Entire home

September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum.

Photo gallery for September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum.

A log cabin interior with a wooden ceiling, a Christmas tree, a stone fireplace, and a staircase.
A rustic kitchen with wooden cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, a microwave, and a wooden island with stools.
A cozy log cabin interior with a sectional sofa, a small armchair, and a Christmas tree.
A spacious wooden interior with a large dining table, stone pillar, and a kitchen area.
A log cabin with a large front porch, a garage, and a well-maintained lawn.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
Set near a theme park, this 5-bedroom vacation home accommodates 16 guests and features 3 bathrooms. It includes a patio and deck for outdoor relaxation, along with a tennis court. Nearby attractions include Hodenpyl Dam and Gordin Fisk Memorial Park.

Highlights

  • The great outdoors

    Guests love the outdoor space here.

  • Arcade/game room

    A rare find - fun for all ages with on-site arcade/game room.

  • Centrally-located

    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 16

Popular amenities

  • Arcade/game room
  • Garage parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Patio
  • Air-conditioning
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View in a map
Mesick, MI
  • Place, Hodenpyl Dam
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Lower Peninsula Experimental Forest
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Crystal Mountain
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪40 min drive‬

Where you'll sleep

5 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

2nd Floor Bedroom #1

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2nd Floor Bedroom #2

1 Queen Bed, 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bunk Room

4 Single Beds

Main floor bedroom #2

1 King Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Main

Toilet · Shower only

Master Bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Second Floor Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum.

A house upon arrival that will take your breath away. The Smiling Moose Lodge is perfect for your next getaway or corporate retreat. The house sleeps 16 in beds and has plenty of space for the whole family, extended family and then some. You probably haven't ever heard of Mesick, MI, but you'll be sure to talk about it after your stay with us. Mesick is centrally located between Traverse City (think Cherry Festival), Crystal Mountain Ski and Golf Resort, Cadillac, and Caberfae Peaks ski resort. We have over 12 acres for you to explore and the house is conveniently located 1/4 mile off of the snowmobile trail and close to all ORV trails. Bring all of your toys, we have plenty of room for parking. The Hodenpyl Dam Pond is 3 minutes away and you can enjoy all of nature by canoe, kayak or boat. There are many canoe trip outfitters close by, or bring your own and make a day trip out of it down the Manistee River. The possibilities are endless and we can help.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 11:00 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

There are no bachelor or bachelorette parties permitted at this house.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 4304430
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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
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

Mesick

Located in Mesick, this holiday home is near theme parks and near a water park. Michigan Legacy Art Park and Kresge Auditorium are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Interlochen Center for the Arts and Adventure Island Family Fun Park. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
View more Holiday homes in MesickOpens in a new window
Map
Mesick, MI

What's nearby

  • Hodenpyl Dam - 13 min drive - 15.1 km
  • Lower Peninsula Experimental Forest - 14 min drive - 29.3 km
  • Crystal Mountain - 17 min drive - 33.2 km
  • Lake Mitchell - 21 min drive - 33.2 km
  • Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf - 22 min drive - 30.5 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Ellens Corner's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Bucksnort Bar - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Common Grounds Kitchen & Tap - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Brew Ha’s Coffee - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Nate's Country Store - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is September 25th weekend is available! Updated to 2 night minimum. located?

Set in Mesick, this family-friendly holiday home is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Huron-Manistee National Forest and 7.4 mi (11.9 km) from Hodenpyl Dam. Virgin Island and Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf are also within 16 miles (25 km).

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. 63 out of 68 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 68 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 68 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 68 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 68 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay! The cabin was excellently stocked with kitchen supplies, games, and firewood! Internet worked really well too! Great place for a large family or friends gathering.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing house with everything you need. Beautiful getaway tucked away with a short drive to a lot of great golf.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property, lots of space inside and out. House was fully stocked and clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Smiling Moose lodge was a great experience for our entire group. We had three different families in our group and there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out and have fun.checking in and out was easy, and communication was excellent.We enjoyed playing games, the fire pit, and eating together as a group. Over all experience was great! Thank you for hosting us this week Ryan and Holly.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed here with a group of guys for a golf trip and it was great! Enough beds for everyone to have their own, awesome yard for games, big living room and kitchen as well. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent Hidden Retreat

Perfect location for anything you can imagine.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic house and property for our father son fishing trip. Perfect to hang out after a day of fishing and share stories.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing Cabin

Absolutely beautiful cabin with everything needed for an amazing vacation. A must stay property!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had an excellent stay at the Smiling Moose Lodge. When we had questions, Ryan (the host) got back with us right away with answers. The home was beautiful! The rooms were clean and comfy. The kitchen was well stocked. There was plenty of room to park all our vehicles. We ended up spending quite a bit of time on property. We would definitely return for another stay at this great location.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wilderness Canoe Rafting Trip

Stay was great! Beds are comfortable and the house is spacious!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host was very welcoming and very helpful with everything. House is clean and very good equipped. Highly recommended for bigger family, or family gatherings.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Dec, 2025
Thank you! You and your family were a great group to host. We'd love to have you back.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent property

We had a wonderful time. Will definitely return
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was a great space from our group. Easy to get to Crystal Mountain from the house. Nice and secluded. Was grateful that we were able to park in the garage. Ryan gave us great communication before our arrival to make sure we had everything we need.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family Fun

Had a wedding in the area and this house acted as a great pre and post wedding gathering place. It was wonderful to have a house large enough to host my parents and siblings in one location.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent Place!

