Cadillac Sands Resort

Reputations live in the past, well so does Cadillac Sands Resort. When decorated, wooden steering wheels and organic ropes were cutting edge. Technology has improved materials used on ships, but updates have stayed on M-​115 headed elsewhere!
1970’s built a reputation for this place that was grand enough that it still lures the unsuspecting traveler from decades before. I should have listened to my wife & the reviews/​ratings of travelers.
Obviously there will be disgruntled reviews that only hate. There has to be some redeeming value in Every place. Here, the room heat worked great! It was near 85 when we opened our door.
The key only works for the handle lock, so security is a concern. The hallway doesn’t have any heat. The passage between buildings has 6+” of snow/​ice build up, with an ice rink beneath it. No attempt to melt the ice, or the ice puddle on the steps. No ADA access to most parts, with most doors 26″.
The breakfast was constant with all other reviews, a waste of time. We got there to find no juice, no milk, no plates, no cups, no silverware, no gravy, almost thawed biscuits, less thawed mini muffins were brought out after asking for something. After asking a second time, gravy was prepared (thawed and microwaved) to just above room temp.
The roll away had to be fixed before the child could sleep in it.
Two shampoos and a facial bar but no conditioner, well, they didn’t use it in the 60’s I guess.
If you only need a place to recover from a long day on the snowmobile trails, great. You’ll be fine here. If you want anything else, try elsewhere.

Most of these reviews seem to echo my initial feelings. The place has not changed, run down, smells a bit musty and still has the 1970’s décor. That being said the owners appear to be listening and are updating. Main halls and entry are being painted, the pool was closed for updating-​it was also being painted and refurbished. We commented that they didn’t even have phones in the room! Well, new phone system was being installed according to the sign at the desk. The shower was wonderful, heat worked great. The view was wonderful if you look toward the lake, lol. They also rent snowmobiles, boats, kayaks so We probably will go back at some point.

Went here for Mother’s Day weekend with my wife, kids and mother-​in-​law. Our choice for this place was due to the «Mothers Day Buffet Special» at $ 17.95 with 10% off for law enforcement discount with a menu that consisted of carved roast beef, baked chicken, tilapia, medium salad bar and dessert. Our meal was not what we envisioned; dry chicken, over cooked tilapia and a salad bar that was deficient. Soup was out of a crock pot that seemed like it came out of my neighbors kitchen. They did not honor the 10% off as they had stated and wanted to charge my 9 year old an adult meal price! I was not happy with the quality of the meal (the roast was good but the man carving gave such small pieces and I had to ask for more), the facility looks like something out of a movie from the 60’s! I should’ve known better when there weren’t that many cars in the parking lot; a sure sign that something is amiss. This was our first time but certainly the LAST!

We have been coming to Cadillac for over 35 years and sad to say (as others have) this place is in a PRIME location, and I «do NOT understand» WHY the owners do not «keep this place up». …We are now retired in the area, and from «before you walk in the front entrance», it it «falling apart.
I think, the only thing «keeping them open, is «tourists who book «sight unseen», and then they are «stuck there» because we don’t have many motels/​hotels.
This place YEARS ago, was a «hot spot. A great location, nice indoor pool, with a great restrurant overlooking the pool. The restrurant had «high end food, good food».
Everything here now, as of January 2014, is «OLD, Broken, dirty, I would «not think to eat here, just walking in their restrurant area.
PLEASE, owners, Sell it to someone who will «put money into this great location», as «This could be a «goldMine, «really».
Put tsome of the money you make every weekend (we drive by and see parking lot FULL)…Spend some of that money «updating».
Cadillac is turning into a HOT spot for tourists «all year round». We have everything here now. Winter fall and summer. Water surrounds this town, ski lodges, fishing, close to Traverse City, Lake Michigan… Give and be thankful «we are NOT a dying up North town,
FIX up these hotels and Restrurants in our beautiful city!
In the last year alone, major stores have come in for shopping. Thus, making it even «more attractive to stay here.
Lets «NOT lose our restrurants/​hotels».
I sure hope investors are reading this…

Have not been here in 30 years. Used to be the ultimate place for fine dining and a place to stay. I am sorry to say that it is no longerthe case.
The night before we left they called us and said that the kitchen would be closed until further notice. We elected to go anyway because there are restuarants close by. Got the jacuzzi room that is the last corner unit on the end and sits about 5 feet from the lake. One whole wall is a patio walkout that looks over the lake and the other is a large picture window that looks over the lake, just a beautiful view. Unfortunitly that was where it ended. This place has really been neglected and not maintained and it is tired, old and run down.
Old furniture that is missing drawers and needs repair and stain. The wall light switches have been removed so you have 3 floor lamps instead. 2 of the 3 had broken knobs so you could not turn them on. The jacuzzi is not the greatest and the wall mirror around it has a large crack. The entry door has a three quarter inch gap all the way around it and you can see to the hallway.
The main room needs repainting.
The rooms were just cleaned before we got there and we found 2 dirty used wash cloths in the bathroom.
The floor of the room above you creaks when walked on louder than you could ever believe a floor could creak and when someone fills the jacuzzi in another room it sounds like you are filling yours, you actually have to crank the sound up on the tv or it will get drowned out by the noise.
The worst was the bathroom. There was an exhaust fan but it did not work and the bathroom showed real problems because of this. The tiles in the whole room showed a lot of mildew. The tub and walls looked like they were chalked by a 5 year old (thick and caked on). There was considerable rust and calcium stains on any metal in the room. There is a white suspended ceiling that is badly water stained. The mirror on the wall is chipped and cracked. The bathroom door which is wood is badly warped and semi rotted on the inside.
You also cannot open or close the bathroom door without having to lift the toilet seat and cover because the door wont clear the toilet if you don’t.
And the ice maker was also out of order.
The only reason we stayed was because of the view and the lake access, but it is not enough for us to go back.
At least the employees are super nice.
I know it’s «up north» (i lived in cadillac for many years) and things are «rustic» and older and I like that, but even i have a limit. Especially when it is $ 125.00 a night and there are cheaper and more livable alternatives around.
We spoke with several other people staying here and they all stated they would not br returning.

Went up to Cadillac last weekend, booked this place based on its website, location & reviews, and the gal who took my reservation was enthusiastic and gave me so much to look forward to.
Then we arrived, the outdoor façade and dirty glass in the vestibule should have told me all I needed to know, However they had/​have a 72 hour cancellation policy, so I still had to go in and register & all that.
Sweet lady as we checked in and told me about our poolside room, the 2 restaurants, nightclub and snack shop, plus the great breakfast & Gravy in the morning.
Scanned my credit card, and gave me two room keys & told me how to get to my room.
we walked in, I glanced at it, looked around and immediately went back to the front desk, slid her the keys and said «This is not going to work out»
the 2 housekeepers standing nearby looked at me like i was crazy.
the gal said can we give you another room, I replied no thank you, this place is not going to work out at all.
«well I am so sorry» let me get your slip, void it «
which she promptly did!
People, the outer appearance alone is a ‘redflag’ all of the trim needs to be painted
the Building has 2 steps to get into the lobby, it does not even meet the basic tenets of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
However if you want to go way way back in grandpa’s time machine in style & comfort [ think 1969 ] then by all means stay here
Also the price was way out of line
$ 119 a night for 2 queen size beds [ and that is the AAA Discount rate ]