Mt Brighton Ski Area - 14 min drive - 15.7 km
The Majestic at Lake Walden - 23 min drive - 19.8 km

Getting around

Pontiac, MI (PTK-Oakland County Intl.) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
‪Culver's - ‬6 min drive
‪Jonna's Country Corner Market - ‬6 min drive
‪Buffalo Wild Wings - ‬6 min drive
‪Burger King - ‬15 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake located?

This family-friendly Howell cottage is located on the waterfront, 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from Howell's MainStreet Winery, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Tanger Outlets Howell and East Crooked Lake. Brighton State Recreation Area and Brighton Center for Specialty Care are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Shirley H.

22 Apr, 2025

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

Relaxing

Very lovely lodge home with comfort .Loved sitting outside by the evening fire and listening to all the animal night life sounds of the sandhill cranes and frogs singing there songs. Would highly recommend this place.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

autumn g.

23 Feb, 2025

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

Amazing

This place is absolutely stunning. Provides a great place to spend with your loved one’s!!

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rick A.

31 Jan, 2025

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

Amazing House and Great Owner

The property is pristine, the location is amazing, and the owner is so incredibly easy to work with. And, the game room is awesome! We will be back!

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaliyah M.

24 Jan, 2025

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

Great cabin!!

Such an amazing property!!! We enjoyed everything & the view of the lake and birds was really nice! I would definitely book again & have already been recommending others to book. Thanks so much!!

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Avery P.

7 Jan, 2025

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

New Year’s Eve Wedding

My brother and sister in law recently got married on New Year’s Eve and we were looking for a place where all of our wedding party could stay after. We found this listing and it looked very spacious, cozy, and like the perfect place to host our group. The game room connected to the garage was such a nice addition to keep us occupied on the snowy new year and to keep some toddlers busy. There was plenty of space to sleep all of our guests and to host breakfast the next morning. The host was more than helpful when trying to arrange a bag drop off before the wedding. Steve was very punctual when responding and made sure that our stay went smoothly. I could not recommend this place more! Thanks again to Steve for letting us stay at your gorgeous home!)

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Elizabeth S.

5 Jan, 2025

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

Well stocked for big family gatherings

I think this place would be a 5star in the summer. Very clean and loved having actual bedrooms for quiet-time & privacy. For the winter months there are no outdoor amenities like a pull sled for littles but we noticed tons of outdoor amenities for use in summer. The garage space is detached. Had to carry babies for nap time in and out of the 10 deg temps. And never could get the garage very warm. For teenagers, the garage space would be perfect! But for toddlers/infants-a little tough. Bring a baby gate for the stairs if you have crawlers. High chair was fabulous. Easy to clean. There are only 2 bathrooms in the main house & the upstairs one is through a bedroom. Not a huge deal, just good to know when you have just-potty trained ones along with older folks who can’t use the stairs well. The kitchen is very well stocked with appliances and pots/pans kitchenware. The long dining room table is VERY nice. Plenty of pillows and bedding and blankets. Very nice to have an iron and ironing board as we all needed it before heading to the wedding. Sandhill cranes were just outside and the babies loved watching them. I would book this place again for my extended family of 4 generations if ever in the area again.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carol B.

23 Dec, 2024

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

Our family holiday get together.

We had an absolutely perfect family weekend at Steve's wonderful home. Steve is the perfect host, very responsive, flexible, and was so sweet to decorate the house for us. We had a gang of kids who loved the hot tub and the game house. Excellent place for chatting, watching football, eating together. Just Great!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

19 Dec, 2024

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

Holiday House

Our family, from near & far, gathered together to celebrate the magic of the season. Enjoyed the game room, hot tub, roaring fires inside & out, games and meals together at the table that held 12 easily, with a kitchen that allowed many cooks to work side by side. There was something for all ages 🎄

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Stephen W.

10 Dec, 2024

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

Family lake stay

House is beautiful Steve is easy to get in contact with and helpful

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aaron R.

23 Nov, 2024

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

Great gathering with friends

It was a great place to get away for a weekend. Lots of room, good activities, great location.

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew H.

28 Oct, 2024

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

Very pleasant

Beautiful property, owner was very responsive and easy to work with.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

mike G.

24 Sept, 2024

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

Great experience for 7 buddies on a football weekend

This property lived up to every expectation. Beautiful, clean, fun and easy access. 7 older guys who travel once a year for a football weekend had a great time. Really was perfect. The host is very helpful and hospitable. I highly recommend this property.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

15 Sept, 2024

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

Golf trip

We had a little weekend golf trip with the guys and this was the perfect place to relax and unwind after a round. Drinks outside by the lake and hanging out in the hot tub were amazing. After golf the games continued in the game room with a ping pong tournament and some nostalgic video games. All 14 of us were able to sleep comfortably with the provided rooms and beds. There were also extra air mattresses and pull out couches if we needed. We had a great time and will be back if our next golf trip leads us to this area.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul V.

6 Sept, 2024

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

Great place to stay highly recommend

We had an excellent time vacationing at this property. Great accommodations and all the extras were great. Hot tub was kept very clean and we enjoyed it very much. Property was very large and well kept, plenty of room for yard games and just relaxing in the sun. Fire pit was also great in the evenings under the stars! This location did not disappoint and the extra bedroom in the game house was a great bonus! Would definitely recommend to others. Thanks so much for the welcome gifts and hospitality.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynda H.

29 Jul, 2024

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

Experience "Up North" without the long drive to get there

Stunning house, classy, clean and new looking, great for multiple families. Good fishing and boating and a great backyard to play Whiffle ball or any other sport for the kids. The backyard to the lake is flat, not steep like so many lake houses. We plan to go back next year!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pat L.

