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Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake

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Terrace/patio
Welcome to Heron Lodge!
Property grounds
Living room with two big screen TVs & stone 2-sided fireplace
Great for gatherings: Dining room table seats 12, plus counter stools

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 16260.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Howell, MI
  • Howell's MainStreet Winery
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Tanger Outlets Howell
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • The Majestic at Lake Walden
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Pontiac, MI (PTK-Oakland County Intl.)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 16)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Double Beds

Bonus Area Above Garage

1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

garage/game room

1 Double Futon

main house loft

1 Double Futon

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3 - Garage

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake

Heron Home is the perfect retreat for any season. A short drive (or 30-minute walk) to award-winning downtown Howell. Get that up north feeling without the long road trip! Located on all sports Thompson Lake, enjoy your own private dock and three kayaks for your personal use, or the nearby access to a public boat launch and beach. Family gathering? Dining table seats 12, or add the kitchen table and counter stools for even more.

The large backyard with its breath-taking views, has a built-in firepit, built-in gas grill (no tanks required!), a wood stove, and a hot-tub! Watch the resident swans, herons and muskrats while truly relaxing. It's the perfect setting for family and friends.

Other features:
* Primary bedroom with King bed and ensuite with double showers and a jetted tub
*Main floor bedroom with King bed; second floor bedroom with two full beds
* Bonus room above garage/games room with one King and 2 twin beds.
* Large dining table to host your family gathering (seats 12), kitchen table seats 6, terrace table seats 8!
* Great spot for family reunions, staycations, girls trips, or bonding with friends.
* Separate game/lounge room with ping pong, shuffleboard
* Full pull out sofa and third full bathroom in games room.
* Full pull out sofa and desk with monitor in the 2nd floor loft
*Fully stocked kitchen, beach towels, laundry, puzzles/games/toys, pack-and-play, insect repellant, sunscreen and more.

Property manager

Steve Parkhill
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
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
No more than 7 cars in the driveway and absolutely no parking in the street (Carpool in if needed).
No more than 16 guests in the house at any given time.
Outdoor activities, music, excessive noise are prohibited after 10pm. (Howell and Subdivision Ordinance). Please respect our neighbors' property.

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
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Howell

Located in Howell, this cottage is on the waterfront. Howell's MainStreet Winery and Mt Brighton Ski Area are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Brighton State Recreation Area and Island Lake State Recreation Area.
Map
Howell, MI

What's nearby

  • Howell's MainStreet Winery - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Tanger Outlets Howell - 11 min drive - 9.4 km
  • Brighton Center for Specialty Care - 13 min drive - 14.4 km
  • Mt Brighton Ski Area - 14 min drive - 15.7 km
  • The Majestic at Lake Walden - 23 min drive - 19.8 km

Getting around

  • Pontiac, MI (PTK-Oakland County Intl.) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Jonna's Country Corner Market - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Buffalo Wild Wings - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬15 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Gorgeous lodge for up to 16 with hottub & games room on all-sports Thompson Lake located?

This family-friendly Howell cottage is located on the waterfront, 1.7 mi (2.7 km) from Howell's MainStreet Winery, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Tanger Outlets Howell and East Crooked Lake. Brighton State Recreation Area and Brighton Center for Specialty Care are also within 9 miles (15 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. 54 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

autumn g.

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

Amazing

This place is absolutely stunning. Provides a great place to spend with your loved one’s!!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rick A.

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

Amazing House and Great Owner

The property is pristine, the location is amazing, and the owner is so incredibly easy to work with. And, the game room is awesome! We will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaliyah M.

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

Great cabin!!

Such an amazing property!!! We enjoyed everything & the view of the lake and birds was really nice! I would definitely book again & have already been recommending others to book. Thanks so much!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaron R.

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

Great gathering with friends

It was a great place to get away for a weekend. Lots of room, good activities, great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Stephen W.

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

Family lake stay

House is beautiful Steve is easy to get in contact with and helpful
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

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

Holiday House

Our family, from near & far, gathered together to celebrate the magic of the season. Enjoyed the game room, hot tub, roaring fires inside & out, games and meals together at the table that held 12 easily, with a kitchen that allowed many cooks to work side by side. There was something for all ages 🎄
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew H.

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

Very pleasant

Beautiful property, owner was very responsive and easy to work with.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol B.

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

Our family holiday get together.

We had an absolutely perfect family weekend at Steve's wonderful home. Steve is the perfect host, very responsive, flexible, and was so sweet to decorate the house for us. We had a gang of kids who loved the hot tub and the game house. Excellent place for chatting, watching football, eating together. Just Great!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

mike G.

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

Great experience for 7 buddies on a football weekend

This property lived up to every expectation. Beautiful, clean, fun and easy access. 7 older guys who travel once a year for a football weekend had a great time. Really was perfect. The host is very helpful and hospitable. I highly recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joey S.

