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The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home.

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A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, a gas stove, and a sink. There is a dining area with a table and chairs, and a window providing a view of the outdoors.
A wooden interior with a kitchen area, a dining table, and a small white dog.
A modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator, and a wooden staircase.
A wooden interior with a sofa, a ladder, a kitchen, and a framed picture on the wall.
A wooden cabin interior with a kitchen, a staircase, and a small dining area.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Thompsonville, MI
  • Place, Iron Fish Distillery
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Crystal Mountain
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Mountain Ridge Golf Course
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Thompsonville

This vacation home is located within a 15-minute drive of Crystal Mountain and Michigan Legacy Art Park. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a fireplace, and a refrigerator.
View more Vacation Homes in ThompsonvilleOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Iron Fish Distillery - 4 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Crystal Mountain - 7 min drive - 5.0 miles
  • Mountain Ridge Golf Course - 9 min drive - 6.3 miles
  • Michigan Legacy Art Park - 10 min drive - 6.7 miles
  • Glovers Lake - 11 min drive - 7.7 miles

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rosie's Country Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Thistle Pub & Grill @ Crystal Mountain - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Waffle Cabin - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Iron Fish Distillery - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Laughing Horse Saloon - ‬14 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home.

Beautiful Betsie river front guest home main house also at times available as well to rent .HOLIDAYS REQUIRE 3 NIGHT MINIMUM. Great riverfrontage for canoeing and kayaking or great fishing for steelhead in spring and Salmon in fall. only 5 miles from Crystal mountain ski and golf resort, great location to tour the wineries or do a fall color tour in northern Michigan. A beautiful short drive to Lake Michigan in Frankfort or head to Traverse City, get your exercise by climbing Sleeping Bear sand dunes such a great view from the top any time of year!
Main house also on property see booking @ Vrbo.com/3482644

The vacation home is air-conditioned and features a kitchen and space to spread out with 2 bedrooms. Guests can enjoy a Smart TV and stay connected with free WiFi. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a coffee maker. Housekeeping is available on request.

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  • Washer
  • Dryer
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Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 3 accessible parking spaces
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking
  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the city center
  • In the mountains
  • On a lake
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Gym

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items and remove leftover food and drinks
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Throw the garbage in the dumpster by the road if you have time and turn the heat to 65 or air conditioning to 76.lights off window shut/locked. I would appreciate it and Have a safe journey home. 🙂
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

If fishing take filet and return all fish parts to river. Do not throw fish in garbage this brings bears in. Smoking cleaning fee of $350 extra clean
Holidays are minimum 3 night stay.
4 people max add up to 2 more @ $40 per night. Dogs ok must clean up inside/out after the pet. Not allowed on furniture. Garbage in outside curbcart

Pets

  • This property welcomes pets
  • Dogs only
  • 1 total pets
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, guests can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals exempt from fees
  • Note from host: Extra $150 cleaning fee 4 pet hair on furniture

Children and extra beds

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
  • Check-in: 3:00 PM
  • Check-out: 11:00 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 25

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
  • Onsite safety features include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a deadbolt lock.

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • There are no elevators.

Property is also known as

House
450' Betsie River Waterfront
450' Betsie river waterfront guest Home. Thompsonville
450' Betsie river waterfront guest Home. Private vacation home

Frequently asked questions

What can I see close to this vacation home?

This vacation home is located in Thompsonville, close to Crystal Mountain, Iron Fish Distillery, and Michigan Legacy Art Park. You'll also find Misty Acres Preserve and Glovers Lake nearby.

Is there parking available at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

Yes, there is wheelchair-accessible van parking available.

Is this vacation home associated with a casino?

No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at this vacation home?

No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.

What will couples enjoy most about a stay at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

Amenities that appeal to couples at this riverfront vacation home include a fireplace, a smart TV, and a kitchen.

Are there hot tubs at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

No, this vacation home doesn't have a spa tub.

Does this vacation home offer breakfast?

No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.

Will this vacation home allow pets to stay free of charge?

Although dogs can't stay for free, they are welcome at this vacation home.

Are there connecting rooms at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

No, this vacation home doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.

Where is the closest airport to this vacation home?

The closest major airport to this vacation home is Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker), which is 24.5 mi away (30 minutes by car). Another top airport is Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), which is around 26.8 mi away.

Are there rooms with balconies at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

No, there aren't any house at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. that offer a balcony.

The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 43 out of 46 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 46 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 46 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 46 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jasmine

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The cabin was very cute and clean The owner was amazing would definitely go there again
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kevin M.

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

Beautiful Setting

We really liked our stay here.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

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

Wonderful little gem

Very cute cottage. Family of four really enjoyed our stay. Would be happy to rent it again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Angie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The Bear Den was incredibly cozy. Perfect size for the three of us. Felt newer, was very clean and you can’t beat the peace and quiet. Check In/Out was super easy.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Daniel B.

