Watervale Ghost Town
Benzie County, Michigan44.5539, -86.2178
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 5.8 miFrankfort, MI
- Mild months
- May–Oct6 of 12
- Next ghost town
- 19 miJacktown
Watervale is a former settlement in Benzie County, Michigan, listed among the ghost towns of Michigan. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On the map
- National Park Service
- State
- Private or unlisted
Star: Watervale. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Frankfort, MI, about 5.8 miles north in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Green Bay, WI, 87 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Jacktown19 mi northeast
- Good Harbor34 mi northeast
- Walton40 mi east
- Old Mission46 mi northeast
- Beanville54 mi south
- Deward71 mi east
- Pere Cheney78 mi east
- Wells96 mi west
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run May to October, judging by NOAA normals from Beulah 7Ssw. Snow is normal from November to April.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Beulah 7Ssw station (USC00200758), 4.5 miles away. About 36.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Benzie County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44.55390, -86.21780 |
| Protected as | National Register of Historic Places (NRHP 03000624) |
| Also known as | Watervale, Michigan |
| Sources | Wikidata Q16902977 · Wikipedia article · NPS register file |
Questions
Where is Watervale ghost town?
In Benzie County, Michigan, at 44.5539, -86.2178. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Frankfort, MI, about 5.8 miles north in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Green Bay, WI, 87 miles away.
Can you visit Watervale?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
When is the best time to visit Watervale?
Mild months here run May to October, judging by NOAA normals from Beulah 7Ssw. Snow is normal from November to April.
Are there other ghost towns near Watervale?
Yes. Jacktown (19 mi), Good Harbor (34 mi).
