Motel Bear Lake — Hotel in Bear Lake Township

We stayed at this charming motel for our wedding weekend, and it truly became such a special part of our celebration. From the moment we began planning, Marta and Kendall welcomed us with such warmth, kindness, and genuine care. It is very clear that they truly value their guests and take pride in creating a smooth, stress-free experience. They anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, and their attention to detail made everything feel effortless. They were extremely easy to communicate with. Marta, Kendall and their team went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly. Whether it was helping us coordinate, offering kind words, or simply being present with calm, thoughtful energy, they were an essential part of our day going as wonderfully as it did. It’s rare to find people who are not only kind but also incredibly efficient, and Marta and Kendall were exactly that. Their care and organization made a huge difference during such a meaningful weekend. They treated us like royalty, surprising us with personalized messages on the Motel Bear Lake lawn sign, giving us more than enough space to work with for our bridal party to get ready, and accommodating special requests for our bridal party and family. Being able to bring our dogs to the motel was the cherry on top…SO convenient for so many of us! Our bridal party got ready here the morning of the wedding, and the atmosphere was filled with laughter, excitement, and love. The rooms were cute, cozy, spacious, clean, and full of character…perfect for those quiet moments before all the beautiful chaos. There was something so comforting and grounding about being in a space that felt both peaceful and joyful at once. This motel will always hold a special place in our hearts. It was more than just a place to stay, it became part of our story, and we’re eternally grateful. With all our...

Where to even begin with this wonderful gem!? I've gotta say I am highly impressed with every bit of this motel. Props to the owners for their attention to detail in bringing this place to life. The room was extremely clean, no indication of mold whatsoever. The shower had great water pressure and I loved the detachable shower head. The bed was super comfy with plenty of very nice pillows as well. Smart TV in the room so I could sign in to my streaming and watch my shows. The pool was clean and very well maintained. I stay in hotels often because of my job and this place was better than most of the big hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott. It's very clear that the owners here actually care about the place and the people staying there. There's even a little white noise machine in the room you can use if you're like me and need some sounds to help you sleep. Anytime I'm in the bear lake area I know where I'll be staying for sure. And to the owners, thank you so much for your accommodations and making reservations simple for me from top to bottom. I had a big group and your emails made my job much easier. I highly recommend motel bear lake to anyone looking for a nice place to stay. Not to mention the location was very relaxing as well. There's plenty more I could say regarding the amenities here but I'll just say go see for yourself, you won't be...

Booking was easy. The owners sent multiple messages by email and text with information on how to access your room (there is no traditional front desk). We received our room number, access code, and wi-fi information in a text on the day of our arrival.

The room was clean and had new retro-modern furniture and decor to keep the classic aesthetic. Shower/tub worked great. There was a mini coffee pot, microwave, and mini fridge in the room. Coffee was surprisingly good. They even had a sound machine if you need something like that.

The TV doesn’t have traditional cable, but it is a smart tv and has some free channels as well as pretty much any streaming app you may need (YouTube tv, Netflix, etc.)

We spent two nights there and drove to Crystal mountain for skiing.

We ate at Rosie’s about 5 minutes down the road. We also stopped at Saddle Up Gas and Grocery to grab some waters, beverages, and snacks. There is another gas station right across the street that looked good too.

We skipped breakfast each morning but Lakeside cafe looked good and was busy both mornings when we drove by.

For more food options, I think your best bet is Manistee (South) or Benzonia (North). Both have some typical fast food staples and other local restaurants too, and are each about 20 minute drives.

Pool was closed while we were there. It was 15...