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The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina

Photo gallery for The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina

A two-story house with a front porch, a small front yard, and a visible staircase leading to the entrance.
A cozy living room with a striped sofa, a small table, a television, and a window with curtains.
Living room
Living room
Back deck

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Ludington Waterfront Park
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Ludington, MI
  • Place, Stearns Park Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Ludington Waterfront Park
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Airport, Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina

Great upper unit of this two unit house next to the City Marina where you can dock your boat and walk to the house. We are walking distance to the beach, harbor, the Badger and downtown. This listing is for the upstairs unit only. If you would like to rent the lower unit as well, it has a separate 2 bedroom 2 bath downstairs (listing 4813202) This cottage is a charming home with a small deck in the back. The stairs to the deck have been completely rebuilt as well as the bedroom floors. Some areas of the unit have sloped ceilings and could be an issue but not a hindrance for taller individuals. The cottage is fully furnished with a washer and dryer, cable TV, freezer in the basement, WIFI and a full kitchen with everything you need for cooking. If you don't want to cook, you are walking distance to the downtown area with some of the finest restaurants and bars. Take a walk along Pere Marquette lake or out to the lighthouse on Stearns Beach. So much to do and see just blocks away. With the Loomis boat launch just 2 blocks away, this is ideal for the fisherman in the group.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 26
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

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Small Pets allowed with a $100 one time pet fee
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 4813469
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher 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

Ludington

Located in Ludington, this holiday home is in the city centre and on the waterfront. While the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Ludington Waterfront Park can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry. Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sandcastles Children's Museum are also worth visiting.
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Map
Ludington, MI

What's nearby

  • Port of Ludington Maritime Museum - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Stearns Park Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • North Breakwater Light - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Ludington Waterfront Park - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry - 15 min walk - 1.3 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Corner Cafe - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪House of Flavors - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Jamesport Brewing Company - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Ludington Bay Brewing Co. - ‬14 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Dock House - Upper unit next to the City Marina located?

Located in the heart of Ludington, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Pere Marquette Lake and Lake Michigan. Ludington Waterfront Park and S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

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. 28 out of 42 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 42 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 42 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 42 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 42 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lauren M.

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

Walkable stay

A very comfortable stay for us and our two young kids. We loved the convenience of being able to walk everywhere—the beach, downtown, and close to the park after dinner.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Rick B.

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

Nice older place

Great little place to stay . perfect location, Nice inside just need some attention on the out side and the yard.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Raychelle T.

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

Quaint top apartment

Great location. Clean and well stocked. Easy to walk to beach or downtown.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Theresa K.

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

Good location

Good location. Older property. Good bed
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Kim T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Location was amazing! Close to town, Marina and beach. Older retro apartment-with angle ceilings. My husband did bump his head several times! Very clean-carpets old and stained. Had everything we needed for a quick few days
Top floor-up 2 flights of stairs
Living Room
bedroom
Cute little kitchen (step down)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peggy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The upper unit was perfect for our needs. The slanted ceiling became a challenge but we managed just fine! Lol
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John A.

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

Nice Fit

Quaint and comfortable for our needs. Brian was an excellent host and communicator. The deck was a little scary for us, but it held up just fine.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Stephanie H.

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

Great location, older property

Really like the location of the property. didn't expect that it was a unit built into an attic with very steep stairs. The air conditioner in the family room was great, bedroom was ok, but kitchen was warm with no air conditioner in the middle.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great location

We loved the town and the apartment. We have lived in an attic apartment before so knew what to expect with the sloping ceilings. The only real challenge was for a man peeing standing up. The stairs look like they were recently rebuilt so they were fine. We enjoyed having coffee on the small deck. The location can’t be beat. Easy walk to beach and food.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The Dock House was exactly as described. Does have slanted ceiling but did not impede the function of the house. The stairwell is slightly steep, width of step slim.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Dawn D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Nice location

The property on the 2nd level has many outdoor steps to reach it. Although, it looked as if it had been mainly replaced, the railings were not sanded and both my husband and I had splinters in our hands from it. The property manager was responsive and when we complained about something, he fixed the problem and refunded one night stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Tony Y.

