Sand River Country Retreat with 20 Acres, River Frontage and Off-Grid Living Near Marquette, Michigan — $300,000

Property Overview

Escape to the natural beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with this distinctive Sand River retreat on 20 wooded acres approximately 16 miles from Marquette. Combining river frontage, extensive outdoor space, multiple outbuildings, and thoughtfully updated off-grid systems, this ranch-style home offers a setting for year-round living, weekend escapes, and outdoor recreation.

Located at 1375 Mangum Road in Marquette, Michigan, the property features a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home with 1,175 square feet of living space, warm knotty-pine tongue-and-groove finishes, and a large addition. Approximately one-quarter mile of Sand River frontage, an established trail around the acreage, and access to neighboring state land create an appealing setting for buyers who value privacy and time outdoors.

Practical improvements include a new drilled well, updated plumbing and water heater, a solar electrical system, and a propane automatic-start backup generator installed in 2025. Five additional storage sheds, a pole building, a detached recreation cabin, and a maintained shooting-range area expand the property’s versatility.

Interior Features and Updates

The single-level ranch home combines practical living space with the rustic character of knotty-pine interior finishes. The kitchen, dining area, and living room provide everyday gathering spaces, while the large addition expands the home’s usable interior area.

The home includes two main-level bedrooms and one full bathroom. The primary bedroom received a new closet in 2025, and an egress window measuring 48 by 32 inches was added to a bedroom in the same year. The kitchen was updated approximately six to ten years ago, and the bathroom was updated in 2023.

Interior Highlights

• 1,175 square feet of interior living space.
• Two bedrooms and one full bathroom on the main level.
• Knotty-pine tongue-and-groove finishes throughout.
• Large addition providing additional interior space.
• Updated kitchen and bathroom.
• New bedroom closet added in 2025.
• Wood-burning stove installed in 2008.
• Enclosed front porch for storing outdoor gear.
• Ceiling fan and eat-in kitchen.
• Included dishwasher, dryer, range/oven, refrigerator, and water heater.

Heating, Water and Off-Grid Systems

The property is equipped for an off-grid lifestyle with a solar electrical system, propane heating equipment, and backup power. Two propane heat systems were installed in 2018, providing an additional heating option alongside the wood-burning stove.

A new drilled well was completed in 2025, along with new plumbing and a water heater. A propane automatic-start generator was also installed in 2025 and includes a 10-year warranty. The property has a 100-amp electrical service, a private well, and a septic tank.

Starlink internet service worked well for the previous owners. Buyers will need to establish their own service and obtain equipment as applicable. A cell signal booster is included.

Detached Recreation Cabin and Additional Buildings

A detached recreation cabin of approximately 400 square feet provides additional space separate from the main residence. The cabin includes a kitchen, sauna, and room for darts and gatherings. It also has its own well.

The additional space offers flexibility for hobbies, exercise, recreation, and entertaining. Its permitted uses and any requirements for sleeping accommodations or independent occupancy should be confirmed before making plans for those purposes.

Outbuildings and Improvements

• Detached recreation cabin with kitchen and sauna.
• Approximately 25-by-31-foot pole building with a gravel floor.
• Five additional storage sheds.
• Outhouse.
• Detached garage listed among the property’s parking features.
• Recently painted deck.
• Enclosed front porch.
• Cell signal booster.

The combination of storage buildings and recreational structures provides space for equipment, outdoor gear, hobbies, and property maintenance.

Land, Sand River Frontage and Outdoor Recreation

The 20-acre parcel combines wooded land, river frontage, established paths, and recreational improvements. Approximately one-quarter mile of Sand River frontage provides a distinctive natural feature, with a maintained access path leading to the river.

The river offers opportunities to enjoy the water and pursue trout fishing. Conditions, access, and applicable fishing regulations should be checked before fishing.

The acreage also features a cleared trail around the property suitable for walking and four-wheelers, along with a maintained shooting-range area. Marked property corners help identify the parcel boundaries.

Outdoor Property Highlights

• 20 acres of rural, wooded land.
• Approximately 670 feet of river frontage as listed in the property dimensions.
• Sand River frontage described as approximately one-quarter mile.
• Maintained river-access path.
• Cleared recreational trail around the acreage.
• Maintained shooting-range area.
• Perennial plantings around the home.
• Land previously used as a maple syrup sugar bush.
• Approximately 3,000 acres of state land bordering the property to the east, as described for the property.
• Maintained year-round gravel road access.

The surrounding landscape and existing improvements lend themselves to a range of outdoor pursuits, including hiking, hunting where permitted, fishing, four-wheeling, gardening, and seasonal maple syrup production. Actual use depends on site conditions, applicable regulations, and any necessary permits.

Location and Upper Peninsula Lifestyle

Situated approximately 16 miles from Marquette, this rural property offers a wooded setting away from the city while retaining access to the broader Marquette area. The surrounding Upper Peninsula landscape is known for its forests, rivers, lakes, outdoor recreation, and distinct four-season climate.

Marquette serves as a regional center for education, healthcare, shopping, employment, and services. Buyers can consider the balance between rural living and access to the amenities of a larger Upper Peninsula community when evaluating the location.

The property’s maintained road access, extensive acreage, river frontage, and multiple structures create a setting suited to buyers seeking a recreational base or a residence with substantial outdoor space.

