Located on the Upper Manistee River seven miles west of Grayling, Michigan and just south of M-72, the house sits on a bluff about fifty feet back from and overlooking the river. There is a stairway down to a four foot by eight foot dock which gives access to the water for such things as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, wading, tubing, fly fishing or wildlife viewing.
The river is approximately three to four feet deep just in front of the dock making it perfect for an afternoon dip in the heat of the summer sun. To the right of the dock are wooden steps going into the river making easy access for youngsters and/or fly fisherman to reach shallower waters.
At daybreak and again in the late afternoon it is not unusual to find a Great Blue Heron quietly stalking it's prey in the shallows just across the river. At the top of the bluff is a hammock which overlooks the river and seems to beckon one to lay down and rest under the swaying pine trees - just for a little while.
If you are looking for a Retreat, this is the place. Leave your cares at home because there is no place for them here.
At the end of the street there is a private undeveloped park. The park offers solitude and another access point to the river. Sometimes wildlife, including deer, can be found drinking from the river at daybreak or early evening. The park area also makes a great place to lean against a tree and read a book or just relax and watch the trout rise during a hatch.
The Upper Manistee River has been classified as a Natural River. This means that future development will have to meet certain standards - standards that will help to maintain the quality of the river and the river environment. The Natural Rivers Act along with the Upper Manistee River Association will be working together to make sure that there is a healthy trout population too.
The house sits on a stretch of the Manistee River that is well known for it's Brook and Brown trout population.
It is, also, a well kept secret that a 20' Brown lives under the dock here! This section of the river is for fly fishing only and is open all year round. The Catch and Eat season runs from the last Saturday in April thru September 30. The rest of the year is Catch and Release only.
Den:
The den has a full size pull-out sofa bed, a matching chair and footstool, as well as a rocking chair. There is, also, a small Secretary and chair for you to write letters and or postcards to your friends and relatives. The secretary houses a phone for emergencies and local calls. In one corner is a TV with an attached VCR/DVD Player. It should be noted that the TV is hooked up to an antenna and not satellite, therefore it only receives 3-4 stations
depending on which way the wind is blowing. However, there is a bookshelf with Cd's, Video Games, DVDs, VCR Tapes and assorted reading material. And there is a Blockbuster Video Store in Grayling (20 minutes away) if you are looking for a special movie.
In the den closet you will find playing cards, board games such as Scrabble and Yatzee.
Laundry:
The house has a small laundry room with sink, washer and dryer for your needs. We provide Laundry Soap, Softener, and Bleach. Feel free to bring your own supplies or just use ours.
Garage:
The house has a one-car attached garage with an automatic opener. Although there is only a single car width driveway, it is long enough to accommodate a truck/car and trailer. We park our Jeep Liberty and 19' I/O Bowrider in the driveway with ease. Also, there is room to park extra cars on the street during the summer months.
Pets are welcome with written permission and a small fee/pet.
