Just a short walk from Mainstreet in the Village of Manchester, off River Bend Drive, is the entrance to the westside of the property. Deceptively presented as an empty yard in a neighborhood between two homes, this typical lot opens to an amazing sixty-five acres which is the only remaining portion of what was once the Mann Family Farm, last sold in 1940.
The property is comprised of seven vacant parcels that include hay fields, rolling hills, springs, mature forest, frontage on both a large pond, and the River Raisin, with unspoiled riparian forest along a seasonally wet bottomland. There is a second entrance on the eastside of the property that offers the potential for a public face to the gardens, but would require a great deal of work to clear the land of Autumn Olive, Box Elder, and groom trails to access the gardens to the west. The views while walking the property are breathtaking with the combination of natural features, frontage on the river, and large old trees that make for a spiritual experience.
Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s most famous architects, had built his masterpiece Taliesin West in a valley outside Scottsdale Arizona. Years later the utility company ran high power electic lines down the center of the valley, which ruined the view. He was furious and said “every man should own his view”. Although he was bent on abandoning the property, his wife convinced him to redesign the home so the views were to the opposite direction. Owning your own view is certinaly ideal, but be unnecessary if you’re blessed to find a location where the view is owned by The Nature Conservancy and Washtenaw County’s Natural Area Preservation. Immediately across the river from River Bend Gardens to the west, and along the southern border of the property lies the Leonard Preserve where the property’s views are assured of remaining unspoiled.
Leave a Reply