ANTRIM COUNTY
County Offices
203 E. Cayuga Street
Bellaire 231-533-6353
www.antrimcounty.org
Chamber of Commerce
308 E Cayuga Street
Bellaire 231-533-6023
www.bellairemichigan.com
Situated in the northwest corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula, Antrim County is bordered on the west by the Grand Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan and has long been recognized as one of the state’s most popular recreation sites. To the east are the deep woodlands of the Mackinaw State Forest, also commonly referred to as the Jordan River Valley. This panoramic region features a rolling terrain dotted with numerous lakes and rivers that create a water-rich environment. Although this region was once famous for iron smelting plants, the recreation industry, agriculture, and a number of small businesses underline the modern economy. The building of Grace Memorial Harbor in Elk Rapids was a significant enhancement to the county’s tourist trade.
Without a doubt, the most famous of the lakes in Antrim County is Torch Lake — considered by many to be one of the world’s most beautiful bodies of water. Torch Lake is part of a chain of lakes that runs from the county seat of Bellaire to the smaller community of Elk Rapids. North of Bellaire, another chain of lakes provides scenic beauty and recreational opportunities to the communities of Central Lake and Ellsworth. Within this second chain, Intermediate Lake is the largest. Cradled in the southeastern corner of the county is the community of Mancelona, ideally situated along US Highway 131 for commuting convenience to regional destinations. Mancelona is most well known as the home of the annual White Pine Stampede.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare services are available to Antrim County residents in local and regional facilities, many of which are part of the highly respected Munson Healthcare System. Anchored by Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, the system provides major hospitals in strategic locations throughout northern Michigan. Consistently ranked among the nation’s “Top 100 Hospitals,” Munson Medical Center in Grand Traverse County provides as a regional referral center for patients from more than counties and the largest hospital in northern Michigan. Highly skilled specialists with national reputations for excellence provide rural communities with the finest in networked resources. Antrim County provides a Health Ride service for a nominal fee that provides comfortable and convenient transportation to appointments with doctors, dentists, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in the Traverse City area. The county is also home to a well-managed nursing care facility called Meadow Brook. With a favorable ratio of staff members to patients, the center ensures a home-like atmosphere and a high quality of care. Each one of the four units at Meadow Brook is designed to meet separate and specific needs.
The high regard for education in Antrim Count is reflected in the caliber of the public school districts, where dedicated professionals are committed to the highest educational standards. Active and ongoing school improvement including curriculum development, teaching strategies, and professional development activities that ensure every student of the best possible opportunities to learn, grow, and develop to his or her full potential. Family and community involvement are encouraged in this small-town atmosphere, where the close-knit community spirit is vital to the overall success of each district. Opportunities for higher education are available just minutes from home in Traverse City at Northwestern Michigan College. The University Center at the college expands the possible degree programs from two-year to four-year and beyond. This exceptional resource is a result of a dynamic partnership between a number of colleges and universities and Northwestern Michigan College, realizing a dream of offering a complete range of higher education options within a reasonable commuting distance from home for the rural North.
Lifestyle
The natural bounty in Antrim County, complemented by friendly small communities that excel in historic charm, make this area a wonderland of recreational delights. Annual celebrations like the celebrated White Pine Stampede for Nordic skiers, Bellaire’s Rubby Ducky Festival, and Mancelona’s famous Bass Festival are just a few of the events that draw thousands of visitors to the area. Welcoming vacationers and seasonal visitors is a common occurrence in Antrim County, and a number of exceptional amenities have been developed to complement the region’s pristine lakes, streams, bay shoreline, and forests.
Fine golf courses dot the area, including the four championship golf courses nestled in the 4,500-acre expanse of Shanty Creek Resort. Three distinct woodland villages provide a wealth of premier recreational amenities that includes a famous ski resort with more than 45 runs, cross-country ski trails, four indoor/outdoor pools, a wellness spa, beach clubs, and several dining facilities. As a Golf Magazine Silver Medal Resort, Shanty Creek was also named by Detroit News as “The Best Golf Resort in Michigan.” Little wonder with courses designed by legends like Arnold Palmer and Tom Weiskopf. Other distinctive attractions include the National Fish Hatchery on the Jordan River, planting nearly two million lake trout each year. Visitors can see from two to five million fingerlings in various stages of growth.
