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Bigbay vacation home on Lake Independence.

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

Photo gallery for Bigbay vacation home on Lake Independence.

Exterior
Exterior
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Sun loungers, beach towels
Interior

Reviews

9.2 out of 10

Wonderful

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning
  • Fireplace
    Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Bigbay, MI
  • Sugarloaf Mountain
    33 min drive
  • Northern Michigan University
    40 min drive
  • Marquette Mountain
    49 min drive

Room options

About the area

Big Bay

On lake.At this Big Bay vacation home, you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Lake Superior and 20 miles (32 km) of Little Presque Isle Recreation Area. Hidden Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain are also within 25 miles (40 km).
View more Vacation homes in Big BayOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Sugarloaf Mountain - 33 min drive - 37.0 km
  • Northern Michigan University - 40 min drive - 44.4 km
  • Superior Dome - 43 min drive - 45.0 km
  • Presque Isle Park - 44 min drive - 46.0 km
  • Marquette Mountain - 49 min drive - 51.2 km

Getting around

  • Marquette, MI (MQT-Sawyer Intl.) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hungry Hollow Cafe - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

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

Bigbay vacation home on Lake Independence.

This is a beautiful property with a gorgeous lake view of mountains with your own personal dock. Great swimming area, and fishing. kayak, paddle board and canoe available to use. Check in is at 4 pm and checkout is 10 am. There is a Blink camera on the garage door for safety reasons and security. There are bears, deer, wolves in the neighborhood.

Open concept kitchen, dining area, and living room with stone fireplace. Panoramic views from living room and sun room. Sun room can be used for 3rd bedroom with pull out queen couch. One bedroom with king bed and second bedroom with double bed. Covered and uncovered porch area with gas grill and view of lake. Fire pit on cement patio. 2 car attached garage. Large full kitchen with granite counter tops with counter seating. New hardwood flooring and carpet in bedrooms.

Boat launches for Lake Superior and Lake independence just 1 mile away with boat rental available in Ishpeming. Full size washer and dryer.

Roku TV. You can add your own applications like Netflix.

Property manager

Jim Harrington

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach sun loungers
  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage
  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Spices
  • Paper towels

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Towels provided
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Stereo
  • Video library
  • Books
  • Games
  • Music library

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas

Services and conveniences

  • Limited housekeeping
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • In the mountains

Things to do

  • Water sports equipment
  • Boat on site
  • Tennis on site
  • Bicycle on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Marina nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

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

  • Children are welcome.

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

Bigbay Vacation Home Lake Independence House
Vacation Home Lake Independence House
Bigbay Vacation Home Lake Independence
Vacation Home Lake Independence
Bigbay Vacation Home on Lake Independence Big Bay
Bigbay Vacation Home on Lake Independence Private vacation home
Bigbay Vacation Home on Lake Independence
Bigbay vacation home on Lake Independence. Big Bay
Bigbay vacation home on Lake Independence. Private vacation home

Bigbay vacation home on Lake Independence. Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 60 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 82 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 82 reviews" "

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Mrs
Great place for quietness and peace!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michele B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home & surroundings
Jim’s home is a gem. It’s spacious and comfortable and has everything you might need. I particularly enjoyed having my meals in the sunroom each day. The lake and property are the perfect setting for relaxing and enjoying being out in nature. The public beach in town on Lake Superior is quite nice, and Marquette is just a half hour away, with lots of great hiking and natural areas in between. I hope to be able to return for another stay some day.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Sharon R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful setting and location
The house was right on the lake with outdoor seating. Also has a sunroom, so if the mornings or evenings are too cool, you can still enjoy the lake from there. Only a couple of things to be aware of. The listing says 3 bedrooms, it is only 2 true bedrooms. The third is a pullout couch in the sunroom. It also states 2 bathrooms. It is one true bathroom. The other is a toilet and utility sink in the utility room. It served it's purpose and worked just fine for 2 couples. The overall house was wonderful and I would definitely stay there again if we are in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Tranquility
What a great place to stay. Starting your day looking over the lake from the sunroom could not be better. There is everything you need there to enjoy the lake. My only suggestion would be if you want to do a lot of fishing you might want to bring a boat. Communicating with the owner is a breeze.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helen Caryl P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place on a quiet lake
The grounds and lake house are well kept and family friendly. We all appreciated the spaciousness and the comfort of the living room. That being said, our teenagers hardly left the dock. They came in the house only to eat and sleep. Fishing was so much fun. The sandy bottom of the lake was great on the feet. Jim was very accommodating and easy to contact. This is obviously a much loved house. I would recommend bringing all your supplies including toilet paper and paper towels, foil, etc. There is little available in the immediate area. You have to go to Marquette which is 1.5 hour round trip. That is hard to do because once you are at the house, you don't want to leave. If you have a special dish you wish to cook, I recommend bringing your own knifes and pans. There are plenty of utensils, plates, etc, but the knives, pots and pans are very basic. If you are looking for a quiet, comfortable retreat, this is the place.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Colleen D.

