Funds remain to purchase land owned by inholders of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, but it's been 2 1/2 years since the last taker.

According to Lakeshore assistant superintendent Tom Ulrich, the last land bought from an inholder at the park was within the Bow Lakes natural area when Hans Jens sold 40 acres for a price of $240,000.
Congress annually allocates funds for the purchase of property within the Lakeshore’s boundaries, said Ulrich.

“We always have a few willing sellers,” said Ulrich, although deals may be tough to make because the National Park Service must take into consideration appraisals when deciding how much to offer.

“If there is no opportunity to use (acquisition funding), it carries over. But generally it’s the opposite problem. Usually it’s the other way around. We have willing sellers, but not enough funds to buy,” he said.

More than 170 inholders own land within the 71,000-acre park. However, all have signed covenants limiting alterations to their properties and expansion of their use.

Ulrich said inholders occasionally seek to sell their land. Reasons vary, and include a desire to stop paying property taxes. Some no longer want to maintain a second home.

And some simply want use of their investment. The deal can include a lease agreement allowing them to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives, Ulrich said.