Depends on where you're at. I know a guy in NY who bought 150 acres @ about $1k per acre, dug the lakes himself, cheap when diesel was low-cost.


I know another guy who had to pay over 6 figures in EPA fines for "destroying wetlands"... BS considering he actually created more wetlands than he destroyed. The 12k in lawyerness is probably the best money spend.

Legal guidance is highly recommended. Check state and local requirements. In MI if the body of water is 5 acres or more a state permit is required ($2,000).  Some local ordinances also require a permit as well as the county drain commissions.  The cost can be reduced substantially if the topsoil and sand can be sold for nearby expressway or other construction projects.  Trucking distance is a key financial factor for the contractor buying the fill. In my case 25,000 cy of topsoil and 75,000 cy of sand were sold.  85,000 cy of clay was kept on site and used for berms around 3 sides then covered with topsoil. Our local Pheasants Forever group seeded the berms at NO cost for wildlife habitat. Total project was close to a push as far as cost goes.  Project took 7 weeks using 3 627-F scrapers, 1 old D-9 dozer and a 345 excavator.  Dive in! - - a little stress is healthy!

Regards,

Andy

The private site I now ski was found by the owners while flying around in his buddy's plane. He spotted a body of spring fed water almost perfect in shape and size. He knocked on the farmer's door and told him he was interested in buying if he ever wanted to sell. A few years later the farmer sold him the land.

I went back and forth for years between trying to find land to dig and trying to find an existing site.  Where we live it would be virtually impossible to permit a lake dig - too many wetland and water restrictions.  Finally found an existing site that was a borrow pit for a highway overpass.    Bought the site together with another skier and am now in the process of starting site improvements.

My opinion is that it's far less expensive to find an existing site and try to purchase.  In many areas you can see these small lakes near just about every highway overpass.  Tracking down the current owners may be the hardest part.

Zane,  the site we eventually purchased was already for sale.  For years we had been searching to buy, lease, beg, borrow or steal a place to ski.  Even though this lake is 300 miles from where we live, it is still a dream come true.  I plan to eventually move there.

Prior to finding this location, I looked everywhere at all times - kind of an obsession for me.  Tell everyone that you are in the market, search online, look at local real estate papers, Pennysaver, etc.  If you do happen to drive past a site that looks like a decent prospect, you can always find out who the owner is through county tax offices (many of these allow address searches online).  Keep looking and good luck!

Montana is truly a waterskiers paradise.  Steve, do you ski at that site?

Moving south sounds great to me - even if this state builds ski-lake style reservoirs. I have been fortunate to ski Kicking Axe and Helena too but spend most of my ski time on Flathead lake. That's why moving south sounds so good! We raised our kids in Manhattan and I have skied that lake a half dozen times - google maps/earth has a great pic of a skier on that lake.   http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=45.86254 … &hl=en

Matt Grimshaw from Polson - don't think we have crossed paths until now.

Just FYI, we are now moving forward with a two-lake project in Charleston, South Carolina called Coastal Lake Estates.  You can find more info at www.coastallakeestates.com or email me.  Sorry to interject.  Hope everyone is doing well.


Edit: You can post more about this at the thread Seth started for the new development here: http://www.proskicoach.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1145

Last edited by WadeWilliams (Thu, Oct 15, 2009 10:09 PM)

I am not sure what state your in but be carful, when you start the permit process make sure you get state and the local permits . The countys are good at saying sure your ready and then Mr. DNR shows up .  If your from indiana and interested I have aprivate l;ake for sale email me for details [email protected]

zane  I noticed your from potterville isn't there a private site nearby there already I think I've skied there before but forgot what it was called.  I'm from Lansing area but mostly ski further north.