This listing has been SOLD and is shown as an example of the kind of properties available in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
When I came to Marquette and looked around for the best place to live, I quickly decided that Middle Island Point was the place I’d like to call home. That was easy!
Unfortunately nothing was available then or for several years thereafter and that has pretty much been its history. This is a place where homes seldom trade. When they do it is usually by word of mouth. Few reach the open market. There are just 56 home sites for the few privileged to share this 562-acre property.
This property has great natural diversity with expansive sand beaches, rock outcrops, and creek deltas along the shore. Further inland there are sandy uplands, wetlands, ponds and bayous. Rocky outcrops dominate parts of it, with old growth pines, hardwoods, and softwoods in others. This habitat diversity is reflected in the variety of birds, animals and plants to be seen and appreciated here. All of it is yours to enjoy.
This home, Middle Island Point 8, is a four-bedroom home with master bath and master bedroom on the main floor. As you would expect there are abundant windows and views of the lake. Off the living room there’s a comfortable sun room that you will love as you sip coffee and watch the sun rise or set. The lower walkout level is half above ground and has windows and fresh air. It includes a family room with a fireplace, three bedrooms and a workshop.
Of course there’s a great sauna. In fitting with its setting and the other homes at MIP this home has plenty of wood inside and out. It’s ranch style, built in the 1930’s and remodeled to meet the needs of its owner. You will likely add your own touches to keep it up with the times and make it yours, as most new owners do.
But if instead you desire to build your own, that is allowed with Board approval and conformance to the MIP zoning. MIP has it’s own zoning restrictions which have been officially adopted by the Township. No vacant sites remain and camps have been added to, renovated, and replaced in the past.
I often ask owners their personal feelings about their property. I asked that of the sibling owners of 8 Middle Island Point and received an outpouring of wonderful memories, more than I’ve ever received before. If you want to understand this property and 95% of the real reasons why you you would be happy here, read the Middle Island Memories below.
You can fly there on Google Earth by pasting 46.589897,-87.426910 into the Google Earth search box. Zoom in and out to see the area.
The Association published a wonderfully detailed and complete History of Middle Island Point in 2002. You’ll read it cover to cover if you come to call this home, but I’ll briefly summarize a few interesting and relevant items from it.
The story of MIP begins in 1891 when Mrs. Alice Adams began construction of her camp on land then owned by the U.S. Government for lighthouse purposes. Over the years 27 others followed and built camps of their own. Amazingly, for 25 years no one questioned their right to build on Government land. It was a different time, I guess. A Department of Commerce Inspector reported these encroachments in 1916, but fortunately for the campers who had built he recommended that the property be abandoned for lighthouse purposes.
A public auction was held in Detroit in 1917. The cottage owners, guessing that a distant auction would be lightly attended, sent a representative armed with three checks. $1,500 was the minimum bid. The checks were for $1,505, $2,005, and $2,505. No other buyer appeared and no bids were submitted by mail. So this waterfront land, which at that time included 42 acres, was purchased with the $1,505 check.
Until a road for automobiles was built in 1922, access to the camps was by horse drawn vehicles or by boat. Even after the road was built, the trip to Marquette took 45 minutes to an hour in 1924, not the 7 minutes or less that it takes today. Snowplowing started in 1929. The road on the property was paved around 1987 and electric power was extended to the Point in 1910.
Over the years eight land acquisitions have added to the Association’s land, which now includes 561.7 acres, as estimated by the Marquette County Equalization Department. This includes all of Partridge Island, which is about 107.8 acres in size, 2.45 miles around, and rises to 816 feet above sea level at it’s peak, 213 feet above Lake Superior. You’ll kayak or boat there to picnic or walk the trails. From the island to the nearest rocks on the Point is just over a third of a mile.
MIP is a stock corporation owned by its members, led by elected officers. The Board handles insurance requirements, environmental concerns, liability issues, maintenance of property, refuse, plowing, corporate fees, membership, licensing and business communications, announcements, and election information. It has at times addressed shoreline erosion, zoning, traffic, animal control and more.
The name Middle Island Point comes from Middle Island to the east of the Point. That island is owned by the government and has been set aside and used for quarry purposes in the construction of Marquette’s breakwaters.
Walking the two beaches is popular after dinner but a half hour hike up Silver Birch Trail or Top-of-the-World Trail for an overview of the entire point and bay, or perhaps a midday picnic there with the children is a wonder and a delight. For the stout of heart much longer hikes to Sugar Loaf or Hog’s Back Mountain provide a good workout and spectacular views of the area.
So is this a place that can improve your lifestyle and bring peace of mind? Possibly. Can it change the direction of your life, in a good way? Perhaps it will. Come see it. If you are enchanted as you are highly likely to be, then make this place yours. You’ll love this remarkable community called Middle Island Point.
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Memories of Middle Island Point
As a child growing up and spending the whole summer there (when it was just a “camp”), I remember living all day long in my swimsuit, building castles in the sand, digging in the sand until we got to water, canoeing, walking over and over down to the “creek” where we could build damns and sit in the warm water (compared to Lake Superior) and play “house” on the rocks – there were different rooms formed naturally by the cuts in the rocks – we would even bring our Barbie’s down there sometimes. The Gassers (from Gary Indiana) own the big “Lodge” up just past the creek and we loved to be invited there for birthday parties. They also had boats and were often out skiing or cruising during the 2 or 3 weeks they would come up. We hiked a lot on the rocks at either end of our beach – there are nice paths that go up among the rocks and places to sunbathe or jump off into the water.
