The Dam House Lake and River Front Home with Beautiful Sunset Views

Big Bay, Michigan
$361 avg/night
Minimum Stay 5 Nights
Bed 3

Bed

Bath 2

Bath

Home Private Vacation Home

Property Type

Sleep 6

Max Sleeps

Night 5 nights

Min Stay

Clean, cozy, lake and riverfront house at the end of a private road. Enjoy the most beautiful sunsets on Lake Independence from the comfort of your living room or front deck. The Dam House is situated on the Lake Independence dam and the source of the Iron River, surrounding this unique and beautiful property on three sides by water. The Dam house is a 10 minute drive around Lake Independence to the small town of Big Bay and 45 minutes from Marquette, MI.

In the summer you can spendhours kayaking or swimming in Lake Independence, fishing in the lake or Iron River, biking, hiking, and having lunch or fish fry in the small town of Big Bay. Lake Superior is a short bike or car ride from the Dam House that guests can enjoy as well!

The Dam House has 3 bedrooms - the master bedroom is upstairs (queen bed with en suite bathroom with shower), a queen bedroom downstairs that is connected to the living room (separated by an accordion door), and two twin beds in the upstairs loft area. It can comfortably sleep two couples or is perfect for a family of 4-6. Please note that the downstairs bed is connected to the living room and does not have a designated/ separate space! The living room with large picture windows and French doors looks out at Lake Independence while the dining room with wall to wall windows overlooks the Iron River. The kitchen is large and spacious with birds-eye maple cabinets and updated appliances.

The Dam house also features a work area/ desk, woodstove, washer and dryer, bikes, kayaks, picnic table (on deck that looks out over the lake), coolers, beach chairs, and lifejackets. We have everything you need for a perfect UP lakefront get away. We are at the end of private road in a small town at the end of County Road 550 - so please be aware as the WIFI may be a bit slower here!

Local Big Bay attractions include The Thunder Bay Inn and the Big Bay Tavern where the classic movie Anatomy of a Murder was filmed. Thomas Rock is a short drive from Big Bay and features a short hike that ends in views of Lake Independent and Lake Superior. Endless sand beaches and hiking trails are accessible on County Road 550 between Marquette and Big Bay.

We can't wait to share our lake retreat with you!

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  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • PETS

    2 Total Pets Pet Friendly Service Animals Exempt From Fees Welcoming Dogs Only
  • DINING

    Dining Table
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Deadbolt Lock Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    3 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided
  • KITCHEN

    Coffee/tea Maker Cookware/dishes/utensils Dishwasher Kitchen Island Microwave Oven Paper Towels Refrigerator Stovetop
  • LAUNDRY

    Laundry Facilities Washing Machine And Dryer
  • PARKING

    Onsite Parking
  • INTERNET

    Free WiFi
  • OUTDOORS

    Barbecue Grill Firepit Patio
  • BATHROOMS

    2 Bathrooms Hair Dryer Soap Toilet Paper Towels Provided
  • WORKSPACES

    Desk Desk Chair
  • THINGS TO DO

    Birdwatching Nearby Fishing Nearby Hiking Nearby Hiking/biking Trails Nearby Kayak On Site Marina Nearby Power Boating Nearby Wildlife And Game Walks Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    Books DVD Player Stereo Smart TV
  • LIVING SPACES

    Living Room Wood Stove
  • CLIMATE CONTROL

    Heating
  • FAMILY FRIENDLY

    Children's Books Children's Games
  • LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

    Near The Bay On The Lake On The River On The Waterfront
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    Smoke-free Property

CheckIn Check-in : 04:00 PM CheckOut Check-out : 10:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 6

Map Map

School District Availability

Review Review

  • Dictator_tots

    Submitted Sep 30, 2025

    Stayed Sep 12, 2025

    Gorgeous

  • Sarah F.

    Submitted Aug 17, 2025

    Stayed Aug 10, 2025

    The property is beautiful and had everything a person needs to relax and enjoy their vacation.

  • Keri F.

    Submitted Jun 26, 2025

    Stayed Jun 14, 2025

    Book the stay you won't regret it! The property is gorgeous and very well kept. Joyce and Jeff are the most helpful hosts I've ever had with a booking. If you forget anything I can almost guarantee they've got you covered. They let us use their private beach area on Superior and even gave us some tips on the best fishing spots on Lake Independence. I absolutely loved having a window open to listen to the water going over the dam and stargazing with the kids was top notch. Be prepared for endless cuteness out the window, watching the multiple flocks of baby ducks and geese hunting their breakfast was the highlight each morning. Clearest water we've ever encountered and even though the fish completely avoided me, the rest of us caught trout, small mouth, large mouth, rock bass, walleye, perch, and a few fresh water mussels. The teenagers were happy with the tv channel selection and wifi speed, which clearly says something good! Lol We've already discussed returning in the future for another relaxing stay. Phoenix, the bestest good boy black lab ever, also gave this trip 5 stars.

  • Jeff W.

    Submitted Jun 13, 2025

    Stayed Jun 1, 2025

    Excellent location. Very clean and great place to relax!

  • Dan M.

    Submitted Jun 5, 2025

    Stayed May 24, 2025

    A great location! We were at the Dam House for a week and really enjoyed our stay.. Took a day trip to Copper Harbor and got to see even more of the upper peninsula. It was our first visit to the area. Joyce was really helpful. Her nearby beach property was a treat. Our yellow lab loved swimming in Lake Superior and we got some nice photos of bald eagles. We did have to deal with mosquitos but repellent seemed to work well. Will definitely be back!!!

  • brad d.

    Submitted Oct 12, 2024

    Stayed Sep 20, 2024

    The property location is spectacular. We plan to return next year to explore more of the area.

  • Bobbie B.

    Submitted Oct 7, 2024

    Stayed Oct 4, 2024

    The property is beautiful with fabulous sunsets! The house works nicely for a family. Very well stocked kitchen! The setting- for fishing, fires, relaxing- is perfect! The host is very helpful!

  • Janelle' C.

    Submitted Oct 5, 2024

    Stayed Sep 28, 2024

    We had the most excellent time staying at the dam house! The house was exactly as advertised, private, well stocked with everything we could have needed, and very cozy. The sound of the dam was soothing, perfect pairing with morning coffee. We were able to enjoy the fire pit and gorgeous stars. We enjoyed the kayaks on site, and rock hunting. Big Bay is only a 10 minute drive from the property, highly recommend Lumberjack Tavern. Very relaxed time here at the house, we’ll be back!

  • Kelly S.

    Submitted Aug 28, 2024

    Stayed Aug 17, 2024

    My family had a great time staying at the Dam house. We will miss it. Everything was perfect. House is very clean. Joyce is very friendly and helps make it the best possible vacation for your family. Loved the private beach, the fishing and hiking on the nearby trails. This is a place we would return to.

  • Alice M.

    Submitted Aug 21, 2024

    Stayed Aug 4, 2024

    This was our second trip to this location. It is so peaceful and beautiful. We had warm, sunny weather and windy, wet weather and enjoyed every minute of our stay. Thank you, Alice and Jeff.

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Total

Includes taxes and fees
$347+
View details