Long Lake Resort and Cabins

12/01/2023

So a calm night with no wind and low temps means the lake froze completely last night! A very thin layer with some build up on the edges. So it was a good thing that with my friend Dale's help, I got the wire fence up along the lake today. I had put the fence posts in at least a month ago before the ground froze. Even though Valentine seems to know bad ice v. solid ice, I still don't want to lose her through the ice or allow her to use the frozen lake as her highway to the danger zone or to trespassing on the neighbor's property.

09/04/2023

I’m sitting here down by the lake enjoying this gorgeous perfect last weekend of summer. Hopefully it won’t get too hot later. But right now, amazing! This summer has flown by! The best memories are the couples and families who came to stay with me. Two wedding parties, memorials, family reunions, gatherings for grandma’s 90th birthday. Almost all of my visitors have some connection to the area. I had two different couples, Americans of Indian descent who stayed at my place as a launching pad for a day trip to Mackinac Island. I love getting to see my place through fresh eyes. I love helping people experience the beauty of northern Michigan. It’s been a great summer!

08/12/2023

Once again, I was told by a visiting family renting one of my cabins, that so many cabins that used to be summer rentals have been torn down and replaced with someone's permanent house. That is one reason I am so passionate about preserving and protecting my resort. Not everyone who loves Long Lake can buy a second summer home or move up here permanently, but EVERYONE deserves a chance to enjoy everything the area has to offer, if only for a few days or a week.

07/10/2023

So two new things happened this week. I had my first wedding couple stay at the resort. They got married at a Lake Huron pavilion and stayed with me before and after. And an older couple who came with their dog Karlie, a rescue they've had for only about 6 weeks. They didn't know how Karlie would react to water. I never saw her actually swim but she went out and played and played in the water! She loved it and you could tell it was a new wonderful thing in her new life! To all my guests this week (especially Karlie), keep living your best life and enjoy every minute!

05/05/2023

My fun afternoon. I rented a jack hammer and busted up an old slab and some dumped leftover cement in my courtyard. Dale even came out and gave me a hand. I’m beat!

05/03/2023

Every year I try to change at least one thing to make this place more "green". Last year, i added solar panels to 2 of my roofs, and changed out most of my toilets with 1 gallon flush ones, the rest will get changed out this year. This year, I'll be using bamboo toilet paper. I would like to use h**p, but it is still hard to get and more expensive. I would like to support h**p products in the future, but for now bamboo is just as eco-friendly.

02/03/2023

Hey folks! Bad news, it’s cold! Good news, we have thick safe ice! Come for the fishing, stay for the frostbite!

01/20/2023

I love my driveway. I leave everything else behind and enter my own world. But I also love sharing it with guests.

10/31/2022

It’s so great to have a good neighbor! (At least I have one!) I’m sharing some of my woods for a compost pile and the Parker House guys came over and made quick work of dead trees that needed to come down. I can cut them up once they are on the ground but I am no lumberjack! So appreciate their help!

10/12/2022

I’ve had a sort of long term rental for more than a month to a roofing company trying to finish jobs up here before they lose the weather. Several different guys have come up from that company and they report back to Columbus, Ohio, their home base. Apparently there is now an active chapter there of the Valentine Fan Club! The next guy up usually brings a bag of dog treats!

09/10/2022

Denise, my visiting nurse roommate since April , and Dale went out to dinner on her last night. I’m going to miss her and her sweet dog, Bentley!

09/06/2022

Last night my cousin who has a cottage across the lake took me out for a sunset cruise. It was beautiful and bittersweet as it was probably the last boat ride of the season for me. This summer has flown by so fast! But I got a lot accomplished, many small projects that added up to making this place better and better, plus many of my SE Asia tribe was able to come from all over the world to experience the beauty of my Michigan for a week of fun and touring. I am working hard, but so blessed to be here!

08/27/2022

I am very aware how the days are shorter, the evenings a little cooler and I watched a school bus bringing kids home to the lake yesterday! No matter how busy my day is I try to get a short swim in, knowing there aren’t that many great swim days left. This summer has flown by! But looking forward to a quieter fall and winter with plenty of indoor projects to get done. Enjoy every day! I sure do, being able to live up here.

07/24/2022

Yes! I love beavers. They belong here. (And they were here first!)

Animals don’t have AC. But they have beavers.

