In 1980, Miles Boekeloo sold his 365-acre retreat, keeping 5 acres and its cabin for 25 years

For decades, the Boekeloo family enjoyed a secluded wilderness retreat along Michigan's Lake Michigan shoreline. In 1980, Miles Boekeloo sold the expansive 365-acre property to the National Park Service, which incorporated it into the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

However, the sale included an unusual clause: Boekeloo's family could continue using a 5-acre parcel, complete with their family cabin and a pond, for another 25 years. This unique arrangement allowed the family to maintain their connection to the cherished retreat until April 2005, while the surrounding land was protected.

The property's history predates the Boekeloos. Joseph Cooper established a homestead on 161 acres in 1929, even attempting to create a cranberry bog. After the Cooper family ceased using the land, it lay vacant for about a decade.

In 1945, Miles and Glea Boekeloo purchased the 161 acres, transforming it into a family getaway while preserving its rustic charm. Miles Boekeloo enhanced the property, notably by digging a pond in front of the cabin in 1945 and adding two privies and a deck. A bunk room was added to the cabin in 1963 to accommodate more guests. A trail connected the cabin to the Lake Michigan beach, offering access to the shore while maintaining the property's secluded atmosphere.

As development encroached on the Lake Michigan shoreline, Boekeloo became concerned about preserving the wilderness. In 1962, he expanded his holdings to over 365 acres, including about 1.25 miles of shoreline. This expansion helped maintain the property's isolation and prevented further development in the area.