Curtis Lodgings

J. T. GORDON'S AT PORTAGE CREEK
(906) 586-6033
"There's a world of people looking for a charming getaway," says antiques-lover Tom Gordon. He has indulged his love of decorating here at his motel, retirement home, and antiques shop. The land was part of his family's resort, one of Curtis's first. The idyllic setting is in the middle of Curtis but back from the road. The long, cottagey motel is actually a remodeled CCC barracks Tom's father moved to the site. Each room opens onto the long porch facing Portage Creek, between the two lakes. Guests can fish for bass and perch just steps from the porch.
     Rooms are furnished in a cozy cottage style with knotty pine walls and Waverly curtains and bedspreads. They can interconnect. Two guest rooms have kitchenettes ($59 for one double bed, $79 for 2 doubles and a small sitting area with daybed). One room has 1 double bed ($49/night), one has 2 twins (also $49). All have cable TV, WiFi, most have air-conditioning. No phones; guests can use office phone. Advance reservations recommended.

GORDON'S RESORT
(906) 586-9761
Sally Gordon Gibbons has 2 newish log-sided cottages on Portage Creek, across from her brother Tom's motel, and a remodeled cottage across the road on South Manistique Lake. It's a fine setting, on the water yet in town, which kids love. The 2-bedroom cottages on the creek sleep up to 5; it's $100/night for three nights or $650 a week. The 4-bedroom lakeside cottage with a bunk room and whirlpool is $150/day for 3 days or $1,005/week. By the week in summer.

NORTH SHORE RESORT
(906) 586-9833; (800) 589-9833
Right in the center of Curtis, this is a bustling place in summer. Four clean, two-bedroom housekeeping cottages face Little Manistique Lake. Each has a cable TV, a sofa sleeper, a grill, and comes with a 14' fishing boat. They sleep 4 to 5. Most cabins are from the 1940s, with knotty pine paneling and a lakeside screened porch (glassed-in in winter). They have no phones. There's space for a nice yard, trees, a fish-cleaning station, and a bonfire spot. The resort is on the riverside boardwalk. Cottages are rented by the week in summer, otherwise with a two-day minimum. Currently $450/week, $65 a day, except in snowmobile season with four adults $75-$85 a day.

CHAMBERLIN'S OLE FOREST INN
(800) 292-0440, (906) 586-6000
The inn's upstairs guest rooms are bigger than those at many old hotels. They're largely furnished with antiques and reproductions circa 1900. Some rooms ($110 and up for two) have private baths, and some ($89 for two) share baths. Some have cable TV. Jacuzzi rooms are $120/night. The third floor has been remodeled into a family suite ($130) that sleeps six. Hearty breakfasts are included in the room price. Guests can use the office phone. Guest rooms are over a bar and restaurant at the top of an open stairway, so expect some evening noise. Common areas include the big lobby with fireplace and a wonderful front porch, both also used by restaurant guests. In fall color season the wooded setting overlooking Big Manistique Lake is particularly beautiful. There's good fishing for walleye, pike, bass, and perch, a dock for small boats, and a swimming beach. A deck and stairway down to the lake have several landings with benches for sitting and watching the sun set.

INTERLAKEN RESORT & BURNT ISLAND
(906) 586-3545
Multitudes of recreational amenities are provided at this year-round family resort. It's on a wooded hillside going down to the north shore of Big Manistique Lake, a very large lake with no crowding of boats. Nine modern 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom housekeeping cabins come with microwaves and TV/VCRs with a large library of movies to borrow. Also dish TV. Each cabin has a picnic table, grill, outdoor furniture, and covered porch with a water view. Nine-person hot tubs are in two enclosed gazebos, one for children, one for adults. There's a guest laundry. Guests have complimentary use of canoes, paddleboats, pontoon boats, kayaks, a tanning booth, and a fishing boat with motor. The grounds have plenty of room for an elaborate playground, a lakeside pavilion and picnic area, volleyball, and horseshoes. There's a game room with many free games. Cottages are rented by the week from mid June to Labor Day, otherwise daily or weekly. Call for rates.
      The resort owns all of Burnt Island and two rustic cabins on it, which guests can use without additional charge. A weekly summer highlight is a complimentary steak or lobster dinner, occasionally with live entertainment. On a snowmobile trail. 8 miles from mountain-biking or cross-country skiing at Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

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