Benzie County recently entered into a 15-year lease with the U.S. Coast Guard to care for the Point Betsie Lightstation in Frankfort. The county has been action as temporary caretaker of the historic lightstation since January, 2001.
The lease requires the county to take responsibility for maintaining the structure and grounds. It is thought that the lease will place the county in a better position to permanently acquire the lighthouse later on.
In 1999, the Coast Guard announced plans to relinquish the lightstation to the federal Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau, in turn, will give the building to a local unit of government or sell it to a non-profit agency.
The Benzie County commissioners have expressed interest in having the county take over the lighthouse permanently. an advisory committee has been studying that possibility since last year. Recently Benzie County was awarded a grant (to) complete a comprehensive plan and feasibility study of the Point Betsie Lightstation. The services of an architect with experience in historical structures, have been retained to conduct the feasibility study. This study will assist in providing the information needed to develop a long range plan for the lightstation.
There is great community support for maintaining Point Betsie. A volunteer group, "Friends of the Point Betsie Lighthouse" group has been formed to help in the preservation of the lightstation. For more information, contact Chuck Clarke, county administrator at 231-882-0035 or Pat Cudney, MSU Extension director at 231-882-0025.
Tax deductible contributions can be made to Benzie County Treasurer for the Lighthouse Fund by mailing to County Administrator Chuck Clarke at P.O. Box, 377, Beulah, Michigan 49617.

You and I can help out. When you purchase a Pt Betsie Lighthouse print, I will donate a portion of the sale to the preservation fund.