Snake Island, Lake Erie’s private enigma (a.k.a. Rattlesnake Island)

by Scott Emick
8/20/25

Some have compared the islet to Jeffery Epstein’s private island.

Snake Island, Lake Erie’s private enigma (a.k.a. Rattlesnake Island)

If you’ve heard whispers about a “forbidden” island in Lake Erie—guarded docks, private airstrips, and a postage stamp that isn’t quite USPS—you’re thinking of Rattlesnake Island, the place most locals casually call Snake Island. It’s a green fleck of land just west of Put-in-Bay, 85 acres of lawns, limestone, and lore. 

Where it is—and why you can’t just go

Rattlesnake sits about 11 miles northeast of Port Clinton in Ohio’s Bass Islands. The coordinates: 41.6791° N, 82.8493° W. It belongs to Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County. 

Access is members-only via the Rattlesnake Island Club (RIC). Reports describe a low-key but tight security culture, with non-members politely—sometimes promptly—turned away at the docks. If you want a look without trespassing, the classic pro move is to climb Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial on nearby South Bass Island and scan the horizon. 

How “Snake Island” got its name

Two origin stories persist: (1) the island once had rattlesnakes; and (2) from above, its north-end islets resemble a rattler’s tail. Either way, the nickname stuck—and today most folks shorten it to Snake Island in conversation. 

A brisk history with a hush-hush present

  • Early days: The Bass Islands became a staging ground in the War of 1812, with Perry’s fleet anchored at Put-in-Bay before the Battle of Lake Erie—a win that secured U.S. control of the lake. 
  • First development: In 1929, Toledo Scale magnate Hubert D. Bennett built a lodge, harbor, and east-west airstrip; a north-south strip followed in the 1950s under a Catholic order. 
  • Private era: The island evolved into an invite-only resort. By the late 20th century, ownership shifted among investors; published estimates place membership around 60–65, with initiation costs widely reported in the five- to six-figure range (plus monthly dues). 

Think “country club at sea”: a short airstrip (58OH), marinas, rustic-chic lodging, pool, dining room—and staff that know members by face and by boat. The club’s own materials sell it as a “peaceful and private retreat.” 

Rumors, reality, and the tantalizing middle

The secrecy and security spawned decades of dockside mythology: winter ice-road trespassers chased off; claims of mobsters unwinding off-duty; and yacht-club gossip that morphs with each retelling. Investigative features and first-person accounts have punctured some myths while confirming the island’s unusual exclusivity and gatekeeping. 

The island with its own mail

Rattlesnake Island operated the only USPS-sanctioned “local post” in the United States—private carriage to the mainland where letters enter the federal mail stream. Launched in 1966, revived in 2005, paused, and relaunched in 2022 with new stamp issues; Griffing Flying Service again handles carriage. Local papers and philatelic groups have covered the renaissance. (Yes, collectors chase these.) 

Wildlife: meet the (harmless) “snake” of the story

The island group is habitat for the Lake Erie watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum). Once listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, it recovered and was delisted in 2011 after shoreline habitat protections and changing prey (goby boom) boosted numbers. Good news: they’re non-venomous and shy. 

Lake Erie watersnake. (Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Lake Erie watersnake. (Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Can you visit?

Real talk: unless you’re invited by a member, no. Your best legal vantage points are:

  • Perry’s Monument observation deck on South Bass Island; on clear days, the island is in full view. 
  • Aerial tours/charters over the Bass Islands (from Port Clinton or Put-in-Bay) for a bird’s-eye pass (respect airspace rules/charter limits). (General island aviation noted by club and travel features.) 

Quick facts

  • Size: ~85 acres. 
  • Location: Western basin of Lake Erie, near Put-in-Bay. 
  • Status: Private (Rattlesnake Island Club). 
  • Airstrip code: 58OH (private). (Referenced in aviation community materials.)

Sources & further reading

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn