On west side of Marrowstone Island, at Nordland, Jefferson County.

Acreage

10.09 acres, 685 feet of saltwater shoreline on Mystery Bay.

Acquired

Mystery Bay Marine Recreation Area was acquired in two parcels in 1972, for a total cost of $62,500, from the Department of Natural Resources.

Historical Background

The area once belonged to the U.S. Navy. They had repair shops and service floats that took care of the naval mothball fleet that was anchored in Kilisut Harbor. The area was named during Prohibition days. Smugglers of alcohol used Kilisut Harbor as a hiding place from the U.S. Coast Guard. Trees overhanging the north end allowed the smugglers, with their shallow draft boats, to hide. The Coast Guard, pursuing the smugglers, felt their disappearance was mysterious. Thus, the bay became "Mystery Bay."

Facilities

4 picnic sites, boat dock and floats, sewage pumpout station, porta-potti dump station, 7 mooring buoys, boat launch ramp, parking for 25 vehicles, 2 vault toilets, 600 feet of road, covered picnic shelter. Moorage and launch fees collected year round.

Activities

Picnicking, boating, clam digging and crabbing. Mystery Bay facilities are used year around by boating enthusiasts.