Boy Scout Island

Thanks to the Sylvan Lake Improvement Association, the view from the site will continue to look like this:

The association had been trying to purchase the 100-acre island across from the site for more than 30 years from the developer who bought it from the Boy Scouts. The association hopes to use it as a nature preserve and are in discussions with the state about managing the preserve and the role of the Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic site.

The island was previously owned by the Boy Scouts who sold it when they needed more land for their camp. A tornado in 1974 damaged many of the building on the island and the first thing will be to remove the debris. The stone chapel and natural amphitheater visible from the front porch of Gene's cabin was not damaged.

Gene's cabin is on a point in the lake and the island is on the north side. This is the view from the Cabin when looking east. While the homes are very nice, I prefer the natural view of the island to development.