Ask Timothy Keohane
THE FIRST TIME ON THE REAL ESTATE MARKET - “THE LOST BOWL” – a 3,800 foot stretch of stunning sugar sand beach nestled along the shore of Lake Superior, on a 72+/- Acre Parcel - is being offered for sale. One of the best properties on the Great Lakes!
It is located in the Village and township of Ontonagon along with the county of Ontonagon, which is located on the south shore of Lake Superior, in the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.Ontonagon (pronounced ON-t-NAH-gn) is named after the Ontonagon River. There are three popular thoughts as to how this name was derived.
One, an early 1672 French Jesuit map identified the river with the name Nantounagon – derived from an Ojibwe language word noojitoon ziibi, meaning “hunting river”. Another theory claims is was named by the native Chippewa after the bowl-like shape of the mouth of the Ontonagon River where it drains in Lake Superior, in their time already a transportation center for early voyagers, missionaries, and explorers. A more delightful legend about the name was told in 1836 to missionary Reverend Frederick Baraga(who journeyed along Lake Superior for 35 years). An Ontonagon settler of Chippewa descent shared that it meant “the place of the bowl”. When a child, his mother told him that many years past, a young girl dropped her wooded bowl in the river and it floated away. She ran along the bank crying “On-tonagon, on-tonagon!”. Which meant “I have lost my bowl!”. This area has years of history. Copper prospectors arrived in the late seventeenth century. Copper mining started here in 1845 with a "boom" period until 1870. Silver was mined in the period from 1873 to 1876. Lumbering (for pine, then hardwood and hemlock) played an important part in the economic development of the area from 1880 to 1900. Today, the County has become known for tourism-related business development.
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, the largest State Park in Michigan, is visited by over 600,000 visitors each year, and is located just 15 miles to the west. Also located in the Park is Lake of the Clouds, one of the most photographed sites in the Upper Peninsula. The Park has endless miles of hiking and cross country ski trails along with downhill skiing and snowshoeing. - The Ottawa National Forest, Lake Gogebic (the U.P.s largest inland lake) numerous water falls, and over 1,200 miles of streams and rivers are located in this County.
Located next to The Lost Bowl is access to miles of ATV Trails (www.mitrale.org) and hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile trails that runs in the area – this trail system interconnects with 2,500 miles of U.P. snowmobile trails, and with Wisconsin’s northern trail system.
Views of the crystal clear waters stretch outward for miles. You can glimpse the Porkies to the west and to the east are The Ontonagon Light House, the river and the Marina, which is within walking distance.
On the other side of the river is the Village of Ontonagon which is a charming village with shops, restaurants, a fitness center, museum and a Theater for the Performing Arts.
The property has about 10+ Acres of some of the most breathtaking sand beach shoreline ever offered for sale as one parcel. You can Beachcomb for miles to find drift wood, polished stones and “Sea Glass” and hear the calming waves lap the shore. Swimming, boating, and fishing for Lake Superior trout, walleye and steelhead can take place at your front door.
You could build your own private beach paradise here, or develop it into smaller shoreline parcels. About 20 Acres of the west-central part of the property is composed of open fields (Hay and Grassland), trails and woods. Approximately 12+ Acres of Mixed Forest, 6+ Acres of Deciduous Forest, and about an Acre of Evergreen Forest.
This property’s southern border is located off Lakeshore Drive. Private Driveways could be created off this main road into this area if a new owner wanted to create an RV Park/campground, tiny home community or residential development there.
The Lost Bowl has access to city water, city sewer and has natural gas available.
The Entrance Area (About 33 Acres) of the property contains a few structures and road ways that were part of the Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (the global paperboard and paper-based packaging company. The Mill, which produced corrugated paper products and ceased operations in September 2009.
This property has so many possibilities!
No matter which Great Lakes waterfront properties you have explored, they won’t compare to “The Lost Bowl” – Schedule Your Private Tour Today!
