Lake Bluff Sanctuary

In 1988, the Michigan Audubon Society received as a gift the M.E. and Gertrude Gray home and property, which later became Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary.  Atop an 100- foot-high bluff overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan, Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary boasts over 1,700 feet of Lake Michigan frontage on its 75 acres located just north of Manistee, MI. Originally landscaped as an arboretum, many notable specimens have been preserved on the grounds surrounding the home such as California Redwood, Ginkgo, and two Michigan Champion Trees, a Giant Sequoia and a Sycamore Maple.  Over 170 different types of birds have been seen on the property, there are many resident woodpeckers, and eagles are frequently seen flying up the beach or perching in the trees along the shore.

The grounds are open to the public year-round, every day from dawn until dusk. There are 2 miles of maintained trails and beach access.

In October 2016, the Michigan Audubon closed the facilities at Lake Bluff. The following year a group of like-minded individuals interested in protecting the history and integrity of the property met to see what could be done to insure that Lake Bluff is still around for future generations. The group put together a corporation called Lake Bluff Farms, Inc. to form a non-profit in response to the Michigan Audubon Society issuing a Request For Proposal in order to transfer ownership of the property. Lake Bluff Farms, Inc. is one of the applicants hoping to preserve the property of the farm. At this time the status is unknown.

2890 Lakeshore Rd., Manistee, MI 49660

Lake Bluff Farms Inc. has a website with gorgeous photos of the house and grounds. They also have a Facebook page. Lake Bluff Farms – Manistee, MI