EMPIRE, Mich. — ABC's "Good Morning America" once labeled Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore the nation's most beautiful place. Now you can buy a piece of it — sort of.
A program announced Thursday allows people to purchase one or more "virtual inches" of the lakeshore. Each inch selected costs $1 per month or $12 a year. The buyer receives a certificate with the person's name and the location's geographical coordinates.
The purchases don't provide ownership of the actual property. But each inch is symbolically recognized as belonging to the buyer, who can post online photos or stories about why it's special or perhaps create a memorial for someone.
Proceeds from the program go to the nonprofit groups Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and the National Park Foundation.
