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The Caboose Summary:

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for The Caboose Summary:

Property grounds
View from property
Exterior
1 bedroom, WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, coffee/tea maker, cookware/dishes/utensils

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire apartment

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 224.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Empire, Michigan
  • Little Glen Lake
    4 min walk
  • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
    3 min drive
  • Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum
    5 min drive
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    48 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

The cabin sits back from the road and has a yard for you to use.

-Up North Cabin Across from Big Glen Lake.

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
4.9 out of 5, Exceptional, (122)
The price is €244
for 1 night
includes taxes & fees
9 Dec - 10 Dec
-Up North Cabin Across from Big Glen Lake.

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Caboose Summary:

Summary:
Historic, updated caboose with a fire pit, central air conditioning, and grill. With public access to Little Glen Lake nearby, this unique and historic abode offers all the conveniences of home. Inside, the space includes a convenient queen bed, bathroom with shower, a sitting area, and a well-equipped kitchenette that features a fridge, microwave, toaster, Keurig, and an electric percolator.

The Space:
With public access to Little Glen Lake nearby, this unique and historic abode offers all the conveniences of home with all the adventure of vacation. Surrounded by trees, the renovated caboose features a picnic area, grill, firepit, and beautiful nature views. Inside, the space includes a convenient Murphy bed, a sitting area, and a well-equipped kitchenette that features a fridge, microwave, toaster, Keurig, and an electric percolator. Access to the Sleeping Bear Dunes is just steps away from the Caboose!

Guest Access:
A key will be provided

The Neighborhood:
Forest/ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Getting Around:
Driving or walking to the beach or to hike the trails and dunes.

Interaction with Guests:
We are available if guests need any assistance, but we prefer to give everyone their privacy.
During your stay at this apartment building, you're just a quick walk from Little Glen Lake. A kitchen and a TV are available in the apartment.
  • Air-conditioned apartment with kitchen, TVs and fridges
  • 12 minutes by car from Lake Michigan and 6 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The Caboose Summary: offers its guests barbecue grills. The front desk is open around the clock.

This Empire apartment is smoke free.

Property manager

Robin Vilter

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In a rural location

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Property does not allow children
  • Unit size: 260 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • This property does not allow children.
  • Note from host: Ladders could be dangerous

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

65049db0a7487500391903db

The Caboose Summary: Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 12 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 12 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Connie K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing getaway
Stayed here for a solo birthday trip to explore sleeping bear dunes and the surrounding areas. Brooke and Robin were amazing hosts, great communication. The Caboose was so charming, well equipped with anything I may have needed. Waking up and having breakfast and coffee here was a great start to the day before going sightseeing. Returning after a long day and relaxing was peaceful. The location is second to none, minutes walk from the dune climb or Glen lake access. Within a 40 minute drive of all the key spots to see in that area, which seems endless. Who wouldn't want to stay in a train caboose? It was amazing!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful getaway
The caboose was very well laid out and clean, with many modern amenities at our disposal. The location is superb: back from the road and fairly secluded, but very close to Glen Arbor and right next to the dune climb. It was so much fun to enjoy morning coffee in the cupola of the caboose!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephen M F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enchanting Caboose in the Woods
We loved our weekend in the Caboose. This beautifully refitted and comfortable railcar had everything one needs. Close to the beach and hikes. Privacy. Peace and quiet. And the magic of staying in a slice of railroad history. Excellent hosts, easy communication. Everything was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aaron R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and Unique with the ideal location
This caboose is right where you want to be if you have come to this area to enjoy the outdoors. A few miles from Empire, Glen Arbor and Glen Haven and walking distance to the Dunes hike. My partner and I had the most amazing time here and the caboose is super cool and well appointed. The grill is really nice and there is a nice kitchen set-up so we were able to prepare some pretty great meals and didn't feel cramped. I can't express enough how good of a location this is. Immediately off the bike path, sandwiched in between everything, it's just awesome. There are two houses on the sides of you, but some woods in-between to give you decent privacy. It made it really easy to enjoy the stars on the dunes too since it was either a very short drive or a short walk to the dune hike.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rob F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
This was a perfect stay for my wife and I. The first day we walked down to the Dune Climb from The Caboose. Easy walk on the rail trail from there. The rest of the weekend we visited Glen Arbor, Suttons Bay, Leland, and all points in-between. It was nice after to get back to The Caboose, have a fire and enjoy the night. We would stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hillary J., Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness
Cute, cozy and wonderful tucked in the woods!
This is a fantastic cozy stay! The owners have kept most of the caboose in its original state. The location is perfect for a dune climb. I have family in Glen Arbor and it was an easy drive to their place. I would definitely recommend this to anyone. The owners are very accommodating and friendly as well. Thank you very much
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kris S.

Liked: Cleanliness
We LOVED the caboose!
What an awesome experience, staying in an authentic, restored train caboose on our vacation! Very clean, all amenities we might need were there, nice shower, cool air, fluffy towels even! Perfect location. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

David B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quite, Clean and Private
We enjoyed a fabulous time in the caboose. It’s very clean and a well organized space. All appliances work as they should and we had no issues what so ever. Great communication with our hosts. Highly recommended!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Krista K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location
Location was perfect for what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. Also, was in between Empire and Glen Arbor. Close to the dune climb and pierce stocking scenic drive.The historical caboose looked really cool in the woods.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael, Grand Blanc

Liked: Cleanliness
Hansel and Gretel meets Polar Express
Very unique cozy cottage in the woods. The cottage aka Train Caboose is situated in a perfect spot in the woods at the foot of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Shoreline adjacent to the 20 mile Sleeping Bear Heritage bike trail. The cottage is very clean, has everything you need. A great place to read a book are the upper deck seats of the caboose. The hosts had great communication and ensured we had everything we need.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Empire Get Away
Unique and cozy stay, just what we were looking for.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

lambia

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Romantic Getaway
My wife and I had the privilege of staying here for a weekend to celebrate our anniversary. If you are looking for somewhere quaint, beautiful, secluded and surrounded by nature, this is the place. The Dunes are within walking distance. Downtown Empire and downtown Glen Arbor are both only a ten minutes' drive; while these towns are both small, there's no shortage of good food and wine.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024