Our Story
A lake. A legacy. A resort.
Some places earn their history. Arbutus Lake has been earning it since 1871.
The Lake
Arbutus Lake is nearly 400 acres of all-sports water — big enough for skiing and tubing, calm enough for paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing. The first recorded owner, Perry Hannah — "The Father of Traverse City" — bought the surrounding land in 1871 for logging. When the timber ran out, Midwest families snapped up $50 lots and claimed the lake as their own.
Macs Landing
Lakemore Resort sits on land that's been a gathering place since the 1940s. The McManus family acquired the property in 1938 and built what became known as Mac's Landing: 15 lakeside cabins and a small storefront. Families came and went over the decades until East Shore Developing LLC acquired it in 2016 with one clear goal: build something worthy of the land.
The Lakemore Brand
The story starts next door. In 2015, Dean and Tricia Adams opened Lakemore Retreat — three luxury rentals built from Dean's craft and Tricia's design instincts. Using the same model, building new luxury homes intended for rental, plans for Lakemore Resort began in 2018. In 2020, Lakemore Resort opened its doors to three homes, and in 2021 the final four homes were open for business.
The Lake that Shaped the Land
Arbutus Lake doesn't announce itself. You find it tucked into the hills east of Traverse City — nearly 400 acres of clear, spring-fed water surrounded by hardwoods that go gold every October. It's big enough for waterskiing and tubing, calm enough for a kayak at sunrise. Swimmers claim it from May through October.
Where the Eagles Fish Too
Arbutus Lake is a fisherman's lake and a boater's lake — calm enough for an easy morning on the water, deep enough to keep things interesting below the surface. Walleye, bass, and perch draw anglers back season after season, while the lack of heavy boat traffic keeps the experience unhurried. The shoreline is thick with hardwood and pine, and bald eagles are a common sight overhead. It's the kind of lake where you look up as much as you look out.
Ready when you are
Reserve Your Stay
Every amenity, every trail, and every sunset is waiting. Choose your property and make it yours.