Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is the crown jewel of Benzie County — Michigan’s ninth-largest inland lake, and one of its clearest and deepest. The water really is crystal: a striking turquoise over a sandy bottom, dropping off to depths of more than 160 feet. The villages of Beulah and Benzonia sit at its eastern end, and homes and cottages ring the shore.

The lake has a famous origin story for its beaches. In 1873, a local company set out to dig a canal linking Crystal Lake to the Betsie River and Lake Michigan, hoping to float lumber and goods down to Frankfort. The plan was only to lower the lake a few feet to feed the river — but the temporary dam at the outlet washed out, and the lake poured out, dropping about 20 feet over a couple of weeks and leaving behind the roughly 21 miles of sandy beach that ring the lake today. Locals called it “The Tragedy of Crystal Lake,” but the accidental beaches turned the lake into one of northern Michigan’s premier summer spots, and Beulah still throws an “Archibald Jones Day” each summer, named for the man who pulled the plug.

For buyers, Crystal Lake frontage is some of the most prized — and priciest — property in the county, and even nearby non-waterfront lots carry a premium for lake access and views. As with any lake place, look closely at the shoreline, the bluff, and any older septic system (see the well-and-septic note).