I'm conflicted haven't been a long time person who has come since I was one year old I remember the old lodge, which had his charm similar to dirty dancing and how they had different events throughout the week now it's more of a wedding venue that is pretty nice in itself, but it lost a lot of of its charm when the main restaurant building burned down to the ground. There's a lot of little things that change in the last couple of years that are not good for anybody. The view is definitely killer, but you could see that they don't really wanna maintain the aspect for their patrons. They used to be a mini golf, which was kinda nice to keep kids busy granted they do have a pool and shuffleboard, but you would expect them to maybe try to expand since the building burned down. It lost a lot of charm. It seems like the owner does not want to care about the property. They also seem to put a Band-Aid on things rather than actually fix things. The building I stayed in was actually crooked and felt like it had foundational problems, etc.. read more

I am conflicted on how to rate this place. I went here for a wedding last weekend. It was one of the nicest weddings I have ever been too, however it was one of the worst rooms I've ever had. The Good: The wedding was well organized. It was outside on a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan. Everything was well marked. The reception was also outside under big white tents and it was gorgeous. The food was incredible and I assume it was made here. It was buffet service with large white plates and great food. The service was friendly and speedy. The bartenders were nice. After the wedding the resort set up a bonfire with catered food and snacks and it was really nice and fun also. Lake Michigan is only 20 steps or so down from the resort. The resort has a nice pool, basketball, tennis, shuffleboard, and mini golf. The Bad: The room was bad. It was a small, older room which was fine. It had a bed, chest of drawers, sink and bathroom. This was all it had. I'm serious. This place was missing amenities such as wall art, a clock radio, a screen without holes in it. There was no bar or hook in the closet area to hang up my suit for the wedding. There was no iron, no microwave, no mini-fridge, no TV. There is a lobby area but it's not used. We checked in at this old room in the basement covered in panelling and a complete mess. It was not professional at all. The Ugly: I paid about $180 total for the room. I could get a four star hotel room in a major city on Hotels.com for that amount. There is no reason the room should have cost that much. It was stupid. I'll give three stars for a great wedding, but that's the best I could do for getting bad motel room for the price of a four-star hotel. read more

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If I could give it 0 stars I would! Where to start....I booked over 3 months in advance based off false info on their website about a beach and amenities and a photo which shows a cute individual "bungalow." Everything on the site reads as if this is an exclusive luxury resort and I believed it based on the price. Location was of utmost importance to me so I specifically asked in writing for a quiet bungalow with water view. When you get an email back that says "You got it!" silly me, I expected a quiet, stand alone bungalow like the picture, water view accommodation. So we get there, it's "rustic" and not in a good way. ALL cabins are attached except the ONE they photographed (dishonest) and they basically sit in the middle of a gravel parking lot. I have stayed in some low-rent places in my day and this place takes the cake. Literally not even paper thin walls, it's as if your neighbor is in your space with no walls at all. If I had known it was a shared wall situation I would have booked elsewhere. If I had known the "water view" is outside the cabin, down a path, around a house, up a hill, and then out to some dangerously rickety, weatherbeaten platform missing lumber in places, I would have booked elsewhere. A cabin behind the dance floor area for weddings (thank God no reception was taking place) tucked back in a tick infested woods, next to a rusty playground I would not let my children play on because it looked like one big safety issue, by a green swimming pool (real quiet location, huh) is NOT by any stretch of the imagination the "water view" I was promised. The 400' beach mentioned on the website? Um, no beach. A place to eat within walking distance? Only if you mean spending $50 on a box of donuts, case of water, and three lukewarm hot dogs at the camp store down the road a "convenient place to eat" come on. Wifi didn't work. There was black mold all over the shower curtain and we killed 3 HUGE spiders before even unpacking and 2 more in the middle of the night, thanks to the daylight you can see under the door leading outside. We were up since 3am traveling cross country so we had to make the best of it. Checked out first thing next day with the rudest, most condescending, pitiful excuse of a manager I've ever had the misfortune to come across. She asked why were we leaving early, and I told her-this place is horribly misrepresented. Literally it's glorified camping and that was NOT the experience I was promised. If the website told the truth about the accommodations I would have never booked here. She then threatened to rescind the refund she was processing because I honestly answered her question. She tells me "Oh is it going to ruin your day, whatever! It's just one weekend of your life!" I stopped her right there and said-look-some of us have limited weekends left. This is the first vacation I have been able to take since BEATING CANCER. We had no reason to come to MI on this part of our trip *except* for this property. When I am shown a beautiful website and get an experience totally opposite of how you present yourself, on top of being promised something 3 months ago and not receive it, yes, it tends to ruin your weekend! I held off on sharing my opinion for several weeks because my daughter left behind her pink pony in that hellhole of a room. I thought the manager who said "she personally cleans our cabin herself, it was fine, a little mold never killed anyone" would do the right thing and mail it back. No such luck. So THANKS FOR NOTHING! You broke the heart of a child, profoundly disappointed a cancer survivor who looked forward to staying with you for MONTHS, and not only do you do a horrible job with customer service you do a horrible job with cleaning because my husband picked up poison ivy from your sheets! Maybe people would manage their expectations better if you didn't have FALSE ADVERTISING to begin with! read more

