Lakeside Bar, Party Store, Marina On The Market

For sale: 3.5 acres of commercial property with 250 feet of sandy frontage on Lake Leelanau, liquor licenses included. Interested?

Located in Leelanau County’s Solon Township, the lakeside resort and party store at Perrin’s Landing on the lake’s south end went on the market for $795,000 in late November.

Owner Pat Slaven (formerly Walski) and her late husband Larry purchased the property in 1986 and raised their two children there. She says the property hasn’t changed much, other than the bar & restaurant – dubbed the “tiki bar” by regulars – she and current husband Matt added five years ago.

The property also comes with a party store, a 27-slip marina, a gas dock, 24 full hook-up camp sites – and all the licensing that goes with that – as well as a recently renovated cabin. It is also adjacent to the township-operated public boat launch.

Under its current recreational/resort zoning, the opportunities are nearly limitless, according to Slaven. “It’s all in someone’s vision,” she says. “But it’s time for us to try something else.”

Realtor Mark Hagan of Coldwell Banker Schmidt in Traverse City is representing the property. He’s had plenty of interest, but as of now there is no deal on the table. “It’s a great opportunity to expand on what’s there … grandfathered use of everything that’s happening there now,” says Hagan.

Or, it could make for a family vacation compound. Hagan says his understanding from the township is the property could be rezoned residential.

As just its third owner, Slaven says selling is bittersweet but she’s ready.

“Matt and I have put everything we had into it,” she says. “It can be so much more, but we don’t have the capital to do that – and don’t have the energy.”

Does she have any advice for a potential buyer? “One thing I learned to appreciate is that lake sitting out there,” Slaven says. Any stresses the business brought, she says were quickly quieted by time on the lake.

“If this is going to be someone’s lifestyle business, it’s a great lifestyle. My kids loved it. If it’s going to be a [developer], the potential is here to do it.”

One thing is for sure, though, Slaven adds: “I will continue to live on Lake Leelanau no matter what.”

For more property information and photos, click here.

Did you know? Long before it was Perrin’s Landing this spot was first settled before the Civil War as a place for area residents to leave their boats while they went to Traverse City. Following future development as a railroad station and later home to a hotel, Daniel and Julia Perrin of Detroit purchased the land in 1927 and established a cabin colony.