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 Huey Real Estate, LLC 1-800 SEE-HUEY PO Box 146 Marquette, MI 49855 p: 906-228-8889 f: 906-228-3831 e: huey@upwaterfront.com |
Page CenterPage Center was created as an Episcopal summer camp on a stunning parcel of land acquired by Bishop Herman Page in the 1950’s. It is located 25 miles south of Marquette, 4 miles east of Gwinn on strangely named “Little Lake”. This large, anything but little 448-acre lake is actually one of the larger natural lakes in the U.P. and is also one of the best with clear water, a sandy bottom, a peaceful pine-rimmed shoreline, and several islands. At its deepest points water depths reach 50 feet. The islands in a lake of this size and quality present a setting that is unusually fine and unforgettable.  Some great glacier from the north created a feature called a “Kettle Pond” on the property and Page Center created a Bog Walk Trail to make use of it. Both the pond and the trail are unique features that offer interesting scientific and educational opportunities. The Bog Walk Trail borders half of this one and extends a full quarter of a mile entirely on the property. The entrance to Page Center is directly off of M-35. A well maintained gravel access road winds half a mile through beautifully forested land to your arrival point at Kelsey Cottage, the lodge by the shore. Kelsey Cottage was extensively and beautifully remodeled in 2007 at a cost of over $330,000 including furnishings and at the same time an additional $75,000 was spent on additional campus upgrades for a total of $405,000. Page Center has it’s own website that presents an excellent overview of the property and its current operation. Click on it here at pagecenter.org. As there is no need to duplicate this material, I will focus instead on other features and benefits of the property and what might come next. The facility was first offered to nonprofits,  church groups, youth camps, wedding and reception, family reunions and gatherings in 2007. That has been very successful. In 2008, the first full season, 30 groups with 900 people used it. Last year, in a year when many facilities felt the effects of a troubled national economy, those numbers instead grew nicely to 41 groups with 1,235 users, a 37% increase. There appears to be good demand for this fine, well-managed property and usage could continue to grow and perhaps grow substantially if its operation could be expanded from seasonal to year-round use. Both Kelsey Cottage and the Chapel are already in use year round. Currently the improvements include the main Lodge, “Kelsey Cottage” with 1,880 Sq. Ft.; the dining Hall with 1,680 sq. ft.; the 1,344 sq. ft. Pavilion; eight cabins, 221 sq. ft. each, outfitted to sleep six and all have fireplaces; a 714 sq. ft. bath house; a 1,200 sq. ft. Chapel with a full basement, and a 1,200 SF Caretaker’s house with free standing 24x24’ garage. Wells, septic systems, roads and parking areas service these structures.  Several users have written letters of thanks for the excellence of their experience here and one of these from the U.P. Diabetes Outreach Network may be downloaded here. If you are interested in the property you should read it.It is an advantage to be near Marquette, the largest city in the Upper Peninsula with a strong regional hospital, a jet airport within 8 miles of Page Center, and many city services and conveniences. The Marquette area has received national publicity as one of the nation’s “Most Livable Communities.” Bike Magazine called Marquette to be one of “The 5 Best Places to Live & Ride.” And as write, Marquette has what appears to be an insurmountable lead in the voting for the #1 spot in the “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” competition sponsored by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is a wonderful place to be with a tremendous variety of quality outdoor recreational opportunities. Many groups have already made reservations at Page Center for the 2010 season, which runs through October, including the diocesan youth camp. The diocese will honor those reservations and rent more if possible for the coming summer season. The Trust Association has contracted with Les Bek, the Director of the Page Center for the past three years, to operate the facilities through the year 2010.  The next owner will likely be another organization using it for their own needs full time, or another non-profit using it part time and renting it out as it has been rented these last few years, or a non-profit operating it year round for a combination of uses. For-profit rental is not allowed under the current township zoning.It could also become a family compound, a place where many generations come together as the years pass. It is hoped that a new user can be found that will continue the tradition of a place where the land is tread on lightly and respect is given to the environment and to the neighbors. $825,000 More Information About This Listing U.P. Diabetes Outreach Network More Photos Click on any thumbnail to view a larger image! 
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