Wooded Lakefront Retreat with Sandy Beach on 29.9 Acres in Gwinn, Michigan — $117,000
Property Overview
Escape to the woods at this secluded lakefront retreat in Gwinn, Michigan. Set across 29.9 wooded acres, this three-bedroom manufactured home offers a comfortable base for seasonal camping, hunting trips, outdoor exploration, and quiet getaways in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
The 908-square-foot home sits beside a small inland lake, with approximately 220 feet of lake frontage and a sandy beach area for relaxing beside the water. Surrounded by trees and rural scenery, the property offers room to explore, watch wildlife, and enjoy seasonal wild blueberry picking.
Built in 1992, the single-wide manufactured home has three bedrooms, one full bathroom, an eat-in kitchen, a living room, and first-floor laundry. Electric service, propane heating, a point well, and a septic system provide essential services for a rustic retreat. Recent improvements include a new well point and piping, a new shallow-well pump and piping, a new hot water heater, and a new kitchen faucet.
A Private Upper Peninsula Getaway
The wooded acreage, lake frontage, sandy beach area, and established camp make this property suited to buyers seeking a seasonal outdoor base. Enjoy the rural setting, spend time by the water, explore the surrounding land, or use the property as a starting point for hunting and other outdoor activities.
Interior Features
The single-level manufactured home offers a practical layout with three main-level bedrooms, a full bathroom, a living room, an eat-in kitchen, and first-floor laundry. The interior combines carpeted bedroom areas with vinyl flooring in the kitchen, dining area, and bathroom.
Living Room
The living room measures approximately 13 by 13 feet, providing a dedicated indoor gathering area after time spent outdoors.
Kitchen and Dining
The approximately 13-by-8-foot kitchen features vinyl flooring and an eat-in layout. Recent work includes a new kitchen faucet. The separate dining area measures approximately 13 by 5 feet.
Bedrooms
- Bedroom 1: approximately 12 by 10 feet, with carpet flooring.
- Bedroom 2: approximately 8 by 9 feet, with carpet flooring.
- Bedroom 3: approximately 10 by 13 feet, with carpet flooring.
Bathroom and Laundry
The home has one full bathroom on the main level, measuring approximately 8 by 7 feet, with vinyl flooring. First-floor laundry adds practical convenience to the single-level layout.
Appliances and Comfort
- Range/oven.
- Refrigerator.
- Electric water heater, recently replaced.
- Propane and hot-water heating.
- No installed cooling system is listed.
Land, Lakefront and Outdoor Features
The 29.9-acre parcel is predominantly wooded and offers a rural setting with lake views. The land provides space for nature observation, exploring the property, and seasonal outdoor activities.
Lake Frontage and Sandy Beach Area
The property features approximately 220 feet of frontage on a small inland lake. A sandy beach area provides a place to sit near the water, enjoy the scenery, and spend time outdoors. The lake is described as small and tranquil rather than a large recreational lake; swimming and fishing conditions should be assessed in person.
Wooded Acreage and Seasonal Blueberries
The wooded setting offers opportunities to observe local wildlife and enjoy the changing seasons. Wild blueberries can be found on the property in late summer.
Deck and Views
A deck extends the home’s usable outdoor space. The property has lake and rural views, with trees and natural surroundings contributing to its secluded character.
Utilities and Recent Improvements
The property has essential utility infrastructure for a rural camp, including connected electric service, a point well, and a septic system. Heating is provided by propane and a hot-water system.
Utility Features
- Electric service with a 100-amp service rating.
- Propane heating.
- Point well for water.
- Septic tank system.
- Electric water heater.
Recent Repairs
- New well point and piping.
- New shallow-well pump and piping.
- New hot water heater.
- New kitchen faucet.
Buyers should confirm the operating condition, age, capacity, maintenance history, and inspection requirements of the well, septic system, heating equipment, and other property systems before purchase.
Private Road Access and Property Considerations
The property is accessed by a gravel-surface seasonal private road and does not abut a publicly dedicated and accepted road. The road is not required to be maintained by the county road commission or another governmental entity.
Private-road access is an important consideration for buyers planning seasonal visits or hunting trips. Before purchase, verify access rights, any road maintenance arrangements, seasonal drivability, winter access, and the responsibilities associated with the private road.
The listing terms specify cash. Buyers should confirm acceptable transaction terms and any financing restrictions before proceeding.
Buyer Area Research: Gwinn and Marquette County
Gwinn is an unincorporated community in Marquette County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The surrounding region includes rural communities, forested land, inland lakes, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Marquette serves as a larger regional center for services, shopping, education, and healthcare.
Marquette County had an estimated 2020–2024 median value of $216,500 for owner-occupied housing units. The county’s rural properties vary considerably in land size, construction type, utility arrangements, road access, and recreational features, so broad county-level housing statistics should not be treated as a valuation of this individual property.
Safety and Crime
Crime statistics must be evaluated by jurisdiction and reporting period. City-level figures from a larger community do not necessarily describe rural properties around Gwinn, and countywide totals can obscure differences between locations.
Comparable, verified multi-year figures for violent crime, property crime, burglary, theft, robbery, motor vehicle theft, and aggravated assault specifically applicable to the property’s immediate area are not available here. No property-specific safety rating or conclusion is assigned.
Buyers can independently assess local emergency response coverage, road access during different seasons, cellular reception, and the practical implications of a secluded rural setting.