Buyer Area Research

Area Overview

Marquette is located along Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and serves as the county seat of Marquette County. The city had an estimated population of 21,944 in 2025, while Marquette County’s estimated population was approximately 68,064 in the same year.

The regional economy includes healthcare, education, public services, retail, tourism, and outdoor recreation. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, contributing to the area’s educational and cultural activity.

The property itself is in a rural setting outside the urban center. City-level population figures describe Marquette rather than the immediate surroundings of the home.

Safety and Crime

Crime statistics must be interpreted according to their reporting geography and year. For the City of Marquette, 2024 reported crime data included 40 violent-crime offenses and 108 property-crime offenses. These are city-level counts, not statistics for this rural property or its immediate surroundings.

Comparable, verified crime figures specific to the property’s immediate area were not established for this listing. Buyers seeking a more localized assessment should review the relevant law-enforcement jurisdiction and current public safety information for the property’s actual location.

Schools and Education

Educational resources in the wider Marquette area include Marquette Area Public Schools, which operates elementary schools, Bothwell Middle School, Marquette Senior High School, and Marquette Alternative High School. Northern Michigan University provides higher education in Marquette.

These are regional educational options, not confirmation of school assignment for this address. The property’s school district, attendance boundaries, transportation arrangements, and eligibility should be verified directly for the exact property location.

Healthcare and Hospitals

Healthcare resources in the broader Marquette area include UP Health System–Marquette, a regional hospital with emergency services and a range of specialty care. UP Health System–Bell in Ishpeming provides another hospital resource in the region.

Primary care offices, specialty clinics, pharmacies, and other outpatient services are available in the wider area. The exact travel distance and time from the property to individual facilities have not been established here, so buyers should evaluate access based on their preferred routes and healthcare needs.

Historical Housing Market

Historical housing trends provide context for the wider county market but do not predict the future value of an individual home or acreage property. The following series tracks the annual Federal Housing Finance Agency all-transactions house price index for Marquette County, Michigan. The index uses the year 2000 as its base of 100 and is not a dollar-denominated home value.

The county-level index increased from 203.65 in 2021 to 310.22 in 2025, a cumulative increase of approximately 52.3%. Annual increases became progressively smaller over the final three years of this series. These figures reflect the broader county housing market and should not be interpreted as a valuation or forecast for this particular rural property.

Values for riverfront homes, rural acreage, off-grid residences, and properties with multiple outbuildings may differ from broader market patterns. A property-specific valuation requires consideration of comparable sales, condition, access, land characteristics, utilities, and the permitted uses of the improvements.

Transportation and Regional Access

Road travel is an important part of everyday life in this rural part of the Upper Peninsula. The property is described as having access from a maintained year-round gravel road, with Marquette approximately 16 miles away.

US-41 and M-28 are important regional highways serving the Marquette area. Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport provides regional air access, and Marq-Tran operates public transportation services within Marquette County.

Fixed-route transit availability and service to the property itself have not been confirmed. Buyers should plan to verify seasonal road conditions, winter maintenance, route options, and travel times for regular trips.

Shopping and Everyday Services

Marquette provides a regional selection of grocery stores, pharmacies, fuel stations, banks, restaurants, hardware retailers, and general shopping services. Additional services are available in communities throughout Marquette County.

For a rural property, practical considerations include the distance to routine shopping, access to building and maintenance supplies, fuel availability, and the time required for errands during winter weather. Individual business locations and travel times from this address have not been established in this listing.

Parks and Recreation

The wider Marquette area offers outdoor recreation throughout the year, including hiking, fishing, boating, cycling, and winter activities. Presque Isle Park in Marquette provides Lake Superior shoreline scenery, walking opportunities, and public outdoor space.

The Upper Peninsula’s forests, rivers, and public lands also support a range of seasonal recreational activities. The property’s Sand River frontage, wooded acreage, and established trail provide additional opportunities for enjoying the outdoors directly from the land, subject to applicable rules and site conditions.

Access to public lands, permitted activities, hunting seasons, fishing regulations, and any restrictions on neighboring state land should be confirmed before use.

Utilities and Connectivity

The property has a private drilled well, septic tank, solar electrical system, propane heating equipment, and propane-powered backup generator. The main home has a 100-amp electrical service. These existing systems are important considerations for buyers evaluating an off-grid or partially independent utility setup.

Starlink service worked well for the previous owners, but service transfer, equipment, subscription, and current signal performance are not guaranteed. A cell signal booster is included. Broadband options and cellular reception can vary substantially across rural areas, so buyers should verify current availability and performance at the address.

Buyers should also review the condition, maintenance history, capacity, and operating requirements of the well, septic system, solar equipment, batteries if applicable, generator, propane systems, and associated electrical infrastructure.

Development and Planning

No specific proposed, pending, or approved development project affecting this property’s immediate surroundings has been reliably established for inclusion here. The parcel is described as agriculturally zoned, with a rural and wooded setting.

The recorded zoning description is Agricultural, with the designation listed as AF. Buyers should independently verify the current zoning classification, permitted uses, setbacks, accessory-building requirements, riverfront restrictions, and any applicable land-use or environmental regulations before undertaking additions, construction, business activities, or changes in use.

Property Summary