Lincoln Lodge FTW
We often convey tales of helping buyers get the perfect property, or sellers finding the ideal buyer for their lifelong home. Sometimes it's the property that is the big winner and that's exactly the case with Lincoln Lodge. Located at the confluence of the North Branch and Mainstream of the Au Sable River east of Grayling, the lodge was originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge. It's an iconic building for those floating the river as the lodge itself is perched high on a ridge overlooking the confluence and Mac's Island.
As with many centennial properties, the lodge had a string of owners and periods of high use and runs of quiet years. It was surely bustling in the first half of the last century as sports hunted deer, grouse, and turkey between floats in Au Sable long boats chasing rainbow, brook, and brown trout, all introduced when the Grayling disappeared. Those same chairs they sat in while smoking cigars and telling tales of their days on the water still sit on the screened porch overlooking the river. More recently it was in the hands of a single owner who spent little time at the property and eventually decided to find the next owner. It was mostly quiet and both the land and buildings were suffering from deferred maintenance. It had become a shadow of its former self.
Last winter, that all changed when, in January, a group of three long-time friends and fishing buddies pooled their resources to purchase the lodge. I could almost hear the lodge breathe a sigh of relief. These three are all cut from the same cloth. Time in the outdoors spent with family and friends is the priority when they're not working hard at building their own respective businesses. They're exactly who the lodge was hoping for. One a restaurateur, another a landscape architect, and the third a custom home builder, they were perfectly suited to bring this place back and have a grand time doing it.
I've had the absolute pleasure of watching through photo text chains and on social media the amazing transformation of the property that is now teeming with laughter and once again generating lifelong memories for its residents. The trails are once again alive with evening hikes, afternoon trail rides, and skinned knees. New fields have been planted to feed the local grouse, deer, and turkey. A stunning new fire pit overlooking the river is the new home for fishing tales about "Vidosh 20's". I'm also sure the neighbors have noticed these guys know what they're doing behind a fly rod as they learn each nook and cranny of their newfound home waters. Mostly it's the photos of their kids and grandkids that lets you know this property hit the jackpot. There's no doubt that this property will shape who these families become.
As the kids grow through their school years, into their working years, eventually find spouses and grow families of their own, I have no doubt they'll always make time to get back to Lincoln Lodge to recharge. For the parents to be able to watch all of this happen in the coming decades while gathered in the porch, around the fire or in the seat of a driftboat, it will provide an immense sense of pride that their decision to buy this property affected it all. Congrats John, Donn, and Eric. Well played...
Congrats also to all of those lucky buyers who found their dream home this last year and to all those sellers who were able to take advantage of the strong market and realize a fruitful sale of their home. Most importantly, congrats to Lincoln Lodge and all those other properties that ended up in the hands of someone who will be a true property steward and dive in making memories while putting in the work to help them realize their true potential.
