Smith Family Cottages



Locally Owned & Operated

Northern Michigan - Up North
Casago Franchise Owner
What our guests are saying...
Smith Family Cottages is described as very accommodating, offering a comfortable stay. The house and cottages have a nice old-fashioned charm.
Overview
This magnificent home, located directly on the shores of Mullett Lake, features a main house and three charming cottages, ideal for large groups or multiple families. Enjoy twice the amenities, additional privacy, and plenty of lakeside fun!
Perfectly located just a short walk from downtown Topinabee, you can find a cafe, a market, a bar, and a local restaurant to sample. The North Central Trail is located just steps from the cottages. Bring your bikes and walking shoes to enjoy miles of maintained trails. You'll also be a short drive to Indian River (six miles) and Cheboygan (13 miles). Within 35 miles, you can reach popular tourist destinations in Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island and ferry, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs.
You’ll feel right at home in the sun-filled living areas, bursting with charming woodsy decor, cozy seating, and thoughtful finishes. Delight in snuggling up to stream your favorite movies in the Lakehouse or play board games at the dining table. A well-furnished outdoor living space invites you to have a summer barbecue and kick back on the deck, sharing some local brews and lots of laughs. After gathering for delicious meals created in the full kitchen, wander down to the dock to take an invigorating plunge, embark on a sunset kayaking session, or simply be serenaded by the sound of the waves. As the stars begin to appear, gather everyone around the fire pit to roast marshmallows, swap stories, and create unforgettable vacation memories. Please note that this property does not have A/C.
Things to Know
- Check-in time: 4:00 p.m.
- Check-out time: 10:00 a.m.
- All guests shall abide by The Good Neighbor policy and shall not engage in illegal activity. Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Television is only accessible in the main house.
- No smoking is permitted anywhere on the premises.
- This property is managed by Vacasa Michigan LLC.
Amenities
Sleeping Arrangements
Bedroom 1
sleeps 4
Bedroom 2
sleeps 4
Bedroom 3
sleeps 2
Bedroom 4
sleeps 2
Bedroom 5
sleeps 2
Bedroom 6
sleeps 2
Bedroom 7
sleeps 2
Bedroom 8
sleeps 2
Common Space 1
sleeps 1
Common Space 2
sleeps 1
Common Space 3
sleeps 1
Rating
The house was very accomodating, and the 3 cottages nice in an old-fashioned way
We chose these cabins because it is difficult to find a place on a lake that can accommodate our large multi-generational family. This looked like a great place for that on paper. We started off on the wrong foot right away. Check in was at 4 and when we arrived shortly after, the cleaning lady told us she had another 1-2 hours left. We told her to please take her time because we wanted it properly cleaned. She finished around 6:30, two and a half hours after check in. A simple text or phone call from Vacasa notifying us that check in was going to be late would have helped so we could plan to do our grocery shopping on the way in. I have yet to hear back from the property manager about this issue. Despite the extra cleaning time, the cabins were filthy. The floors were dirty, showers had yellow scum around the bottom. The window and door screens had holes in them and some of the screens just flat out did not fit over the windows leaving gaps for bugs to come in. The sleeper sofas are only suitable for kids so factor that into your headcount. We also found a handful of crackers and cookies in them. There is no counter space in any of the cabins. A simple bedside table would have been nice in the bedrooms. Showers can not accommodate a full size person. Most of our people had to go down to the main house to shower. The plugs are loose and barely held anything. Don’t get me started on the decor in the cabins. Holes in walls need fixed, curtains hanging on the floor, extremely outdated (which is fine because we enjoy the nostalgic up north cabin feel but this is just plain and simple neglect). The main house is the only part of this property that is suitable to be rented out. As far as the cabins go, if you can find a nearby roadside motel you would be better off. Charging the amount of money they charge for this place is highway robbery. We have stayed in many cabins in the area and this is by far the worst we have ever encountered.
After years of renting vacation homes, this was the worst vacation rental we have ever stayed in. The description in the listing is deceptive and does not show the true character of the cottages. The cabins are severely outdated with carpet, bathroom, kitchen fixtures and amenities from the 80s or earlier. The small cabins have tiny bathrooms that you can hardly shower in and have no bathroom counter space. We were told it would accommodate 26 people, but one of the sofa beds did not even have a mattress. We also did not have enough towels or sheets for 26 people. The screens on the windows and doors have holes in them which let in plenty of bugs. The carpet is dirty and damp. The place smells musty, because of the humidity and lack of fans or AC for air circulation. It was in the 90s during our stay and absolutely miserable. Vacasa refused to provide us with portable AC units or even box fans until we threatened to leave. After two days, they eventually brought fans. The customer service with Vacasa was terrible! The area property manager was rude and unaccommodating! The only good thing about this rental was the lakeside location and view. Oh, and the kind neighbor.
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