Stone Hotel & Cottages

We had a perfect stay at Interlochen Stone Hotel. The view was great, the food was great, and we enjoyed going for walks. Getting to Traverse City was an easy drive.

The cafeteria meals included with the stay were a big plus, and it was nice being just steps from Kresge amphitheater. The grounds have a beautiful atmosphere, with the hotel right by the lake, though getting there means a stroll from the parking lot. Rooms are small and quaint but kept up well. If you can get one of the Art rooms designed by students, that’s a bonus. There’s history here too.

This is about the room with two queen beds. The hotel also has other room and cottage options. The room was clean, compact, and had comfortable beds, strong air conditioning, and excellent Wi-Fi. The TV was a standout, with plenty of cable and streaming choices. Lighting was sparse, just two desk lamps and the overhead lights by the entrance. A small closet has no door and sits close to the second bed. There was a desk and chair, though space around the bed was tight. Refrigerator availability varies by room, and I happened to get a small dorm-style one. Coffee supplies and a maker were provided. The bathroom felt functional and from the 1980s. Water pressure and hot water were good, but it was cramped, with no sink counter space. There was a medicine cabinet and standard toiletries. Three meals are included, served cafeteria-style in a dining hall without air conditioning, shared with youth campers, sometimes a lot of them. The menu is very limited, usually one entrée and one vegetarian choice each day, and the quality was questionable. Food described as hot was often room temperature or only warm. Lunch and dinner had a salad bar with usual salad vegetables, sandwich fixings, and fruit. Breakfast had cereal, sweetened yogurt, fruit, and a different main entrée each day. Drinks were coffee, tea, juice, and water, no soda. There were few protein options at any meal. Some gluten-free bread was available, and ingredients were listed for most entrée items. The food seemed aimed at teen campers rather than older adults. Getting to the lobby takes about a five-minute walk from the parking lot, since vehicles can’t pull up there. Guest parking spots are reserved but that rule wasn’t enforced. Check-in at the main lobby was quick, and the staff were friendly. They use traditional keys, not electronic locks. Every room is on the second floor, up 19 steps, with no elevator. Staff helped with luggage when asked. The place is clean and functional, but small and dated. The air conditioning was excellent in hot weather, while the dining felt like youth summer camp food service rather than hotel dining.

For a Kresge Auditorium concert, the location is hard to beat. I could go back to my room between sets, and the cafeteria is in the same building, with meals included. The food was basic, but filling and nutritious. The campus around it is beautiful, and the front desk folks were friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean and well maintained, though austere for the price, and I would have liked a more comfortable bed. If you're just passing through and want inexpensive lodging, I might look elsewhere. But for a show at Kresge, this place is an outstanding option. I’d seen other reviewers mention a fee at check-in, but I paid online ahead of time and had no extra charges.