Executive Summary
A four-season Michigan destination where families can learn safe, ethical hunting, stay close to nature, dine together, celebrate, and play outdoors.
A family overlooking the Sears ranch at golden hour
Landscape · 16:9
The approximately 842-acre property at 1125 Chaput Drive is already configured for captive-cervid operations, with a 10-foot fence enclosing all but roughly 24 acres and the main buildings located outside the enclosure.
A resort designed for the whole family
Hunt & Learn
Supervised, age-appropriate instruction centered on safety, conservation, ethical choices, and skilled mentorship.
Stay & Explore
Controlled deer-immersion camping, lodging, trails, wildlife photography, forestry education, and seasonal recreation.
Gather & Celebrate
A venison-focused mess hall, weddings, retreats, reunions, family weekends, and a future aqua park.
How the property works
The enclosed acreage operates in clearly scheduled modes. Active hunting, animal care, and guest recreation do not overlap in the same controlled zone. Buildings outside the fence form the hospitality campus for check-in, lodging, dining, events, parking, and most family activities.
Aerial property image showing the enclosure, buildings, water, roads, and guest zones
Landscape · annotated map preferred
Phased launch
1 · Verify
Complete legal, animal-health, fence, zoning, insurance, utility, food-service, and market due diligence.
2 · Open the core
Launch existing lodging, guided hunts, family education, pilot camping, low-capital events, dining, and partner activities.
3 · Expand carefully
Add permanent campsites, event improvements, trails, and the aqua park only after demand and regulatory gates are met.
Hunting, camping, weddings, forestry work, and aquatic recreation will follow separate schedules and safety zones. Youth participation will be supervised, age-appropriate, and subject to all Michigan hunter-education, licensing, firearm, insurance, and operating requirements.
Business objective
The ranch combines premium managed hunting with lodging, family camping, dining, events, water recreation, forestry, retail, and partner services. This diversified model reduces dependence on a short hunting season while protecting animal health, guest trust, and long-term land value.