The Fox Islands consist of the North Fox and South Fox islands, in Lake Michigan. The islands are approximately 17 miles northwest of Cathead Point near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan and about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Beaver Island. The three islands form part of an archipelago. There is a lighthouse on South Fox that was built in 1867 and operated until 1959. Both Islands are part of Leelanau County, Michigan.
North Fox Island
North Fox ( 45°28′45″N 85°46′38″W / 45.4792°N 85.7771°W / 45.4792; -85.7771 ( North Fox Island ) ) is the smaller of the two islands, 3.32 km² (1.282 sq mi, or 820.5 acres) in area, roughly 2 miles (3 km) wide by 1 mile (2 km) long. This island was purchased by real estate magnate David V. Johnson in 1994 for $1.3 million, and the entire island was sold back to the State of Michigan for $2.2 million at the end of the year 2000.
In the mid-1970s a child pornography ring was discovered operating on North Fox Island. The proprietor of the island used his position in a large social program to fly boys in his private plane to his island retreat. The Ann Arbor News published a story in their weekend magazine on the proprietor's life, then published a second story when the crimes were uncovered.
South Fox Island
South Fox Island ( 45°24′56″N 85°50′47″W / 45.4156°N 85.8463°W / 45.4156; -85.8463 ( South Fox Island ) ) is 13.89 km² (5.3635 sq mi, or 3,432.6 acres) in area, and about 5 miles (8 km) long and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide. As of 2001, David V. Johnson also owned about two-thirds of South Fox. The other third was owned by the State of Michigan, including the two lighthouses on the southern tip of the island. There is no ferry service to South Fox, and it has no docks, fuel or sheltered harbor. However, a 5,500 foot private runway can accommodate jet aircraft. The developer, Victor International Corporation, maintains a slide show depicting the construction of the runway.
The Old South Fox Island Lighthouse was built in 1867 and includes a 39-foot (12 m) tall square brick tower attached to a keeper's house. The light itself was a flashing red, 4th order Fresnel lens. It is currently boarded up and abandoned, as is a newer assistant keeper's dwelling next door, built in 1910.
In 1934, a newer 60-foot (18 m) tall, steel skeletal tower was built closer to the shoreline. This light tower came from Sapelo Island, and is a square, pyramidal, cast iron skeletal tower of the 'Sanibel' class. It has an enclosed steel spiral stairway that leads to the 10-sided lantern room at the top. A nearby fog signal building, built 1895, is closed. This tower is currently inactive.
Johnson built a paved runway and a residence on the southern island. Johnson's company Victor international Corporation maintains documentation of the island's development. He had originally proposed swapping North Fox Island with the state for the third of South Fox that he did not own, but he settled in 2003 for a consolidation deal which traded 218 acres (0.9 km 2 ) of state owned land on the southern part of South Fox for 219 acres (0.9 km 2 ) on the north and central parts of the same island. This deal was finalized in March 2003.
Mr. Johnson owns 2,204 acres (9 km 2 ) on the isolated 3,400 acres (14 km 2 ) Lake Michigan island 25 miles (40 km) west of the Leelanau County coast. South Fox Island boasts some of the most spectacular freshwater maritime scenery in the world, including towering dunes, virgin cedars, and untouched beaches.
The island includes a cemetery where members of the Grand Traverse Band of Native Americans are currently buried.
Deer were introduced onto the island in 1915. Hunting is permitted on state land by permit only.
The Fox Island Lighthouse Association (FILA), a non-profit organization, was formed in 2004 to aid in helping to preserve this historic Great Lakes maritime complex. Visit http://southfox.org for further information.
References
- ^ South fox Island Light, Inventory of Historic Light Stations: Michigan Lighthouses, National Park Service
Further reading
- "A Tour of the Lights of the Straits." Michigan History 70 (Sep/Oct 1986), pp. 17–29.
External links
- Beacons in the Night, Michigan Lighthouse Chronology, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
- Lighthouses in the Mackinac Straits.
- Interactive map of Lights in Northern Lake Michigan, mapped by Google.
- Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, South Fox Island Lighthouse.
- North Fox Island and South Fox Island:
South Haven Michigan Real Estate
Moving to South Haven? Want to buy a summer cottage? South Haven Michigan is the friendly town with a big harbor. Browse online listings then visit the shoreline.
South Haven Real Estate - Ben Stegman - Real Estate and Property ...
South Haven Real Estate is what I specialize in as your South Haven Real Estate Agent. ... South Haven Michigan Real Estate 269-637-5101
South Haven Homes for Sale & South Haven Real Estate - MI | Homes.com
Find the South Haven, Michigan Homes for Sale that you're looking for on homes.com. Search our website to locate your Homes for Sale & Real Estate in South Haven, Michigan.
South Haven Michigan Real Estate
South Haven Real Estate by RE/MAX of South Haven. Featuring onsite area real estate search.
South Haven Neighborhood Profile on Yahoo! Real Estate - Demographics ...
Yahoo! Real Estate - South Haven, MI neighborhood profile information including South Haven cost of living, crime index, demographics, population statistics & more!
South Haven, MI Real Estate on Yahoo! Real Estate - Houses for Sale ...
Yahoo! Real Estate - Search South Haven, MI real estate listings and houses for sale, find home values, housing market information, Michigan mortgage rates & more
South Haven Real Estate, Michigan Real Estate, Jim & Marci Sweat
Specializing in South Haven real estate, Saugatuck, Douglas, Bangor, St. Joseph, New Buffalo, Grand Junction, and Glenn. Jim & Marci Sweat helping to find and buy the home of your ...
South Haven and Bangor Michigan Homes and Real Estate
Buy or sell your South Haven or Bangor home with an agent that knows how to make the most of the market
South Haven Real Estate - Lewis Adamson - Real Estate Home Search
South Haven Real Estate is what I specialize in as your South Haven Real Estate Agent. ... Located just 3 blocks from South Haven''s sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, this ...
South Haven Michigan Real Estate, South Haven MI Homes For Sale ...
We feature Real Estate brokerage firms located in your local area and Real Estate brokers, agents and mortgage lenders.