Notes from the host
Rapid River Lodge
RAPID RIVER LODGE
SLEEPS: 18-22
BEDROOMS: 5
BATHROOMS: 4
RIVERFRONT (Rapid River--adjacent to small waterfalls)
*NEW (2019) LUXURY HOT TUB
*HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
*GREAT FOR EXTENDED FAMILY TO BRING RVs OR CAMPERS
*GREAT FOR RETREATS, BUSINESS MEETINGS, SCOUTING, FAMILY REUNIONS & VERY SMALL WEDDINGS (60 people or less)
Located on 40 private acres within the Hiawatha National Forest. Connect with nature, relax, and have fun at this historic lodge, known to locals as the Old Dutch Mill. All under one roof, yet your own personal space. With the open floor plan, there is plenty of space to meet your group's needs. Still, if you are just looking for a large hall and will need to move the furniture out of the great room, then perhaps a standard hall would be your best bet.
The Rapid River Lodge is fabulous place for 18-20 people. A family vacation, group of friends, corporate event, a retreat, anniversary celebration, a place for your out-of-town wedding guests, a place for your bridal party or a VERY small wedding or family reunion (60 people or less) is wonderful. The space is ideal to rejuvenate and reconnect. Enjoying the hot tub along the river while listening to the soothing water falls is extremely peaceful.
This is a comfortable place where 18 people can gather around a single hand-crafted table or spread out in small groups around 6+ small gathering areas. Children have plenty of room to play. Listen to the Rapid River Falls along the 80' deck. Rustic Decor. High ceilings. Large, open kitchen, plus 2 bar and deck areas. A gorgeous natural wood-burning field stone fireplace warms the sitting area. 1 wood-burning stove. TV/DVD/VCR. Simple bumper pool table, air hockey. Master bedroom overlooks the Rapid River and has a private deck entrance. Large outdoor fire pit along 1/4 mile of secluded river front.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL RAPID RIVER LODGE FAQs
Business retreats/events: We do have a pull-down screen hidden in one of the beams in the living room (former dance hall). Also, we do have a projector available, which you can use to project images from your computer. Just ask and we'll make sure it is available to you upon arrival.
Cell phone service: Generally, cell phone service stinks at the Lodge. In our experience, Verizon is the best at the Lodge. AT&T; is nonexistent. Sprint used to be nonexistent as well, though I have heard it has improved. Hence, we provide a free land line phone with unlimited local and long distance service during your stay.
Future Dates: We will start working on 2020 reservations in September 2019. Guests who have currently reserved the weeks have priority. We try out best to accommodate everyone to the best of our ability. You are welcome to let us know the dates you are interested in, and we'll put you on the list. Thanks for your patience as we work through the many variables. We thank you for your business.
Grocery Stores: The closest convenience store is just 7 miles south of the Lodge, in the gas station on the corner of US 41 and US 2. The closest full-service grocery store is in Escanaba, about 20 minutes southwest of the Lodge. (Elmers, Wal-Mart, Save-A-Lot). The closest Whole Foods-type grocery store is 40 miles North of the Lodge in Marquette. It's called the Marquette Food Co-Op. It's tiny in comparison to a big city Whole Foods, so don't be surprised. Still, you should be able to get the basic, natural foods you'd need.
Handicap Accessibility:
1. Lodge is all one level with easy roaming ability
2. Outdoor ramp to the back deck, leading into the Lodge
3. Grip bars in the main bathroom
4. Accessible picnic table on the deck facing the Rapid River
Outdoor Furniture: 6 adirondack chairs and 1 picnic table (handicap accessible)
Pets: *Pets are welcome! Freshwater Vacation Rentals currently charges $75/per pet. Still, the Lodge is not an ideal place for dogs. We do not have a fenced yard at the Lodge. There is a road in front of the Lodge (S15 Road) where I've witnessed drivers driving faster than is safe. It is important to me that your pets are safe. Plus, there is a park next to the Lodge. Our dog used to love to meander over to the park as well. It wasn't a relaxing place for me with a pet. Therefore, I can not recommend dogs at the Lodge.
Local Public Pool: Gladstone (about a 15 minute drive- $6/person)
Rates: Seasonal /Holiday/ Weekend rates apply. Please check the Rapid River Lodge Availability Calendar for details.
Upper Peninsula Attractions
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: is 60.6 miles away and about 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park: is 127 miles away and about 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Mackinac Bridge: is 140 miles away and about 2 hours and 32 minutes.
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Weddings: 60 people is the maximum we can allow for a nice experience for everyone. Due to past challenges, we can no longer offer exceptions to this number of people. If the number exceeds 60 people, you will have broken the rental agreement and you will need to leave the property immediately.
The Lodge is NOT an empty hall. Therefore, there is furniture and other pieces which made it comfortable for family gatherings. Yes, back in the day, the Old Dutch Mill was a dance hall similar to VFW halls today. I love the history that the Old Dutch Mill/Rapid River Lodge expresses. Still, with the addition of the 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, it is impossible to offer the same hall experience. It's equivalent to pushing a square peg into a round hole.
INSIDE THE LODGE FAQs
Air Conditioning: The air-conditioning at the Lodge contains 2 window units in 2 of the bedrooms. There is NOT central air-conditioning at the Rapid River Lodge. We do have additional box fans, as well as the 9 ceiling fans for your use.