Amazing Lake Life Views
Stunning views of fabulous lake from this property. Great water toys and seems like new dock. Communication with the owner Jim was open and easy and he had great tips for the area. Our opinion was the property could use a deep cleaning and organizing of cupboards, updated cookware (fry pans, cookie sheets), new pillows.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa S., Lapeer, MI

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Property
We had a wonderful stay at this lovely home on Lake Independence. The property is nice and quiet, filled with wildlife and beautiful views of the lake. It's a short drive to Lake Superior and to the quaint town of Big Bay. Jim was an absolutely excellent host and stayed in contact with us to make sure all was going well and if we had any questions or concerns. My only 'complaints' about the property would be that it did not have any beach (my fault, I should have read the property description better) and the king size bed was extremely hard. It was supposed to be a sleep number bed but I don't think it was working. Both my husband and I have back and hip/knee issues so it did make for difficult sleep. We did have everything we needed other than paper products - you will need to bring toilet paper, paper towels, etc. But otherwise it was fully stocked. Also you'll need firewood, but there are a multitude of road side stands selling firewood. All in all a great stay and Jim is a fantastic host. If you're game for a good walk through the woods with a few 'sketchy' places to get through, there are beautiful waterfalls in the area.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen V., Anchorage USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing View
Great house, atmosphere and location. Well appointed for everything you may need for a great get away at the lake. Communication with owner was top notch. Would stay again and again!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stefani F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Anna H., Livonia Michigan

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

6/10 Okay

Bethany R., Freeburg, IL, USA

Disliked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Lake
The house was a let down with inaccurate information being provided regarding on more than a few things. Pros: perfect location to Lake Superior & beautiul lake with boat access & swimming from the dock with shallow water to enjoy with the kids. Unfortunately the cons outweighed the pros: The place needs a deep cleaning in the kitchen & bathroom. There is no cable/satellite, streaming only & you have to have your own streaming accounts to use the TV. There are very few remotes in the place that actually work. The entire outside of the house & some inside areas have large spiders that need to be cleaned out. Most of the windows do not close. There is only a small A/C unit in the kitchen which doesn't cool down the bedrooms at all. There is only 1 working bathroom & unfortunately it smells musty the entire time we were there. The towels were in the dryer & had to be folded & distributed throughout the kitchen & bathroom upon arrival. The dock stairs were a safety hazard & then construction started while we were there making getting to/from the lake/dock more inconvenient. The gentleman working on the stairs were fantastic & tried to stay out of our way, but we were always concerned about getting in their way. Overall, it is not a place we would stay again when we return to the area.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fun time
Quiet and peaceful
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gary B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great view of Lake Independence
The property was very nice and it met our needs well. The kitchen was spacious and the view was outstanding. Not sure if the air conditioner worked, but it was not so hot that we needed it. Our purpose to be there was to fish and the fishing was great. Would rent the house again if we go to Big Bay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

zach d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place
Great location. Good communication.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dave C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall getaway
Great place to stay, as described in listing. Quiet and great view of the lake. Owner is very responsive to any questions. Would certainly book again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Upper Penninsula Joy
Such a good and relaxing time on Independence Lake. Your choice to stay and relax or take wonderful day trips to wonderful sites.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Greg W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Big Bay
Amazing views of Lake Independence and the Huron Mountains. Very quiet and relaxing. Enjoyed both Lake Independence and Lake Superior. Fantastic views from Thomas rock.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin & Victoria K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Shimmering Birch
Two old pals continuing their annual UP North summer fishing trip tradition, experienced a really nice week at Jim’s Lake Independence cabin. The cottage served us well and the varied (day and night) vistas visible from the covered deck were marvelous. An exceptional location offering excellent fishing as well as great sightseeing opportunities nearby. Would definitely consider a return visit! Many thanks Jim, for sharing your family treasure!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lake Independence trip
We had a great stay at this property. The lake is gorgeous. The house was very comfortable for our family of 4. Our boys really enjoyed fishing on the lake and using the kayak and canoe provided. Jim was very helpful and nice, responded quickly to any communication and even gave me fishing lure tips when I told him my boys were hoping to catch a pike on the lake which they did!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

GM S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Rebooked it in less than 24 hours
We have been looking for the perfect up north cabin for our family for three years and we ABSOLUTELY found it in this one. The kids loved swimming in the warm shallow sandy waters right behind the cabin and my partner took the canoe out multiple times. We spent a day in Marquette (a super easy drive) at the Childrens Museum (do not miss this if you have kids under 8) but mostly just rotated time between the beach behind the cabin and the Lake Superior shore just down the street. Next year we're bringing bikes. Thank you for a great stay!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adam D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome lakefront house!
Awesome place right on the water, epic views! Great secluded area away from the city, couldn't ask for a better getaway! Jim is an A+++ host, everything was taken care of and we had a great time! Perfect spot to start your UP vacation!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ty K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful
What a great place. A beautiful view of the lake and plenty of amenities. We saw so much nature while we were there. We saw deer, bald eagles and a double rainbow after some rainfall.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wendy E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely summer getaway
Great cottage, nice and clean, lake water was crystal clear and sandy. Weather was a little chilly, so it was too cold for swimming, but my son took the canoe out for a paddle.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeanne A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Vacation
Wonderful. Very quiet lake
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Spencer M.

Lake house
Beautiful views. Very responsive to questions. Great stay
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023