Water skiing was always a favorite activity for our neighbors and us. Tubing wasn’t such a big deal yet but Mr. Brebner always had a huge inner tube that we would drag in the water and jump on or leave on the beach and jump on. Many hours were spent doing that. We also had canoes, which occasionally took us to the island out in front of my Dad’s property called “Partridge Island”. I will always remember camping there when I was in the 7th grade with 3 of my friends – it was quite an adventure and made us feel like we were really outdoor girls. There were also coves on the island for swimming in (McCarty’s Bathtub) and having picnics. I remember hiking from one end of the island to the other and looking for Eagle’s nests that were high up in trees.
At night there were bonfires and smores or games of kick the can in the driveways and woods. Secret Rock was a place down the road we could go to get away. There are vast amounts of trails in the woods across from the houses. They are perfect for walking dogs, hiking, running, mountain biking, etc. There are bridges over water and lookouts to see wildlife and in the winter, frozen ponds for ice-skating. Second Beach was just down the road and across the street in case we wanted to venture further (this leads out to Presque Isle). There were hanging swings down there across the river (ropes and inner-tubes) and more climbing on rocks.
As a young adult we always loved going home to Middle Island Point. We spent many evenings at the picnic table in front watching the sunset, drinking Margarita’s, talking and soaking up the beauty and peacefulness that surrounds living in that spot. It was a special place to go home to and cannot be replaced. Family reunions were amazing and we always gathered to celebrate my Dad’s birthday there at the end of May.
Then when we had children, all the above stories started over again. Our babies loved being on the beach and playing in the water and sand. They would go to bed exhausted from all the fresh air. I forgot to mention all the blueberries that grow out there. That was a fun activity as well – picking blueberries to be made into pie or pancakes. Also, collecting driftwood to make into projects or toys. The list is endless of things to do while living in a place like Middle Island Point. Walking the beach is a commonly seen activity and unlike many properties, this is a long and unpopulated beach with beautiful sand and quiet waves lapping on feet. I remember starting a walk barely being able to get my feet wet because of the COLD water but by the end of my walk, I would be up to my ankles loving the feel of the soothing water.
Katie
One of my favorite memories was a summer ritual that I still crave. Saturdays in August started with us kids going out to pick a cup of blueberries each (which didn’t involve leaving the property) and then my Dad would make yummy blueberry pancakes and that evening we would have homemade blueberry pie for dessert. I have never had blueberry pancakes or pie that could come close to the deliciousness that those fresh blueberries provided at MIP. I am still trying to get blueberry bushes to grow in my yard here in Traverse City, but there is no way to duplicate the natural bushes at MIP!
Another memory is one that recurred almost every year for at least 20 years. On my father’s birthday we would gather at MIP and celebrate his birthday with a family meal and the same angel food cake covered in strawberries. He would always sit at the head of the table with his back to the lake and we would take a picture of him every year with his smile, his cake and the beautiful lake in the background.
One of the favorite things to do at MIP was to sit in the dining room or on the front porch looking out over the lake and watch a summer storm brewing and slowing coming across the lake. What a magnificent display of Mother Nature can be seen from the front porch of MIP.
Pam
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of having been blessed with growing up and living there is the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding landscape views. I tell friends our ‘playground’ was the most beautiful place I have ever experienced. We spend many days on hikes up to Sugar Loaf Mountain. You also have great views of Little Presque Isle, Gull Island, Granite Rock Lighthouse, Partridge Island. I personally feel the location of the house on 8 Middle Island Point offers the best views of all.
I will always remember paddling canoes and boating to the various islands, sailing point to point and swimming in the big waves. The surrounding woods and forest have numerous, quaint trails to walk, hike, and run for exercise or comforting relaxation. We had many bonfires on the beach, had birthday parties and there were many, many family occasions which centered in and outdoors simply because it felt like more than just a home. It was a place to truly live and experience life.
Over the years I saw plenty of deer, fox, seagulls, bald eagles and the occasional black bear wander down Middle Island Point road, along the house through the trees, on the beach and even on the ice waves and cover on the lake in front of the house.
The Middle Island Point Camper’s Association Community was nice to be part of because of the many nice and prosperous families with whom we became very close. I believe this location is truly priceless. I would challenge anyone to find a better spot to call home in the U.P.
My life has been enriched in so many ways. Whether it be inspiring sunsets or powerful storms over the bay, I always felt time stood still in those moments, as if truly understanding the power of the moment pulled you in like a comforting hug from Mother Nature herself.
To this day, my brother Wally and his family paddle out to Partridge Island for lunch or to jump off points into the coves with his kids, as we did when we were young. The change of seasons is more remarkable than any place I’ve experienced. We bundled up in blizzards and walked the beach, Middle Island Point road, plus cross-country skied and ran snowmobiles all over the area. My friends outside of Marquette hardly comprehend Middle Island Point’s endless attributes.
Brett