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

Wonderful family vacation!

We had a delightful time together as family at this beautiful cabin! Highly recommended and would definitely stay there again in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beatriz S.

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

Awesome house!

We absolutely enjoyed our time at Catalina Cottage! The house is perfect for everyone and the view was amazing. Such a peaceful stay for our daughter's graduation.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Avery P.

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

New Year’s Eve Wedding

My brother and sister in law recently got married on New Year’s Eve and we were looking for a place where all of our wedding party could stay after. We found this listing and it looked very spacious, cozy, and like the perfect place to host our group. The game room connected to the garage was such a nice addition to keep us occupied on the snowy new year and to keep some toddlers busy. There was plenty of space to sleep all of our guests and to host breakfast the next morning. The host was more than helpful when trying to arrange a bag drop off before the wedding. Steve was very punctual when responding and made sure that our stay went smoothly. I could not recommend this place more! Thanks again to Steve for letting us stay at your gorgeous home!)
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul V.

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

Great place to stay highly recommend

We had an excellent time vacationing at this property. Great accommodations and all the extras were great. Hot tub was kept very clean and we enjoyed it very much. Property was very large and well kept, plenty of room for yard games and just relaxing in the sun. Fire pit was also great in the evenings under the stars! This location did not disappoint and the extra bedroom in the game house was a great bonus! Would definitely recommend to others. Thanks so much for the welcome gifts and hospitality.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stacie C.

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

Great Place For The Whole Family

We had a great time. Plenty of room for everyone!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

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

Great stay!

We had a fantastic stay. The house completely met the needs for our multi family group. We would definitely come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynda H.

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

Experience "Up North" without the long drive to get there

Stunning house, classy, clean and new looking, great for multiple families. Good fishing and boating and a great backyard to play Whiffle ball or any other sport for the kids. The backyard to the lake is flat, not steep like so many lake houses. We plan to go back next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Timothy M.

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

Summer Family Trip

The home was beautiful and we enjoyed all the amenities. It was perfect for our family trip.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jenny M.

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

Great annual trip with four families.

Very clean house and all amenities cared for. Beds are comfortable. Great location - short drive to local restaurants and convenience stores. Lake is a shallow. But also not very busy so easy to tube off of a boat. Lots of room for larger groups.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle W., Oceanside

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

Wonderful time at the lake

We really enjoyed Catalina Cabin for the holidays. We got quick responses from owner when contacted and everything was set up perfect for our vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brian B.

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

Golf trip

We had a little weekend golf trip with the guys and this was the perfect place to relax and unwind after a round. Drinks outside by the lake and hanging out in the hot tub were amazing. After golf the games continued in the game room with a ping pong tournament and some nostalgic video games. All 14 of us were able to sleep comfortably with the provided rooms and beds. There were also extra air mattresses and pull out couches if we needed. We had a great time and will be back if our next golf trip leads us to this area.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

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

Wedding weekend

Great property!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aradia B.

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

Awesome spot!

Super cool place! Very clean, they had everything we needed available and made our trip easy. Will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maryjane

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This was our first time to the area we are from Pennsylvania. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the lake and taking out the kayaks. The hot tub was amazing !!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

SCOTT H.

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

Harding Reunion

This place was wonderful. It was perfect for our group. Space for all and enough activities to keep 3 grand daughters happy/
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicolai D.

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

Yearly friend gathering

Perfect spot to host for family/friends and have a "summer camp" sort of vibe. Would definitely come back
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

About the host

Hosted by Steve Parkhill

Host profile image
We're from Ann Arbor and love the fact that our dream cottage is only a 38-minute drive away. Just a few years from now, we hope to retire and live at the cottage full-time. We bought it because it's ideal for hosting all of our children and grand-children at the same time - there's a bed for everyone and a ton of activities to choose from. Whether it's summer at the lake, golfing or fishing in the fall, or skiing at nearby Mt. Brighton (16 minutes away) in the winter, the Prestige Log Cottage is the perfect place for your next get-together!

Why they chose this property

When we first drove up to the cottage and saw the lake, the large property, the dock, and the log interior - we knew this was the place! We can walk to the award-winning downtown with its boutiques, restaurants, and farmers' market in 25 minutes.
It ticked all of the boxes for us and we could, once again, host large get-togethers with family or friends.

What makes this property unique

Because we also use this cottage for hosting family and friends, you'll find a lot of the little extras around the house that you will not find at most short-term rental properties. For example, the kitchen is fully stocked. Sunscreen is provided so you can always play outside. We provide seasoned firewood so you don't have to bring/buy any to enjoy the firepit There are multiple board games and puzzles, outdoor games like cornhole, ping-pong, and shuffle board to name a few!
We want your family to enjoy the place as much as our family does.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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