This is for the restaurant only! I didn't stay the night But the food is great and servers are very helpful and kind prices are kinda high on every thing except for sandwiches prices are really good! Now they dont seem to have ac so I would suggest sitting outside in the shade. read more

Michillinda Lodge - Prim rib sandwich with cheese and fries - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Whitehall, Michigan

Lovely property overlooking Lake Michigan. Can't wait to come back! We came opening weekend for an anniversary get away on May 7. Our room was great, very clean. Peaceful walk down to water and around property. Lots of outdoor seating and hanging swings to relax and enjoy the view. We would like to come back this summer with our family to use the pool, and play horse shoes, basketball, volleyball, tennis, playground, etc, etc, etc. Scenic Drive has a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan and a beach. Duck Lake state park is right across the street. Light house museum and town of Whitehall just minutes away. read more

Michillinda Lodge - View of Lake Michigan from king size bed - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Whitehall, Michigan

We stayed two nights in the Hillside cabin. Hillside 1 which is the entire upstairs is the way to go with a nice view of the lake from the balcony. This is a remodeled, very comfortable stay with great room, separate bedroom with king bed and full bathroom. Though you're within 100 yards from Lake Michigan, there is no beach because you're on a cliff but there's a public beach just down the road. Lea and company were great to work with. Attached photo is a panorama from our Hillside 1 deck. Hillside has unit 1 upstairs with units 2 and 3 downstairs. Renting all 3 units would be great for our entire family someday soon. There are also two golf courses nearby. Buzz's Lakeside, just up the road, is a nice place for perch, whitefish or a good salad. There's outside seating and takeout available. read more

Michillinda Lodge - Panorama view from deck of Hillside 1. Annex is shown on the left. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Whitehall, Michigan

I would like to start off by saying this place has a beautiful view of the lake. If you are planning to reserve the venue for a wedding of over 100 people with sunset pictures and a night of dancing. Think again. The place doesn't even like you to play music during the day while guest are getting ready for their event. Whitehalls noise ordinance is 11pm to 7am. Not at Michillinda. They made us move the music inside at 8:30 pm. The room called the Chalet fits maybe 40 people comfortably standing with no place to sit your drink. Only one unisex bathroom in the building. So part of your guest stay outside with no music and a small part can go inside to dance. The place needs maintenance for sure. Sidewalks and stairways are in disrepair. The price you pay to stay here, you should never have to be worried about watching your step. If choosing to book this venue, make sure you read your contact!! Ask questions or show to a attorney before signing. If venue allows, have your wedding there and move the party down the road to someplace fun. I would not recommend this venue. Not many parking spaces for large events. read more

Michillinda Lodge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Whitehall, Michigan