Ryan was a great gost and answered all our questions up front. The house was amazing and worked perfectly for our group of 15. 10/10 would recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect for our family!

The Smiling Moose Lodge was perfect for our family trip! 12 acres made it feel like our own private getaway. Both the indoor & outdoor dining tables were large enough to accommodate our entire group. The fire pit area was also perfect, and the kitchen and garage were well stocked. Highly recommend!!Fabulous memories made here with 3 generations all housed under one roof.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great for families and kids!

Great place to come with families and ATVs. Close access to easy trails, great for all ages and beginner trail riders! The house has all you need, and it looks exactly like the pictures. Ryan was great to work with, made us feel welcome and very easy to contact with any questions.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect for our family of 13

Everything was great from beginning to end. The house and surrounding area was beautiful, it had everything we needed for the week and Ryan was great communicating to make sure our stay went perfect. Would highly recommended!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

UTV trip

The home is beautiful and easy to get to. Plenty of parking for utv and trailers. The host had great responsetime..
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fun family winter getaway

Our family enjoyed staying at the Smiling Moose Lodge during the holidays. We had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. It seemed colder on one side of the cabin for a few of the bedrooms but fortunately there were extra blankets available. It was a relatively short drive to Crystal Mountain and we explored a little of the surrounding area around Manistee River. Thanks for a memorable trip!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Smiling Moose Lodge

Despite their being a lack of snow this was the perfect winter/summer/anytime cabin to bring family together and enjoy nature as well as a beautiful home! Ryan was a great host who made sure we knew he was only a call away, and honestly the directions and expectations were so clear we never had to make a call. Overall, just a great experience at this lodge, we will definitely be booking again.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Jan, 2024
Thank you so much for the kind words. We enjoyed hosting you and thank you for being respectful, wonderful guests. We hope to have you back in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fabulous Fall Getaway

Couldn’t have asked for a better fall weekend in Michigan. Ryan gave us many great recommendations for neighboring communities for hiking and restaurants. Glen Arbor was our favorite day at Sleeping Bear Dunes, River Club mini golf and Cherry Public House. The cabin had very comfortable couches and beds for relaxing after returning. Beautiful fall colors out the front and back windows of the property. Had a great bonfire with provided wood one night under a star filled sky. Wonderful stay in the woods.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

Lovely cabin

12 acres is overrated as most of it is woods and poison ivy. Not much yard for the kids to play. The pond was disgusting and needs some attention. Not much to do in town but the cabin itself was beautiful and we enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug, 2023
Hi Kim, I am sorry to hear your were disappointed that the property is 75% wooded. I have never had a complaint that you can't use the entire property, that is what "Up North" is about...exploring the woods, being in nature, etc. I have also never had a complaint about poison ivy. We've owned the home for 6 years and not once encountered poison ivy. I will look around the perimeter of the 3+ acre yard to make sure it is not near kids playing. Mesick is a rural town with not much for restaurants or shopping, but you have the Manistee River less than 3 minutes away for kayaking, canoeing, rafting, boating...ATV trails, mountain biking, hiking, all out the back door or within a 3-15 minute drive. I am happy to hear you enjoyed the house. We take a lot of pride in it.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Slice of heaven

This home was perfect for our large family! It’s a gorgeous, well taken care of home with plenty of living space for large families. All of the beds are super comfortable, a kitchen that has plenty of space to cook large dinners and fire pit in back with plenty of chairs to spend an evening out under the stars chatting. The house is nestled in a nice neighborhood but you wouldn’t know it when you are on property, as there is a lot of acreage surrounding the home. The owner was a great communicator and was responsive to any question I had. This was the perfect home for our family getaway, we will absolutely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Nice place

Nice property
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Ryan

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

What more could you want in an Up North Michigan getaway? A genuine log cabin (the word cabin makes you think small and this is certainly not small), secluded in the woods with nature surrounding you, a pond out back and a stream flowing through the property. You can't help but let all of your cares go after you enter the house. The quaint Village of Mesick is the setting and you are close to everything "Up North" Michigan has to offer.

Do you need a house for a large group of people? Look no further than the Smiling Moose Lodge. You'll be so comfortable you won't want to leave, but should you venture off the property, you are a short drive to everything.

What makes this property unique

You'll feel right at home while staying at the Smiling Moose Lodge. A big, comfortable, sectional sofa beckons you to relax. Supremely comfortable beds with soft linens welcome you to a great night of sleep. All the comforts of home are at your fingertips with wi-fi, big television above the fireplace and a second tv in the loft, full cable tv service with DVR and a ping pong/air hockey table for family fun.
Step outside on the large front deck where you can watch the sun rise over the trees to the East and see the deer feeding in the field. Out back you have a fire pit with an endless supply of wood. Roast your marshmallows with a backdrop soundtrack of the pond fountain and bullfrogs.

Languages:

English

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