FENTON, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own slice of Michigan paradise – perhaps a wooded retreat, a quiet patch of shoreline, or even an actual island – this summer might be your moment.
According to a recent press release, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding a series of online public land auctions starting August 1 and ending on Sept. 6 which will be offering up 126 surplus parcels scattered across the state.
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These properties include everything from Upper Peninsula wilderness to lower Michigan lakeside plots, and in one standout case, a tiny, build-restricted island in Genesee County that could be yours for just a few thousand bucks. Parcel sizes vary from less than an acre to sprawling 200-acre spreads.
Land of opportunity.
The DNR says the goal of the auctions is to make better use of taxpayer-owned land. The parcels being sold don’t align with the state’s long-term plans for conservation, recreation, or economic development. The proceeds from these auctions will go toward acquiring better-suited public lands that support wildlife habitat, recreation, or timber management.
Scott Whitcomb, DNR’s senior advisor for wildlife and forest land strategy, explained, “More than half of the land the DNR manages came to the state due to owners’ nonpayment of taxes, so those parcels were not ones we purposefully sought out and purchased.”
Much of the land being sold includes slivers of woods with no road access, oddly shaped tracts and a little island that is too small to camp on, let alone build a dream cottage. But not all the properties are misfits. Some are genuinely appealing – at least if you’re the adventurous type with a canoe, a plat map, and a flexible definition of “amenities.”
Yes, there’s an island available.
The most headline-grabbing option this year is a 0.76-acre island in Lake Ponemah, a popular Genesee County spot known for boating and fishing. With a starting bid of just $3,750, it sounds like a steal – until you read the fine print.
Zoning restrictions mean you can’t actually build anything on it. No docks, no cottages, no Gilligan-style huts. Just your name on the deed and bragging rights at barbecues. And it looks like the island doesn’t have an official name – so you’d most likely get the honor of naming it yourself. That’s probably worth the investment!
What’s for sale?
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Still, the DNR’s auction includes a wide variety of lots: a 12-acre lakeside parcel in Barry County starting at $63,000, an 18-acre wooded retreat on John Ford Lake in Newaygo County (no legal access included), and lots of forest parcels across more than 20 counties including Wexford, Washtenaw, Alger, and Allegan.
Going once, going twice…
The auction process is online, with staggered deadlines between August 1 and September 5 depending on the county. Bidders must register in advance and can find more information here.
