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October 2023 by Heather Rocco
The rooms are cute and the location is fantastic. Very pet friendly. The reason for only 4 stars is that the rooms and location aren’t very disability friendly, the WiFi is spotty (there is no cell service so be prepared) and the parking is not ideal. That being said I would definitely stay here again.
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October 2023 by Joe Stan
Fantastic experience!!! This was our first time staying here and we had a wonderful room with very friendly staff. We will be back!!!Walkability: Super easy town to walk around.Food & drinks: Having the Cove restaurant right across the river from the lodge with its own private bridge is ideal.
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August 2023 by Luis A.
I'm torn about leaving this review. I truly want a place like this to succeed. What a unique location and lodging concept; love it.We really wanted to like it but our room (107) was absolutely not a $369 (+ taxes=$404) room. Perhaps not even an $90 room.We so wanted to sit outside the room on the thoughtfully provided tables and chairs by the dam's waterfall and chill but they were filthy and cobweb-ridden. Bugs and cobwebs above you made it not inviting.Of the room's two windowed walls, one faces a dank, improvised storage area between the dam and the hotel with moldy sandbags and random furnishings storage.Sandy floors, unfinished/stained bathroom walls (nowhere to hang wet towels), very limited in-room WiFi reception (no Verizon internet cell service in most of the town) and the need for a 24/7 dehumidifier. It's when you put all of this together and realize you are being charged $400 a night that makes you feel like you're being taken for a fool.We checked out early and they kindly refunded our remaining night's stay.
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July 2023 by Mark Heinen
Be careful. Due to the lack of options in the area and the perfect location the hotel does not need to keep up the rooms. We have stayed a few times and had little things like no pillowcases and a missing shower curtain. Nothing that was a big deal . . . until this time. The picture below is what I can only imagine is blood soaked through the comforter. This was too much to let go. On short, this hotel is better to look at than stay in. Have a Chubby Mary at the Cove and take in the view of the hotel and river from there. For the money go to Whaleback Inn or Leland Lodge.We did receive a good reply below. All of this is true. I am just required to share both good and bad experiences as a certified local guide.
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July 2023 by kellykI2077MT
Very nice hotel! Pros: Location location location! You are right on the dam. There is a virtually unmarked walkway from the front of the Cove restaurant that takes you right over the dam, landing you in front of the main level of the hotel. You are also footsteps away from Van’s Beach, which is one of the most amazing beaches in the state, if you ask me. The staff- were kind & accommodating. There was a barking dog within the hotel that started up around 6am one morning, and continued intermittently all day. We knew they were pet friendly- which is fine & dandy, but the walls are relatively thin and sone things the sound of the falling dam can’t mask- especially when trying to sleep. A few of the guests in the neighboring rooms of said dog all spoke about it & spoke to the office about it. They sent out an email to everyone in the hotel about respecting everyone else’s vacations & and voila! no more barking! Complimentary booklets & information about local eateries, shopping & sights worth seeing. Semi updated furnishings. The rooms we were in (203 & 204) did not match any of the pictures found in uploads on TripAdvisor from previous travelers… like, the look was completely changed. The floors are all laminate (no carpeting) - which I would consider a con in most cases- but the amount of sand you’ll track into the room is excessive. You’ll be happy to have the laminate (and broom each room comes with) to sweep the sand out frequently. Fishing off the balconies. Very cool. The water is clear & you can see all of the fish swimming below (and some otters across the docks!) Cons: Parking. There is no way around not mentioning this quandary. There are probably 20ish rooms in the lodge, and 10 parking spots available up against the hotel. There are some spots parallel to driveway to the lodge- but the chance of a sideswipe is very real. We were lucky enough to get a good spot when we got there- do we never moved the car in the 2 days we were there. Most of the time we looked at the parking situation a spot was open, but judging from all of the other reviews about it, that isn’t the case most of the time. I suppose finding parking elsewhere until you can move in front of the lodge is an option. The parking lot level is on the level of the rooms in the 200 range- meaning if you have room 305, for instance, you are walking up stairs. No elevators. Same goes if you are on the 100 level. The office is located on this main (200’s) level, as well as the crosswalk to the other side by the Cove. Also worth noting- no designated handicap parking. Didn’t matter to any of us, but if you think this will save you regarding finding a spot, it won’t. Handicap accessibility. Quite honestly, I do t think it’s ADA approved, but it didn’t effect anyone in my party, so it wasn’t an issue. My mother did comment there weren’t any arm rails in the shower to hold on to ( she has a bad hip) but it wasn’t a deal breaker by any stretch. Just be advised if you are in a wheelchair or have trouble walking- this probably isn’t the hotel for you. Noise. Not an issue for any of us (with the exception of the barking dog mentioned previously). The dam is loud- and never stops or slows down. We all found it relaxing, so it was a plus for us, but if you are someone seeking silence and solitude- this isn’t your place. Sand. Prepare yourself for the feeling of sand under your feet all. the. time. No matter how frequently I swept, there was still sand. Bring flip flops for your room. Cell/WI-FI service. It’s very spotty. I didn’t receive emails most of the time, and my texts were delayed by a day to the intended recipients- even when I tried texting the room next door. Service in Leland around the hotel is spotty in general- but you’re on vacation, so go with the flow. We will definitely be back. None of the cons were enough to keep us from returning and recommending it to everyone we know. It’s fun and has an “old timey” feeling that you just don’t see with corporate style hotels.