Rapid River Lodge Bathrooms:
Bathroom 1: (Considered the main bathroom, with it's own roof within the house. It doesn't connect with any bedrooms directly, across the hall from Bedroom 1)
Toilet
Sink
Bathtub (deeper than average tub)/shower
Bathroom 2: (Adjoining Bedrooms 1 & 2)
Toilet
Sink
Bathtub/Shower
Bathroom 3: (Our smallest bathroom, adjoining Bedroom 3 & 4)
Toilet
Shower
Bedroom 3 and 4 actually have the sinks within the bedrooms
Bathroom 4: (Our largest bathroom/dressing room. Connected directly to the Master Bedroom. Very private. Door separating the shower room and the bathtub/dressing room)
Toilet
Sink
Shower
+
Large sunken tub for 2 (in the space we consider the dressing room)
Beds/Bedrooms/ Sleeping Arrangements: We have 13 beds at the Lodge, and sleep 18-20 people comfortably. There are 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. A simple bedroom layout graphic is available. Just ask.
Simple linens are provided with each bed: pillow with pillow case, mattress pad, bottom/fitted sheet, top sheet and a blanket and/or comforter. Additional linens and blankets may be found throughout the Lodge.
Bedroom 1: 1 Queen (where a window air conditioning units is housed in the summer)
Bedroom 2: 1 Full + 2 Twins (bunks)
Bedroom 3: 1 Full + 5 Twins (3 sets of bunks + 1 twin pull-out trundle) (where a window air conditioning unit is installed in the summer
Bedroom 4: King + 1 Full (Partial riverside view with the only bedroom TV at the moment)
Bedroom 5: 1 Queen + 1 Full (Full riverside view) + 1 daybed w trundle
There is a full-sized pull-out couch.
Daily Housekeeping Service: We can provide daily housekeeping service (making beds, doing the dishes, basic bathroom wipe-down and floor sweep) for an additional fee of $50-60/day, depending on the distinct needs of your group.
Internet: YES, we have added Internet to the Lodge. Free WI-FI. Yippee! It is wonderful. As good of service as I have here at home. Go Wild Blue! Plus, recently added a 2nd service to cover the back bedrooms.
Lights: We are working diligently to update and improve the overhead lights in the dining and kitchen areas at the Lodge. Therefore, we have extra mobile lighting if you need more direct lights during your stay.
TV/Cable + DVD/VCR players: Yes, we have basic Dish Network (satellite) with both local and cable channels. We have a large 55" TV in the living room, with a standard DVD player only. Bring your Netflix account info to sign in. If you don't have Netflix, feel free to call our office from the Lodge phone and we can give you ours Netflix account info. Also, there is a small 20" TV with satellite cable in the king-sized bedroom. There is an old-school furniture-style floor TV in the room with a double bed and twin bunks, yet that only functions with the VCR and DVD player. We have an assortment of VHS tapes and DVDs for your enjoyment.
KITCHEN:
Coffee Pot: We have a restaurant-style Bunn Coffee maker at the lodge with multiple carafes for your coffee. We have at least 1 additional standard coffee pot as well.
Dishes/Silverware/Cooking/Baking/Glasses: The Lodge is fully equipped for all of your basic needs, and most of your other cooking needs as well. The kitchen prep area is so large that at times it is difficult to find everything. We generally have dishwasher detergent and dish soap for your use. Still, if your family is large and you use all the provided dish soap and need more, the best place to find soap is in Escanaba, about 20 minutes west of the Lodge.
Refrigerators: Yes, we have 2 refrigerators at the Lodge. One is a freezer-less refrigerator, and the other is a standard refrigerator. We do NOT have additional coolers at the Lodge. Please bring your own coolers.
Roaster: We have an electric roaster for your use at the Lodge.
Stove/Oven: We have a standard stove-top with 2 ovens below. One is smaller, more of a pizza-size. The other is standard.
Tables: The beautiful large wooden table seats 18 people with the padded, wooden chairs. We also have the following extras (the exact number may fluctuate a bit) Banquet/Sewing/Scrapbooking Tables 17- 8' x30", 1 table 6'x 36", Standard table height 36"
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OUTSIDE THE LODGE FAQs
Boat Rentals: For use on Lake Michigan (not directly on Rapid River, as the river fluctuates between 6 inches and 4 feet) the closest place to rent a boat is Richards Boat Rentals. They rent pontoon boats and fishing boats for use on the Big Bay de Noc. E4528 State Hwy M-35 - Escanaba, MI 49829 (about 20-25 minutes from the Rapid River Lodge)
Fire Pit: Yes, we have a large fire pit, with the beautiful view of the Rapid River. You can find plenty of fallen wood throughout the private 40 acres. You can also ask us to bring a truck bed of wood (face chord) for specifically your bonfires ($80 additional for a 18"x4'x8" face chord)
Fireworks: Please check the fire danger status before you consider using legal fireworks at the Rapid River Lodge. Only legal fireworks are allowed. You are surrounded by a forest. It is your responsibility to be safe. Please be especially cautious around children. Please dispose of all wrappers, sticks, etc.
Grill: Yes-there is a natural gas grill.
Lawn Chairs: How many? 6 adirondack chairs, 4 wooden chairs around fire pit. A few additional lawn chairs on the porches. Probably best to bring your own lawn chairs.
Projector: We have a simple projector you can use with a compatible lap top to show presentations or slide shows during your business retreat. tiny wedding, or just your fun family vacation pictures. We keep this in the back room, so please let us know if you need it left out for you and your family.
River: The Rapid River is directly in front of the Lodge. It does have a current. Normally, it is about 1 foot deep. Over the past 7 years of owning the Lodge, it has been as low as 6 inches and as high as 3 feet.
SNOWMOBILING: 7 miles south, off of US 2. You can snowmobile from the Lodge (weather conditions permitting). Trail #UP2
Hosted by Freshwater Vacation Rentals