Railroad Point Natural Area is one of Benzie County’s crown jewels, featuring more than 220 acres of forested uplands, wetlands and beautiful natural scenery. Residents and visitors alike are drawn to the Mary Margaret Johnson Trail and Charlie Kehr Memorial Trail Connector for seasonal views of Crystal Lake and a quiet escape into nature.
This four-acre addition sits near the trailhead and main entrance to the natural area along Mollineaux Road, surrounded on three sides by existing protected land. Under current zoning, the property could have been divided into as many as ten residential lots—a level of development that would have fragmented wildlife habitat and fundamentally altered the experience of visiting Railroad Point.
With this addition, an important wildlife corridor extending from Crystal Lake to the Betsie River will remain intact. While the addition is not yet open to the public, once restoration is complete, it will be fully incorporated into the natural area—and the experience of exploring Railroad Point, from the moment guests arrive, will be protected for all who visit today and for generations to come.