Amenities at Tamarack Lodge

A day at the lodge, from the sand to the lobby

Most of what the lodge offers is not on a list so much as along a route. You wake up near the water, spend the afternoon on the beach, warm up in Cedar Cottage when the light goes, and end up by the fireplace in the Main Lodge. Here is that day, place by place, with the hours and the house rules where they matter.

Morning to dusk, on the sand

The beach is where the day starts

Rows of lounge chairs set out on the sand at the edge of East Grand Traverse Bay — Lounge chairs set out on the lodge beach, the bay at their feet

The lodge has private frontage on East Bay, one of the area's largest private sandy beaches. Beach chairs, tables, chaise lounges, umbrellas and towels are all complimentary and set out for guests on a first-come basis, so the early riser gets the chaise at the waterline.

Chairs and shade: Chairs, tables, chaise lounges and umbrellas, first come, first served.
Towels: Beach towels are provided, so there is nothing to pack for the sand.
No lifeguard: There is no lifeguard at the beach or the pool, and the amenities are for registered guests only.

Adirondack chairs gathered around a fire pit on the lawn above the bay — Adirondack chairs around a fire pit above the water

Beachfront firepits at sunset

When the sun drops over East Bay, the beachfront firepits are the reason people stay out. Pull a chair up, bring a blanket, and watch the water go from blue to copper. If you are staying in a walkout room, the patio gives you the same view without the walk.

Outdoor grills and the timber pavilion

Dinner on the shore of East Bay is part of the plan, not an afterthought. The outdoor grills sit beside a timber pavilion on the beach, with patio tables under the roof for when the weather turns. Pick up wine from Twigs Gift Shop on the way down, and read the things to do nearby for what else the evening can hold.

Timber pavilion with patio tables and grills on the beach, East Bay behind — Timber pavilion and grills on the beach

An outdoor grill in the foreground with the bay stretching away behind it — An outdoor grill with the bay beyond

Aerial view of the beach with a dock and blue lounge chairs under a wide sky — The beach, the dock and the blue lounge chairs from above

Indoor pool and hot tub under the timber roof of the Cedar Cottage wing — The indoor pool and hot tub in Cedar Cottage

The cedar-lined sauna with tiered benches — Cedar-lined sauna with tiered benches

The newest wing

Cedar Cottage keeps the water warm all year

The beach belongs to summer, but Cedar Cottage is why a January weekend works as well as a July one. The new wing holds the indoor pool, the hot tub and the sauna, all open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM. After a cold walk on the TART Trail, this is where you thaw.

Indoor pool: Daily, 8 AM to 10 PM
Hot tub: Daily, 8 AM to 10 PM
Sauna: Daily, 8 AM to 10 PM

There is no lifeguard at the pool, and the pool, hot tub and sauna are for registered guests. Planning a longer stay with family? The rooms and suites all share these amenities, whichever one you book.

Where the evening ends up

The Main Lodge keeps its lights on

The spacious lobby has a fireplace, games and a front desk that never closes. Everything below is under that one roof, so the whole family can split up and still find each other.

Guest services: Staffed 24 hours a day at the desk in the Main Lodge lobby, so a late arrival or a 2 AM question has somewhere to go.
Beverage station: Complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate, available 24/7 in the Main Lodge.
Billiards: Billiards in the Main Lodge, for the hour after dinner.
Games and movies: Borrow board games, puzzles and movies from the lodge and take them back to your room or suite.
Photo gallery: On the 2nd floor of the Main Lodge, a gallery wall worth a slow walk on a rainy afternoon.
Twigs Gift Shop: Wine, beer and lodge souvenirs, a short walk from wherever you are on the property.
Cheers: Enjoy beer, wine and seltzer in the Main Lodge, in the spacious lobby with its fireplace and games.

Inside the Main Lodge

A stone hearth, a bar that pours coffee at any hour and a billiards room, all a few steps from the front desk.

Main Lodge great room with a stone hearth, timber beams and a slate floor — Stone hearth and slate floor in the great room

Beverage bar with stools beneath a timber soffit — The beverage bar, stocked 24/7

Billiards table in a long wood-paneled room — The billiards room in the Main Lodge

Nothing to add at checkout

Included in every stay

Centre Ice Fitness: Access to the Centre Ice Fitness center is included in every stay, at no added charge.
Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi for every guest.
Parking: Complimentary parking, one space per room, unit or suite. The lot does not take RVs, trailers or oversized vehicles, and there is no boat launch or boat trailer parking.

The lodge is pet-free and smoke-free, and it does not offer cribs or pack-and-plays. The full house rules are short. If you are bringing a team or a reunion, the group page covers room blocks, and the packages put Michigan wine in your room before you arrive.

Umbrella patio on the edge of the bay seen from above the lodge

Reservations

Save your chair on the sand

Call the front desk to book a room or suite. Every stay includes the beach, the Cedar Cottage pool and the Main Lodge.

Call (231) 938-9744 Rooms and suites

2035 N US 31 N, Traverse City, MI 49686. Check-in from 4:00 PM, check-out by 10:30 AM.