70’s Lounge, Patio and Pool

Community Spaces

We partner with local non-profits and community organizers to create inclusive spaces that connect our neighbors, foster creativity, and address needs around Bear Lake and Manistee County.

Community Lounge

Our renovated 70s-era community lounge serves as a gathering place for locals, hosting various events including wellness classes, non-profit fundraisers, art workshops, and farm-to-table meals.

We host nonprofit and community group events at no cost and offer a variety of room layouts, furniture, and technology to support your event needs.

Organizations we’ve partnered with include Up North Pride, Triginta Women’s Club, Bear Lake Promoters, Armory Youth Project, Bear Lake Girl’s Sports Program, and more!

Contact us if you’re interested in using our community lounge: info@motelbearlake.com.

Community Pool & Patio

Pool closed until Memorial Day 2025

We kicked off our 2024 pool opening with a party for the LGBTQ community and one for First Responders and Military Families.

COMMUNITY POOL DAYS - 11am-7pm

$5/Person + Bring your towel

  • Sunday - Family

  • Tuesday - 21 & Up

  • Wednesday - Senior Day

Soon, we’ll offer CPR certification and water safety classes. Reserve our pool or patio for your community event: info@motelbearlake.com.

View fullsize October Pillow Talk Let’s start with the wins, because there were many: 💕 Humans - Our shining in their on-site roles, extended education courses, and community events. And, a huge shout out to our guests. They are amazing. Our people are fin
View fullsize It’s a haunted motel… 📸 - @jackieblairphotographer #retromotel #motel #itsahauntedhouse #mymanistee #haunted #batesmotel
View fullsize @michiana_jones named this piece, “Pool Dreams” It’s a watercolor she painted of a photo she took last summer next to our 1/2 full pool during her birthday weekend at the motel. Krista is my dearest friend, a talented artist, and
View fullsize It’s the final day to enter our “We wanna get you high” fall giveaway! Special thanks to our partners: ✈️ Orchard Beach Aviation 🍃 @dunegrass.co 🥃 @ironfishdistillery 🍫 @kilwins_frankfort 🎿 @crystalmountainmi 🗺️ @manisteetour
View fullsize We have another sweet, sweet time-travel story. “Oh, dad. I haven’t seen his handwriting in so many years.” 😭😭 This is Joan. In 1962 her dad hand drew the original motel architectural plans. We have them proudly displayed in
View fullsize 🍂✨GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY✨🍂 We wanna get you high: - In the sky - Down a slide - On the farm - At the motel Nominate someone that you wanna get high - or tell us why it’s high time you treat yourself to a little getaway. $450+ Package i
View fullsize September Pillow Talk This month was the transition from treading water through the crazy tourist season to connecting with our community(and still exhausting ourselves). 👏 Our team - Continues to show up with great energy - filling needed roles
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View fullsize Can I share another great human story? This is Connie. (And me with a photo of the original motel owners ) She and her late husband, Tom, owned the motel from 1996 to 2004. She popped by the motel yesterday. We exchanged stories, toured the prope
View fullsize We have a great list of community events for this month! Bear Lake Triginta Club Monthly Meeting - Wednesday, September 7th, 7pm - Contact them directly for details 2nd Community Paint Night with @sipandstrokepaintparties4you - Monday, September 1
View fullsize August Pillow Talk Woof it was a month. 🙃🫠😵‍💫 started with room upgrade chaos > a week that felt like a manageable new normal > ended with what the service industry around here calls “Angry August” but we made it! 👏 our.
View fullsize Can I share a story that brings me to tears and will forever be a treasure? This is Larry and Timothy (and Ginger.) In 2004 they first stayed at the motel. In 2015 they took their marriage equality case all the way to the Supreme Court - and won!
View fullsize 100% living our brat summer poolside 100% loving our Demure guests #motel #retromotel #verydemure #verymindful #brat #bratsummer
View fullsize The library is officially open… the Kaftan Library, that it is. Our newest Guest Amenity (my personal fav!) features a collection of vintage, size-inclusive kaftans and costume jewelry for you to be your most fabulous self - poolside, lakesid
View fullsize We’ve upgraded all our full beds to queens beds and used the money generated from the ones we sold to buy feminine care products for the BEAR LAKE CARES box. If you’re a menstruating body in need, pop by the community box to grab some.