Valley View Lodge is truly one-of-a-kind.  It's recently been renovated top to bottom; retaining touches of the past craftsmanship of the original Schuss chalets, but all with a modern flair:  new appliances, beautiful leathered granite countertops, USB wall plugs and new flooring and bathrooms. Valley View is ready to create memories in four seasons for your entire family!

​

In the milder months, there's plenty to do here. Drive the kids a couple minutes over to the Lakeview hotel to swim in the outdoor pool at the top of the ski hill (with a great view of Lake Bellaire a couple miles away!)  Put in a few holes at the most picturesque golf courses in the state.  Take a 15-minute drive out to gorgeous Torch Lake.  Hike, bike and play on some of Michigan's most beautiful and well-kept trails.  Or maybe just sit out on the deck with your morning coffee; high up in the trees, you'll hear only the whispering hardwoods and occasional chickadee. 

​

For the colder months, the family friendly Schuss Mountain (or the "Kingdom of Schuss" as we call it) offers the very best skiing and snowboarding around.  There's a trail to the top of the hill just couple minutes' walk from the house.  You can drop the kids off, let them hike to the first run, and they can ski for the whole day, walking back to the house when they've had enough! :)  Trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing are within minutes of the property, as are trails for riding your Fat Mountain Bikes. We have membership access to two indoor pools and hot tubs at Schuss and Summit villages, also only a minutes' drive.  When the day is done, curl up in front of the fireplace with a good book and good company. 

 

Main Floor

​

Entering on the first floor (there's a boardwalk from the driveway to the front door), the entire kitchen / living room / dining room is all open space.  The kitchen has beautiful leathered granite countertops, plenty of storage space (cabinets, pantry, etc.), a new refrigerator, range, microwave and dishwasher.  There is a bar with room for 3-4 stools.  All utensils, pots, pans, etc. are provided.  The kitchen opens to a spacious living area with new leather sofas, comfy chairs, and a beautiful stone fireplace for the chillier nights.  There is a 40" LED smart TV as well.  The dining area adjacent to the living room has a huge dining table with seating for 8-10.  Two large ceiling fans keep things cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Sliding glass doors open onto the expansive, wrap-around deck - with excellent views of the valley.  Also on this floor is a bedroom with a queen bed, dresser, and seating.  A full bathroom with custom tiled tub/shower is right next door.  

​

Loft

​

Taking the stairs up to the loft area, you'll find a bedroom with a queen bed, seating, dresser, LED smart TV, and sliding door opening onto a seating balcony.  There is also a nice half bath adjacent to the bedroom. 

 

Lower Level

 

Taking the stairs down from the main level leads to the "rec room", with leather sofas, another refrigerator, a large 40" LED TV, and a very cool retro tabletop arcade game from the 80s with over 400 of the best "old-school" games you remember (show the kids how it USED to be done!)  There is also a place to store your ski / snowboard equipment, and a laundry room with new washer and dryer.  A full bathroom with stall shower is also on this level, as are two more bedrooms.  One bedroom has a double bed under an L-shaped loft with two single beds (great for a small family) a dresser and LED smart TV.  The 4th bedroom has 2 sets of bunk beds (4 single beds total), a dresser, and a closet.  

​

As with most of the properties in the Shanty Creek area, heating is by electric baseboard, and many of the rooms have their own independent thermostats which can be set individually as desired.  We do have satellite internet (cable is not available this far up the mountain), and internet service can sometimes be slow or interrupted by the weather, snow, etc.

​

The Bellaire area offers access to hundreds of attractions. Shanty Creek boasts four championship golf courses: Cedar River (Weiskopf), The Legend (Palmer), Schuss Mountain Course, and Summit Course. In addition, other excellent courses are conveniently located nearby. Take a short trip to Lake Bellaire, Torch Lake, or Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan for swimming or boating, or enjoy a nice, relaxing canoe ride down the Jordan river. 

​

We look forward to hosting you, your family, and friends at Valley View Lodge - your comfortable home base for an incredible up-north experience!
 

 

Outside & Other Amenities

 

• A large deck sits high in the trees and overlooks the hardwood forest. 

• There's a grill for your use. 

• You’ll have complimentary access to great pools:

  • The outdoor pool at the top of Summit Village at the Lakeview Hotel

  • The indoor pool / hot tub at Summit Village

  • The indoor pool / hot tub at Schuss village

• For skiing, the lifts at Schuss Mountain are a 2-minute drive away (or a hike up the access path to the top of the hill).  After a day on the slopes, enjoy a cold beer and warm atmosphere at Ivan’s slope-side lounge.  For even more skiing terrain, try Boyne Mountain - about a 35 minute drive away. 

• For dining, you can:

  • Take a short drive to Schuss Village, Summit Village or Cedar Village for dinner.

  • Another quick drive takes the family to historic Bellaire, with attractions like Short’s Brewery, Toonie’s Fish & Steakhouse, and a host of other quaint shops and restaurants. 

  • The River Bistro at Cedar River Village and the Lakeview at Summit mountain (which overlooks Lake Bellaire) offer fine dining opportunities.

• For a modest daily fee, you can use the Summit Village health spa and workout facilities  

When you book with us, we'll be sending you a specially compiled list of our personal experiences up here over the years:  attractions. restaurants, breweries, things to do, places to visit, etc.  Not to mention, the best local spots to take a swim, ride a trail, sightsee, or just relax in four seasons in the best family vacation spot in the state!  So come stay with us at Valley View Lodge.  Re-connect with friends.  Go skiing with the kids.  Make a fire, and pour a glass of wine.  The Shanty Creek area – and Valley View – have everything you’re going to need!

 

​