Walloon Lake and Hemingway country

Walloon Lake, tucked into the hills on the eastern edge of the county, is one of Michigan’s deepest and clearest inland lakes. It’s also the boyhood summer home of Ernest Hemingway. In 1899 his family built a cottage called Windemere on the shore. Young Ernest spent nearly every summer here until he was a young man — fishing, hunting, and roaming the woods. Those summers turned up again and again in his writing, especially the Nick Adams stories. Windemere still stands, and the Hemingway family still owns it. A state historical marker at Melrose Township Park tells the story.

Charlevoix County holds the southern and eastern shore of Walloon Lake, mostly in Bay and Melrose townships. The small village of Walloon Lake sits at the foot of the lake. (The rest of the lake reaches north into Emmet County.) The water is famously clean and clear. The shoreline is dotted with century-old cottages, and the whole area has a quiet, upscale, old-summer-resort feel.

For buyers, Walloon Lake frontage is some of the most sought-after — and priciest — in northern Michigan. People prize it for the clear water and the literary history. As with any lake property, look closely at exactly where your frontage lies and whether access is private or shared. Look at the condition of any older septic system too, since keeping this lake pristine is a point of local pride.