Kalkaska County Gems

Favorite Places and Spaces, from Mary Janik:

When I chose to make Kalkaska County my home it was because of all the natural resources and recreational opportunities that were readily available. I am someone who needs to get outside in the fresh air and sunshine for a daily walk, preferably in a beautiful unspoiled place. There are so many nearby, but here are a few of my favorites, all protected by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (Descriptions courtesy gtrlc.org).

Seven Bridges: Protected & Managed by The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, owned by the State of Michigan.

Once slated for subdivision, this amazing place is now a jewel for all to enjoy. Known for its beautiful rustic bridges with over a mile of frontage on the Rapid River, this property is truly enchanting. A

	gtrlc.org

trail and boardwalk wander through cedar trees to the bridges spanning the Rapid River and many of the tributaries that braid together here. The remains of a sawmill built in 1882 can still be seen when crossing the first three bridges. Despite its name, only four bridges exist today. There are 2 loop hikes which are serene and beautiful and typically not heavily used.

South Boardman Preserve: Protected by The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, owned & managed by Boardman Township.

Visitors to this property will find hiking trails, bridges over creeks and rivers, a viewing platform and interpretive signs marking tree species. The path wanders through many landscapes including Hemlock Forest, Red Pine Plantation and Cedar Swamp. Its a beautiful property encompassing Boardman River headwaters.

Skegemog Wildlife Area: Protected & Managed by The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, owned by the State of Michigan.

Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area (SLWA), encompassing much of the southern end of Skegemog Lake, offers a wealth of non-motorized outdoor recreation opportunities within a uniquely diverse property teeming with plant and animal life.

Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve.

Open to the Public on July 25th with a Preservation Celebration and Property Grand Opening. 

Rarely does the Conservancy have the opportunity to protect a place a special as the former Camp Tapico in central Kalkaska County. This property, owned and operated by the Boy Scouts for about 80 years, spans an impressive 1,288 acres and includes a wide variety of high-quality wildlife habitat. Of particular interest is the near complete lack of invasive species, making this property extremely valuable from a conservation standpoint.

In addition to about a mile of the north branch of the Manistee River, this property includes its own 130-acre spring-fed lake, multiple types of wetland habitat and several kettle-hole ponds. The property supports a large number of species, including loons, bald eagles, smooth green snakes and other species of special concern.

Standing Out

Standing Out

It’s that time of year in the real estate business that many clients decide to take their home or property off the market, thinking that people might not be in the mood to trudge through the elements to seek out their new place.  As a REALTOR®, I tell my clients that this is really the best time of year to list and sell their property, primarily due to low inventory. As others pull listings, theirs will stand out, and those that stand out from the crowd have a greater chance of being noticed, and purchased.

Among those standouts in the small, quaint town of Rapid City is an amazing equestrian estate.  This home and property is surrounded by some of the most amazing inland lakes in northern Michigan, most notably Torch Lake, famous for its crystal clear Caribbean turquoise water. The village of Rapid City is a step back in time to a lifestyle that eschews the trappings of a 21st century pace and encourages a slow-down. Just a hop, skip, and jump to the communities of Elk Rapids and Traverse City, these and other points not far away afford access to some of the finest restaurants, wineries, hiking and biking locales, kayaking/canoeing waters, and so much more.

If you want to try out a lifestyle of hobby farming, horsing around on your expansive acreage, or planning an indoor hunter/jumper or dressage show, this home has your name on the mailbox and the welcome mat is awaiting your arrival.

The two-story home is loaded with amenities such as granite countertops throughout, home office, game/exercise room, high-end finishes, and an enormous custom kitchen, all within an open concept ensuring everyone feels connected.  The expansive kitchen, dining, and living rooms look out to the heated swimming pool and recreation areas with tidy landscaping. The main floor features a master suite with a handsome private bathroom with jetted tub and ceramic tile floor. The lower level has changing rooms and showers, a work out area and multilevel decking for entertaining or some family down-time. The scenery is breathtaking with wide, open meadows, distant hardwood forests, rolling countryside, and neighboring pasture and stable.  The adjacent 50 acres is also available for sale and is ideally setup as an equestrian's dream with riding trails, opportunity to hunt with either a gun or camera, and/or hobby farming. Click here to see more and I'll meet you there to start your guided tour!

Vince Edwards, REALTOR®

vince@homewaters.net

231-715-9037

Boardman Lake View Condominium

Downtown Traverse City Condo

Convenient access to everything via

Boardman Lake trail right out the front door

Top 5 Reasons Lake Mitchell should be Your new Home Waters

Check out the sunsets! If you aren't convinced already, below are 10 reasons Lake Mitchell is as good as it gets in the great Up North!

1. 2580 acres of fertile fishing ground for bass, walleye, panfish, and the northern pike. With varying depths, the lake has 10-12ft typical weedline. Fishing is great year round!

2. Connected to Lake Cadillac by the historic canal, this creates over 3700 acres of vacation like lifestyle. Boating, fishing, and beaches galore! Come check out the lake breezes in your hair while you drink your morning coffee or enjoy an evening bonfire.

3.  Cadillac offers great dining (Hermann's European Cafe, Blue Heron, Lakeside Charlies, Passage North), boutiques downtown (Blossom, Serendipity), big box stores at the North end, two breweries (Clam Lake, Raven Brewing - coming soon!) and wine tasting rooms (Cadillac Winery tasting room, Rosa Blanca, Table 212)! The updated Rotary Arts Pavilion offers lots of entertainment in the warm weather months, and you can even rent it to watch your own projected movie! The Commons offers lush landscaping, a splash pad, and gorgeous fire pit for a picnic or hosting a gathering. The Commons hosts many of the area's festivals. Parks, trails, and recreation entertainment galore!

4. Mitchell State Park offers great sandy beachfront on Lake Mitchell for additional/overflow visitors! Or just to stop for a picnic. Campers enjoy beautiful views, canal fishing, Carl T Johnson center just across the road, and a new Launch by the Cadillac Leadership team for kayaks and canoes!

5. Not just a summer destination!! In the colder Michigan months, Lake Mitchell is an awesome location for ice fishing or skating! It's also just minutes from Caberfae Ski resort, miles and miles or cross country ski trails and snowmobile trails! Don't forget the North American Snowmobile Festival hosted in Cadillac.

Check out this home on Lake Mitchell that could be yours!! Click here for more information.


If this isn't your dream home, but you're certain Lake Mitchell is a contender in the search for your Home Waters, click here for more Lake Mitchell real estate.