Here's a chance to buy 5 acres in Hell

Most real estate agents assure clients they're buying their own little piece of paradise when they sign on the dotted line.

Not Rick Beaudin. He's selling Hell.

For real.

Beaudin is handling the listing for Hell, Michigan — a delightful little tourist trap in southern Livingston County — which is now officially on the market for $999,666.

"It's a hell of a deal," said Beaudin, of Remax Platinum, who is handling the sale with colleague Ron Kirk.

The sale includes about five acres of land and buildings including a food/convenience store with a postal window where you can have letters postmarked "Hell," a mini-golf course, a wedding chapel and an ice cream shop and novelties store.

There's also the "gates of Hell" suitable for photo ops; a weather station (because everybody always wants to know when Hell has frozen over) and all marketing rights to Hell-related merchandise.

Beaudin said owner John Colone, who has developed the property over the past 15 years or so, is ready to move on to other challenges.

"John has just run with everything," Beaudin said. "It's been difficult for him to do as a one-man show."

Beaudin said the wedding chapel has hosted more than 400 ceremonies. There's a popular "Run Through Hell" race day in October with 1-mile, 5- or 8-kilometer routes and an annual convention of people who collect antique hearses.

"If somebody really runs with it, they could do what Bronner's has done with Christmas," Beaudin said.

He said Hell's site — close to state recreation areas with plenty of hiking, swimming biking, boating and fishing opportunities — also makes it appealing.

Just about the only thing in Hell that isn't included in the sale is the popular restaurant, the Dam Site Inn (yes, there really is a dam in Hell, and yes, the restaurant really is next to it). That's owned by a different party.

Beaudin said interested shoppers will find the listing online early next week, including a photo gallery; they're also building a Facebook page.