Round Island Lighthouse
Round Island Own a piece of turn-of-the-century history that has been transformed into a design showplace. The historic and restored Round Island Lighthouse in Goetzville, Michigan is located in lower St. Mary’s River, north of Detour Passage.
Built in 1892 to guide boaters through a group of islands in the St. Mary’s River, the lighthouse fell into disrepair until the late 1990s when Charlevoix businessman Paul Lindberg ...
Round Island Own a piece of turn-of-the-century history that has been transformed into a design showplace. The historic and restored Round Island Lighthouse in Goetzville, Michigan is located in lower St. Mary’s River, north of Detour Passage.
Built in 1892 to guide boaters through a group of islands in the St. Mary’s River, the lighthouse fell into disrepair until the late 1990s when Charlevoix businessman Paul Lindberg and his wife Georgeann, an interior designer, spent 3 years renovating and restoring the lighthouse property. The result is a spectacular and warm 3- bedroom, 2-bath home that maintains the efficacy of its special history while bringing the living space into modern times with grace and effortless design skill. The main floor houses the cozy living space, and the second floor features 2 comfortable guest bedrooms. An addition to the rear of the original structure beefs up the house with 2 modern bathrooms and the inviting master bedroom. French doors flood the master suite with light, as do most of the new, expansive windows that were added during the renovations. The kitchen – with its white clapboard cabinets, large, modern appliances, and granite countertops – connects the old and new structures.
The current owners, only the third private owners in the lighthouse’s 100-year-plus history, tried to maintain the original exterior and interior features. The original ash hardwood floors were saved and matched in the new addition. The square wooden stairs to the second floor and tower have been restored as well in the 2,000 square- foot home.
In addition to the overhauling of the lighthouse’s interior, much work was done to the exterior by Lindberg, an experienced landscape contractor. A lush lawn, which comes alive in the summertime, incorporates flowers and regal birch trees on the island’s rocky shores. A 2-level deck, spanning the width of the house, has been added to the front of the property; it’s a prime spot for viewing the extensive boat traffic heading to and from the soo locks on the St. Mary’s River shipping channel, which flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The huge deck would also be the ideal location for an outdoor party.
The 7-acre island is a nature preservationists’ dream with its huge bird population. Thirty-some bird species have been identified, including two blue herons that nested on the island in 2002. Additionally, a path is being cleared around the perfectly oval-shaped island to facilitate perimeter hikes. The next owners will have the pleasure of carving out their own paths in the island’s wooded interior for additional exploration.
Also included is a waterfront parcel on the mainland near the town of Raber with a dock and a small storage building. Raber is 1-hour and 15 minutes from St. Ignace on the north side of the Mackinac Bridge on Michigan’s upper Peninsula. An electric cable from the mainland near Raber provides power for the lighthouse, and the island has its own sewage filtration system. The current owners also added a boat slip with a depth of 4.5 feet, which accommodates a couple of small boats and a new fish habitat. A boat is included in the sale. The original hexagonal lantern room remains, but the light was moved in 1923 to a nearby tower on another piece of land maintained by the coast Guard – allowing the island’s owners to savor the architecture without the lighting workload.
Round Island Own a piece of turn-of-the-century history that has been transformed into a design showplace. The historic and restored Round Island Lighthouse in Goetzville, Michigan is located in lower St. Mary’s River, north of Detour Passage.
Built in 1892 to guide boaters through a group of islands in the St. Mary’s River, the lighthouse fell into disrepair until the late 1990s when Charlevoix businessman Paul Lindberg and his wife Georgeann, an interior designer, spent 3 years renovating and restoring the lighthouse property. The result is a spectacular and warm 3- bedroom, 2-bath home that maintains the efficacy of its special history while bringing the living space into modern times with grace and effortless design skill. The main floor houses the cozy living space, and the second floor features 2 comfortable guest bedrooms. An addition to the rear of the original structure beefs up the house with 2 modern bathrooms and the inviting master bedroom. French doors flood the master suite with light, as do most of the new, expansive windows that were added during the renovations. The kitchen – with its white clapboard cabinets, large, modern appliances, and granite countertops – connects the old and new structures.
The current owners, only the third private owners in the lighthouse’s 100-year-plus history, tried to maintain the original exterior and interior features. The original ash hardwood floors were saved and matched in the new addition. The square wooden stairs to the second floor and tower have been restored as well in the 2,000 square- foot home.
In addition to the overhauling of the lighthouse’s interior, much work was done to the exterior by Lindberg, an experienced landscape contractor. A lush lawn, which comes alive in the summertime, incorporates flowers and regal birch trees on the island’s rocky shores. A 2-level deck, spanning the width of the house, has been added to the front of the property; it’s a prime spot for viewing the extensive boat traffic heading to and from the soo locks on the St. Mary’s River shipping channel, which flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The huge deck would also be the ideal location for an outdoor party.
The 7-acre island is a nature preservationists’ dream with its huge bird population. Thirty-some bird species have been identified, including two blue herons that nested on the island in 2002. Additionally, a path is being cleared around the perfectly oval-shaped island to facilitate perimeter hikes. The next owners will have the pleasure of carving out their own paths in the island’s wooded interior for additional exploration.
Also included is a waterfront parcel on the mainland near the town of Raber with a dock and a small storage building. Raber is 1-hour and 15 minutes from St. Ignace on the north side of the Mackinac Bridge on Michigan’s upper Peninsula. An electric cable from the mainland near Raber provides power for the lighthouse, and the island has its own sewage filtration system. The current owners also added a boat slip with a depth of 4.5 feet, which accommodates a couple of small boats and a new fish habitat. A boat is included in the sale. The original hexagonal lantern room remains, but the light was moved in 1923 to a nearby tower on another piece of land maintained by the coast Guard – allowing the island’s owners to savor the architecture without the lighting workload.
