August 11 2014

Buzz’s Lakeside Inn

Travel Star Michigan, Hotels buzz's lakeside inn, hotel, Michigan, motel, muskegon, whitehall 0

Nestled along the waters edge in Whitehall, MI you will find Buzz’s Lakeside Inn. This property has been around since the late 1800s when it was originally a grocery store and post office. The property was owned and operated by the Groessl Family for 74 years until last fall when it was acquired by the new owners, a couple from Chicago,IL. They immediately focused on updating and refreshing the property which was in need of some TLC. The Michigan winter was harsh so the renovations were still in process when we arrived for our preseason trip but should be completely finished by the time of this article.

Buzz’s Lakeside Inn Review

The first thing that attracted me to the property was the old style charm. I felt like I had fallen back in a time capsule to an era gone past. I am grateful that the new owners in their updates kept the layout the same ( as are the locals after speaking with a few we ran into on our visit). It is a mixture of a hotel building, freestanding motel units and cabins. There is something for every traveler on the property and it lends to a unique vacation feel that fits in with the Whitehall (Muskegon) area. The updates instead focused on amenities, carpeting,color palates, windows, furnishings and more. All while creating a more relaxing ambiance without destroying the lakeside inn feel.

We stayed in one of the motel units and our room was completely wood paneling which I adored . It evoked memories of up north visits as a child seeing my grandfather. Don’t let the looks deceive you though because this room held 2 of the world’s most comfortable beds I have ever slept on. Hands down they beat out any hotel bed I have slept on to date and I will gladly accept any challenge to the contrary (feel free to email me at gwen.findingsanity@gmail.com). Our room had a front and back door with a porch on each. This allowed a nice breeze thru and an easy way to watch the kids when they were playing outside.

Even with the slightly cooler temps, My kids spent hours chasing minnows in the water. In the warmer months this is a perfect spot for fishing and swimming.There is even a place for boats to dock as the inn is home to a very popular restaurant to locals and travelers alike. There wasn’t a dinner service where the dining room or patio were empty. Continental breakfast is provided with the room and each morning we were treated to a delicious assortment. Fresh fruit, eggs, cereal, yogurt and an assortment of beverages greeted us the 1st morning and a hot breakfast to our liking on the 2nd morning.

A few things to caution there are no phones in the room so to reach the front desk you will need to walk down or call from your cell phone. Rooms do not have refrigerators or microwaves so make sure you pack a cooler so you can enjoy cool beverages. They will provide you with bags of ice at the front desk or bar. The closet is huge but lacks hangers so pack a few extra if you have a lot to hang up. The rooms do not have irons or blow dryers in them but you can get one from the front desk if you need one.

I do have to say that the whole family was impressed with our stay and it is on our list for when we are next in the area. We can’t wait to check it out with all the upgrades completed. My children even had the following things to say.

Jayme, age 10, Buzz’s Lakeside Inn has incredible views. They have great beds and service. You should go there.

Nick, age 15, The top 5 things about Buzz’s Lakeside Inn are the view, the staff, the pool, the room, and the food!