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

Beautiful Cabin on the Betsie

We had a great time fishing and sightseeing the area. Close drive to Lake Michigan
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Carey A.

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

Get Away

Nice cabin in one of our favorite areas.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Andrea S.

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

Cute cabin

We picked this cabin because it was pet friendly, close to the places we wanted to visit and also had good reviews regarding cleanliness. We had a good time and would recommend to others.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very very nice updated cabin.Comes with everything you need.Great fishing too
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

Always wonderful!!

We are becoming regulars here at the Bear Den!! Love the location and quaint atmosphere. Well appointed and so very relaxing. Ski weekends are made so much better staying here when we come up.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

PAT S.

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

Wonderfull Weekend

Had the opportunity to get away for a few days with close family. Cabin and location were perfect. Had everything we needed to enjoy exactly what we were doing. This will likely be a yearly get away as everyond had a great time!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amber D.

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

Lovely!

We had a wonderful time staying at the Bear Den! Cabin was very clean, super cozy and had everything we needed. Loved going down to the river to watch the salmon. Hope to be back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie L.

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

Awesome!

Super cute cabin, very clean, and nice amenities. Close to the Crystal- would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

3rd stay!!

We LOVE this property. We stayed 3 times this winter and loved each visit. So close to Crystal Mountain. The perfect cozy getaway for our family. We will be back again and regular guests next ski season.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Melissa L.

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

Labor Day Getaway

Booked this for a fishing weekend with our 8yo son. It was perfect for the three of us. A 1 minute walk to the River, clean, large parking area for truck and boat super easy check in/check out. Would love to book again with extended family on the main house!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Drew L.

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

Very nice stay

Very nice cabin, just the right location for what we wanted to do in nw northern Michigan. Host was very communicative and even offered to purchase age appropriate board games for our younger children. Everything in the cabin functioned well and was nicely updated. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
incredibly Clean, adorable, and surrounded by nature. close to alot of great towns and Crystal Mountain. The host was kind and responsive. Check-in was seamless. will definitely be back!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

Another GREAT visit!

We have stayed at the Bear Den multiple times for our ski weekends at Crystal Mountain and absolutely love this tiny home. Perfectly wonderful every time! Going again in 2 weeks. Can’t wait!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amy Y.

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

Family vacation

This sweet little cabin was perfect for our family of four. Cozy, clean, secluded and within a reasonable driving distance from everything we wanted to explore while in Michigan. Chris was great and gave us a ton of suggestions on places to go and things to try. Thank you for the memories!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

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

Fishing and Skiing

Very clean and comfortable. 7 minutes from Crystal Mountain. Beautiful stretch of the Betsie River. Beautiful renovated cottage.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Theresa S.

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

Clean, new, perfect!

The cabin was really clean and everything in it is new or newer. Only 200 feet from the Betsie River with a well maintained path, we had fun fishing and wading. Pets are allowed and that made this an outstanding stay. Lots of things to do nearby. The owner Chris is a delight to talk to and is a great communicator when we were booking it.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

2nd visit - wonderful stay (again)

This is our second time to this little cabin in the woods. It is the perfect size for the 4 of us and so close to Crystal Mountain! Had a great time skiing and spent our evenings warm and toasty playing games and watching movies in the cabin. We are heading up again to stay in 3 weeks. Can’t wait!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sherette M.

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

Very comfortable and impressive

Perfect cabin for my daughter and I and her 2 dogs. Very comfortable. All the amenities we needed. We floated in the river right on the property during the day and had a fire at night. We enjoyed our stay so much we're figuring out when we can go back. There's so much to do.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

DEBBIE B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and cozy cabin. Our host Chris was very attentive and communicated exceptionally well! We had a lot of adventures since we are very familiar with the area and all the surrounding cities.The bonus was being on a beautiful stretch of the Betsie River. Hubby had some great salmon catches during our stay. Before leaving we were allowed to check out the big house that Chris rents out. That was a beauty. Probably get that one next time for more room and a better view of the river from the back deck.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sara W.

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

Cute little cabin

My family of 3. Two adults and our 7 year old son had a wonderful time. We also had our 2 dogs with us. It is a cute little cabin nestled in the woods. Very peaceful! My son went fishing for the first time on the Betsie River and although he did not catch anything he had a great time! We would definitely book again!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Danielle C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Overall the cabin was perfect for a couple couldn’t imagine more than that maybe a couple small children. Peaceful quiet. Seating was limited in living room area and the recliner was broken so that was disappointing since we spent time inside due to the rainy weather. I would have loved to open the windows but there were no screens. Other then that the place was as perfect as it could be.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025