The Cottonwood Inn B&B

We had our family reunion (about 20 people) at the cottonwood inn a week ago. We have been renting different places over the years and this was, by far, my favorite! Our room was very spacious for our group of 4 adults. We did discover the sink leaking and Holly had someone come to fix it right away. She brought fans to dry up the water too. The house is amazing and spacious. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. Breakfast every morning is delicious. The barn is really cool and looks like it would be amazing all decked out for a reception or party. So many things to do in the area and the most beautiful sunsets on empire beach! The staff was so friendly. Kya is like a bouncing ball of energy with a huge smile and Holly was very informative and helpful. I loved how they were open to feedback and suggestions. We are so happy we found this gem and are hoping to come back next year.

Very comfortable room, the inn was beautiful and peaceful. Host was very nice so was Kiya. My first inn stay, me and the boys loved it!!! The grounds were very well kept, many areas to relax and enjoy the quiet.

My 12-year-old daughter loved staying at The Cottonwood so much she can hardly imagine going anywhere else for our next vacation! We shared the Roen Room suite on the ground floor along with my husband and a family friend. It was a tight squeeze but a great deal for four people, with impeccably clean accommodations and sweet decor. The nights were deliciously dark and quiet with a sparkling view of the Milky Way overhead. We spent a lot of time at the glorious Empire Beach down the road, but whenever we were at the Inn, there were many spacious and pleasant indoor and outdoor common areas where we could lounge, read books, learn about local history, or observe the natural beauty around us--like the many hummingbirds visiting the flower gardens. The breakfasts were delightful, consisting of one to three choices of savory and sweet breakfast bakes (our charming cook and server was especially talented at whipping up sweet creations), along with sides of fresh fruit and sausage. The coffee was abundant and locally roasted, and there were bowls of fruit, granola bars, bagels, and muffins set out for browsing at any hour of the day or night. We met the owner and her family briefly and got to know some of the staff. They seem like warm, caring, and interesting people who take care of each other like a tight-knit family. It almost felt like we were visiting friends in their beloved home. The vibes are laid-back and friendly but proud of excellent hospitality and the hard work they do to provide clean rooms, delicious meals, and peaceful rest. Empire is a pricey area to visit, but The Cottonwood is a great value for such a gorgeous setting just about a 15-minute walk or very short drive to the beach. It's a lovely small business to support that treats their staff well and works hard to preserve local history and provide a cozy welcome for travelers to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore area. We would certainly recommend The Cottonwood and come back again!

Charming place, but definately needs some attention. First off, our bed was a sagging disaster! We had to put the throw pillows under the mattress for our second night so we could try to get some sleep. Our toilet was not cleaned under the seat…splattered UGH! No pillow protectors on the bed pillows…they smelled stale. Breakfast the first morning was cold scrambled eggs and cold sausage. The coffe was fantastic tho. Our room was not refreshed/bed made for our second night. Left early the second morning so can’t comment on the second morning breakfast. Expected more for the price.

Host does not live on site. She was there for brief periods but did not interact with guests, introduce herself, or thank us for coming as we departed. Our "greeting" upon arrival was a piece of paper pinned to an unlocked screen door telling us that our keys were in the room and a few other details. The main entry door to the house is left unlocked and open, with a torn screen door. I realize that we are in a small town, but I was not comfortable with this. We usually select a B&B for the unique breakfast and the experience of interacting with the host, getting tips and insights on the area and their personal history as well as that if the bed and breakfast. None of that happened. The house is in dire need of maintenance... poor caulking on windows and bathrooms, torn screens, burned out light bulbs and outlets that don't work. The outdoor furniture was too dirty to sit on. Getting a good night sleep was impossible, even after a full day of hiking due to a rattling window AC that constantly cycled on and off but never cooled the room - despite temps in the 50s outside - and a mattress that turned into a canoe because it was so worn out that we both sunk into the middle. There was hardly any space between the bed and a wall on both sides, with a metal heater sticking out even further, making entry and exit without banging a shin very challenging, especially after dark. Bathroom needed major maintenance and was a step up from bedroom floor. Again, a night time trip hazard. The biggest trip hazard were the stairs to the upstairs bedroom- steep, short steps and dark, requiring one to walk sideways and reach down from a few stairs below the bottom in order to open a door in to exit (since there is not room to open the door when standing in front of it). This makes for a dangerous situation, especially if carrying any luggage. We hiked the Narrows in Utah last year, so we are not “light weights” – this is just very poor planning when converting the “farm house” to a B&B. We booked 2 nights based on decent reviews and limited availability a few weeks out. Now very suspect of reviews… (owners friends and family???) For $600+ this fell way short of any B&B that we have ever experienced. As a final point to consider… as we were eating breakfast on our final day I noticed a laminated news article. As I read the horrifying story, I realized that it was referring to a potential murder and 2 additional deaths at this property. According to the article, psychics and mediums were called in to make contact with the dead victims who said that they wanted to be “found”. I’m not sure why the owner would think that this was a selling point… as for me, I couldn’t wait to get out to this place for many reasons!

After reading many positive reviews on both Google and Trip Advisor, I decided to try out a new (to me) bed and breakfast. We decided to stay in Empire and the Cottonwood Inn seemed like a perfect fit. There was a 2 day minimum weekend requirement so we opted for Friday and Saturday. The total price was $498 for the 2 day stay. There was no one at the Inn when we arrived. Instead, a type written note told us where our room was and gave us other pertinent information. The first time we saw anyone from the Inn was the following morning at breakfast. That's when everything went downhill. The room itself was clean and spacious and the bed was very comfortable. There were multiple dressers but no place to hang anything up. The bathroom was huge. So much so, that it had a big living room type chair with several pillows on it. We weren't quite sure why it was there or why someone would want to sit there, with a birdseye view of the toilet. But to each his own. The Inn itself was nicely decorated and made you feel like you were visiting your grandparents. The original stove of this one hundred twenty-three year old farmhouse was still in the kitchen and I could hardly wait for the delicious breakfast that would follow. I later learned the house was possibly *******, and this added even more charm to the Inn. Breakfast was served between 8 and 930. There was a glass pitcher of orange juice and hot tea options. Coffee was self serve in paper cups. Yes, paper cups. Great for taking a cup to go but not for sipping your morning cup of joe or hot tea. I was so glad I brought my own coffee cup to have with my breakfast meal. Now, about that meal. It was served on a small salad plate with about a 4x4 inch square of egg bake and one tiny sausage patty about the size of a half dollar coin. A small side dish of fruit was also offered, along with a tablespoon of yogurt. That's it. That was - breakfast. Also available each morning was fresh fruit consisting of mostly overly ripened bananas and a bowl of tangerines. They also had store bought bagels/cream cheese, grocery counter muffins, Quaker Instant Oatmeal and Costco trail mixes. The second morning it was that same small salad plate with yet another egg bake (apparently due to a miscommunication with the new staff, according to Holly the owner). That portion size was even smaller than the previous day. One serving was about an inch high and 3 inches square, the other piece about 2 1/2 inches square; again served with a single small sausage patty and side of fruit. No yogurt option this time. When breakfast is a major part of your business name, then it needs to be a major part of your business. And when couples are paying $250 per night for a room, the expectation is that a full breakfast will also be provided. It is after all - a bed and breakfast. Both days of breakfast options were pitiful. To me, the whole idea of a bed and breakfast is not only a great night's sleep but also waking up to tha