Rapid River Lodge: Holiday Escape, 40 Acres, Hot Tub!

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
5 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Combined shower/tub, hair dryer, towels
5 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Combined shower/tub, hair dryer, towels
9.6
Outstanding(47 Reviews)

Lodge in Wisconsin

18 guests · 5 bedrooms · 4 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsKitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner, Internet / Wifi and more

About this 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 twin bed (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

Winter Activities:
* Snowmobiling – Access nearby trails in the Hiawatha National Forest (approx. 5-15 miles away).
* Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing – Trails in Hiawatha National Forest (about 15 miles away).
* Ice Fishing – Local lakes and Lake Michigan (about 10-15 miles away).
* Downhill Skiing – Gladstone Ski Hill (around 20-25 miles away).
* Sledding/Tubing – Local hills in Gladstone (about 20-25 miles away).
* Winter Hiking – Trails in Hiawatha National Forest (15 miles).

Amenities

Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
Hot tub or spa
TV
Family friendly

Map of Wisconsin

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Reviews

9.6
Outstanding(47 Reviews)
10.0
Aug 2024
We had three families totaling 14 people. This place was ideal! Plenty of bedrooms and beds for the adults and kids to pick. Plenty of bathrooms so no waiting! Plenty of space! Spent lots of time on the porch. Kids spent lots of time in the river! The whole place is homey and comfortable with everything you could need! With seven boys and a teenage girl it can be challenging to meet everyone's needs - this place nailed it! Hope to come back again.
10.0
Aug 2023
We really enjoyed our stay at the lodge! More than enough space for our family to spread out, and we enjoyed preparing meals in the large kitchen, soaking in the hot tub, playing jenga and dipping our toes in the shallow river.
6.0
Jul 2023
The location was very beautiful and we all had a great time catching the crayfish and releasing them. The house was definitely spacious enough for all the age groups we had. However, we were not pleased with the sewer smell that we had to deal with in two of the bedrooms we were using. I called to inform the office of this issue and the maintenance man came with a can of Febreeze and sprayed that and left and nothing more was said or done the rest of our stay. For the $7000.00 I paid I was not at all impressed by the actions to resolve this manner. Upon checking out I called the office to let them know we were departing and the lady that answered the phone was very pleasant(not the same person I dealt with previously to report the sewage smell) she informed me that this same issue happend last year to someone. She also stated she doesn't agree with some of the practices at this property! Perhaps instead of masking the problem with the septic, the owners fix it. This is not at all acceptable or sanitary. I was not offered a refund for anything and I feel this is unfair. This was a family vacation we took our children and grandchildren on to make memories...we do this only once every other year. Despite the septic issue we made sure we left the house in a very clean condition, perhaps cleaner than when we arrived. I would hope that some things improve here to ensure a much better experience for future renters. We have rentals of our own and would be on this asap!
8.0
Jul 2023
We had a great stay with extended family. Everyone had space to spread out when we need and a big porch, family room and dinner table to come together as a group. The lodge was clean, well stocked and comfortable for all of us. Cara was very responsive to questions. There is a park next door that gets a good amount of traffic during the day.
10.0
Jan 2023
Imagine pulling up to the house, snow lightly falling. You open the door and the first vision of the interior of the house is soft lights highlighting the big open living space, kitchen and dining room. Our stay at Rapid River Lodge was filled with moments of "is this real?". We had a group of 11, ranging in age from 3 to 48. We had so much space to spread out. Plenty of rooms/beds/linens/towels. We had no problem preparing the food we brought with all that was supplied at Rapid River Lodge. They have so much on hand to prepare for large groups. The sleeping arrangements were wonderful! They had beds for babies, bed gates for our 3 year old, and plenty of sleeping space for our kids to choose from. My husband and I slept in the king bed, which has a mattress that is so comfortable. We slept great! Our sons slept in the room with the best view, along the river, and enjoyed waking up to the gorgeous winter view of the river. The first night it was snowing when we arrived, though it wasn't snowing just 15 miles away. The kids loved the magic of sitting in the hot tub watching the snow fall on a long winter's night. The next day we explored the yard, walked to the bridge, and took a short hike along some trails. Again, it was a winter wonderland. The property is a hidden gem of peaceful tranquility. Quiet, though not far from a main road. This property pays attention to details! We had so many options for playing games, putting puzzles together, enjoying time talking as a family, and watching the river. Our 3 year old loved the movies they had on hand to watch in the main area. As a former housekeeper for a bed and breakfast, I noticed how clean each space is. They pay attention to cleanliness which keeps the property looking amazing. My kids favorite part was how open the lodge is and how fun it was to explore all the different areas...the ultimate hide and go seek space. Before the first day was over, my kids were asking if we could come back next year! We didn't use much technology, yet the kids thought this was one of their favorite winter vacations. When we did need it, the wi-fi worked great and the landline phone was wonderful to stay connected with my elderly mother while we were away. We pretty much stayed on the property for the two days we were here. My kids said three or four days here would have been perfect. Thank you Rapid River Lodge for offering a space to give families a beautiful winter retreat!
10.0
Aug 2022
We had such a great stay!! Would recommend.
10.0
Mar 2022
Great location for large groups
Great location for large groups
Very great property to host large gatherings! Spacious interior, great kitchen utilities, and very cozy!
10.0
Nov 2021
Up North
Up North
Very spacious! Great for handicapped!

FAQs

How much does this lodge cost compared to others in Wisconsin?

The average price for a rental in Wisconsin is $205 per night. This rental is $362 above the average.

Is parking included with this lodge?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Rapid River Lodge: Holiday Escape, 40 Acres, Hot Tub!. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this lodge?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this lodge. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Rapid River Lodge: Holiday Escape, 40 Acres, Hot Tub! pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this lodge is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at Rapid River Lodge: Holiday Escape, 40 Acres, Hot Tub!?

We found 11 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.

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