Secluded Paradise on an Ohio Island Listed for $1.59 Million

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The opportunity to get away from it all on a secluded island retreat is now available and it just happens to be located in central Ohio.

The property at 12700 Onion Island NE, in Millersport, which rests on Buckeye Lake, is currently selling for $1.59 million. A recent social media post on ReEquity, Keller Williams Capital Partners’ Facebook account, pointed out the online interest the isle estate is generating, including from the internet’s favorite property promoter, Zillow Gone Wild.

“ Our listing just went VIRAL! ” the post reads. “We’re officially featured on Zillow Gone Wild and yes, it’s as wild as you’d hope Check it out and see why the internet is losing its mind over this island.”

Realtor Zach Pavol said that when it comes to weighing the privacy of living on an island, to the convenience of modern city life, the house offers the best of both worlds.

“The coolest thing about the property is the rarity and exclusivity of owning an island, yet the convenience of being close to Columbus and easily accessible by boat to local marinas,” Pavol said.

The next owners will also get to relax and enjoy the home. Built in 1900, it has undergone a $500,000 transformation. It boasts a fully renovated kitchen, completely updated bathroom, new flooring, custom lighting and a flexible layout with four sleeping areas.

The updates go beyond the cosmetic with brand-new plumbing, electrical systems, water systems and a backup generator. Pavol called it “completely turnkey.”

Much of the retreat’s focus is on outdoor living. It has a covered patio with a TV and built-in bar, a large deck, and 10-person fire pit. It is also “nestled right on the water’s edge,” for easy access to boating, fishing, and swimming.

According to the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society, Onion Island is one of 21 islands on the lake. The island has one dwelling on almost an acre lot; some Buckeye Lake islands can have more than 200 homes. Pavol confirmed the area outside the home’s property lines is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a preservation area.

A bit of Onion Island lore, via Buckeye Lake Yacht Club, is that World War I hero and Columbus native Captain Eddie Rickenbacker spent his honeymoon on Onion Island. However, Rickenbacker’s diary, digitized on Auburn University’s website, seems to debunk this legend. Rickenbacker wrote about honeymoon stops in England, France, Germany, and Italy with his bride Adelaide, but did not mention Onion Island.

One enduring mystery is how Onion Island got its name. The yacht club theorized that “maybe onions grow well on it.” Pavol said that his research into the island’s unusual moniker did not produce an answer.

Recently, a five-story midcentury modern home in Worthington’s Rush Creek Village also received media buzz after being featured on Zillow Gone Wild.