Michigan Audubon recently successfully transferred ownership and stewardship of the manor and grounds adjacent to Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary. “We are excited to announce that the historic and much-loved Lake Bluff manor home is now owned by Lake Bluff Farms, a local nonprofit established to preserve this structure and the immediate grounds around it,” said Anne Brasie, vice chair of the Michigan Audubon board.
“We would like to thank the volunteer leaders of Lake Bluff Farms and the members of the Gray family who spent their time to help us execute this labor of love,” added Brasie, a former Manistee resident who served for four years on the Lake Bluff ad hoc committee. “The home is now in the hands of folks who can ensure that the home once again will be one of the jewels of Manistee County.”
The 75-acre bird sanctuary portion of the property will continue to be owned, managed, and maintained by Michigan Audubon with a conservation easement in place. This easement ensures the protection of this property in perpetuity, and Michigan Audubon will continue to steward the bird sanctuary as one of its 18 sanctuaries.
“This sanctuary is a rich, valuable place for birds and people alike, and we are looking forward to a mutually rewarding relationship with the Lake Bluff Farms nonprofit,” said Michigan Audubon Executive Director Heather Good.
In June of 2017, Michigan Audubon circulated a request for proposals throughout northwest Michigan with the hopes of identifying a local qualifying organization better positioned to utilize the manor and adjacent grounds of just under five acres. Lake Bluff Farms will provide the historic preservation of the Lake Bluff manor. In their vision statement, they write, “Because the hallmark of Lake Bluff is protecting the flora, fauna, and inherent history not just for today, but for all future generations, Lake Bluff Farms will place a concentration upon preservation, education, protection, and upkeep of the homestead and immediate surrounding areas.” To learn more about their timeline and work with the manor home, Lake Bluff Farms invites you to like them on Facebook at facebook.com/lakeblufffarms.
Michigan Audubon’s Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary remains open to the public for gentle use from dawn to dusk. It is located at 2890 Lakeshore Rd., Manistee, MI 49660. Please visit michiganaudubon.org for more information.
“We are so grateful for Michigan Audubon’s stewardship of the sanctuary lands and for the vision, devotion, and hard work of the amazing team of qualified people who have created Lake Bluff Farms in order to save and restore the historic buildings on the property. We know now that the conservation values and dreams for Lake Bluff’s future that we had envisioned will be preserved in perpetuity. We look forward to hearing more about the community of Manistee once again taking advantage of and supporting both nonprofits and, most of all, creating their own memories to share with their families as we did with ours.”
This article appeared in the 2021 Fall Jack Pine Warbler.