Sturgeon River Suite
Queen bed
White shiplap under the roof pitch, with skylights over the bed.
Indian River, Michigan
TreeTops A-Frame
A supersized A-frame on the banks of the Pigeon River
- 2,200
- Square feet
- 6
- Guests
- 3
- Wooded acres
- 25 min
- To Mackinaw City
House
One roofline, ridge to ground — and three floors underneath it.
Two thousand two hundred square feet under a single unbroken roofline, on three wooded acres where the Pigeon River runs through Indian River, Michigan. Twenty-five minutes from Mackinaw City, the same from Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
01
Ground floor
Through the red door
The main floor is one open room running the full width of the house — kitchen at one end, seating at the other, and glazing at the gable that takes in the river and most of the sky above it.
White nickel gap board runs the whole height of the walls, which is why the inside feels bright rather than dark. Walnut, brass and copper sit against it.
02
Second floor
Suites, along the balcony
Three bedrooms open off the mezzanine, each named for a river within easy reach of the front door. The balcony looks back down into the great room, so the house never feels closed off.
Two full bathrooms serve this floor, including the main suite's en-suite.
03
Third floor — Eagle's Nest
Hammock chairs at the apex
The top of the A is a floating loft with hammock chairs hung facing the gable window. It is the quietest spot in the house and the first place everyone under twelve claims.
The arcade machines and the record player live up here too, which keeps the noise where it belongs.
Sleeping
Every room is named for a river you can reach before breakfast.
Pigeon River Suite
Queen bed
Skylights, and a desk by the window if you have to work.
Indian River Suite
Queen bed
Walnut accent wall, and a tall window onto the trees.
Outside
Three acres, a river, and a hot tub that stays hot in January.
- Hot tub, seats four to six
- Outdoor firepit
- Gas Weber grill
- Outdoor playset
- Three acres of private trails
- Pigeon River frontage
Already in the house
Bring groceries. We have the rest.
Living
- Indoor fireplace
- Floating third-storey loft with hammock chairs
- Arcade games
- Vinyl record player
- Games and books
- Smart TV with YouTube TV included
Kitchen
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Stocked coffee bar
- Kitchen supplies provided
- Grill and outdoor cooking
Practical
- 1GB fibre internet
- Dedicated remote workspace
- Heat and air conditioning
- Main bedroom with en-suite
- Linens and towels provided
- Hair dryer and iron
- Bathroom and cleaning supplies stocked
Gallery
Every room, before you book
Area
Indian River, and everything within twenty-five minutes of it.
Indian River sits where the Inland Waterway threads between Burt and Mullet Lakes, about twenty-five minutes south of the Mackinac Bridge. It is the part of Northern Michigan people drive through on the way to somewhere more famous, which is exactly why it stays quiet.
On the water
- Big Bear Adventure
- Burt Lake State Park
- Boat rental on Burt and Mullet
- Fly fishing
On land
- North Central State Trail
- Nature's Megaphone
- Elk viewing
- Tunnel of Trees
Eat and drink
- Northland Brewery
- Station @ 310
- Michael's Tavern and Maggie's Silo Bar
- Vivo's Pizza
Winter
- Boyne Highlands
- Snowmobiling
- Winter river rafting
- Skating, sledding and snowshoeing
Questions
Before you book
Where exactly is the house?
Indian River, Michigan, on three private acres with Pigeon River frontage inside a protected natural river area.
It is roughly twenty-five minutes to Mackinaw City and the bridge to the Upper Peninsula, and about the same to Petoskey and Harbor Springs.
Is it really the largest A-frame?
It is the largest traditional roofed A-frame the owners have been able to find — 2,200 square feet with no dormers and no additions. The roofline runs unbroken from ridge to ground, and the structure was custom engineered for Northern Michigan snow loads.
Can I work from the house?
Yes. There is 1GB fibre internet and a dedicated workspace, which is unusual this far north. Plenty of guests work a few days and take the rest off.
What is already in the house?
The kitchen is fully equipped and the coffee bar is stocked, along with bathroom and cleaning supplies, linens and towels. Bring groceries; everything else is here.
What is there to do nearby?
Kayaking and rafting on the Sturgeon, boating on Burt and Mullet Lakes, the North Central State Trail for cycling, elk viewing in autumn, and skiing at Boyne Highlands in winter. The area guide has the full list.
Your hosts
We are a family of five from Grand Rapids who spent years driving north for the hiking, the fly fishing and the quiet. We wanted a place on the river that held all of it — so we built one, and we share it when we are not in it.
— The TreeTops family
Check your dates
Booking runs through Airbnb, so your reservation, payment and cancellation terms are covered by them.
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