Reduced Island Cabin Get-a-way

Detroit Island is dragon shaped and approximately 3-1/2 miles log. The area of the island is one square mile and 7 acres or 647 acres.  There are 19 cabins on the northern half of the island about equally divided between the east and west side. Two owners own the southern half of the island. Detroit Island can be described as remote (even though its very close to Washington Island), private, secluded, secure and pristine. The families who seasonally inhabit the 20 cabins on the island know each other well, respect one another's privacy, yet cooperatively assist and work well with one another. The property is located on the east side of the island and is about 1-1/4 road miles from the marina. The cabin faces east and is set back 75 ft from the mean high water level. Starting at the SE corner, proceed N 1939?09? W (shore) 212.37 ft, then W 1089 ft, then S 1939?09? E 212.37 ft, then E 1089 ft to starting point. The tax statement lists the area as 5 acres, but it is actually 5.3 acres. The property is entirely wooded with northern hardwoods and conifers. Looking out from the cabin, there are three major views toward the east; toward the NE you see the SE corner of Wash. Island across the E channel of Detroit Harbor, due E you look out at the open lake toward Charlevoix, Mich., and in the SE you see the E shore of Detroit Island. Cabin style is 1-1/2 story chalet with a vaulted ceiling constructed in 1997-98. The cabins footprint is 24 x 28 ft. Square footage is 1008 sq ft with 672 ft down and 336 ft up. Great room is 12 x 24 ft, kitchen is 12 x 8 ft, bath is 6 x 9 ft, bedroom is 9 by 12 ft, and second bedroom (loft) is 12 x 24 ft. Foundation is poured concrete with 4 ft crawl space, mud (concrete) slab, and sump. Siding is cedar clapboard. Roof is steel. Floors are hardwood (ash) on the main level and softwood (pine) in the loft. Front (lakeside) deck is 8 x 20 ft, and rear deck is 4 x 8 ft. Appliances include; airtight wood box-stove (steel), propane cooking stove, propane water heater, propane refrigerator, and 8000 kw generator, purchased 2007. The well was drilled in 1997 and is 241 ft (136 ft cased). The cabin is wired for generator produced AC 110 and 220 (submersible well pump). Two lights are wired off one 12 V battery for DC and two other 12 V batteries provide power for two additional lights. All three batteries are on an AC trickle charger, so when the generator is running the batteries are being charged. Lighting is also provided by oil lamps and candles. The sanitary system installed in 1997 is conventional with dual tanks (septic and pump) and field. The septic tank has been pumped once in 9 years. Garage/boat house/workshop/studio is a double detached 20 x 30 ft built in 2001. Concrete floor, cedar clapboard siding and metal roof mirror the cabin with same steep pitch and color A detached 12 by 12 ft shed built in 1997 has an enclosed 7 x 8-1/2 ft sauna inside, built in 2005. Sauna is constructed of entirely west coast red cedar and heated by an air tight box-wood stove (steel). One charge of wood will bring the temperature up to 160s in 15 minutes, 190s in 25 minutes, and will hold that temperature as long as you like. The detached combination wood and generator shed is 6 x 9 ft for the open but roofed wood side and 6 x 6 ft for the enclosed generator side. There is an electrical underground line from the shed to the cabin. The 2006 property tax was $1,709.78. Membership dues for the Detroit Island Landowners Association (DILA) are $250/year for a family who has a cabin on the island. As a full DILA member and marina owner you have full use of the marina and corporately own the 4 acres surrounding the marina and ferry dock, you share ownership of a pump truck (honey wagon), the use of a spreading field and the use of a scow for transporting vehicles and equipment. The dues pay the taxes on the corporate property, the rental of several day-use slips at KAPS Marina on Washington Island and maintenance of the docks in the marina, the pump truck and the scow. If there are major expenditures, like replacing equipment or dredging, etc., expenses are covered by a special assessment approved by the DILA membership. Membership or ownership in the marina is essential, if you own a cabin on the island, for there is no other practical way to access the island. Currently the marina is at capacity, and memberships are not available. If memberships were available, buying into the marina would be in the vicinity of $7,000. Memberships are transferable with the sale of property. Subsequently, marina ownership is included in the sale price of the property. A priceless asset of Detroit Island is that it is within the Project Area Boundary of Wisconsin's most recent natural area, the Detroit Harbor State Natural Area. By being within the project boundary,  all property within that boundary is eligible for inclusion in the Natural Area. Currently the Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) owns four properties and the Door County Land Trust (DCLT) owns three properties on Detroit Island. The objective of the DCLT is to protect, preserve, and maintain lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space, and ecological integrity of Door County. In this case, the DNRs objective on Detroit Island is the same as the DCLTs. Protection is accomplished by both fee purchase and the granting of easements. Both are achieved by a willing owner and not by condemnation or coercion.