The Ultimate Guide to Park Model Cabins for Michigan Campground Owners

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Michigan is built for camping.

Great Lakes. Forests. Small towns. The U.P. And a camping culture strong enough to rank Michigan among the top states in the country for camping quality, access, and safety. 

That’s good news—it also means lots of competition!

If you own a campground in Michigan, you’re not just selling a place to park an RV. You’re selling comfort, experience, and memories. That’s where authentic log park model cabins (park model homes) come in.

Lancaster Log Cabins builds solid-wood, Amish-built park model homes that ship all over Michigan—from Grand Traverse County to Mackinac, Marquette, Muskegon, and Ontonagon Counties. Think of them as tiny homes on wheels—but built like a true log cabin, and ideal for the Michigan market.

In this guide, we’ll explain why park model cabins work well in Michigan and review the state’s campground regulations—especially how they apply to RV-class cabins—along with site prep, utilities, and setup details. We’ll also examine a simple ROI example using realistic Michigan numbers, and some design and placement ideas that fit your park.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

TL;DR - Park Model Cabins for Michigan Campground Owners

  • High Demand, High Rates: Michigan's strong outdoor economy and demand for glamping allow park model cabins to command significantly higher nightly rates than standard RV sites.
  • Permitting is Simplified: The cabins are classified as RVs (under 400 sq. ft. on a chassis), which streamlines permitting under Michigan's Part 125 campground rules and avoids full building permits.
  • Strong ROI: With an estimated all-in cost of approximately $90,000, the cabins deliver an excellent ROI, with a projected payback period of roughly 4–6 years.
  • Durable and Turnkey: Lancaster Log Cabins are built with solid wood, turnkey construction that can handle Michigan's four-season climate and are delivered ready to rent, much faster than on-site construction.

Why Park Model Cabins Make Sense in Michigan

Michigan’s outdoor economy is massive. Outdoor recreation contributed nearly $14 billion to Michigan’s economy recently, with RVing alone adding over $800 million. 

That shows up in your world as:

  • High demand for camping and RV sites

  • Fully booked peak seasons

  • Rising interest in glamping, tiny homes, and traditional cabin stays. In fact, USA Today ranked two Michigan glamping spots as some of the best in the country.
Interior of a park model cabin featuring vaulted pine ceilings, ceiling fan, large glass doors, and open living space designed for campground rentals.

Park model cabins let you ride that wave rather than just watch it pass.

Compared to a standard RV or tent site:

  • You can charge higher nightly rates

  • You can extend your season into spring and fall.

  • You attract guests who want nature and comfort—“cabin people,” not just “RV people.”

And because Lancaster’s units are RV-classified park model homes on wheels, you get many of the benefits of a permanent cabin without the headache of building a new structure from scratch. 

To see how Lancaster positions these specifically for your state, start with:

Those pages are the “hub” for Michigan campground owners.

Michigan Campground Rules: Where Park Models Fit

Before you order your first cabin, you need to know how Michigan regulates campgrounds.

The big picture: Part 125

Michigan campgrounds are regulated under Part 125 of the Public Health Code (Act 368 of 1978) and are under the purview of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

A few essential points you need to pay attention to:

  • If you offer five or more campsites or recreational units, you need a campground license from EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy).

  • In addition, you must get a construction permit from EGLE before building a new campground or making significant changes, like adding a new loop of sites.
  • Finally, to maintain health and safety standards, local health departments often handle inspections and help enforce the rules on EGLE’s behalf. 

EGLE recently released “Starting a New Campground,” a guidance document that walks through timelines, submittals, and site planning. 

So, where do park model cabins fit?

Park model cabins = RVs in the campground world

Lancaster’s units are park model RVs. That means:

  • They’re built on a single chassis with wheels

  • They’re under 400 sq. ft.

  • They’re classified and treated as recreational vehicles, not stick-built houses.
Modern park model cabin on wheels with metal roof, covered front porch, and outdoor seating area for campground or resort use.

On a licensed campground, these units usually count as “recreational units” or “camping cabins,” which are explicitly allowed as long as the park meets all Part 125 requirements.

In practice, this means:

  • Your main permitting focus is on the campground site (roads, water, sewer, spacing), not a full building permit for each cabin.

  • You should coordinate early with EGLE and your local health department to confirm how they want cabins categorized and how utilities should be handled.

Tip: When you call, use simple language like:

“We’re planning to add several park model RV cabins on licensed sites. They’re under 400 sq. ft., on wheels, and factory-built.”

This frames the project clearly and helps regulators connect it to the RV rules they already know.

Site Prep, Utilities, and Setup in Michigan

Once the paperwork path is clear, you can start planning sites that actually work in Michigan’s climate.

Pads and access

Think of each cabin site as a premium RV site.

You’ll usually want:

  • A compacted gravel pad slightly larger than the cabin footprint

  • Space for a small parking area near the cabin

  • A delivery path wide and clear enough for a mobile home hauler (tight turns and low branches are your enemy) 

Lancaster’s service areas map shows all the Michigan counties they already serve, including Grand Traverse, Muskegon, Marquette, Mackinac, and Ontonagon. 

