Hell It's Hell on the map, but it's home to plenty Hamlet promotes itself as a popular tourist destination

By Frank Konkel Livingston County Daily Press & Argus HELL, Mich. (AP) -- Victor Banta lives in Hell, and he loves it there. He relishes the beautiful scenery, enjoys the time spent with the interesting and sometimes strange souls who inhabit it, and really can't imagine himself living anywhere else. The hamlet of Hell, that is, not the destination for damned souls and evildoers. Banta grew up in Hell, moving there in 1967 as a 10-year-old with his parents, Bob and Laurene. He'd move away, living in Arizona and California for decades, stepping foot in all America's 50 states and visiting more than 30 countries, only to move back to Hell in 1997. Hell, he said, is where the heart is. "Hell is home to me," said Banta, who published a book of photographs called "Life in Hell: Nature's Beauty" in 2005 and has more work available online at www.victorbanta.com. He's working on publishing a second book, which includes more Hell photography. "The scenery is gorgeous," Banta said. Of all the places he's been, Hell is perhaps the most beautiful. Nestled within Putnam Township, about two miles southwest of Pinckney, and resting along the Hi-Land Chain of Lakes, Hell is chock full of waterfowl, wildlife, recreational activities and access to state land. Then there's the folks who inhabit Hell. "The people are diverse like you wouldn't believe," Banta said. "It's the full gamut, from professionals to very funky people." Attorney John Jarvis is one such professional. Jarvis, proud owner of the e-mail address AttorneyfromHell@hotmail.com, made Hell his residence in the late 1990s after growing up on Blind Lake, one of several lakes along the chain. He now lives on Hi-Land Lake, and said he and his wife would never want to live anywhere else. "It's a great place to live and die," Jarvis said. "And if you die, the hearses aren't far away, either." Jarvis laughed, having referenced a Guinness World Record attempt this fall, when more than 50 hearse enthusiasts met up and set the record for the longest hearse procession. Hell has attracted similar attention from other "out there" events, like the Dances with Dirt 50-mile ultramarathon in October and regular biker gatherings. "I think everybody who lives out here or even visits here is unique in their own way," Jarvis said. "I think it takes a certain type of person to buy into Hell to begin with. But once you're here, you don't want to leave." By some counts, about 70 people inhabit Hell. That's what John Colone, Hell's "unofficial mayor," says. Others contend up to 300 people call Hell "home," but since there are no detailed official records, there's really no way to tell. "Seventy-two equally split hellions, hellbillies and wannabes live here," said Colone. "Odum Plenty is our mayor and his girlfriend is Robin Faith. When people ask for him, we send them to Hellen Wait." Obviously a jokester, Colone is the man behind a huge spoofed Pure Michigan sign on Patterson Lake Road that says "Pure Michigan: Welcome to Pure Hell," viewable just before vehicles enter the hamlet. He's also responsible for making Hell a tourist destination, promoting the hamlet and selling merchandise at www.hell2u.com. Colone owns a canoe and kayak rental and Scream's Ice Cream within Hell, and visitors can purchase sensible items at his gift shop for $6.66 or less. He runs the wedding chapel -- 50 couples have tied the knot there this year alone -- and he's the Dean of Damnation University, a "fully non-accredited" institution of lower learning where students can major in subjects such as "car-trashing" and becoming "soccer moms." On a recent Monday morning, Colone entertained travelers from Pennsylvania. Recently, vacationers from Canada and as far as Argentina dropped by. It might be an oddity, but Hell is a happening place. "Hell has become a destination," Colone said. "The whole thing is we just want you to laugh. It's inexpensive entertainment. People come here a lot more than they used to." According to differing historical accounts, Hell may have been settled in 1838 by a man named George Reeves who built a mill and general store on the banks of what is currently known as Hell Creek. Allegedly, the man also ran a whiskey still, and wives were apt to say their moonshine-thirsty husbands "went to Hell" upon visiting the still. As Banta tells it, Hell got its name because everyone who left the whiskey still "felt like Hell" the next day. "Everyone has a different story; I've heard many," Banta said. Coincidentally, the only bar in town, the Dam Site Inn, rests near Hell Creek's dam off Patterson Lake Road. Nancy Hughes, a waitress at the Dam Site Inn for 10 years, said it's not uncommon to witness goths, bikers, doctors and tourists conversing together over a beer. Aside from the infrequent bar fight, "It's Halloween every night," which makes for fun times. "Young, old, rich, poor, goths, professionals, riders, every night is such a diverse crowd," Hughes said. "Hell is good fun." Whether it's for the multitude of daytime recreational opportunities, the access to unique events or the hamlet's interesting nightlife, people are attracted to Hell. Its residents believe the name is more than a gimmick. "The name does attract some people," Jarvis admitted. "But it's a lot more than the name that keeps them here." The little hamlet proves, somehow, that Hell can be a beautiful place. And if you go there, you just might want to stay awhile. Published: Tue, Jan 3, 2012