Other
Nature Preserves in Charlevoix County
Dressel Nature
Preserve
Betty Dressel donated this 10 acre parcel in November of 1992. It is located
in the city of East Jordan and has 610 feet of frontage on the Jordan River.
This preserve is almost entirely wetland providing refuge and food for a variety
of wildlife including deer, geese, and ducks. It also contributes to water quality
protection for the Jordan River.
Jeremiah Haggerty
Wildlife Preserve
Daniel Haggerty and his sister, Margaret, donated this 10 acre parcel to LTC
in 1991 in memory of their ancestor, Jeremiah, who lived from 1870-1888. Mud
Creek flows through the property and drains into Susan Lake. An endangered plant
called dwarf raspberry grows on the property, which is near the Mulberry Farm
Preserve.
Horton Creek
Nature Preserve
Horton Creek Preserve ranges from hardwood forest to cedar swamp to sedge marsh
bordering Horton Creek. This 18 acre parcel has 545 feet of frontage on Church
Road and 1200 feet on the westerly bank of Horton Creek, which is the fourth
largest tributary flowing into Lake Charlevoix. The diversity of habitat supports
a variety of wildlife including turtles, beaver, muskrats, and numerous birds.
The preserve was donated to the Conservancy in 1990 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sooy.
Erber Nature
Preserve
Tom Erber, Dick Georgi and the partners of New Ireland Shores donated 450 feet
of Lake Michigan shoreline property on Beaver Island. These donors also gave
a conservation easment which will protect land across East Side Drive from the
preserve. The donation to the Conservancy was given in connection with the development
of several single-family homesites in the area.
Kieren Nature
Preserve
This preserve consists of one lot in the Susan Shores subdivision of Charlevoix
County. It borders Boyne City Road and has frontage on Susan Lake as well. Kathleen
Kieren donated this parcel to the Conservancy in 1993.
Loeb Nature
Preserve
This one and a half acre preserve has 500 feet of rocky, rugged shoreline along
Lake Michigan. Tom and Kaye Loeb donated this parcel in 1981. The preserve is
located along US 31 near Nine Mile Point between Charlevoix and Petoskey.
Marx Nature
Preserve
This preserve consists of 2.9 acres in the Zenith Heights subdivision near Susan
Lake. A beech-maple forest dominates this hilly parcel, which has frontage on
Flagg, Zenith Heights, and Valley Brook roads. This parcel was donated in 1991
by Ray and Jean Marx.
Mulberry Farm
Nature Preserve
This 12.8 acre preserve has two separate parcels including 240 feet of lake
frontage and over 2000 feet of road frontage. The larger parcel is at the intersection
of Boyne City and Quarterline Roads and the smaller parcel is located across
Boyne City road bordering Susan Lake. An open meadow, cedar wetland, pond and
creek provide diverse habitats for various mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds,
insects, and many plant species. Richard Lobenherz donated the property in December
of 1990.
North Nature
Preserve
This 20 acre parcel was donated to LTC in February of 1992 by James North. The
preserve is part of a cedar swamp with a few scattered tamarack and bigtooth
aspen. The northern boundary borders Thumb Lake Road, 2 1/2 miles east of US
131 near Boyne Falls. The northern branch of the Boyne River flows through the
preserve.
Oyster Bay
Nature Preserve
Twenty-three acres of thick forest make up this preserve, located off of Boyne
City Road on Oyster Bay of Lake Charlevoix. Fallen trees, dense vegetation,
and wet areas provide excellent habitat for many animals such as deer, grouse,
and other birds. Eight-hundred feet of swampy shoreline offers shelter for waterfowl.
The wetlands help maintain the water quality of Lake Charlevoix. C.T. and Francis
Martin donated this parcel to LTC in 1983.
Schulz Nature
Preserve
Forty acres of mixed hardwoods with scattered pine stands made up of Austrian
pine, Colorado spruce and Douglas firs constitute this nature preserve. This
parcel adjoins 120 acres of state land on the east side and borders Pincherry
Road on its west side. It is listed under the Commercial Forest Reserve Act
and is being monitored for effective tree farming. Helmuth Schulz Jr. donated
the property in 1991. Mr. Schulz and his son planted several species of pine
trees on the land and he and his wife, Annette, constructed a trail following
the perimeter. Directions to Schultz Preserve: From Petoskey take US 31 south
to Bay Shore. Turn left on Townline Rd. About 1/4 mile down, turn right on Pincherry
Rd. The Preserve is about 3 miles down Pincherry Rd. on the left hand side.
Scollin/Lee
Nature Preserve
Jim and Catherine Scollin and Brendan and Mary Lee donated this 2.7 acre parcel
in 1992. It is situated between M-75 and the Boyne River about three miles east
of downtown Boyne City. It is mainly a low, wet area with a steep slope up to
the road.
Seibert Nature
Preserve
The Richard Seibert Family donated this one acre parcel in 1991. The property
is a cedar wetland with 250 feet of frontage on Susan Lake.
South Arm Creek
Nature Preserve
This 10 acre preserve is located on the eastern end of Wallon Lake. It consists
of wetlands with 450 feet of shoreline. The Little Traverse Conservancy raised
the necessary funds from residents of Walloon Lake to purchase this property
and then deeded it to the Walloon Lake Association Trust in 1987.
Weislik Nature
Preserve
Ron and Carol Weislik donated this parcel to the Conservancy in 1975. It is
located in the Clipperview Subdivision near Fisherman's Island in Charlevoix.
This four acre preserve is dominated by cedar swamp with northern white cedar
and Fisherman's Creek flows through the property towards Lake Michigan. The
preserve, located in a developing area, provides habitat for a variety of plants
and animals.
Winchester
Nature Preserve
The Conservancy, with the help of a generous grant from the Winchester Funeral
Home of Charlevoix, was able to acquire over 1200 feet of shoreline on West
Twin Lake. West Twin Lake is the northern most lake within the Elk River Chain
of Lakes Watershed, known for its clear, spring fed lakes and high quality trout
streams.