Same cottage. Skip the Airbnb fees.
Sunny Old Bob's Place has been in our family for fifty years: five bedrooms, a wood-burning fireplace, and a private dock on the Lower Platte River. Book with us directly and you're texting the owners, not a call center.
See every room
33 photos, straight from the listing — fireplace, kitchen, every bedroom, the bunk room, the sunroom, and more.
View Full Photo TourA well-loved family cottage, not a flipped rental
The open kitchen, dining and living room keep everyone together around the wood-burning fireplace. The sunroom is a second place to spread out: big table, board games, wooded views on three sides.
A first-floor king with a full bath on the same level. Upstairs there are three paneled Up North bedrooms, two queens and a full, plus the bunk room with two twin-over-full bunks. The full bedroom has its own sink and counter and room for a pack-and-play. Two full baths: tub and shower down, tiled shower up.
Sleeping, safety & the everyday stuff
Who comes here
Ski groups
Benzie Bus runs $3 rides to Crystal Mountain from the front door. Ten beds, two baths and one big fire to come home to.
River families
Float from our dock to Kittredge Landing in 45 minutes, then walk back with your tube in ten.
Remote workers
The sunroom table is a desk with a view of the woods. Laundry on site, reduced rates for longer stays.
Reunions
Six adults and five kids have fit comfortably. Two living spaces means the card game and the bedtime can coexist.
Open nights at a glance
Calendar shown for planning. Send your dates and we'll confirm within 24 hours. Two-night minimum, with special rates for week-long and 30+ night stays. Looking for something last minute? Please ask. Same-week and next-day stays are often possible, and we'd love to accommodate you.
Book direct and save
Message us your dates and we'll quote you 10% below our current Airbnb rate — same cottage, same calendar, no guest service fee.
Below our current Airbnb rate when you book direct
Cleaning fee, flat
Pet fee, up to 2 dogs
Still being built, by hand, by us
Our grandfather, dad and uncles built this cottage themselves, room by room. We're carrying that on: a hot tub and a sauna are in the plans, along with steady updates inside.
If there's something that would make your next visit better, tell us. We want this to be the place you come back to year after year, the way our family has for fifty years.
Good to know before you book
How many people does the cottage sleep?
Ten guests sleep comfortably across five bedrooms and nine beds, with room for up to twelve.
How far is Crystal Mountain?
A 20-minute drive. Benzie Bus also runs $3 rides to the resort from the front door when you book a few days ahead.
Is there a minimum stay?
Two nights minimum, with special rates for week-long and 30+ night stays. Looking for something last minute? Please ask, because same-week and next-day stays are often possible.
Why book direct instead of Airbnb?
You skip the Airbnb guest service fee and deal with the owners directly. Same cottage, same calendar, and you can still read every review on our listing.
Where does the money go when we book direct?
Into the cottage and into Benzie County. We pay our cleaners a livable wage and bonus them any time their work earns a five-star review, and we hire local for plowing, repairs and grocery runs. Booking direct keeps more of that here instead of in platform fees.
Is this a good location for remote workers?
Yes. Wi-Fi runs at 500 Mbps, the sunroom table works as a desk with a view of the woods, and there's a washer and dryer for longer stays. Ask about reduced rates for remote work and 30+ night stays.
Are dogs allowed?
Two dogs are welcome with the pet fee, and there's a fenced pet run off the back of the house.
Is firewood provided?
No, so plan to pick up a bundle on your way in. They're sold at the grocery and hardware stores in Honor and Benzonia.
What guests say
"This house had every amenity. Rustic charm and peaceful. Welcoming hosts and great support staff."
"Perfectly located near the beauty and fun. Well suited for families, comfortable beds, a well appointed kitchen."
"We had 6 adults, 5 kids, and we fit perfectly. Walking for ice cream, kayaking and fishing off the dock were favorites."
On the river, between two lakes
A quiet cul-de-sac in Honor, surrounded by birch. Steps from Platte Lake, ten minutes' walk to Loon Lake, and a float away from Lake Michigan.
Ski days, and one big fire to come home to
The $3 ski shuttle
Benzie Bus picks your group up at the door and drops you at Crystal Mountain, 20 minutes each way. Book a few days ahead and nobody has to drive in snow.
Cross-country & snowshoe
Platte Plains is the closest and flattest set of groomed trails, good for beginners and kids. Alligator Hill and Bay View are steeper. The National Lakeshore also runs guided snowshoe programs, including loaner snowshoes on ranger-led walks.
Snowmobile country
Benzie County's groomed trail network starts minutes away. Permits and conditions from the Michigan DNR before you ride.
Northern lights
On clear, cold nights the sky over the river goes properly dark. Platte Point is three miles away and you can watch from the parking lot without leaving the car. Point Betsie is one of the most famous places in Michigan to photograph the aurora.
Snowy afternoons in
Board games and puzzles stacked in the sunroom, and streaming on two TVs with your own logins.
Dinner nearby
Empire and Frankfort are both a short drive for a sit-down dinner, a bakery morning, or a beer with a lake view.
Winter up here means real snow. Good tires or all-wheel drive makes the week easier, and the shuttle covers your ski days.
Request winter dates
Float the Platte, then ice cream
The lazy float
From our dock to Kittredge Landing is a beautiful 45-minute ride, and you can walk back with your tube in under ten minutes.
Riverside
Tubes, kayaks and an ice cream window, all within walking distance. They'll float you all the way to Lake Michigan.
Platte Point sunset
Few things better than a sunset swim where the river meets the lake. Bring your own beach towels.
Sleeping Bear Dunes
The largest freshwater dunes in the world, plus the Empire Bluff trail for the iconic Lakeshore view in under an hour.
Frankfort pier jump
A local rite of passage, perfect for the bravest among you. Dinner in town afterward.
Fire pit nights
The pit out back and the snapping turtles in the river are the whole evening's entertainment. Firewood bundles at Riverside.
Everything you need once you're here
The full printable guide comes with your confirmation. Here are the parts guests ask about most.
Arriving
Maps are accurate to 5375 Birch Trail, Honor, MI. Smart lock on the front door: your code is the MMDDYY of your check-out date, or send us one that's easier for your family to remember. Park in the driveway (room for 3) or on the wide shoulder, not on the grass or across the street.
The fireplace
Open the damper first, paper and kindling, then two splits front to back. We don't stock firewood, so bundles are sold at the grocery and hardware stores in Honor and Benzonia. Let ashes go cold overnight before closing the damper.
House rules
Quiet wooded street where sound carries: outdoor music off by 9 PM, voices lowered by 10 PM. No smoking inside. Two dogs welcome with the pet fee, and there's a fenced run out back. Septic system: only toilet paper down the drains, no grease or bleach. We're in a Dark Sky sanctuary area, so please switch the exterior lights off at night.
Provided
Linens, bath towels, soaps, starter paper goods, a full kitchen with pots and pans, washer and dryer, whole-house water filtration with a reverse-osmosis tap. Bring your own firewood and beach towels.
Reach us any hour
Dee & Adri, third-generation owners
Phone or text: 404-512-3466
Email: adriannaberlin@gmail.com
After hours & snow removal: Mike Bender, M22 Clean, 734-558-5695
Tell us your dates
Send this over and you'll hear back from Dee or Adri, usually within 24 hours. No fees, no bots, and real answers about what the cottage is like that week.
Prefer to talk? Text 404-512-3466.
Want to read the reviews first? Our Airbnb listing.