New Buffalo
New Buffalo is the next village to the south of Union Pier on Lake Michigan. Restaurants, cafe's and bar and grills are in plentiful supply and line the streets, along with shops, galleries and even fishing boat charters. New Buffalo has a perfect climate, with breezes from Lake Michigan that both relieve the worst summer heat and take the edge off winter's coldness.
However, the centerpiece of New Buffalo is its spectacular view of the harbor and the Florida-like sunsets at dusk, the beauty of which has even been acclaimed in USA Today. You can even see the Aurora Borealis when it is visible! New Buffalo is also home to the Amtrak station that serves the Harbor Country area. To top it off, New Buffalo is also the location of the Four Winds Casino Resort, the premier casino in the Midwest.
New Buffalo is located right where the Galien River opens into Lake Michigan, making it a paradise for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The village offers a 24-hour public boat launch, a full-service transient docking facility and a large, modern refuge harbor. The public boat launch has multiple ramps, plentiful truck parting and special rates for residents. Keen fishermen will enjoy some of the best salmon, perch and trout fishing on the Great Lakes. Whether you choose to fish on Lake Michigan or the Galien River, New Buffalo's plentiful fishing supply stores and charter services are ready to assist you.
You can also enjoy Lake Michigan from the village's Lakefront Park and Beach. This is a popular location for swimming (life guards are on duty in the summer) and also for beach weddings and family events. It is fully accessible for the handicapped, and a sand wheelchair is available.
Whittaker Woods Golf Course is an 18-hole, championship golf course located in New Buffalo. Several other challenging golf courses are located within a few minutes' drive of the village. Remember, Michigan has more public golf courses than any other state!
For cyclists, New Buffalo is at the center of a series of trails called the 'Backroads Bikeway'. These are scenic cycling routes on quiet roads, showing off the parks, hills and forests around New Buffalo. In the future, New Buffalo is likely to be connected to the new U.S. Bike Route 35, a cycling tour route of some of the finest west Michigan towns. Competitive cycling events are also held throughout the year.
New Buffalo isn't just an outdoor enthusiast's paradise; it is also famous for its antique shops. It is located on the intersection of the Pulaski Highway (US-12) and the Red Arrow Highway, both of which are historic roads with plentiful antique stores. The New Buffalo Fine Arts Council presents numerous events throughout the year, including music, art and children's events. The New Buffalo Performing Arts Center can seat 450 people, and is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The center holds many shows and concerts throughout the year, with something for everyone, whatever your taste in arts. For more shopping and arts, New Buffalo is just a 90-minute drive to Chicago.
The New Buffalo Railroad Museum provides a look back in time to the village's past. Housed in a replica railroad depot, it includes a working miniature train display that children will love.
New Buffalo is home to eight churches, whose denominations include Baptist, Methodist and Greek Orthodox, which help give the village a tight-knit sense of community. Further options for worship can be found in the surrounding villages. New Buffalo offers many eating and dining options, suitable for the entire family. From the well-known chains such as Subway and Wendy's to independent casual and upscale restaurants, New Buffalo has something for everyone. Try Italian, Mexican, French or Dutch food, or for a sweet treat, the South Bend Chocolate Cafe is a must!
The Four Winds Casino Resort is a world-class gaming facility, owned and operated by the Pokagon Tribe of Native Americans. It is the only Native American-owned facility in the region. The resort opened in 2007, and includes a spectacular 130,000 square feet of gaming, a 165-suite hotel, 4 restaurants and many shops. Designed as a northwoods lodge, the construction includes copper, stone and cedar wood, that are historically important materials to the Pokagon people. The Four Winds Casino Resort has to be seen in person to be truly appreciated and although it is in western Michigan, were it located in Las Vegas, it would be the second-largest casino in terms of gaming positions. Guests can enjoy gaming with both slot machines and tables for blackjack, poker, roulette and more. If you strike it lucky, the Four Winds Casino Resort offers the largest jackpots in the region.
The Four Winds Casino Resort directly benefits the Pokagon people through a revenue-sharing agreement. The Pokagons are the native people of the Michigan area, yet have suffered numerous injustices throughout history, as their lands were taken without compensation and they lived in poverty. A proportion of revenue from the Four Winds Casino Resort is donated to the non-profit Pokagon Fund, which provides medical care, housing, family services, education and cultural preservation to over 3,000 tribal members in the area.
Throughout the year, New Buffalo plays host to numerous festivals. Over the Labor Day weekend, the St. Paraskevi Greek Festival is sponsored by the St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church. The festival features the best of Greek dance and food, with plenty of entertainment for the children. Every Memorial Day weekend, the St. Mary's Summer Family Festival takes place, including carnival rides, a book fair, raffles and plenty of food and live entertainment for all the family. In the winter, New Buffalo hosts a November Holiday Parade with Santa, and in February holds Winter Fest., which includes ice-skating, sleigh rides, ice-sculpting, shopping and an evening ball with a champagne fountain, charity auction and dancing.
Area Information
Median Home Price - $350,000
Schools - Two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school are located in New Buffalo. For further education, campuses of the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University are located within 30 miles of New Buffalo, in addition to other smaller colleges.
Hospitals - There are three hospitals serving the New Buffalo area.
Emergency Services - There are local police, fire and ambulance services throughout the New Buffalo area.
Find A Great Real Estate Deal in New Buffalo Now
There are still real estate deals right now in the New Buffalo 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 artistically rich and stunningly beautiful areas of Michigan. Call us today for an appointment to find your new home!