The only reason I gave them 2 stars is because of the view of Lake Michigan. Technically they can't take credit for it but I'll give it to them anyway. If you are looking for a run down room, with little to no amenities, then this is the place for you. Our room was older, not very clean, water pressure was so low it was hard to brush your teeth, the a/c was an overly loud window unit the never shut off. Plus to top it off, I had bugs crawl on me while I slept. This room cost $200 for the night and I'm shocked how they they think they provided that level of service. I have stayed in 4 star hotels for the same rate if not even lower and the experience was worth it. This was not. You are better off booking at the Days Inn down the road. read more

Michillinda is a great place. I had prom here in 2010 before the fire and it was amazing and now I've booked them for my wedding next September. Most everything is great; rooms are clean, prices are reasonable and the location is beautiful. The reason I didn't give it a 5 star because I've been having trouble getting information from them. I will email them One day but not hear back for awhile and then I'll have to call. The woman I've been talking to is very nice, but I'm hoping once it's off-season, then I will be able to get more info! Overall a great place! (just needs more staff) read more

I recently organized a family reunion here for 42 people. Thanks to the staff at Michillinda and only minimal interference from the unpredictable weather, it went off without a hitch. The food is excellent, activities top-notch (and free!) and the location simply cannot be beat. I will echo other's notes that the staff went out of their way to help out at the drop of a hat. Beware the poor reviews here. First, they're mostly all old reviews. Second, they are correct that some of the rooms are very outdated. That, however, is in the process of being changed and the rooms that have been updated look great. My room was one of those they had not yet hit, but really, If you're spending so much time in the hotel room that you notice or care about the outdated decor, you're missing the point of Michillinda Lodge. Get outside, enjoy the lake, the area and all the other stuff (swimming - pool or lake, basketball, volleyball, mini-golf, shuffleboard, etc) they have to offer! read more

The Michillinda Lodge is an old resort that families (we know some) would book the same week every year because it has a gorgeous setting on a bluff, a good restaurant, and simple pleasures (mini-golf, shuffleboard) for the kids. However, the lodge used to be family run and that family exited a while back. Now it is run by a company that has failed to appreciate what a gem it has. The landscaping and building maintenance are severely lacking in attention. We booked a night in the "Chalet" and to get to our room we had to walk around the side of what is basically a storage building with two rooms on the second floor. We knew it was a storage building because the windows were open showing old mattresses & furniture inside - no attempt to put up blinds or curtains! The staircase to the rooms looked like it would fall down any minute and was covered in mildew. The room was spacious, but barren - no decorations. The bathroom had tiles missing from the shower, and the toilet took forever to refill after a flush. My daughter's room had a lamp on a bedside table, but when we tried to switch it on, we discovered there was no outlet on that wall, so we had to put the lamp on the floor on the other side of the room - crazy! On the plus side, the food at the restaurant was really, really good and the setting for eating is special when the weather is nice with a big deck overlooking Lake Michigan. However, the night we dined, it started to rain and everyone piled inside to a dining room with no AC - it had to be 85 degrees - our waitress, and us, were dripping with sweat. The night we were there in bed at 10 PM we were rocked by fireworks going off - for 45 minutes. There was a wedding going on on the grounds so we thought that this was somehow connected, but in the morning staff informed us that it was a neighbor next to their property - nice neighbor! To sum it up, I would say this resort is loaded with potential, but I get the feeling the current owners are trying to just bleed the profits without addressing the details that make a place great. Too bad. read more

BEWARE! THESE PEOPLE ARE COOPERATE CROOKS. We planned to have our wedding there so we put down a 500 dollar deposit. I'm in the navy and unfortunately I found I was getting deployed on our wedding date. So when they told this Lena (fake bitch secretary) she said the contract says since it's 5months and 10 days til our date, you have to pay a fee after 6 months! Its only a couple of days!!! So on top of our deposit she charges us 625 more. Whatever, Im military and could have shown paper work stating it's military mission essential and got out of the fee. Stupidly I didn't and thought I'd take the high road and just pay it. We made an agreement to pay 200 a month on the 15th. Our last payment she doesn't charge, today she said it was because she was "too busy". Earlier today on the 8th, when all military is broke before our pay check lol, she randomly charges me the last 225, and of course it bounced, so thats 30 tacked on thanks.. anythings she then calls my wife threatening collections and small claims court over this 225 that's due now, because they are closing for the season so she needs it now.... because she was "too busy", what a very organized and professional places. Not! Owned by a couple of rich idiot croods, who only care about the quick Buck not you. If you plan to have an event or just stay the night be certain cause they'll get there money regardless! read more

