Fayette State Park, MI to Beaver Island, MI

We pass by South Fox Island and North Fox Island.

While a dark grey cloud hangs low over South Fox Island this particular day, a perpetual black cloud exists over North Fox Island. North Fox Island, the smaller of the two islands, was once the site of unfathomable monstrosities. In the 1970’s, a child pornography ring was discovered, spearheaded by the owner of the island, wealthy businessman Francis Sheldon. Designing a fraudulent charity named Brother Paul’s Children’s’ Mission, Sheldon recruited young boys from Ann Arbor YMCA’s Big Brother program of which he volunteered as a big brother. He would then fly the young boys in his private plan to the retreat on North Fox Island. Here, 20 miles offshore with no way to escape, Sheldon, along with other rich and powerful men, would forcibly have sex with these young boys. The sexual acts were videotaped and subsequently sold abroad. One particular subscriber to the ring, Christopher Busch (son of a General Motor’s executive), was later named as the primary suspect to the Oakland County Michigan child killings (See Investigation Discovery Channels “Children of the Snow”). Sheldon escaped capture by fleeing to the Netherlands and marrying a French woman obtaining citizenship and avoiding extradition. Once in Amsterdam, he continued his activities unhindered by the U.S. He supposedly passed away in the 1996, but authorities searched his home, after his death, and no remains or evidence of his demise was found. Some believe he faked his death and gained a new identity. Today he would be 95, so likely, at this point, he has joined his maker 😈. North Fox Island is now owned by the state of Michigan and remains uninhabited.

No bridges exist to Beaver Island, so travel is only by a private airplane, a private boat or the public ferry. The ferry leaves from Charlevoix, MI and takes 2 hours. The cost? Adults $65.00 round trip and a car $105.00 one way.

Beaver Island has two municipal marinas, North and South. We initially wanted the south marina as it is situated directly in town. But since this weekend is the Beaver Island Music Festival, a 3 day camping music festival in the middle of the woods, this particular marina is full. We discover, however, that the walk into “town” from the north marina is not far.

The north marina has one huge advantage however. It is right across the street from Beaver Island’s one and only grocery store.

Beaver Island, with a population of 600, is the largest island in Lake Michigan. While it would have been nice to have a car to explore the island, as on Washington Island, there were no rental cars available because of… the music festival. 🎵 The marina does have 2 loaner bikes so we take advantage of these to explore some of the island.

Beaver Island has an interesting history, as we discovered on our ride through town. James Jesse Strang, a Mormon lawyer from Wisconsin, proclaimed an angel appeared to him and “ordained him as a ruler of God’s people”. With his followers, he settled on Beaver Island. For nine years, 1847-1856, he built a bustling outpost with roads, homes, tabernacles and even a daily newspaper. When he subsequently declared himself “King of Beaver Island”, resentment and controversy followed, especially amongst the non-believers and even the U.S. government, which tried him for treason unsuccessfully. Those of the Mormon faith also questioned his power when he consecrated their land to the church and reversed his stance on marriage by taking 5 wives and overtly practicing polygamy. In 1856, 2 men attacked him from behind a woodpile as he was walking to meet the captain of the U.S.S. Michigan for dinner. He died 23 days later from his wounds. The assassins were whisked aboard the U.S.S. Michigan by the captain and brought to Mackinac Island. There, the sheriff released them and off they went down the street, carried on the shoulders of Strang’s enemies, to a nearby pub where they were treated to drinks. Whether it was disgruntled followers, the U.S. government, or hostile non-believers behind the assassination, the result was the demise of the Mormons from Beaver Island. They were forced out with their homes and tabernacles burned. Today there are no remaining Mormons on Beaver Island. With their absence, the Irish Catholics took control, which explains why many of the current names of residents and establishments are Irish.

Images of the town:

We did enjoy a nice dinner at the Beaver Lodge’s restaurant, The Sunset. It is a little over a mile away and they provide the transportation to and from. The food was delicious and the sunset beautiful.

While most visitors this weekend attended the music festival in the woods, we found our entertainment on the dock.