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Lake Michigan Home With Its Own Lighthouse—and a Fascinating History—Hits the Market for $1.3 Million
Aug
A truly dazzling property perched on the edge of Lake Michigan has landed on the market for $1.28 million—complete with its very own custom lighthouse that has a fascinating history dating back to the 1850s.
The home itself, which sits on 3.69 acres in Grafton, WI, was constructed in 1977 and features four bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as an extraordinary array of unique design details crafted by the property’s original owner, Brana Kevich, a Russian Orthodox priest and woodworker.
Together with his wife, Neva Kevich, Brana also built the private lighthouse, which is attached to their home and was completed in 1981. But while the couple constructed the one-of-a-kind addition simply because of their passion for lighthouses, they learned that their property had actually been earmarked for such a structure more than a century earlier.
As it turns out, there had been plans to build a lighthouse on the property in a bid to improve the functionality of the nearby Port Ulao, which was increasingly being used by local merchants to import and export different goods.
Congress even appropriated $3,500 for it way back in 1850, but it was never built with public money.
Now known as the Kevich Lighthouse, the structure stands just 50 feet tall, the shortest height for a standard lighthouse. However, its light travels with a 163-foot focal plane. It has two lights surrounded by a rotating shield so the light shines for four seconds on and four seconds off.
And despite being privately owned, the lighthouse is an official U.S. Coast Guard certified private aid to navigation, under the light number 20765.
The Keviches sold the property for $410,000 in 1995, according to records, when it was purchased by David and Mary Bennett, who noted that they had always had an interest in owning such a unique structure.
“We’ve always been interested in lighthouses, and after a few years of watching the housing market, we kept following this particular property. So we finally made a deal and bought it,” they told Lighthouse Friends.
In addition to the lighthouse, the couple loved the property’s proximity to the water—and the incredible views on offer from their lakeside home.
“We love watching the water, seeing how it changes throughout the day, with the sunlight coming off the water,” Dave shared. “We also love watching the boats, like the Great Lakes freighters that pass by, along with pleasure boats and sailboats.”
Now, three decades later, the lighthouse home is being offered for sale for only the second time in its history, with the description noting that it represents a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of Wisconsin’s most iconic waterfront estates.”
“Perched atop a Lake Michigan bluff on 3.69 private acres, this remarkable home offers panoramic lake views [and] timeless architectural character,” the listing, which is held by Grace Stoll of Coldwell Banker Realty, goes on.
While the lighthouse is undoubtedly the most eye-catching element of the property, the house itself also has plenty to offer, including original woodwork designed by Brana during his time living there.
In addition to being a Russian Orthodox priest, Brana was a skilled woodworker and carved intricate doors and other accents. Beams highlight the vaulted ceilings in some of the living spaces.
The front door features a beautifully carved woodland scene, with intertwined branches stretching across the width of the wood, creating a dramatic welcome to all those who visit the abode. Other carvings include a sailboat montage on an interior door and handmade light fixtures adorned with trees and flowers.
The property features four bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as many light-filled living spaces, including a main sitting area with a cozy fireplace, exposed beams, and windows that perfectly frame the lush green grounds.
Another fireplace can be found in the dining area of the open-plan kitchen, which boasts beautiful brick floors and more exposed wood beams, as well as large picture windows that overlook the gardens.
The ground floor primary suite features yet another hand-carved door—this time with an image of women outside in the woods—and an adjoining bathroom.
There is also another door to the exterior that features a beautiful carving of the Kevich Lighthouse.
While the property is bordered by two other homes, it still offers a spectacular level of privacy, courtesy of the nearly 4 acres that it sits on, as well as the lush, leafy trees that surround it on three sides.
“Enjoy unmatched privacy, mature grounds, spectacular sunrises and moon rises, and a front row seat to passing freighters,” the listing states. “A truly irreplaceable legacy property blending history, beauty, and Lake Michigan living.”
And it seems that the allure of such a plum Lake Michigan parcel was too good to pass up for one buyer, with records showing that the property is already under contingent offer, less than a month after it was listed.
It’s currently unclear what price has been offered, but there are no doubt many lighthouse aficionados who would argue the value of such a unique property is priceless.
