Grand Beach
The village of Grand Beach, Michigan is a beautiful, upscale beach and golf lovers' haven. The name Grand Beach perfectly describes this charming village that boasts some of the most breathtaking beaches on Lake Michigan. A beautiful white archway welcomes visitors and residents alike as they pass underneath it to enter Grand Beach, and the village is virtually built around a pro-level nine-hole golf course, where championship matches were often played in the 1930's.
If you are looking for spectacular, upscale living where golfing and magnificent beaches and sunsets are the norm, then let us show you around Grand Beach and help you find the perfect home for you and your family.
Grand Beach was initially developed by Floyd R. Perkins in the early 1900's, when he bought 600 acres of land to establish a shooting preserve. He quickly realized the potential of the area as a short-stay summer resort colony for wealthy Chicago and Michigan residents looking to vacation on its beautiful dunes, beaches and rustic woods. He and his partner, George Ely, quickly formed the Grand Beach Company and bought more acreage along with four miles of beachfront property, then built the original roads and bridges of the community and a 9-hole golf course to attract even more tourists.
Initially there were about 20 cottages that were bought from Sears and Roebuck, and a lodge and dining hall were built to accommodate the tourists. Visitors would take the train from the cities to the Grand Beach Station and stay for a few days and enjoy swimming and golfing. By 1920 the number of cottages had grown to about 100 and were nestled among the dunes and beachfronts. Soon the famous Golfmore Hotel was built with a full 27-hole golf course that welcomed the Hollywood and Chicago elite and other visitors during the 20's and 30's, until it burned down in a spectacular blaze in 1939.
Afterwards the remains of the hotel were bought out, along with the first nine of the golf course, by the Grand Beach Property Owners Association and then donated to the village, thus giving Grand Beach its very own village-run professional nine-hole golf course. To this day the village still runs the Grand Beach Golf Course and the Pro Shop as well as providing government functions and essential services.
Three homes were built by Frank Lloyd Wright in Grand Beach and one of them, the Ernest Vosburgh Summer House (built in 1916), still has much of its original design visible today.
This small village is now a semi-private residential community, with a little over 325 homes and a population of just over 240 year-round residents. In the 1980's the former YWCA Camp was developed with multi-million dollar homes, giving the village a very upscale image and increasing property values.
Grand Beach residents are mostly of German and Irish descent. It is a very safe place to live, with a below-average crime rate, above-average law enforcement presence and no violent crime reported in 2009. The unemployment rate is also well below national average, and the average educational attainment and income are significantly above national average. If you are looking for a quiet beachfront and golfing paradise, that is unaffected by urban problems and congestion, is safe for children, great for retirement and has a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle, Grand Beach could be just the village you are looking for!
The residents are primarily working families and professionals in their early fifties, who live in Grand Beach for the quality of life here and the privacy and beachfront beauty it affords. The rest of the homes are summer homes and are used as a getaway during the summer months.
Housing prices remain strong in the village with homes ranging from the low 200's to the multi-millions. There are still deals out there in Grand Beach, so be sure and let Lake Living Realty give you a tour of the area and show you some of the beautiful homes available in this magnificent beachfront and golfing community. Imagine yourself living among the dunes of some of the most beautiful beachfront property along all of Lake Michigan.
Area Information
Median Home Price - $455,000
Schools - Two elementary schools, one middle school and two high schools serve the Grand Beach area.
Hospitals - There are three hospitals serving the Grand Beach area.
Emergency Services - There are local police, fire and ambulance services throughout the Grand Beach area.
Find A Great Real Estate Deal in Grand Beach Now
There are still real estate deals right now in the Grand Beach area, with a nice inventory of single-family homes available. Prices range from the low 200's to the multi-millions for homes. Lake Living Realty will be glad to help you in your search for just the right home, in one of the most stunningly beautiful areas of Michigan. Call us today for an appointment to find your new home!
