The Germfask Hostel occupies the town's oldest building and provides a distinctive Upper Peninsula experience. Guests relax around the firepit, wander through the garden, and use the WiFi to plan excursions to nearby Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Reviews
8.88.8 out of 10
Excellent
Entire apartment
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 101800 sq ft
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Add dates for prices
About this property
Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River!
Yes, really.
$1 cleaning fee, no matter how long the stay.
You'll be staying in the longest-standing and largest building in Germfask!
The downstairs is set up as a three bedroom apartment with a living space that has a sofa sleeper. Great for kids!
We are centrally located less than an hour's drive to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore! Centrally located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
Germfask is less than an hour from Pictured Rocks, minutes from Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and overlooks the Manistique River! Three bedrooms, two baths, spacious apartment with large kitchen, living and dining. Grill out on the patio, fish for trout, or paddle the Manistique, this is the perfect location for those exploring the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula! You are 90 minutes or less to the Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, Kitchi iti kippi, Escanaba, Marquette, and Mackinaw City!
Owner & live in Manager is Tom Funke, Author of 50 Hikes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and 50 Hikes on the North Country Trail. Feel free to tap into our knowledge of the area when planning your trip.
The Jolly Inn (Restaurant and Bar) is across the street, and Kersh's Market (groceries and package liquor) is a few blocks North within walking distance.
Germfask is the starting point for Snowmobile Trail #43 linking you to Grand Marais, Tahquamenon, and more. It starts 100 yards from our front door at the blinker light.
We are equally distant from the western & eastern ends of the North Country Trail in Pictured Rocks.
This building was once the train station for Germfask.
We also have a resale shop and many vintage pieces and art that are for sale.
Property amenities
Ski
Cross-country skiing nearby
Internet
Available in the apartment: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car required
Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee grinder
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Hob
Kitchen island
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Sofa bed
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Shampoo
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Separate dining area
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Smart TV
Video library
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
2 accessible parking spaces
Handrails in stairways
In-room accessibility
Smooth flooring in public areas
Step to reach entrance
Tile flooring in public areas
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible van parking
Smoke-free property
Note from host: It is a violation of Michigan State law to smoke.
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a rural location
In a village
On a river
On the waterfront
Things to do
Bicycle parking
Bicycle storage
Kayak
Birdwatching nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Hunting nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Sledding nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
General
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
Bicycle parking
Bicycle storage
Composting
Comprehensive food waste policy
Comprehensive recycling policy
Double-glazed windows
Eco-friendly cleaning products used
Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
Garden
Local artist showcase
Local culture and ecosystem education
Locally-owned and organised tours and activities
No plastic coffee stirrers
No plastic drinking straws
No plastic soft drink bottles
No plastic water bottles
Reusable cups
Reusable tableware
Solar energy
Unit size: 1,800 square feet
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You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Note from host: Pull out couch, extra cots, blow up mattress
Events
No events allowed
We allow small conferences & outdoor events.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
It is a violation of Michigan State law to smoke.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Cashless transactions are available
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: We allow small conferences & outdoor events.
This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Germfask, this apartment is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Seney National Wildlife Refuge and Manistique River Roadside Park. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and sledging. Visit our Germfask travel guide
Is Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River! located?
Situated on the waterfront, this apartment building is within 1 mile (2 km) of Seney National Wildlife Refuge and Manistique River Roadside Park. Kennedy Lake and Chip Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).
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Only 1 dollar cleaning fee at Pictured Rocks Basecamp on the Manistique River! Reviews
Reviews
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
This is our second time staying at this property. We love the size of the home and 2 bathrooms! I have teenagers so it’s enough space for Us all to relax after a busy day of hiking and seeing the sites. The host is always easy to communicate with. The Jolly Inn is always a treat for dinner. One great thing about this home is it’s location. It’s in the middle of everything to see this side of the UP. Since we do a lot of hiking, we get dirty and the washer and dryer is a huge help after a fun filled day. We are a family of woman and all feel very safe in this home. We will always stay here when we travel up north! Thanks for a wonderful, safe home for Us to stay and enjoy nature.
First impression was a little dreary, but the place grew on us. Mostly used as a good spot for all-day trips to pictured rocks, Tahquamenon Falls and then rafting on menominee river on the way home. Easy to find since on a main road, but that made it kind of noisy (for the UP). Beds, kitchen, 2 bathrooms were all functional for a 3 night stay. Enjoyed fire pit, watched shooting stars at night. Internet did not work for us, calls/texts very spotty and DVD collection was limited/damaged. A place to go and make your own fun. Which is what we were looking for. Overall good value for the $.
