Land, ho! A $1.5 million Iowa island is up for grabs on the Mississippi River
Before the city of Muscatine was even founded, less than half a mile away and parked right in the middle of the Mississippi River, Towhead Island was a landmark to be navigated by seasoned riverboat captains.
And now, in a unique opportunity, the 129-acre site is up for sale.
Located five minutes by boat from the city shoreline and positioned in plain sight from the downtown riverfront, the two sections that comprise Towhead Island are listed at $1.5 million by Muscatine Realtors Dave and Steve Armstrong.
“We couldn't find anything like this that ever sold in our area. It's definitely once in a lifetime,” Dave Armstrong said.
For two centuries the island has been a magnet for adventurous locals, day trippers, curious hunters, fishing enthusiasts and a handful of commercial enterprises. The northern slice of the island’s solid terrain touches the edge of the border with Illinois, that invisibly divides the Mississippi River. On the southwestern end, local barges are anchored and rent their mooring from the current owners. Over time, natural erosion has separated the island to create a navigable cut between the two halves.
Overseen by the same family for three generations, the seasonal visitors frequently took advantage of the peace and privacy.
“That was their vacation every summer. Spend a couple of weeks up there, and on the weekends, and they had a nice cabin,” Dave Armstrong said.
The owners also recall there was briefly a Boy Scout camp pitched on-site, and an outside venture that felled a section of trees and sold off the logs.
The Armstrongs are unaware of any tall tales or historical folklore connected to the land, so potential buyers hoping to uncover buried treasure or ghostly spirits, will be disappointed. But Steve Armstrong has heard a rumor the island once hosted a now long-lost inn that served thirsty men who traversed the waterway.
Like many long-time Muscatine residents, the brothers recall making their own short trips from the city, and “spent time on that island, on the beaches. It's a popular area where people do go out, boat, and hang out,” Dave Armstong said.
As weather patterns change, and the Mississippi River rises and falls, the visible landscape around the island can often change, and the inland pool might transform from a one-, or two-foot-deep feature, into an almost dry bed. It is more common to land catfish and other species that thrive in a fast-flowing environment from a seat on the island’s banks.
The setting also attracts ducks, geese, and birds looking for a safe haven. During one visit, the owners encountered a wayward fox and deer on the larger island. It is believed they either swam, or made the potentially treacherous journey when the river was frozen over.
As with any island property, albeit one so close to the mainland, the purchase does initially come with a series of challenges. Even a basic cabin would be best served if it was properly raised above the land to avoid the risk of flood damage. But the brothers are very confident neighboring companies would be able to execute any plans imagined by a future owner.
“The county is very easy to work with. We have plenty of contractors that could do things. There's a dock builder over in Illinois, just right across the river, that could help build docks, sea walls and flood walls. There are local people who can help figure out what to do,” Dave Armstong explained.
Although there is the option to convert part of the property into a commercial business, he expects the next owner will utilize the land as a one-of-a-kind vacation destination for their family.
“If you're going to buy it for an investment, it's probably not a great investment,” Armstrong said. “But if you're going to buy it for something to use and love, it’s a great price, because you're going to be the only ones that own an island in this whole area.”
The home is listed at $1.5 million by Dave and Steve Armstrong of RE/MAX Professionals. They can be contacted at 563-263-5971 for more information.
More on this property
Where: Towhead Island, Muscatine
Asking price: $1,500,000
Square footage: 5,627,516 square feet
Lot size: 129.19 acres
Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register. If you have a home we should feature, reach out to Susan Stapleton at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: You can buy an Iowa island on the Mississippi River for $1.5 million