07/11/2022

One of my inspirations for this place is a family I've known my entire life who have been coming to Long Lake for 5 generations and 75 years! You don't have to own a place up here to love being here, and looking forward to coming back. It is my pleasure to be able to offer that, even though on a limited basis for now.

07/08/2022

Last night right before sunset I took one of the kayaks out for a long paddle down the shore. Calm water, calm winds. .

07/02/2022

My roommate had friends up and we ate dinner at The 19th Hole!
Everybody raved about the food! I had never eaten there before. Delicious!

07/01/2022

Valentine wants you to know that when staying at ANY resort that has a septic system, and if you’re on a lake or out in the woods, believe me, it does! Please DO NOT flush anything down a toilet except p*e, p**p and the toilet paper that we provide. “Flushable” wipes aren’t flushable. Feminine products aren’t either. If you need proof, I can show you the latest bill I had to pay to get my system working again.

06/05/2022

The Parker House restaurant and ice cream parlor (conveniently located right next door!) has summer hours. Restaurant Thursday - Sunday. 8 to 2 pm. Ice cream open Tuesday- Sunday. 3 pm to 10 pm. Closed Mondays. Did you know that you can only get Blue Moon ice cream in Michigan and New Jersey? No idea why.

10/12/2021

I've been enjoying the lull after Labor Day with just a few guests here and there. I've been using the time to finish up some projects and get ready for winter. I worked a little bit at a time for the last 6 months to clean up my yard and grove of trees near the house. Cleaning up and composting probably 4 years of leaves, sticks and limbs. I had 8 tall dead ash trees taken down and now have them all cut up for firewood. Just in time for the new fall batch of leaves to fall and cover up ALL my work!
Oh, well!

09/21/2021

Well, just figured out that over the winter I will only be able to rent the 3 BR apartment in the main house. Had my plumber out to winterize and shut down just two of the cabins, which are only seasonal since no heat source in them. And he pointed out that the water line goes to all three cabins, so all must be shut down for the winter. Might figure out a work-around next year, but it will be an expensive fix. So the Big Cabin will be open for rent through October 31 and then will be shut down for the winter. And if the 3 BR in the house is booked, I have to block the dates for the Big Cabin since I can only rent one at a time. But last winter, I had a steady stream of ice fishermen in the 3 BR and they had a great time.

09/06/2021

Happy Labor Day! It’s been quite the summer. Most of the time I can’t remember what cold weather was like, but at the same time, it had flown by. For this winter, I will have two rentals available. The Big Cabin sleeps 11 and will be getting a heating upgrade soon. Also I have the 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath apartment that sleeps 6 for about half the price. If one is booked, those dates will be blocked for the other one as I can only rent one at any time. So tell your hunting, ice fishing and snowmobiling friends my place is available for bookings. I would also LOVE in the future to use the Common Room, porch and grounds for events like weddings! I was inspired by the lovely wedding held next door at the Parker House a few weeks ago.

07/25/2021

As I transition Long Lake Resort and Cabins to only renting out my one Big Cabin all year round, I still have many improvements to make to the property that I will enjoy working on. The Presque Isle planning commission has also said no to long term rentals in my property. They do have a master plan they are working on that will allow for one extra long term rental, but no idea when or even if that plan will be adopted. I hope to apply for a variance that will allow me to rent out the whole extra wing of my house which is a complete apartment. It seems a shame when there us such a shortage of affordable rentals that mine must sit empty.

06/10/2021

I have a family staying with me right now and the little girl was in the lake for probably 7 hours total yesterday, swimming and splashing and laughing, occasionally joined by her older brother. I think she is part mermaid! Her mom made sure she had plenty of sunscreen on. It just made me smile all day. Reminds me of my summers here on Rensberry Point as a kid, when I pretty much did the same thing! Sorry I can't post pictures. I don't mention names of my guests and don't post pictures of underage guests.

05/21/2021

Enjoying hosting a small group in the Lakeside Cabin who brought a small Yorkie the size of a guinea pig. Valentine is enjoying her new friend, but seems confused if this is actually a dog. She's never seen anything so small.

05/18/2021

Lakeside Cabin all done up and ready for guests.

05/18/2021

Big Cabin ready for guests

05/18/2021

Last original cabin on the property. Let the transformation begin!