I'm unsure where to start but want to give an honest review so others know what to expect. We weren't expecting perfection but we were pretty shocked to find how dirty/run down it was.
Starting with the good: Great location. Jolly Inn had great food! Seney Natl. Wildlife Preserve is just down the road and is awesome. Living room furniture and beds pretty comfortable; showers pretty good.
Now for the need-to-know: This place was filthy dirty. Had to buy some cleaner and do it ourselves to stay. Fridge/freezer had old, part-used foods & leftovers- some moldy. Towels in linen closet were damp and stunk! Had to wash and dry them again. Stiff, wadded up used cloths found on dryer and in the linen closet.
Broken stuff everywhere- windows, cabinets, doors, blinds, lampshades etc. Floors so dirty around edges & corners- sooo many dead bugs and cobwebs and dirt. Front bedroom infested with spiders!!! I killed at least 15 spiders in there! Dead, dried up smashed bugs were all over the walls in that room also. The "breezeway" into the house was dirty like an old garage- step into house very unsafe/unsteady and tipped if you didn't step on it right.
I tried contacting the host twice but got no reply. I know he got the message because he had answered a previous message before we got there. I did contact VRBO and did not request my money back for the stay as we chose to stay, but I did request the "housekeeping fee" back as we had to clean our place to stay there!
Nice place to stay for 6 guy’s on a snowmobile trip. Plenty of parking spaces for truck and trailer. Place is old but has a lot up north appeal. Will be looking to stay here again next year
Like any snowmobile trip the weather plays a big part. When there is good snow cover,can ride from place, trail about 1/2mi.,otherwise trailer to Seney 7mi, as alot of shoulder (pavement) riding to get Seney parking lot and pick up trails,this has nothing to do with the property. The place has all kind of room for a group. Full kitchen, washer/dryer if needed.Lot of history of the area in the house. Easy access to local bar,food right across the street. Grocery store 3blks away great selection.We try a new area in UP each, year lots of trails. Very center located.
No pictures posted, keeping it classy.
Not often is there time to write reviews. Always challenging to not be too wordy or not wordy enough. Not too witty but not too boring. However, the responses from this homeowner practically wrote the review so poignantly it made the review process effortless. We made a request for all or a partial refund in response to the countless dead bugs, live spiders and dirty floors encountered in this home; we left 2 hrs after arrival, painstakingly rearranging our entire vacation to accommodate.
“That's why it's so cheap because folks know that sometimes it's not going to be perfect.“
“I have a very strict refund policy because my home is sometimes not what people expect from a VRBO even though I try to be very transparent in my home description.”
I have 2 teens and this was just perfect for Us. We all had enough space to relax at the end of our busy days of site seeing. We also enjoyed dinner across the road at the Jolly Inn. The hosts were very quick to respond to any questions. Thank you for a wonderful place to stay.
The lodge in Germfask is a great place in a cozy little town that was in the middle of everything we wanted to do. It was a great space to recoup after running around all day. There was enough room for cooking and hanging out. The restaurant across the street was awesome. We had a blast.
Our stay in Germfask was great. The property owners were very quick and great with getting back to me on anything I had questions with. Everything was easy to find, very interesting, and comfortable! My family and i really enjoyed ourselves!!
Cool old building with interesting history. Worked just fine for our group on a snowmobile trip. Not too much road to get to the trail and it was fine for us since there was a lot of snow. Had pretty much everything we needed for our trip and super convenient having the Jolly Inn across the street. The owners were awesome with communication and kind enough to allow us in early. It was tidy but could just use a seasonal deep cleaning. No complaints!
The property is a great place to stay, we had a group of 8 and were very comfortable. This property has easy access to the trails for both side by side and snowmoboles. The house was not stocked well with towels but I contacted the owner and towels were brought over .overall good place to stay
Fun adorable place to stay when exploring that aria of the Up. The masses are not the softest but definitely work. The only thing I would say is there is a lot of dust on the ceiling fans expecting in the medium bedroom. Other than that had everything we need. Thanks
Property is spacious and was clean with everything needed linens, cookware, satellite TV, dads, etc.. Located centrally in the Eastern UP, making sightseeing day trips manageable.
Property manager was easy to communicate with.