Maple Lane Empire

Great location…a little older, but issue was parking.

I cannot say enough good things about this place! Perfect quiet location, huge room, comfortable bed. I LOVED that I had access to the SUP docked on the lake as well as life jacket and paddle. I went for a nice little paddle and swim after a full day of hiking. There is a bench there which is perfect for sunsets as well. Large refrigerator and guide to local restaurants in the room were a bonus! (I enjoyed the live music and cold drinks at Boonedocks 7 mins away)

Nothing. Definitely read the text message you receive on the day of your stay though! I just glanced at it not realizing that it had all of the information for contactless check-in. You don't even need to stop by the main lobby unless you need something.

Quiet spot. Older building and furniture but the bedding looked newer and it was clean. Never interacted with any staff other than receiving a text that said where to find a key. Easy check-in and out, but missed the human hospitality.

Our room was clean and kept up well, and it had a small kitchenette that allowed us to bring our own food and cook dinner there. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the location was only minutes from many of the spots we wanted to visit at Sleeping Bear Dunes. We are already looking forward to returning next year!

I am rating this as average as it is about what you expect for a value-priced, older property in a prime tourist area (Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes). On the plus side, it was clean and looked to have been recently refreshed (bedding, paint, etc). The beds were comfortable. And the owners/manager have done some things to make the place more functional (the addition of a shelf and hook in the small bathroom, for example). It is also very convenient to lots of tourist areas. The biggest negative, in my opinion, was that the shower is quite small. Other negatives include needing to call during limited hours for ANY room maintenance as none is done automatically, regardless of the length of your stay and the parking situation which can be inconvenient when the facility is full. The advertisement of a "private beach" is also very misleading. It's basically a bench and sandbox down the road. If you just need a place to crash and clean up, this place is fine.

Quaint motel with basics! Excellent proximity to the beach!

This is the kind of place you could stay several days. They had kayaks and paddle boards available to use. The lake is beautiful and would be great to enjoy for a longer than a night stay. I would recommend this place if you are looking for a quiet getaway. The area in town kind of closes up early, so don't expect too much of a nightlife.