Deserted Michigan island with sandy beaches hits market: All 31 acres can be yours – MLive.com

BUTTERFIELD ISLAND, MI - You could own your own Gilligans Island, of sorts, where you can do anything with the land except change its name.

The entire 31-acre Butterfield Island is on the market for $475,000. Also known as Island No. 7, Butterfield Island is only accessible by boat and is located northwest of Drummond Island.

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This island is essentially a blank canvas for the next owner to do what they wish with it and that includes building an amazing home. Basically, the only things youll find on it right now are lots of trees and a natural sand beach.

Years ago, there was a cabin on the island and not long ago there was a tennis court on it, but for all intents and purposes, right now its a vacant island. Its been vacant for years, Suzanne Sasso Kuusinen from Drummond Island Realty told MLive.

Butterfield Island, aka, Island No. 7, on the market for $475,000. (Photo by Suzanne Sasso Kuusinen | Drummond Island Realty)

At one time, Kuusinen said the island did have a cabin on it, as well as a tennis court, but those are long gone.

If you look at the aerial photo, you can see some gray area. That is some concrete. Some people think that area might make a good helicopter pad or a good location for a cabin or something along those lines. That pad of cement is as much development as youll see on the island now.

Butterfield Island, Michigan, located near Drummond Island. (Google Maps)

There are more than 50 islands surrounding Drummond Island. Kuusinen says Butterfield is in a nice spot because its protected by a couple of those islands from the elements.

There is remnants of an old dock. Thats kind of where the best part of the sand beach is on the island. Its fairly protected on that side by Macomb and Maple Islands to the south and southwest. Those islands are privately owned and not for sale and give Butterfield some protection. That sand beach would be a great location for a cabin or structures because its protected by the wind. But really, the whole island is great.

Butterfield Island, aka, Island No. 7, on the market for $475,000. (Photo by Suzanne Sasso Kuusinen | Drummond Island Realty)

There is an old wellhead down by the water. Most of the private island owners around here pump water from the lake and put it in a filtration system. Thats probably what a new owner of this island would do.

The island is not far from the Canadian border, which adds to the location, says Kuusinen.

The island does sit in U.S. waters, but its not very far from Canadian waters. Once we are able to go back and forth to Canada like normal, its great to go fishing and boating there and explore the Canadian waters. So, you get the best of both worlds there.

Butterfield Island, Michigan, located near Drummond Island. (Google Maps)

So, how do you get to Butterfield Island exactly? Kuusinen says the best way is by private boat from Drummond Island, a roughly 15-minute trip.

The previous owners have mostly come from Drummond Island, keeping their boats docked at one of the marinas on Drummond. You could also come from Detour Village located on the U.P. mainland if you wanted to. Either of those would be good landing points.

So, if you end up building your dream home on this island, what about living there year-round or winter?

Theres going to be a period where you cant access the island in the winter because of the ice, but once the ice freezes on the north shore, you can take a snowmobile there, Kuusinen said. If someone wanted to build a home there and stay in the winter, they could. Theres only to my knowledge, one island in front of Drummond Island, James Island, where the folks live there year round. Most use them as a summer retreat.

Here is the link to the islands listing and click here to see all the photos. You can contact Suzanne Sasso Kuusinen at Drummond Island Reality at 906-493-5230 or via email.

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Deserted Michigan island with sandy beaches hits market: All 31 acres can be yours - MLive.com