More about Petcuson and Third Lakes, 140 Acres
Petcuson Lake is picture-perfect, surrounded by beautiful red and white pines. The lake is 10 acres and 15-25 feet deep with plentiful bluegill, bass and perch; turtles sun on logs all around. A brand new Roll-A-Dock makes for easy access to the water. There’s a walking trail along one side, and up above a handsome wood-sided cabin sits amid the trees. The cabin has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a lovely screened-in porch/sunroom, a woodstove, and a deck overlooking the lake.
Third Lake is different…it’s wilder. Itis about 20 acres and approximately 10-15 feet deep. You can hike to a high site in the pines (we can see a small cabin or gazebo nestled there), and we suggest leaving a canoe or boat for easy access.
While technically these lakes are not completely contained within the boundaries of the property, for all practical purposes they are wholly private. In fifteen years, the owner has never seen anyone else come to Petcuson Lake. The state owns a small piece of frontage, and another gentleman with 80 acres nearby may own a few feet – he comes to his property twice a year, and is rumored to be willing to sell.
Third Lake is almost entirely contained within the parcel, although the southwest corner does appear to touch another owner’s forty. Nevertheless, there is no road access to that corner and that side of the lake is wetland.
It’s a fun twenty-minute hike from lake to lake along a marked foot trail. The entrance to the property is off of a county road, and the owner has legal and insurable access.
Current owners’ reflections:
When my wife and I initially saw this property, the first thing that captivated us were the trees. Heavy stands of towering, straight, old-growth Red pines are the dominant species, along with a good amount of Grandfather whites.
The next part of the property we fell in love with was the northern Lake. That was easy. Crystal clear water that never sees a motor. Roughly 10 acres in size with undulating and irregular shorelines. More than 20 feet deep, and loaded with fish. Completely engulfed in gorgeous, mature forest. No manicured, grassy lawns. Exactly the way Northwoods lakes are supposed to be, as far as we’re concerned.
The final thing we noticed and what sealed the deal for us, was the exceptional privacy and silence. We have come to believe that this is the most precious commodity in today’s busy world. And, an important but often overlooked attribute when looking at recreational properties.
That was more than 15 years ago. The story is too long to capture here, but over those 15 years, the original 80-acre property that we first purchased has grown to roughly 140 acres in a contiguous block, running 1 mile north to south. The additional acreage was obtained as a result of our very intentional efforts, negotiating with both the State of Michigan and a timber company. The result of that work is far more than just an additional 60 acres. Aside from giving us more forest, larger buffers, and even more privacy, it gave us something really precious and unique for UP camps: a second lake at the southern end of the property. The Marquette County plat book shows that this lake is likely just shy of exclusively contained on the property, but for all intents and purposes, it is a whole lake. There is no structure or improvement of any kind, and the only part of the shore that is in question is not and will never be suitable for building. At 18-19 acres of surface water, it is roughly double the size of the northern lake on the property. We refer to this part of the property as our very own “wilderness lake,” and along with its ever-present waterfowl and wildlife, it sure fits the bill.
The last part of our story with this property is the cabin. When we first bought the property, the cabin was unattractive and barely habitable (although we used it that way for several years). About 10 years ago, we completely gutted it from the studs out with the help of a very skilled, local woodworker and craftsman who had a personal connection with the property going back to his boyhood, and who became a very good friend. Warm and attractive Red cedar siding all the way around the cabin, new hickory flooring throughout, a new lakeside deck, new screened in porch, all new windows, tongue and groove pine interior walls, new masonry on the foundation and inside behind the stove, accent tile work on the inside, and last but not least – a very nice and functional “camp bathroom” that makes all the difference in the world when spending several days at a time. About the only thing original that was left were the gas appliances and the awesome, old wood burning stove that heats the small cabin beautifully. In the summer of 2017, all of the Cedar siding along with the deck and railings were washed, treated, and stained. Currently, we are installing a new 4 x 20 foot maintenance-free, composite, roll in dock to replace the old wooden dock that has finally given up its fight with the lake.
Our connection to and affection for this property is really difficult to describe. However, circumstances change. It is time for someone else who has the same kind of appreciation, but much more time and opportunity, to enjoy it and become the caretaker for this incredibly special place.
$425,000, a great price for a turn key, family friendly, unique getaway so close to Marquette!