26 Jul, 2024

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

Family on the lake

We loved our stay on Thompson Lake. The house was perfect for our group and was just as it was described. Steve was very responsive and helpful. The house was comfortable, clean, nicely decorated. We loved the wildlife, especially the swans and heron. My grandson fished off the dock and everyone enjoyed having use of the kayaks. My son made pizzas on the out door fireplace and we used the fire pit to roast hotdogs and make s'mores. We hated to leave and hope to visit again. Thanks for sharing your place with us!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Richard R.

3 Jun, 2024

Liked: Check-in

Disliked: Communication

Great Facilities for Family but Not Clean

The facilities were appropriate for our extended family group but were not properly cleaned for our arrival. There are 3 bathrooms and the mold in the primary shower was a big issue. Also, the on/off valve handle was loose and needed repaired. The primary bathroom counter was dusty and had hair on it. The floor in the dining area was dusty and there were clothes in one dresser drawer. The recycled bin was full and several lights inside the house were burned out. Also, the natural gas fireplace in the family room kept going out after it lit. The property had great potential, but the cleanliness was lacking and detracted considerably from our enjoyment. The property owner said he would address the cleanliness, but he did not.

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenny M.

27 May, 2024

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

Great annual trip with four families.

Very clean house and all amenities cared for. Beds are comfortable. Great location - short drive to local restaurants and convenience stores. Lake is a shallow. But also not very busy so easy to tube off of a boat. Lots of room for larger groups.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Beatriz S.

7 May, 2024

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

Awesome house!

We absolutely enjoyed our time at Catalina Cottage! The house is perfect for everyone and the view was amazing. Such a peaceful stay for our daughter's graduation.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristin F.

27 Apr, 2024

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

Kyle and Marie Wedding

We were in town for a family wedding in East Lansing with the reception at Crystal Gardens in Howell. Perfect property and location for out of town large families traveling to stay and relax for an event or reunion. 2 Bedrooms upstairs in the main house and 1 bedroom downstairs and 1 large bedroom with bunks with a full bathroom in the garage. The cousins enjoyed the game room in the garage - complete with ping-pong, table shuffle board, video game console, and wet bar. Hot Tub, Kayaks, and fire pit outside - gas grille … we’ll equipped and maintained. Owners were responsive and helpful! Highly Recommend! 5 Stars John and Kristin, NJ

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samah S., Dearborn, Mi

4 Mar, 2024

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

Great weekend getaway with the family

Our family stayed at this house in early March and we had a great time. The home was spacious but cozy with all the necessary amenities we needed for the weekend. The kids loved the board games and the garage/game room space was a huge hit! The weather warmed up just enough for us to be able to enjoy the kayaks on the lake and the warm sunshine. Hot tub was great and overall it made for a fun, quick little family getaway to break up the monotony of the day to day. We had a tiny little issue with the bulbs in one of the bathrooms and the owners were quick to respond and come out to replace the bulbs. They were also very responsive to messages. Thanks again for a great stay!

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stacie C.

15 Jan, 2024

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

Great Place For The Whole Family

We had a great time. Plenty of room for everyone!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela B.

4 Jan, 2024

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

Hallmark House Had it All

Family from California to Florida gathered for Christmas Holiday at what we dubbed the Hallmark House. Our stay was the best! Plenty of comfy beds, a large well-equipped kitchen, swans on the lake, a cozy fire, games and puzzles, a warm hot tub, s’mores by the outside fire—all contributed to our perfect visit! Our host could not have been more responsive to any questions! We would definitely stay again at this fantastic house!

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S., North Port, FL

20 Dec, 2023

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

Howell Holiday

Family ages 3 to 72 loved their stay at this lovely home. Something for everyone; hot tub, jetted bathroom tub, outdoor and indoor fireplaces for example. The open concept allowed us to have space but stay connected while we played games, baked cookies and watched football. The home and grounds were well maintained. Hope to visit area again😊

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeffery B.

26 Nov, 2023

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

Thanksgiving 2023

Mix of adults and children (ages 1-13) all had a very nice time. Large Kitchen area was accommodating for large group food prep. The game room was a popular place for all ages. It was a great place to spend Thanksgiving week.

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

About the host

Hosted by Steve Parkhill

We're from Ann Arbor and love the fact that our dream cottage is only a 38-minute drive away. Just a few years from now, we hope to retire and live at the cottage full-time. We bought it because it's ideal for hosting all of our children and grand-children at the same time - there's a bed for everyone and a ton of activities to choose from. Whether it's summer at the lake, golfing or fishing in the fall, or skiing at nearby Mt. Brighton (16 minutes away) in the winter, the Prestige Log Cottage is the perfect place for your next get-together!

Why they chose this property

When we first drove up to the cottage and saw the lake, the large property, the dock, and the log interior - we knew this was the place! We can walk to the award-winning downtown with its boutiques, restaurants, and farmers' market in 25 minutes.
It ticked all of the boxes for us and we could, once again, host large get-togethers with family or friends.

What makes this property unique

Because we also use this cottage for hosting family and friends, you'll find a lot of the little extras around the house that you will not find at most short-term rental properties. For example, the kitchen is fully stocked. Sunscreen is provided so you can always play outside. We provide seasoned firewood so you don't have to bring/buy any to enjoy the firepit There are multiple board games and puzzles, outdoor games like cornhole, ping-pong, and shuffle board to name a few!
We want your family to enjoy the place as much as our family does.