Utilities in a four-season state

Michigan experiences hot, humid summers and severe winter cold. Your cabin utility plan has to handle both.

Most campgrounds choose:

  • 50-amp electric service per cabin

  • Pressurized water line (buried below frost depth)

  • Sewer connection or shared advanced onsite system

To protect your investment:

  • Use insulated skirting around the cabin to keep floors warmer and protect pipes.

  • Install heat tape or insulation on exposed lines in colder regions, such as Marquette or Ontonagon Counties.

  • Plan a clear winterization routine if you don’t operate year-round.
Coastal-style park model cabin with covered porch, light blue siding, and metal roof designed for waterfront or lakeside campgrounds.

Delivery and “day one” setup

The guest-ready part is simple. Lancaster ships your park model cabin as a turnkey unit—walls, roof, kitchen, bathroom, and interior all done at the factory. 

Your job is to:

  • Have the pad and utilities ready

  • Ensure a clear delivery route.

  • Handle local inspections and final hookups.

Do that, and you go from bare ground to a rentable cabin much faster than building a stick-frame structure on-site.

An ROI Example for Michigan Campgrounds

Let’s run some simple numbers to show how this plays out.

These are example numbers. You’ll want to plug in your own rates and seasons.

Upfront cost (ballpark)

For one real log park model home in Michigan, you might see:

  • Cabin purchase: $60,000–$75,000 (model and options matter)

  • Site prep, utilities, and pad: $10,000–$15,000

  • Delivery and setup: a few thousand dollars, depending on distance and access

Let’s call it $90,000 all-in for easy math.

Revenue assumptions

Michigan campgrounds are busy. The DNR recently celebrated the one millionth camp night of 2025 at state parks, and nightly campsite rates typically range from $26–$45 for standard sites. 

A real log cabin with a bathroom, kitchenette, and porch is a different product. It can command a higher rate.

Park model cabin in a forest setting with illuminated interior, covered porch, and mountain backdrop ideal for seasonal campground rentals.

Let’s assume:

  • Average nightly rate: $150

  • Occupancy: 200 nights per year (about 55%)

You can adjust this up or down for your market. Popular tourist areas, such as Grand Traverse County or shoreline areas in Muskegon County, may justify higher occupancy rates. 

Gross annual revenue

  • 200 nights × $150 = $30,000/year

Operating costs (rough estimate)

Per cabin, per year:

  • Utilities (power, water, propane): ~$2,000

  • Cleaning and supplies: ~$3,000

  • Maintenance and minor repairs: ~$1,500

  • Insurance and booking fees: ~$1,500

Total: ~$8,000/year

Net income

  • $30,000 gross – $8,000 expenses ≈ $22,000/year net

At that pace, your payback period is roughly 4–6 years, depending on your exact costs and occupancy.

Even if you’re more conservative—say:

  • 160 nights booked

  • $140 average nightly rate

You still often land in the 5–8 year payback range, which is strong for a long-lived, solid-wood asset that can easily last 30–50 years with good maintenance.

Designing Cabins That Fit Michigan Guests

Now the fun part: what the cabins actually look and feel like.

Lancaster focuses on real log construction—walls, ceilings, floors, and even many of the built-ins are solid timber.

Park model cabin interior with loft bedroom, full kitchen, wood finishes, and space-efficient layout for extended stays

That gives you a true “up north” vibe that works everywhere from:

  • Family campgrounds near Traverse City

  • Lake Michigan destinations in Muskegon County

  • Hunting and fishing camps in the U.P. (think Marquette, Mackinac, and Ontonagon Counties) (Lancaster Log Cabins)

A few layout ideas that work well:

  • Family cabins with lofts

    • One private bedroom

    • Loft space for kids or extra guests

    • Ideal for week-long summer stays

  • Couples’ retreats

    • Open-concept layouts

    • Big porch, nice bathroom, cozy living area

    • Perfect for shoulder seasons and romantic getaways

  • View cabins

    • Extra windows toward the lake, pond, or woods

    • Larger porches or outdoor seating

Want a real-world visual? Check out this Adirondack Park Model Cabin in Bark River, MI:
It’s a great example of how one cabin can feel high-end, yet still very “Michigan.”

A Lancaster Park Model Cabin For Your Campground

In a state as naturally beautiful and camping-focused as Michigan, standing out means offering something truly special. Park model log cabins are not just a trend—they are a high-return, long-term asset that transforms your park’s revenue potential and guest experience.

Classifying them as RVs simplifies the permitting process while delivering the "up north" comfort guests crave. From the Upper Peninsula's rugged camps to the family-friendly shores of Lake Michigan, a real log cabin offers higher nightly rates, extends your profitable season, and attracts a premium guest demographic.

Multiple park model cabins lined along a lake at a Michigan campground, showcasing rental-ready cabin layouts for outdoor resorts

So don't just sit by and watch the glamping and tiny home wave go by. Take the next step and contact Lancaster Log Cabins today. It’s time to move from planning to profitability and give your Michigan campground guests the authentic log cabin experience they will remember for years.

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