firehouse inn

I'm so tired of the bigger places along the St. Ignace strip being overpriced and poorly cleaned. Firehouse Inn is a gem. The rooms are rustic and immaculate, though on the small side, and the price is great. The person running it clearly cares about the place and her customers, and it shows in how well she keeps it up. The bed was heaven. Kudos to the manager!

We stayed in a cabin in a great central spot. It was cozy, but the adjoining room wasn't very soundproof. We could hear the person next door every time he sneezed, which was a lot, and he sounded allergic to something. The shower was terrible, though at least there was hot water and soap. The bed was very comfortable and fairly firm, just how I like it. There's a fridge, microwave, extra seat, fan, and window AC, so it won't get hot in there. Check-in and checkout were both quick and easy. One night is fine, but if you need a proper shower, I'd stay somewhere else.

We'd already booked into another place in the area that called itself pet friendly for our two little redheads, Cavalier King Charles spaniels Ruby Sue and Minnie Pearl, with their crates. It was filthy, rude, and awful, and after surprise fees we were out in less than three hours. At 9 pm, Stephanie welcomed us and let us bring everything down the road to a cozy cabin, #35. She took time to show us the options so we could choose, even that late. The place is CLEAN. The floor was clean enough for bare feet, the bedding was fresh, the pillows full and fluffy, and the bed comfy. When I rinsed a washcloth with hot water, I could actually smell clean laundry. There was AC, heat, TV, a fridge, microwave, and a fan. The shower really isn't good, maybe a sprayer hose head would help. I also wish the room had a coffee maker, though there is fresh coffee in the office every morning at 7. Otherwise, there wasn't anything else we needed. We were a needy little family for our five days: puppy accidents, thank goodness for the linoleum floor, linen changes, and Wi-Fi password problems meant we seemed to be in the office all the time. Stephanie was pleasant and helpful every time. She clearly loves and cares for the place. We like mom-and-pop businesses and supporting local owners. I think she said this is one of two (?) mom-and-pops left around here. You can feel the difference, and it feels worth it. She even showed us a larger cabin, and we're already planning next year's trip. It's directly across from a fudge shop and beach access, and from the famous Java Joe's, where people make a yearly tradition of having a great breakfast and browsing the giant teapot collection to pick a favorite to take home. Of course I did. We're coming back next year, probably for many years after that. Thanks again, Stephanie. Next time we'll have our stuff together! LoL. Paul and Stacey Isaacs. #cantwait

Finding pet-friendly motels is hard when traveling with caged birds, since most places accept dogs only, even though birds are usually much quieter. My mother passed away in May, and my wife, our two cockatiels, and I traveled from Virginia to South Range, Michigan in June to bury her. I emailed Firehouse Inn about my situation, and Stephanie was wonderfully accommodating and hospitable. She went out of her way to help us enjoy our stay, and I can't thank her enough. The inn is on the left side of the I-75 Business Loop, about 2.5 miles from the Mackinac Bridge, with several shops and restaurants within walking distance. Parking is ample, with easy access to every room. The rooms were quiet and comfortable, with cable TV, internet, a mini-fridge, microwave, heat, and air conditioning. They have laminate floors instead of carpet, which is a big plus for many people these days. The bathroom was bright, clean, and well stocked, but after new light fixtures were installed there weren't any outlets. The old fixtures apparently had them. Stephanie lent us two extension cords for our first stay, and we brought our own for the second. I expect the owner may install bathroom outlets in the near future. For travelers, clean rooms, comfortable beds, quiet for sleeping, and a safe area are usually the main things. Firehouse Inn had all of that and more at a reasonable price, so we stayed on both the trip to South Range and the return to Virginia.