Meet Holly

Your Host at The Cottonwood Inn Bed & Breakfast

When a Small Town Called Its Daughter Home

Sometimes the most meaningful journeys end where they began. For Holly, innkeeper of The Cottonwood Inn in Empire, Michigan, the path to hospitality started with a simple realization during a stay at another bed and breakfast: “I would like to have a bed and breakfast of my own.” But more than that, she recognized something her hometown desperately needed.

Growing up in Empire, Holly knew this charming village at the gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore inside and out. She understood its rhythms, its people, and its potential. As the area began drawing more visitors seeking the natural beauty of Leelanau County and Northern Michigan’s dramatic coastline, she noticed a significant gap in accommodations. Empire needed a bed and breakfast—a place that could offer travelers authentic hospitality and personal attention in one of Michigan’s most spectacular settings.

That realization sparked a journey that would span more than 25 years and transform not just a historic farmhouse, but the entire landscape of hospitality in Empire. What began as one woman’s vision to fill a service gap became a beloved institution where thousands of travelers have discovered the warmth of Northern Michigan hospitality.

The Roen Farm: A Foundation Built on History

When Holly began her search for the perfect property to realize her bed and breakfast dream in 1999, she found herself drawn to a historic farmhouse that had been at the heart of Empire’s agricultural heritage for nearly a century. The Roen Farm, originally established in the late 1800s, carried with it the stories of generations who had worked this land and called it home.

The historic farmhouse that became The Cottonwood Inn

The farm had been owned and operated by the Roen family until their passing, serving as a working farm that contributed to Empire’s agricultural character. For Holly, the property represented more than just a building with good bones—it was an opportunity to preserve a piece of Empire’s history while creating something new and needed for her community.

She named her new venture The Cottonwood Inn after the magnificent old cottonwood trees that frame the property’s front yard, their towering presence a testament to the enduring nature of this place. These majestic trees, which have watched over the land for generations, seemed to embody exactly what Holly hoped to create: something rooted in tradition yet alive and welcoming.

Majestic cottonwood trees frame this Empire Michigan bed and breakfast

The transformation from working farm to welcoming Michigan bed and breakfast required vision, determination, and no small amount of courage. Holly was taking a significant financial and emotional risk, converting this spacious turn-of-the-century farmhouse into a place where strangers would become guests, and guests would become friends.

More Than Rooms: Creating an Empire Michigan Bed and Breakfast Experience

From the beginning, Holly understood that running a successful bed and breakfast near Sleeping Bear Dunes required more than simply providing clean rooms and breakfast. What drew her to innkeeping—and what has sustained her passion for more than two decades—is something far more personal.

This philosophy—that genuine human connection lies at the heart of hospitality—shapes every aspect of The Cottonwood Inn experience. Holly doesn’t simply provide accommodations; she serves as an ambassador for the entire Empire area, sharing insider knowledge about hidden trails, the best times to visit the dunes, local dining favorites, and the kind of authentic recommendations that can only come from someone who has called this place home for a lifetime.

Thoughtfully decorated guest rooms blend comfort with historic charm

The property features spacious guest rooms, each thoughtfully decorated to honor the farmhouse’s historic character while providing modern comfort. From the wheelchair-accessible Monarch Room on the main floor with its antique furnishings to the cozy upstairs accommodations, every space reflects Holly’s attention to detail and understanding of what travelers truly need.

Guest suites offer space to truly relax and unwind

But the physical accommodations represent only part of what makes The Cottonwood Inn special. Guests consistently praise the genuine warmth and personal attention that defines their stays—the kind of hospitality that comes from an innkeeper who genuinely loves what she does and the people she meets.

When the Farmhouse Becomes Magical: Special Events at The Cottonwood Inn

While daily hospitality for bed and breakfast guests remains Holly’s primary focus, some of her most cherished memories as an innkeeper come from the special occasions that transform The Cottonwood Inn into something extraordinary. The property’s historic red barn and spacious grounds have hosted countless weddings, family reunions, anniversary celebrations, and graduation parties over the past 25 years.

The historic red barn provides the perfect setting for memorable celebrations

There’s something about this combination of rustic barn charm, manicured grounds, and the towering cottonwood trees that creates an atmosphere unlike any other venue in Leelanau County. Whether it’s a couple exchanging vows under the open sky, a family gathering to celebrate 50 years of marriage, or graduates marking the beginning of new chapters, The Cottonwood Inn provides a backdrop that feels both intimate and grand.