Quirky and quiet

This apartment had a fabulous location - close to the marina, the beach, and the downtown area with restaurants and shops, however, the street itself was quiet. The steps to the unit were quite narrow and the ceiling height in the apartment was low in places which might be awkward for some. The kitchen was well stocked (although we couldn't find a corkscrew!) and the owner was helpful and responded quickly to questions. The Dock House made for a quiet and convenient place to stay in Ludington.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Mar, 2020
Thanks for staying with us. I’ll make sure there is a cork screw handy for the next guest.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Rachel W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location but small, dark and damp

We were so excited to stay here but sadly we left quite underwhelmed. The photos make the space appear much larger than it is and as the upper unit all the ceilings are severely pitched. I (5'8") and my husband (6') banged our heads at least a dozen times because things you needed to get to (kitchen, chairs, toilet, bed) are all under the slopes. The entire apartment was also very damp and smelled of mildew and we found mildew stains all over the couch. It was quite pricey for what we got and we ended up leaving early as we couldn't stand it any longer.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul, 2025
Rachel, sorry for not meeting your expectations. We by no means want to misrepresent the space. The pictures in the listing are exactly what is there. We also include a statement in the listing concerning the possibilities of being a hindrance for taller individuals. Thank you for pointing out the stains on the couch. We were not aware of them and have done a thorough cleaning. It always nice to know of your concerns during your stay so we get a chance to address them and not learn of them in our review. Thanks for staying with us.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Hobart K.

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

Someone needs a contractor

Great location for sure but to get what is asked per night someone needs to fix all the flooring where carpet exists and really upgrade the exterior steps/deck. It's obvious that an unskilled carpenter worked on it without using a tape measure. The screws weren't flush with the wood. The screen door needs replacement, the siding needs reapair and the condition of the grounds was messy. It's obvious that the owner is squeezing this lemon dry!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

4/10 Poor

Jennie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, location
Disliked: Check-in, communication

vacation

This was not what was expected unfortunately especially for the cost. Communication came with directions for lower unit to get in, though we had rented upper, code didn't work for either with the directions provided and couldn't get hold of the host. Finally got into the lower, started to unpack then was told to move to the upper. Moved everything again. The upper did say slanted ceiling - WOW no one over 5 5 should stay there. It was awful for 6ft spouse, the floors were so uneven and in bedroom the worst. Bed was so bad we came home a day early. Best thing was the location, we got in many walks in by the water. The lower unit looked much nicer, not sure what the price difference was. Would not recommend the upper unit. If you aren't going to be available to answer calls as a host then have backup number for the person that is available to answer if there are issues is our recommendation.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tim S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Brian was super helpful with everything. We had a great time at the place. Great location also.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann M.

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

Vacation

Great place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Michelle M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Perfect Location!!

Unique property that my five year- old granddaughter stated was "cute & perfect" for us! The bed & bedding was really comfortable, which for me, is most important to sleep well after all of the daily activities. The place was really clean with plenty of bath towels and well stocked kitchen. The carpeting could use some cleaning and the stairway/deck outside doesn't seem safe, especially for small kids, with wobbly railings and some springy deck boards. It might also be helpful to note that parking for the upper unit is accessed from the alley behind the unit. But you cannot beat this location! We walked almost everywhere and the area is absolutely beautiful and surprising quiet. There is so much to do and see that we wished we could have stayed longer! Thank you so much!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Dawn S.

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

Dock House

The location can’t be beat. Great vacation!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carrie W.

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

New Years weekend

The dock house was clean, quiet, and the perfect location to celebrate Ludington’s New Years fireworks and ball drop. Close to Ludington state park and town
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy B.

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

Amazing marina location

Brian has put together a totally chRming loft apartmdnt in an amazing location. We were very pleased with his and his staff's attention. Thank you!!!
Stayed 28 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cindy B.

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

Excellent location

Very quaint and exactly what we were looking for. Host was fast at getting back to us and everything was in order. Within a walk of the beach and downtown. The plus side is they allowed our dog to come at the last minute. Thanks for everything!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

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

Great location and small property

Place was clean and very well appointed. There are 2 flights of stair to climb to get to the property, and they are a little steep and small in some cases however if you go slow shouldn't be a problem for most.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Mark T.

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

Watch your head level 2

Nice cute upper flat, needs some attention to details but comfortable overall. With a little tree trim this upper unit could be listed as marina and lake viewing
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer V.

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

Can’t beat this location!!

Great location central to everything. Very clean. The stairs up to the second level were a little scary. Very steep and very high. You definitely have to be in shape and mobile to get all your luggage up them. Also this is NOT a property for tall or large people. We hit our heads many times on ceilings. This is in the description but wow, it was super sloped ceilings. Would not rent again but not a bad place at all!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Brian Wheeless

Host profile image
Brian and Cindy Wheeless bought their first vacation home in Ludington in 2008 after spending 20+ years vacationing in northwest Michigan. They are avid outdoors people that enjoy the big lake fishing, golf, off-roading and hiking. Brian has recently retired and they both started Ludington Cottage Rentals in 2018.

Why they chose this property

The Dock House is a charming older home next to the city marina and close to Sterns Beach and downtown.

What makes this property unique

Walking distance to your boat in the Marina, the beach and all what the downtown has to offer.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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