Four private Michigan islands spanning 520 acres hit the market for $2.3 million; the deal includes a home, two boats and land protected by a conservation easement

A private group of four islands covering 520 acres along the US-Canada border has been listed for $2.3 million. The sale includes a renovated home, machinery, two boats and a mainland dock slip. Located in Potagannissing Bay and the St Marys River near Drummond Island, the property includes Burnt Island, Wilson Island, Claw Island and Harris Island, according to the New York Post and listing brokers Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors and @properties. Burnt Island makes up most of the property and contains the main home and other facilities. Wilson, Claw and Harris Islands form a smaller group nearby. The large estate combines private wilderness with permanent conservation protections and offers about 2,000 feet of waterfront along northern Michigan’s international water boundary.

Turnkey residence with panoramic water views

The main home sits on the southern tip of Burnt Island and offers 270-degree views of the surrounding waterways and shipping lanes. Originally built as an island retreat, the 2,131-square-foot house was fully renovated inside and outside between 2017 and 2018. The home has three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. It is being sold turnkey, with furnishings and working equipment included in the sale. “If you have ever dreamed of owning your own island, here’s your chance to own four!” the listing from Gaslight Group Properties and Coldwell Banker says. “Set along the picturesque northern border in the St Mary’s River & Potagannissing Bay, this group of islands is truly special.” The sale also includes a utility truck, a Kubota tractor with a brush hog attachment, a riding lawn mower, a separate sauna building and two motorboats to help with maintenance and travel between the islands. The property’s two main docks and protective breakwalls were rebuilt between 2022 and 2023. The sale also comes with a dedicated boat slip at DeTour Village on the Michigan mainland, providing regular access to the islands.

Environmental protection and native wildlife corridors

One of the main features of the 520-acre property is the balance between private use and long-term environmental protection. About 420 acres across the four islands are covered by a permanent conservation easement held by the Little Traverse Conservancy, a regional land trust in northern Michigan. The easement prevents future commercial subdivision and major construction, helping protect native forests and wildlife habitats. The owner still has about 100 acres of unrestricted land around the home, outbuildings and shorelines for private recreation and personal use. “Most of the 520 acres is protected by a conservation easement with Little Traverse Conservancy but about 100 of the acres and the shorelines are yours to explore,” according to the official Northern Michigan MLS listing. The islands feature private walking trails, wild fruit orchards with apple and crabapple trees, milkweed meadows and quiet coves. Wildlife commonly seen on the islands and nearby waters includes bald eagles, sandhill cranes, red foxes, otters, beavers, coyotes and white-tailed deer. The waters around Potagannissing Bay are also an established fishing area, supporting native populations of walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and cisco.

Remote border real estate market dynamics

The property is a rare offering in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where large groups of privately owned islands rarely come up for sale. Located about 2,000 feet from the official maritime border between the United States and Canada, the islands offer privacy while remaining close to major Great Lakes shipping routes. People staying on Burnt Island can often watch commercial Great Lakes freighters travelling through the nearby St Marys River channel, which connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron. Real estate agents who specialise in northern Michigan waterfront properties say turnkey island estates with mainland facilities, such as dedicated marina slips, can command higher prices because of the challenges of maintaining remote properties. Listing agents Sam DeCamp and Anna DeCamp of Gaslight Group Properties are continuing to show the property to potential buyers looking for private conservation retreats.