Tag: news

Scalable Outdoor Hospitality Investment Opportunity in Northern Michigan – 9239 E 8 Mile Road, Luther, MI

Ken Weaver 231-668-6303 TraverseNorth@gmail.com

Looking for a Northern Michigan campground, glamping resort, or outdoor hospitality property that’s already producing income and ready for expansion?
9239 E 8 Mile Road in Luther offers a rare chance to step into an established outdoor hospitality startup with major infrastructure already completed — saving years of development time and significant upfront costs.

This property is ideal for investors, owner-operators, or lifestyle buyers who want immediate usability with substantial room to scale into a larger campground, RV park, glamping resort, or eco-lodge destination.

Turnkey Outdoor Hospitality Startup with Existing Infrastructure

Developing a campground or glamping resort from raw land can take years of permitting, site work, utility installation, and construction before generating revenue. This property removes those early-stage barriers.

Existing improvements include:

  • Modern guest-ready bath house
  • Finished shipping container home (owner housing or rental unit)
  • Established glamping tents already in operation
  • Large custom yurt living space
  • Pole barn for storage, maintenance, or business operations
  • Internal road network and established site layout
  • Private wooded trail system across the acreage

Instead of starting from raw land, buyers step into a functioning outdoor hospitality property with existing income potential and operational infrastructure already in place.

Prime Expansion Potential for Campground or Glamping Development

With acreage, layout, and infrastructure already established, the property is positioned for cost-effective expansion. Potential growth opportunities include:

  • Adding approximately 25–50 RV campsites
  • Expanding glamping accommodations
  • Installing park model RV units
  • Developing tiny cabins or rental cottages
  • Hosting retreats, events, or outdoor recreation experiences

This creates a strong opportunity for phased development while maintaining operational income.

Rare Northern Michigan Development Flexibility

A major competitive advantage is the absence of local zoning restrictions, with development primarily guided by state and county requirements.

For campground developers and outdoor hospitality investors, this level of flexibility is extremely rare in Northern Michigan and allows for creative business models and staged expansion strategies.

High-Demand Location Near Manistee National Forest

Location is a major driver of outdoor hospitality success, and this property delivers:

  • Directly across from the Manistee National Forest
  • Access to extensive trail systems and public land
  • Year-round recreation demand (ORV, snowmobile, hiking, hunting, fishing)
  • Easy access for weekend travelers and seasonal guests

Northern Michigan continues to see strong demand for nature-based travel, glamping, and RV tourism, supporting long-term growth potential.

Existing Income Helps Offset Ownership Costs

Unlike raw land development, this property offers:

  • Existing rental structures
  • Current outdoor hospitality income streams
  • Immediate operational capability
  • Cash flow potential during expansion

This allows new owners to build toward a larger vision while reducing financial carry risk.

The Ideal Middle Ground: Operational + Expansion Upside

Most Northern Michigan hospitality properties fall into one of two categories:

  • Raw land requiring heavy development investment
  • Fully built operations with limited growth potential

9239 E 8 Mile Road sits in the ideal middle position:
Operating today, with significant expansion opportunity still ahead.

Northern Michigan Campground & Glamping Investment Opportunity

Opportunities to acquire an existing startup outdoor hospitality property with infrastructure, income potential, expansion capacity, and location advantages are extremely limited in today’s market.

For buyers looking to build a destination campground, glamping resort, or outdoor recreation retreat, this property provides a strong foundation to scale from.

Property Offered By

Ken Weaver
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan

📞 231-668-6303
📧 TraverseNorth@gmail.com

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Why you want to buy this waterfront resort instead of a cabin or cottage!!

Buying a Houghton Lake Cabin vs. Owning a Resort: Why North Bay Landing Stands Apart

Buyers searching cabins and camps for sale in Michigan often start with one goal: secure a place on the water. On Houghton Lake, that usually means paying $600,000+ for an older single cabin—often with limited rental flexibility and little room to grow.

North Bay Landing Resort offers a smarter alternative: control more waterfront, generate income immediately, and hold real estate that should appreciate over time.

More Than a Cabin—A Scalable Waterfront Asset

North Bay Landing Resort is a traditional lakefront resort that includes:

  • Seven waterfront rental cottages
  • A primary waterfront home
  • A second custom Northwoods-style home across the street
  • Three separate tax parcels

That parcel structure matters. It creates long-term flexibility—whether for continued operation, future repositioning, or value separation down the road.

Real Estate Value That Carries the Deal

A conservative way to view the numbers highlights why this property works.

Assign $350,000 to the primary residence and the effective price for the income-producing resort drops to approximately $845,000. That figure covers seven waterfront cottages—on Houghton Lake—something nearly impossible to recreate today.

Zooming out further:

  • Three parcels at roughly $500,000 each
  • Plus the $350,000 home
  • Implied real estate value approaches $1.85 million

That estimate excludes the operating business and rental income entirely, providing strong real estate downside protection.

Proven Income With Upside Potential

Under current operations, North Bay Landing can generate around $150,000 in annual gross income. For many buyers, that alone creates a comfortable ownership model.

But history shows that resorts like this often perform even better under new ownership. With improved marketing, refreshed amenities, and modern booking systems, gross revenues frequently increase by 40–50% within a few years.

That upside simply doesn’t exist with a single cabin.

