West Michigan Community Information and Useful Links

LIVING IN GRAND HAVEN MICHIGAN

The Grand Haven Michigan Area is a great place to live or visit, with its boutiques, great restaurants, bed & breakfast, boating, chartered fishing, beaches, on Lake Michigan and Grand River, located next to the town of Spring Lake, Ferrysburg on Spring Lake. offering fabulous opportunity for vacationing for a day or the several weeks. This town offers lots of year round activities of boating, volley ball on the beaches, evening shows at the world largest musical fountain, local art festivals, walks along the piers, 4th of July festival, Coast Guard Festival, winter ice festival, jingle bell parade just to name a few. The Grand Haven area offers many investment opportunities such as beautiful lakefront homes, wonderful variety of subdivisions of homes and condos all conveniently located to the downtown area. I invite you to come and see, call me for more information and a local map 616-846-1981, or call the Grand Haven Chamber.

Visit these places and see who we are;  They are all in the Grand Haven area.

www.harborhousegh.com   www.grandhavenchamber.org   www.visitgrandhaven.com   www.surfgrandhaven.com

www.tri-citiesmuseum.org   www.vandermill.com   www.bemedicalspa.com   www.artisancookingschool.com 

Grand Haven Michigan History
Grand Haven is nestled in wooded Dunes and surrounded by the waters of Lake Michigan, Spring Lake and the Grand River. Under the leadership of Rev. William Montague Ferry, the first settlers arrived from Mackinac Island November 2, 1834. In recognition of Grand Haven’s accommodating and safe harbor, Rix Robinson, fur trader, and land holder, platted and named the town April 15, 1835. In Grand Haven´s early years the lumber industry took advantage of the towering white pines that grew for miles around, providing lumber for Chicago, Milwaukee and other port cities. During this period the mineral water spas in Spring Lake, Fruitport and Grand Haven spawned the area tourist industry that is still alive today. After the lumber industry, the Grand Trunk car ferries, this began cross-lake services in the 1903, making Grand Haven one of the busiest ports on Lake Michigan for the next 30 years. With almost 200 years of rich history with a most industrious background, Grand Haven and the Tri-Cities have continued its modernization, yet maintaining its heritage. The town has upgraded and modernized their facilities, yet it´s still a quaint place to live and a great vacation place, appreciating its many focal points. Grand Haven, the Coast Guard City USA offering many unique focal points, such as: the largest musical fountain in the world, the boating activities, miles and miles of soft sandy beaches, RV parks, the wonderful waterfront restaurants, walks on the boardwalk and dunes, along the piers, and of course the spectacular sunsets of West Michigan. The towns are also famous for their lush and well groomed golf courses as well as trolleys to take you from one town to another. I have not met anyone yet that didn´t like Grand Haven and its legendary neighboring Tri-Cities of Spring Lake, Ferrysburg and Fruitport.

LIVING in HOLLAND MICHIGAN & ZEELAND MICHIGAN

The Holland and Zeeland Michigan Area, a fast growing family community with plenty of new and traditional homes and condos to choose from for your future investment in the midwest. Holland Michigan has invested in the most extensive shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and novelty shops, such as deft blue and wooden shoe shops, fabulous restaurants, Dutch historical parks, the windmill park an authentic working windmill from the Netherlands, lots of boating activities, walks along the beautiful Michigan beaches, fabulous west Michigan sunsets to enjoy on a daily basis. A must see “the tulip fest in May”, boating and fishing, lakefront parks, tours historical areas and many other community activities. Holland’s highway system is convenient with easy access to Grand Rapids, Detroit, Chicago and to the North. For more information call 616-846-1981.

Living in Muskegon Michigan
Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, established city and spreading Twp. offer many types of homes and condos. The lake provided an ideal location to settle down; lots of boating with access to Lake Michigan, for boating, fishing and fabulous beaches. The area also has a wonderful mix of residents. Muskegon’s real estate offers year round living with a variety of prices to choose from. Many historical building sites have been converted to modern condos as well as office and retails spaces. Muskegon is the only town with an Express Fairy to Milwaukee.

Muskegon offering many historical sites of old and new such as:
• Hume’s Home
• Art galleries and Shops
• Golf Courses
• Wonderful Restaurant
• The famous Frauenthal Theater
• Hackley and Mercy Medical Centers
• The Tourist Center and
• Many year round activities, to name a few

Muskegon History
The name Muskegon comes from the Ottawa Indian term Masquigon, meaning marshy river. We know Father Jacques Marquette traveled thru the Muskegon area on his way up north to St. Ignace in 1675. About 1748, the French established trading posts for fur traders and trappers. The earliest known resident of the area was Edward Fitzgerald, who is said was buried in the White Lake area. Actual settlement began in 1837 when the city and Twps were formally organized. Among the early settlers was Henry Pennoyer. At that time the area gained its name from extensive timber resources. Known lumbermen were Charles Mears, Martin Ryerson, Lyman Mason, Charles Hill and George and John Ruddiman. We know these names because many streets and buildings were named after them. With 47 sawmills in town, the lumber industry reached its peak by the 1880s. In fact, Muskegon was known as the “Lumber Queen of the West”. Toward the end of the 19th century the lumber business faded away and the industry eventually changed to the automotive industry that employed many tool and dye makers and factory workers and offered many other employment opportunities. The Central Paper Mill also became an important industrial center. Muskegon was successful again for many years. Today, Muskegon enjoys new Commerce and Industry, new building sites, new homes and condos. In addition Muskegon enjoys a tremendous business of tourism, summer and winter activities and taking advantage of the beautiful waterways. Muskegon is known for its ability to keep up with the changes and its proactive approach to survive. Next time you’re in the neighborhood make sure to visit Muskegon County.

The name Muskegon comes from the Ottawa Indian term Masquigon, meaning marshy river. We know Father Jacques Marquette traveled thru the Muskegon area on his way up north to St. Ignace in 1675. About 1748, the French established trading posts for fur traders and trappers. The earliest known resident of the area was Edward Fitzgerald, who is said was buried in the White Lake area. Actual settlement began in 1837 when the city and Twps were formally organized. Among the early settlers was Henry Pennoyer. At that time the area gained its name from extensive timber resources. Known lumbermen were Charles Mears, Martin Ryerson, Lyman Mason, Charles Hill and George and John Ruddiman. We know these names because many streets and buildings were named after them. With 47 sawmills in town, the lumber industry reached its peak by the 1880s. In fact, Muskegon was known as the “Lumber Queen of the West”. Toward the end of the 19th century the lumber business faded away and the industry eventually changed to the automotive industry that employed many tool and dye makers and factory workers and offered many other employment opportunities. The Central Paper Mill also became an important industrial center. Muskegon was successful again for many years. Today, Muskegon enjoys new Commerce and Industry, new building sites, new homes and condos. In addition Muskegon enjoys a tremendous business of tourism, summer and winter activities and taking advantage of the beautiful waterways. Muskegon is known for its ability to keep up with the changes and its proactive approach to survive. Next time you’re in the neighborhood make sure to visit Muskegon County.