The barn transforms into a magical space for milestone celebrations

For Holly, these events represent something deeper than additional business—they’re an extension of the same philosophy that guides her bed and breakfast hospitality. These are moments when she can help families and couples create lasting memories in a place that has already witnessed over a century of life’s important moments.

The Gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes: Location as Legacy

The Cottonwood Inn’s location in Empire represents one of its most significant advantages for travelers exploring Northern Michigan. Situated in the heart of the village, the bed and breakfast sits at the literal gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore—one of America’s most spectacular natural treasures and consistently ranked among the most beautiful places in the United States.

From The Cottonwood Inn, guests can walk to Empire Beach on Lake Michigan, explore downtown Empire’s local shops and restaurants, and easily access the dunes, hiking trails, and scenic drives that make this area so beloved. The Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, entry point for many Sleeping Bear Dunes adventures, sits just across the street from the property.

This prime location in Empire—just 30 minutes west of Traverse City—offers visitors the best of both worlds. They can enjoy the peaceful, small-town atmosphere and natural beauty that makes Leelanau County special while remaining close enough to Traverse City’s dining, shopping, and cultural attractions for easy day trips.

As someone who grew up exploring these dunes, beaches, and trails, Holly brings invaluable local expertise to her role as innkeeper. She knows which trails offer the best sunset views, when to visit popular spots to avoid crowds, and where to find the hidden gems that most tourists never discover. This insider knowledge, freely shared with her guests, transforms a simple stay at a Michigan bed and breakfast into a truly authentic Northern Michigan experience.

Building Community, One Guest at a Time

Over more than 25 years of welcoming travelers to Empire, Holly has witnessed countless stories unfold within the walls of The Cottonwood Inn. First-time visitors to Northern Michigan who fall in love with the area and return year after year. Couples celebrating anniversaries who first stayed during their honeymoons. Families introducing new generations to the beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes. Solo travelers finding peace and restoration in the quiet rhythms of small-town Michigan life.

The carriage house offers additional family-friendly space for larger groups

The guest reviews tell a consistent story: travelers don’t just appreciate the comfortable accommodations and convenient location—they value the personal touches, the genuine care, and the feeling of being welcomed into something special rather than simply checking into a room.

These thoughtful gestures—accommodating motorcyclists, preparing special breakfasts for dietary restrictions, setting up pack-and-plays for traveling families—exemplify the kind of personalized hospitality that defines The Cottonwood Inn experience. They reflect an innkeeper who genuinely cares about her guests’ comfort and happiness.

Evening gatherings around the fire pit create lasting memories

A Testament to Following Your Vision

Looking back on more than a quarter-century of innkeeping, Holly’s journey represents something increasingly rare in our modern world: the fulfillment of a dream that began with recognizing a need in her community and having the courage to fill it. What started as “I would like to have a bed and breakfast of my own” became a beloved Empire institution that has welcomed thousands of travelers and created countless memories.

The transformation of the historic Roen Farm into The Cottonwood Inn represents more than successful renovation—it stands as proof that when someone has the vision to see what’s needed and the dedication to make it happen, they can create something that truly matters. Not just to themselves, but to an entire community and to the thousands of travelers who have discovered Empire, Michigan through Holly’s welcoming hospitality.

For visitors seeking an authentic bed and breakfast experience in Empire, The Cottonwood Inn offers something that can’t be replicated by any hotel or chain accommodation: genuine hospitality from an innkeeper who loves what she does, knows her area intimately, and genuinely enjoys meeting the people who walk through her door.

When you stay at The Cottonwood Inn, you’re not just booking a room at a Sleeping Bear Dunes bed and breakfast—you’re becoming part of a continuing story that began with one woman’s vision to fill a need, grew into a cherished Empire institution, and continues today through every guest who experiences Holly’s warm hospitality and discovers why this corner of Michigan holds such magic.

That’s the kind of legacy built not in months or years, but through decades of dedication, countless conversations, genuine care for every guest, and an unwavering commitment to sharing the best of Empire, Michigan with the world. That’s the story of Holly and The Cottonwood Inn Bed & Breakfast.