Why Investors Are Re-Thinking Single-Cabin Purchases

Comparing options makes the decision clearer:

Single Houghton Lake Cabin

  • One structure
  • One income source
  • Limited tax benefits
  • $600,000+ purchase price

North Bay Landing Resort

  • Multiple waterfront rental units
  • Diversified income streams
  • Depreciation advantages
  • Real estate appreciation across several parcels
  • Lifestyle use plus business income

This is why more buyers looking for Michigan waterfront investment property are shifting from single cabins to small resorts.

Tax Benefits Add Another Layer of Value

Because North Bay Landing is an income-producing property, buyers can take advantage of depreciation and operational deductions—benefits that rarely apply to personal-use cabins. Over time, these tax advantages can materially improve overall returns.

A Rare Opportunity on Michigan’s Largest Inland Lake

North Bay Landing Resort combines:

  • Prime Houghton Lake frontage
  • Immediate rental income
  • Strong real estate fundamentals
  • Long-term appreciation potential

For buyers exploring cabins and camps for sale by Ken Weaver, this property represents the kind of opportunity that checks both boxes: sound investment logic and a true Northern Michigan lake lifestyle.

On Houghton Lake, you can buy one cabin—or you can own the waterfront, the income, and the upside.

Houghton Lake Resort for Sale
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Ken Weaver: Michigan’s Go-To Expert for Campground & Resort Valuations

If you own a campground, RV park, cabin resort, lodge, marina, or waterfront resort in Michigan, one question eventually comes up:

What is my property really worth in today’s market?

According to Ken Weaver of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan, the answer is rarely simple — and it’s almost never something an online calculator can determine accurately.

Recreational and hospitality properties are unlike traditional real estate. Their value is shaped by land, lifestyle, income, and long-term potential. That’s why owners across Northern Michigan and beyond turn to Ken Weaver for professional campground and resort valuations.

Why Campground & Resort Valuations Are Different

Most business valuations focus narrowly on income and expenses.
Ken Weaver takes a market-driven approach that reflects how real buyers actually think.

A true valuation looks beyond spreadsheets and considers the full picture of the property — both today and into the future.

How Ken Weaver Values Michigan Campgrounds & Resorts

Ken’s valuation process focuses on five core value drivers that consistently determine what buyers are willing to pay.

1. Land & Real Estate Value

In many Michigan campgrounds and resorts, the land itself represents a major portion of total value.

Key factors include:

  • Waterfront or river frontage
  • Acreage and privacy
  • Zoning or lack of zoning
  • Development and expansion potential

In high-demand Northern Michigan markets, land value alone can be substantial.

2. Business Performance

Ken analyzes real operating performance, including:

  • Actual income and expenses
  • Seasonality and occupancy trends
  • Long-term sustainability
  • Opportunities to improve revenue

This ensures valuations reflect reality — not inflated projections.

3. Location & Market Demand

Location plays a critical role in value. Ken evaluates:

  • Northern Michigan tourism demand
  • Proximity to lakes, rivers, trails, and recreation
  • Accessibility to major destinations
  • Regional buyer demand

Strong locations consistently command premium pricing.

4. Lifestyle Value

One of the most overlooked — yet powerful — components of value is lifestyle.

Buyers are not just purchasing a business. They’re buying:

  • A way of life
  • The ability to live where others vacation
  • Family legacy opportunities
  • Freedom and flexibility

Ken understands how to properly price this lifestyle appeal.

5. Future Upside & Appreciation

Ken also evaluates what the next owner could do with the property, including:

  • Expansion opportunities
  • Underutilized land
  • Rezoning potential
  • Modernization and repositioning
  • Long-term appreciation

Future upside often separates average properties from exceptional ones.

Why Online Campground Valuations Miss the Mark

Online valuation tools are not designed for Michigan campgrounds, RV parks, or resorts.

They fail to account for:

  • Waterfront and river value
  • Zoning flexibility
  • Expansion potential
  • Seasonal tourism demand
  • Lifestyle and legacy appeal
  • Local and regional buyer behavior

Accurate valuations require hands-on market knowledge, not algorithms.

Who Ken Weaver Works With

Ken Weaver specializes exclusively in recreational and hospitality real estate, including:

  • Campgrounds
  • RV parks
  • Cabin and cottage resorts
  • Waterfront resorts
  • Lodges
  • Marinas
  • Outdoor recreation businesses

He works throughout Northern Michigan and statewide, helping owners understand value and successfully position properties for sale.

About Ken Weaver

Ken Weaver is known for representing some of Michigan’s most unique and irreplaceable recreational properties.

He doesn’t just list properties —
he strategically positions them to attract buyers who understand:

✔ Land value
✔ Business fundamentals
✔ Lifestyle benefits
✔ Long-term appreciation

This approach consistently leads to stronger interest and better outcomes for sellers.

Thinking About Selling — or Just Planning Ahead?

Property owners contact Ken Weaver for many reasons, including:

  • Selling now or in the future
  • Estate planning
  • Partner buyouts
  • Expansion planning
  • Establishing a realistic market value

Every valuation is confidential and tailored to the property.

There’s no obligation — just clear, honest insight.

Request a Campground or Resort Valuation

To begin a valuation, Ken typically reviews:

  • Property location
  • Type of operation (campground, resort, RV park, etc.)
  • Approximate size
  • Waterfront or river access
  • Known income history

Whether you plan to sell soon or years from now, understanding your property’s true value is a powerful advantage.

Contact Ken Weaver directly to start the conversation.

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