Star Gate Motel

Second time here. New owners since the previous visit. Doors have keypads so I did not visit the office, but it did seem to be open. Management was in constant contact electronically. Room 4 was very clean and bright and very thoughtfully stocked. Very comfortable bed and pillows. Curtain could have been a couple of inches longer to fully cover the front window. I was very happy with my stay there with one exception which might be a deal breaker for me in the future. The price quoted was $149.00. When I got my invoice there was an undisclosed additional charge of $7.45 for a "resort fee". I feel this is dishonest. As a consequence I did not leave my usually generous tip for housekeeping. Beware.

We were tired traveling we called ahead this motel had a 4 star rating we thought okay first time I ever found a rating at its worst. We pulled in at 12:00 o'clock midnight, when I called ahead I told them we had two service dogs the girl there said we don't usually take dogs but since their service dogs I said well according to the Michigan law you're not supposed to refuse service dogs, I said but we can find another place she said no that's ok we have lots of rooms available, after that comment I understand why,. Upon arriving no one was at the office we couldn't figure out how to open the old combination door lock so we did have to go wake them up they were housing in the office area I don't know what's up with that she gave us a combination and we went in and laid down and slept. Next morning we woke up took our puppies for a walk we had our truck parked in front of the motel where you see the white lines on the picture. We went to a restaurant and checked the place out we were actually headed to Frankenmuth, because we woke up at 9:00 o'clock she told us we'd have to take another room because we got there at 12 midnight that therefore was the day before didn't quite understand that when I called ahead she said the room price was 100 we got charged 138 times 2, now let me tell you about our experience, the shower had two bugs in it the windows were old and the curtains were old the TV was too small there was no air condition working that's when we found out that's why there was a fan under the counter of which it barely worked and was very noisy, the beds were not comfortable at all there was two of them we tried both of them I think too soft we sunk down in them like a waterbed but not. That same day when we got back from eating a lady come running up to us and said your dogs are barking rapidly in the room and I said did you try to go into room she said no we're over here playing in the side yard with our kids then when we we were just across the street eating for 20 minutes we picked up something to go. Upon arriving back we've seen that same family parked behind our truck to where we couldn't back up we had to go forward which was into the grass of the motel. We found out they had left a bunch of outdoor toys almost in front of our door to where we tripped over them and the kids were bouncing balls and once the dogs heard it hit the window they start barking which they're supposed to do their guard dogs they were letting someone know that they were in there. The Lady complaining I found out was related to the office people one big family right, the motel is really run down the doors at the bottom were broken off and it looked like the place had flooded at one time. Maybe the reason why the bugs were in the shower, the yard was all sand no grass whatsoever and nothing was raked or picked up and I didn't see any picnic tables or anything that they showed they said they just bought it and it was under huge maintenance, if it was me I'd burn

What a little gem Star Gate is, in Indian River, northern Michigan!! We just happened upon this charming 1960's- era wonderfully-renovated motel. Its freshly-painted white exterior trimmed in black, cheery hanging pots of bright petunias and a backdrop of towering trees was so welcoming. Our room was bright, fresh, sparkling clean with simple furnishings, lovely photographs of Paris architecture and interiors. Beds, with fluffy white comforters; original gleaming tiles in bathroom; windows that open, with screens- so nice on this early June day. Elizabeth, the owner was delightful! Rochelle in office and Alexis in housekeeping were helpful, efficient, friendly. Hope to stay again, en route from Indianapolis to the Upper Peninsula. Just a perfect motel in the tradition of mid-century American travel accommodations.