A Walk Through S. Fox Island

[@gbipot]

I was among the group of 10 college students and Youth Corps members who lived and worked on South Fox Island the summer of 1984. We lived in the brick lighthouse keeper's house. We cooked with propane, flushed toilets with buckets of water, and slept on the hard wood floors in sleeping bags, and we loved every minute of it. We spent the entire summer clearing brush and poison ivy from that entire end of the island (all by hand: no weed whackers, lawn mowers, or brush hogs). That concrete path you see in the video (3:26) that runs from the brick house to the end of the island was completely and totally obscured by grass and weeds when we arrived. We had to use what tiny sections were visible through the weeds to guide us and keep us going in the right direction. It was the best summer of my life. When we finished our work at the end of the summer the owners of the private deer hunting operation in the center of the island hired myself and my friend Rosie to work the deer hunting camp for them in the fall. Rosie cooked for the hunters while I dragged dead deer out of the woods for the hunters. I recall driving an ATV out into the woods to drag back a deer and seeing two wild horses. Someone had brought them out to the island during the 70s and then just simply left them behind. We couldn't get close to them but they appeared to be in fairly decent shape although I'm sure their hooves had to have been in dire shape. I can't tell you how happy I am that you posted this video.

[@heatherdevries498]

Hey Gretchen! Check out the South Fox Island Lighthouse Keeper's Facebook Page. They would love to have you be a visiting keeper in the summer! facebook.com/South-Fox-Island-Lighthouse-Association-Michigan-291631009291/?fref=ts

[@jacobwhite7352]

That's so awesome! I wish I could do something like that. Hard work, especially with the ones you love, semi-seclusion, nature, God, being around others, and a bit of pain is a sweet concoction for love and a truly enjoyable existence.

[@SpitFactsAndThenDontReply]

So is this the same island as north Fox island?

[@TheFogLakeshore]

LOL what a rich person's thing to do. Imagine having a 19 year old girl haul your deer out of the woods. We have a terrible Richie Girl problem in Michigan.

[@clockbuilderhg]

I'm so thrilled to see this place on You Tube.These old lighthouses are so cool. My dad was stationed at St. Martin island light on the other side of the Lake Michigan towards Escanaba in the mid 70s. I defiantly have an appreciation for the work that's being done out at South Fox I. Thanks for the video!

[@LewisToursVideos]

Interesting video! As a Michigander, I’ve always wanted to go to one of those islands in Lake Michigan SO BADLY! I’m surprised there aren’t more houses there, it seems like it would be such a great place to build a home, despite the remoteness.

[@ransackedpotatos8247]

Is this Michigan fox island?

[@charlesyockey9039]

I lived there thanks for sharing.

[@charlesyockey9039]

I lived on sfi 2-3 yrs. I was there alone twice. One time for 45 days and once for 60 days. Me the animals and Gods country. I wish I was there now. My fb page has more photos of sfi.

[@pdd60absorbed12]

Cool place.

[@keywestjj]

'Um, yes, quite nice ... BUT the "walk" is only thru the lighthouse complex - a tiny, tiny piece of South Fox on the eastern tip. There is a whole, huge lot more to the island than this - and I'm only talking about the public portions, not even including David Johnson's obscene complex.

[@oheather4]

Thanks John! I wish I could have walked the whole island - might have made for a more interesting video ;)