Birchwood Inn

The common room was our favorite spot, with couches, tables, chairs, and a fireplace. After skiing, it was lovely to sit by the fire in that cozy, up north setting. We stayed with friends for a ski weekend and the place suited us perfectly. The rooms are older but cozy and clean, with a nice view of Lake Michigan. The staff were friendly, and breakfast wasn’t fancy but worked perfectly for us. We’ll plan to come back next time we ski.

We tried to find another place to stay from the moment we arrived. The room was dark and dingy, smelled musty and of dog pee, and had carpet stains and garbage under the beds from previous guests. The mattresses sagged, the bedding and curtains were worn, with moth holes, and the air conditioner didn’t work. There was no iron or hair dryer. Ceiling panels were dark green and crumbling, despite apparently being photoshopped white in the pictures. Bits fell from the tiles onto our beds day and night. The ceiling panels and sidewalks were crumbling too. Breakfast looked nothing like the pictures. This is an owner problem. I’m sure he or she can’t get the place appraised for an improvement loan. It should be razed.

We ended up at the local Best Western, which was very nice, and were grateful Birchwood Inn agreed not to charge us. It had cost $375 for two nights, while the Best Western was just $15 more and worth every penny. The inn is also quite far from downtown, with nothing in walking distance. We’d booked two nights through Expedia and driven over five hours to get there. Our first room, number 42, was horrible: opening the door, the mold and mildew smell nearly knocked me over, and the drooping ceiling tiles looked ready to fall onto the bed. Everything felt straight out of the 50s and very run down. When I complained at the office, they moved us to another room and called it an upgrade. The only improvement was that it smelled less. It was next to a room where I’m sure people were living, since the first thing the person there said was, “Sorry about the screaming one year old.” They also had a barking dog, and we could smell that they were smoking in the room.

The room was huge, even though you wouldn’t guess it from the outside, and we stayed in a king suite. Birchwood Inn is a good fit if you’re after retro and rustic, with a peaceful country setting along M119 at the beginning of the Tunnel of Trees. It’s not a typical chain hotel, so that may not be what you want. The lobby has a cabin-like feel, and the owner was preparing a continental breakfast of baked goods and coffee. The staff were outstanding and pleasant. There was a small refrigerator and coffee pot, but no microwave. They’d left a little basket of hard candy, a sweet touch. There was no hairdryer, which was fine for me since I always bring my own, but heads up, bring one. The rates were much better than any chain, and I’d SO go back. Thanks Birchwood Inn and staff for a wonderful stay!