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July 2023 by Hans Geyer
This is the pace to stay when you’re in Leland. Unmatched location and great little hotel. Hotel staff are super friendly and helpful.
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June 2023 by Jim Ratajski
My wife and I have stayed year every year for the past 4 years. Such a great place. Not too much to the lodge, but what it has is great. Nice rooms and location. On the water, and falling asleep to the sound of the waterfall is truly special. Fish town is right here too! Pet Friendly!
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May 2023 by Carol Swanson
Off season visit so limited businesses were open. Enjoyed the resort, were able to walk the public beach. Very unique place. Wish the room would have had a microwave.
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May 2023 by E F
Nice place, great scenery and town. The cove next door is excellent restaurant!
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March 2023 by thebus 2010
This place was amazing I went here for a salmon charter but this place was amazing I was able to fish right out the doorstep and catch some small brown and rainbow trout, but I would recommend this hotel to any one going to
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November 2022 by Ransom Lumberjack
I have a hard time believing that 5 ???? are the only options available for reviewing this Lodge. This place deserves a bonus round and should have no less than 6 ✨️ 's. Year after year, the rooms are improved... though they really don't need to be. Thank you for sharing your Lodge with us ???? and we'll see you again next year and the year afterRooms: Cozy but ModernNearby activities: FishtownWalkability: It's the Best Dam Lodge you can find!
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October 2022 by kathy kaplarczuk
We loved our visit! Friendly staff, clean room in a convenient part of town...already made our reservations for next year!!
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October 2022 by S Marie
Our room was very clean andthe beds were so comfortable. The staff are some of kindest folks we have encountered. We enjoyed our stay so much that we have madereservations for next year
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September 2022 by Rachel S.
We loved staying at this lodge for a long weekend in Northern Michigan! The location of Falling Waters Lodge is so special. I'll never forget the beautiful views of the boats and shops of Fishtown. Van's Beach is right outside the door, and the town is a close drive to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and wine tasting on the Leelanau Peninsula.We opted for a balcony apartment room, which was a great decision. It is located off their upper deck and offers some additional privacy from the other visitors. The room had two beds - one downstairs and one in a cute loft area. It would be plenty of space for two couples to share, although noise could be heard throughout the room. The bathrooms and kitchenette are both recently updated and really added to our overall experience! We also loved that they are dog friendly, as it can be limiting to travel with pets at times and find convenient stays.While the price point to stay is similar to the prices of nicer hotels, we didn't experience quite the same level of service. As you can imagine with a smaller staff, they offer room cleaning only as requested and don't always have someone staffing the office. Overall, we didn't mind since we loved the location and the amazing views.
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July 2022 by Whoami 0070
Location location location. Need I say more. On the water hotel with bridge that leads to restaurants and shopping. The hotel is a bit older but has lots of charm. There is access to the beach from the parking area. The waterfall is wonderful to view and relax by. Staff is friendly and accommodating. They allow dogs which is always a good thing for us since we travel with our fur kids.Definitely will visit again.
