A magical treehouse village in Northern Michigan lets you sleep among the trees during peak fall color.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
There’s nothing quite like the above-it-all, you-can’t-find-me joy of being in a treehouse, no matter how humble—and the feels that made it such a joy in childhood are now on tap for any and all at Treehouse Ridge in Thompsonville, a mini village set deep in the trees.
Photo by Treehouse Ridge
The idea, says co-owner Ashlee Knoll, took root when her husband and father-in-law, Jess and Fred Knoll (both are construction veterans), decided to take on a building project for fun. “Fred had watched Treehouse Masters [a Discovery Channel remodeling series] and was inspired by the idea of pursuing a rental property in Northern Michigan,” she says.
But they wanted to create something much more experiential and special than the usual flip to lure visitors. The answer? To create Northern Michigan’s first and only treehouse resort.
In 2021, the duo opened the cluster of treehouses on 40 acres of pristine forest that overlooks a lush, tree-lined ridge (which marks the highest point of elevation in Benzie County). So far, the property is home to two cozy treehouses, with construction of a third already underway and plans for another two on the books—and possibly more in the future.
Photo by Treehouse Ridge
Photo by Treehouse Ridge
Built atop a sturdy steel frame, each 500-square-foot treehouse has a studio-style layout and sleeps up to six, making them ideal for families or larger groups. The space is ADA-compliant, allowing all visitors to feel “at home in the trees.”
When they climb the wood-planked entry ramps, guests arrive to an open floor plan, with natural light spilling in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Each treehouse has a modern kitchen as well as a full bathroom, complete with a washer and dryer. Two queen-sized beds are tucked into wall cut-outs. Cushy touches include heated floors, as well as an electric fireplace.
The best “room” in the house, though, is the spacious back patio, where guests can grill out or kick back with a glass of wine while taking in the unmatched views—especially during peak fall color. “It’s different being up in the air,” Knoll says. “There’s a serenity there I haven’t felt anywhere else.”
Photo by Treehouse Ridge
Things to Do Nearby
Treehouse Ridge is just 10 minutes away from Thompsonville, and 30 minutes from the lakeside outposts of Frankfort and Arcadia.
For local bevvies and nearby eats, try Stormcloud Brewing Co. in Frankfort— grilled cheese and a pint, please. St. Ambrose Cellars in Beulah offers live music and a rollicking menu of mead and cyser (mead fermented with apples). In Thompsonville, craft cocktails and wood-fired pizzas head up the offerings at Iron Fish Distillery (the 120-acre farm distillery is especially gorgeous in autumn). And for homestyle brunch—and a slice of killer pie—check out the popular Rosie’s Country Café.
Cruise the surrounding countryside, making stops at Cotton Creek Farms, which offers interactive tours and a chance to meet fluffy alpacas, and Crystal Mountain, where you’ll get your adrenaline fix on the 1,700-foot-long Alpine Slide and the Edge Adventure elevated rope and zipline course.
More musts: Check out two miles of sculpture-studded hiking at Michigan Legacy Art Park; paddle the Platte River with canoe or kayak rentals from Honor Trading Post; bike the Betsie Valley Trail (start in Frankfort where you can find rentals at Coastline Cycles).
Related Read: Fall Color Drives & Hikes at Sleeping Bear Dunes
Anna Faller is a Traverse City-based freelance writer and interviewer with a passion for good books, great food and Michigan travel. annacfaller@gmail.com