Sadly, pictures and descriptions of this property are inaccurate and deceptive. The resort suffered a devastating fire years ago and management has failed to maintain the property. When I booked my room this fall, I was led to believe that it was the last of two rooms available. In reality, only two rooms were inhabitable. Although the room was clean, the second story exterior entrance was dilapidated, the room was bare and unheated, and the water was brown and smelt. I immediately notified the management that the room was unsatisfactory and requested a refund. She assured me that she would issue a refund the next day, and I agreed to leave the keys in the room and left. Instead of issuing a refund the host forged my signature on American Express documents and testified that she never received a complaint. Although I have witnesses to the contrary, it is not worth the aggravation. Please spare yourself a lot of grief, do not stay at this resort. I had a wonderful experience at this Lodge before it deteriorated under the new management. read more

This place is PERFECT! We went for a long weekend retreat with the family, and it was unbelievable. Even my hard to please teen who is typically permanently attached to electronics enjoyed it- AND he stayed off his electronics! It has everything: tennis, heated pool with a 10 feet deep end (all pool toys included!!! goggles, inner tubes, noodles, diving games), horseshoes, frisbee golf, shuffleboard, basketball court, volleyball, bags/cornhole, community room with a pool table, play ground, sand box, fire pits. EVERYTHING is provided! They had all the sporting equipment available, firewood for the fires, bug spray was available in the main room, charcoal for the very nice, large grills that are available for use at any time. There was a gorgeous overlook of the lake to watch sunsets and a separate pier down closer to the water we fished off of, catching some cute little fish. It's down a quiet, heavily wooded lane. The kids were able to run free, and I could almost see them from our cabin F no matter where they went. It was so relaxing. There is a little convenience store with several flavors of hard scoop ice-cream within walking distance. We went down to Duck Lake, which is a mile down the road, one day for fishing and hiking in the beautiful preserve. There's a channel from the lake into Lake Michigan with clear water and a sandy bottom where the kids swam as it was much warmer than the big Lake. There were dunes to climb and beach to explore as well. We stayed in Cabin F which was perfect for our family of 5. There is a cleaning service daily, stove top, microwave, apartment sized fridge and freezer. Everything you needed for your kitchen was included- pots, pans, serving utensils, paper towels, silverware, cups, bowls, knives, coffee maker. One thing I was really surprised by was the lack of bugs. It's truly a cabin in the woods, but the mosquitos weren't bad at all and the cabin relatively bug free (until my kids repeatedly forgot to shut the door). The weather was also ideal. We aren't from far away, but there was a 10' temperature change due to the shaded woods and the Lake breeze. We went mid July, and it was gorgeous! There is AC in the cabins which worked remarkably well. Everything there worked; everyone was friendly. The playground was great for the kids, very sturdy with lots of different things to do. We couldn't have asked for a better summer experience for family memory making and bonding. We will be back; hopefully every year. read more

Not worth the money. I went for a wedding, where I had fun, but the actual accommodations and services were subpar.

