Trails, trout ponds included in this Michigan river ranch for sale, $6.7 million

The thought of a home where actual buffalo roam might conjure up images of the wild American West, but in the case of one Michigan property for sale, such a place can be found just a half-hour from Traverse City.

Deer Tracks Ranch is an enclosed 1,465-acre swath of land in the village of Fife Lake, in Grand Traverse County, with a real-estate listing that reads like an outdoors enthusiast’s dream: 15 miles of trails, three miles of trout streams, half a mile of frontage on the Manistee River, three stocked trout ponds, lush hardwood forests, and plenty of spectacular wildlife. The property is almost entirely surrounded by fencing — nine miles of it in total — and is home to several herds of elk, deer, and even buffalo.

The property is listed at $6.7 million with Harbor Sotheby’s International Realty.

“It’s just a wonderful place,” said current owner Dave Tuxbury, who has resided at the property for more than two decades. “It feels like you’re out in the middle of the Upper Peninsula almost. It has a very peaceful feeling.”

The lodging and outbuildings on the property were constructed with the outdoors in mind when it comes to style as well as utility. The main residences include Big Lodge, a modern, custom-crafted log cabin that can sleep more than 12, and Green Lodge, a mid-century vintage cabin, that sleeps 14. Both are situated on the banks of the Manistee River, putting guests just steps from fishing for salmon, steelhead and trout.

A smaller additional river cabin, called The Brookie, and a rustic treehouse named the Eagle’s Nest, which overlooks a creek, offer more intimate places to escape on the land.

Other structures on the property, in keeping with outdoors interests, include a six-door, 1,600 square foot ATV utility building, a 4,000 square foot workshop, a 2,000 square foot barn that could be easily converted into equestrian stalls, and a designated hunting processing area complete with a 12×12 walk-in freezer.

For hosting big gatherings, the property has a large, separate dining hall with a commercial kitchen. In addition to the dining hall’s attached caretaker quarters, it also has a wildlife-viewing room, a wet bar, laundry facilities, multiple offices, and a half-bath.

One of the most interesting features on this spectacular property is a fully restored fire tower, which, at 110 feet tall, offers panoramic views for hundreds of miles.

Co-listing agent Connie Lenau noted that the property’s proximity to Traverse City — and its airport — is a practical plus.

Read on for more photos and details about this Michigan property for sale. The full listing is online here.