Amenities

None. Day-use only for boat-in visitors.

History

In 1900, Henry van Schravendyk made Hope the final destination on his journey from Holland. He set roots on the 10-acre Pearl Island, then known as Bird Island, with records showing ownership starting in 1902. In a letter he described it as “a little island out in one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.” 

Henry married Augusta Beck in 1909, and they lived on Pearl for a short time in a two-story house. However, living on the island was determined unsafe since it is mostly below the 100-year floodplain, and moreover, Augusta reportedly did not enjoy island life. So the family moved everything — including their house — to the mainland on Ridgewood Avenue. The island itself was gifted to Lorraine van Schravendyk Haecker, their adopted daughter, on her 33rd birthday.

In her will, Lorraine said she wished to have the island transferred to a conservation entity in memory of Augusta and Henry van Schravendyk, and in 2009, Pearl Island made the transition from private family homestead to wildlife management area under Idaho Fish and Game.