Spent a long weekend for a wedding, and PRIOR to the event I knew things wouldn't go well. I had to call 3x in one day trying to get a question answered. Granted Lea (the SHADY manager) did finally answer about 5:00 p.m. responding that they are only open till 4:00 (times NOT stated on answering machine) and that she didn't return my call due to her going to a funeral. Ok I get it things come up but NO ONE else can return calls? I AGAIN called the day of to clarify instructions for late check in and AGAIN NO RETURN CALL INSIDE are a TREMENDOUS amount of bugs!!! There is a mini fridge and a microwave, so I brought along a griddle to make breakfast as that can't be done on a community grill. At some point power goes out in our unit as well as adjoining unit, we contact (SHADY LEAH) who proceeded to tell me that I have too many things plugged in (no lights were on, no tv in our room, no radio ONLY the microwave and the mini fridge. When I told her she responds I am NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE. She would only speak to my boyfriend from that point on. FINALLY as for the wedding we used the main kitchen to prepare the rehearsal dinner and decorate and AGAIN SHADY LEA walks up to a guest and states THEY SURE HAVE ALOT TO CLEAN UP, like the party hadn't even started! She also WITHOUT talking to anyone in the wedding party removed the decorations from the walls. We would have GLADLY done that in way more delicate manner!!! The view was amazing but SHADY LEA and her UGLY attitude ruined much of the festivities! *HOWEVER VIOLET FROM THE CLEANING CREW WAS SWEET, KIND, WARM AND WELCOMING* SHAME ON THE LODGE FOR EMPLOYING PEOPLE LIKE LEA!!! read more

My family (hubby & three kids) have been returning to Michillinda Lodge for six years. This is a carefree, cozy resort that I liken to a your favorite old sweater or sweatpants. It's well-worn, a bit frayed at the edges, but it is cumfy, warm, and good for your soul. We love spending our time playing on the beach and swimming in Lake Michigan. They also have a pool, putt-putt golf, basketball, tennis, and an old tandem bike my boys love riding. They serve breakfast (included in your stay) as well as lunch and dinner. At night, they bring out warm cookies which is a hit with the kids (and grown ups). We've also been there for their bon-fires and marshmallow roasts. The couple who run the Lodge have children as well and they are gracious hosts who appreciate how much families need this kind of quality, unplugged time to relax and enjoy the simpler things in life. Michillinda is also close to other things we love to do in the area like the beach at Duck Lake, Michigan Adventure, eating at Dogs-N-Suds, and spending time at the Book Nook & Java Shop in Montague. On a different note, my Five Star rating is because my family and I love the place. Michillinda is not, however, a "five-star" resort. While my family and I also love and enjoy staying at amazing high-end hotels and resorts, Michillinda is our place to just be ourselves, breathe easy, unplug, and step away from a life filled with possessions and ambition. Namaste! read more

My husband and I had our wedding here June 2017 and could not have imagined or picked a better place to bring our friends and family! The ambiance is amazing-relaxed, fun and as many of our guests said, "adult camp" like. Lea at Michillinda was so gracious and helpful throughout our 9 months of planning. She made the wedding planning process seamless and not many vendors I'm sure would have provided that. Ryan and I can't wait to bring our future family back for a long week/end to relive our wedding weekend. Thank you Michillinda! read more

Honestly this was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. It is a joke in my family whenever we have a bad meal somewhere to say at least it is not as bad as Michillinda. The restaurant was dirty. The food was terrible, and the staff all seemed brand new. This was a couple years ago, so hopefully things have improved, but I would use caution. read more

Made a reservation Sept. 1, 2011. for August, 2012. Had to cancel due to family issues. They refused to refund any of the $300.00 deposit. I assumed that 4 mo. in advance would likely allow a partial refund. Nope. But after reading the other reviews, I consider myself lucky to avoid a bad exprience. read more

Michillinda Lodge brings back many fond Lake Michigan memories to my family. Even though the place had become dated and somewhat neglected, we continued to return to enjoy its serene atmosphere until it closed after a major fire in 2012. This year on our annual trip to Whitehall, my daughter and I returned to Michillinda July 11th to see if it had reopened. To our pleasant surprise it was indeed open. We were greeted by the manager, Lea, who showed us around the property (including the large grassy area where the lodge once stood - so sad). We chose a unit overlooking Lake Michigan. We noticed immediately the new carpet, freshly painted interior, and the updated décor. During our two night stay, we thoroughly enjoyed the super comfortable new linens. The heated pool was enjoyed by both of us; the shuffleboard game and mini golf game brought us both back to simpler times. Enjoying the sunset on the deck was surreal. Although we realize that the new owner still has work left to do - he is doing this renovation right - high quality linens, updated décor, and hiring a terrific manager like Lea who truly cares about her guests. We are returning next month since we had such a great, relaxing visit. read more