Four-season recreational in Antrim county begins with winter downhill-skiing, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, photography, ice fishing, and the quiet enjoyment of breathtaking scenery. Along with the spring thaw comes activities like nature walks, fishing, wildflower viewing, morel hunting, maple syrup, and bird watching. Summertime is a regional favorite, bringing residents and throngs of visitors to water and land recreational sites for boating, canoeing, swimming, fishing, golf, tennis, sight-seeing, exploring, backpacking, camping, horseback riding, and rock or fossil hunting. Autumn’s brilliant hues reflect nature’s finest artistry, the perfect backdrop for nearly any outdoor activity including world-class hunting. For cultural events and the performing arts, Traverse City is a short drive away. Even small communities like Central Lake near Intermediate Lake have distinctive attractions like Thurston Park’s beautiful beach and campground. Ellsworth on Ellsworth Lake boasts a restaurant that was recently voted the best in Michigan. “The best of all worlds” may very well have been coined by someone who understands what the good life really means in Antrim County.
Bellaire
Municipal Offices
231-533-8213
www.bellairemichigan.com
Chamber of Commerce
231-533-6023
www.bellairemichigan.com
Serving as the county seat and one of the leading municipalities, Bellaire Village enjoys a centralized location in Antrim County just 35 miles northeast of Traverse City. Nestled in the county’s “Chain-of-Lakes” region, the village is surrounded by panoramic lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds. Residents enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing during the warmer months and winter sports when the snow flies. Golfing is a common pastime, and the area’s courses are known for their stunning beauty. The community is lively and friendly, home to a wide variety of interesting shops and successful restaurants that please residents and the frequent visitors in this vacation paradise. Lush local parks filled with recreational facilities, a wonderful campground, and colorful celebrations like the Rubber Ducky Festival add to the family oriented atmosphere. Bellaire is justly proud of its historic courthouse and the famous Shanty Creek Golf and Ski Resort.
Elk Rapids
Township Offices
231-264-9333
www.elkrapids.com
Village Offices
231-264-9274
www.elkrapids.com
Chamber of Commerce
800-626-7328
231-264-8202
http://elkrapidschamber.org
Nestled against the eastern shoreline of the Grand Traverse Bay just 15 miles north of Traverse City, Elk Rapids Township is bordered almost entirely by shimmering Elk Lake. The incorporated Village of Elk Rapids actually divides the seven-square-mile township into northern and southern quadrants, with Bass and Birch lakes cradled in the northern section. The highlands in the southern portion are covered by lush fruit orchards in contrast to the lakes, forests, and wetlands that dominate the northern quadrant. The harbor at Elk Rapids Village leads to Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan, creating one of the area’s tourist attractions. Elk Lake alone boasts 78 miles of navigable waters, while Jordan River Valley is known for its scenic hiking trails and canoeing routes. The village remains at the heart of the township’s commercial and residential growth, proud of the sweeping renovation of its downtown district and the beautifully expanded marina.
Mancelona
Township Offices
231-587-8651
www.mancelonatownship.com
Village Offices
231-587-8331
www.villageofmancelona.org
Chamber of Commerce
231-587-5500
www.mancelonachamber.org
Strategically located along one of the county’s major thoroughfares, US Highway 131, the village of Mancelona and the surrounding township of the same name are in the county’s southeast corner. The community is well-known for two of the region’s most popular annual events, one being the Bass Festival each spring and the other a cross-country skiing competitive sports event called the White Pine Stampede. Like Elk Rapids, Mancelona Village has improved the appearance of its downtown district along the M-88 corridor to reflect the infusion of vitality and growth that is affecting the entire Upper North region. One of the community’s most popular amenities is located near the downtown area, offering a large park with ball fields, a playground, and a campground. Regional recreational opportunities are unsurpassed for those who enjoy four-season outdoor activity set against the backdrop of some of the nation’s most spectacular natural beauty.
