A restored 19th-century farmhouse with nearly 700 feet of private, sandy Lake Michigan frontage that belonged to a late Kmart executive is on the market for $5.7 million, offering a rare combination of acreage, shoreline and historic character.
The property is accessed by a wooded, quarter-mile-long driveway that leads to the lakeshore estate that spans more than 20 acres. The estate includes a farmhouse and a custom-designed barn, together offering more than 5,100 square feet of living space.
Set atop a stable dune, the structures overlook 687 feet of private, sandy beachfront. The elevated setting provides sweeping Lake Michigan views from nearly every room, creating a sense of privacy and retreat along the shoreline.
Karin Lefler said her aunt, Helen Lefler, a retired Kmart vice president and treasurer who passed away in 2023, purchased the property at 8282 W. Harrison Road in Golden Township in Oceana County (with a Mears mailing address), in the mid-1980s, prior to her retirement.
“She had a love for old farmhouses and barns,” Lefler said. “At the time, it was just a small house with a porch overlooking the lake and a wood-burning stove. My aunt got it and over time it completely transformed.”
Originally built in 1886, the farmhouse was expanded and extensively remodeled in 2012. The 2,735-square-foot home features four bedrooms and four bathrooms, along with an antique barn-beam fireplace mantel, blending historic elements with modern updates.
A custom-designed barn and silo, completed in 1992, adds an additional 2,297 square feet of living space, excluding the garage and storage areas. The structure includes a four-car garage, and an open-concept living area with high ceilings and exposed wood beams designed for flexible use.
The barn’s living space features a bedroom area with two queen Murphy beds, one and a half bathrooms, living and dining areas, a sunroom, mudroom, laundry room, workshop, storage areas, and a temperature-controlled cellar that has been used as a wine cellar. A floor-to-ceiling stone Count Rumford fireplace anchors the space.
Recent improvements include updated windows, kitchen and bathroom renovations, Viking appliances, updated lighting and electrical outlets, and fresh paint on both structures, Lefter said.
Surrounded by mature hardwoods, the estate also includes beach access stairs, deck platforms with seating and storage and a classic farmhouse porch.
While offering the privacy of a secluded lakeside retreat, the property is located less than 10 minutes from Silver Lake State Park.
Golden Township is located in the western part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, approximately a 3½-hour drive from metro Detroit.
The property is listed by Dylan Tent of Signature Sotheby’s International Realty in Northville.
Brendel Clark (previously published as Brendel Hightower) writes about real estate and other topics for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at bclark@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lake Michigan farmhouse with private beach for sale at $5.7 million
Reporting by Brendel Clark , Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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