Schools and Education
Gwinn Area Community Schools serves the surrounding community and includes elementary and middle/high school facilities in Gwinn. Gwinn Middle/High School is located on West M-35 in Gwinn.
Nearby educational options should be checked against the property’s exact address and the applicable enrollment boundaries. Proximity to a school does not establish school assignment, transportation eligibility, or enrollment availability.
Healthcare and Medical Services
Gwinn has community healthcare services, including Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center and Ki Sawyer Family Health Center. Additional hospital and specialty care options are available in the broader Marquette region.
Exact travel distances, current service availability, and emergency department access should be confirmed for the property’s location. Buyers should also assess cellular coverage and the route to emergency services, particularly if the property will be used seasonally.
Marquette County Housing Market History
The annual all-transactions house price index for Marquette County provides a historical measure of housing price movements across the county. The index is not a median sale price and should not be interpreted as the estimated value of this particular manufactured home or its acreage.
| Year | House Price Index | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 203.65 | Not calculated |
| 2022 | 242.98 | +19.3% |
| 2023 | 269.30 | +10.4% |
| 2024 | 293.45 | +9.0% |
| 2025 | 310.22 | +5.7% |
The annual index uses 2000 as its base year, with an index value of 100. Annual changes are calculated from consecutive reported index values and rounded to one decimal place.
From 2021 to 2025, the index increased by approximately 52.3%. This describes the historical countywide index over that period; it does not establish an equivalent change in the value of every property type or predict future prices.
For a property with substantial acreage, lake frontage, a manufactured home, a private seasonal road, and a well and septic system, an appropriate valuation should consider comparable rural and recreational properties with similar access, land, waterfront, and utility characteristics.
Transportation and Regional Access
Gwinn is connected to the surrounding Upper Peninsula road network, with M-35 serving as a major local route through the community. Road access is particularly important for rural properties, where private roads and seasonal conditions can affect year-round usability.
This property is reached by a seasonal private gravel road rather than a publicly dedicated and accepted road. Buyers should evaluate the route in person and verify maintenance responsibilities, access rights, snow removal arrangements, and the condition of the road during the seasons in which they expect to use the property.
Public transportation availability and exact travel times from this property have not been established here. Regional travel plans should account for the property’s rural location and private-road access.
Shopping and Everyday Services
Gwinn provides community services and everyday amenities, while the greater Marquette area offers a broader range of shopping, groceries, pharmacies, restaurants, financial services, and home improvement retailers.
Buyers planning extended seasonal stays should identify the nearest options for groceries, fuel, hardware supplies, prescriptions, and other necessities. Exact distances and current business hours have not been established here.
Parks and Recreation
The property’s wooded acreage and inland lake frontage provide immediate opportunities to enjoy the natural surroundings, observe wildlife, and explore the land. Late-summer wild blueberry picking is another seasonal feature.
The wider Upper Peninsula region offers outdoor recreation associated with its forests, inland waters, trails, and public natural areas. Access rules vary by location, and public access to nearby land or water should not be assumed from proximity alone.
The lakefront should be assessed in person to determine the beach conditions, shoreline characteristics, water depth, and suitability for any intended water-based activities.
Utilities and Connectivity in the Area
The property itself has connected electric service, a point well, a septic tank system, and propane heating. These are property-specific features and should be distinguished from utility availability elsewhere in the community.
Broadband, fiber, and cellular availability can vary significantly across rural parts of Marquette County. Address-specific coverage and service speeds have not been verified for this property. Buyers who need reliable internet for work, streaming, or communications should confirm service availability at the home before purchase.
Confirm the status and operating condition of the existing well and septic system, the propane supply arrangement, electrical service, and any applicable inspection or maintenance requirements.
Development and Planning
Michigan’s transportation planning programs include multi-year improvement plans for state and local transportation infrastructure. No specific proposed, pending, approved, or under-construction development project has been verified as directly affecting this property or its immediate surroundings.
Buyers considering future land uses should independently verify zoning, permitted uses, shoreline and wetland requirements, access rights, and any applicable restrictions with the relevant local authorities. The property’s listed zoning designation is SD, with the description recorded as Other; the permitted uses should be confirmed before making plans for additional construction or development.
Property Summary
| Property Type | Single-family residence; single-wide manufactured home |
|---|---|
| Address | 480 N Bluff Lake Ln, Gwinn, MI 49841 |
| County | Marquette County, Michigan |
| Bedrooms | 3 |
| Bathrooms | 1 full bathroom |
| Interior Living Area | 908 square feet |
| Year Built | 1992 |
| Lot Size | 29.9 acres |
| Waterfront | Small inland lake frontage; approximately 220 feet |
| Outdoor Features | Wooded acreage, sandy beach area, deck, lake and rural views |
| Exterior | Vinyl siding |
| Heating | Propane and hot-water heating |
| Cooling | No cooling system listed |
| Water Supply | Point well |
| Sewer | Septic tank |
| Electricity | Connected; 100-amp service |
| Road Access | Seasonal private gravel road; not abutting a publicly dedicated and accepted road |
| Parcel Number | 520501800900 |
| Zoning | SD; description listed as Other |
| Additional Structures | None listed |
| Basement | None |
| Association | No HOA listed |
Explore This Lakefront Property
Discover the wooded acreage, sandy beach area, and comfortable seasonal camp at this rural Upper Peninsula property.
View on Zillow — $117,000