LEELANAU COUNTY
County Offices
301 East Cedar Street
Leland 231-256-9711
www.leelanau.cc
Chamber of Commerce
5046 S. West Bayshore Drive
Suttons Bay 231-271-9895
www.leelanauchamber.com
Named for a Native American word that means “delight of life,” breathtakingly beautiful Leelanau County perches on a peninsula that extends to a few offshore islands. Known as Michigan’s wine country, this rural area is one of the state’s scenic gems. Pristine landscapes, crystalline lakes, endless blue skies, and forested coastlines of the Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan create a paradise for vacationers and residents alike. Agriculture, a multitude of lakes, and nearly 40 percent wooded terrain make up this scenic region. The area also claims more than 100 miles of shoreline.
Although Northport was the original county seat, the small village of Leland replaced it as the center of government after a devastating fire in 1883. The historic lighthouse at the peninsula’s northernmost point was constructed in 1858 to guide freighters through the Manitou Passage, still marking the entrance to the Grand Traverse Bay. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, who still make their home on the peninsula, were the first to successfully petition for federal recognition in 1978 and were recognized as a Native Sovereign Nation in 1980.
Services
In contrast to the magnificent beauty and tranquility of its rural atmosphere, Leelanau County offers first-rate healthcare facilities and services close to home. Through the dedication of the expansive and highly respected Munson Healthcare System to provide convenient care throughout northern Michigan, residents can visit the Leelanau Memorial Health Center in Northport. This community resource offers an acute-care critical access hospital as well as extended and outpatient care for primary and urgent medical needs, delivered by some of the most widely respected medical specialists in the nation. The medical center’s emergency, radiology, and laboratory services are networked with Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, guaranteeing advanced diagnostics and treatment.
Leelanau Memorial Health Center also places an emphasis on healthy lifestyle choices through a full-service fitness center that is open to the community. The David H. Warm Memorial Pool and Fitness Center offers a variety of services geared toward health and wellness that include aerobics and toning classes, Ai Chi, aqua aerobics, arthritis classes, cardiovascular and strength training, personal training, health enrichment courses, open swimming, swimming lessons, whirlpool relaxation, yoga classes, and massage therapy. The center also features a care center that integrates the Eden Alternative philosophy for restorative and extended care services.
Students of all ages have access to quality educational facilities and programs, beginning with the foundation of an excellent public school system. Several school districts serve the county, including Glen Lake, Leland, Northport, and Suttons Bay. Several private schools are also available, providing alternative learning environments. The internationally recognized private school of Interlochen Arts Academy is nearby in Traverse City, offering a private college preparatory academy and leading fine-arts boarding school that features programs that combine academics with music, theater, dance, visual arts, and creative writing. The Inland Seas Education Association provides the unusual opportunity to learn about Great Lakes science aboard a sailing vessel.
Northwestern Michigan College, also in Traverse City, offers a main campus that is nestled under towering pines between East and West Traverse Bay. A wide variety of educational opportunities and vocational or career programs on the two-year level combine with a fine library and a museum and theater complex that includes an art gallery. One of the most exciting advantages of the college is the University Center, where students can pursue four-year and graduate degree programs through partnerships with leading universities.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Leelanau County will discover an unparalleled quality of life that excels in outdoor recreation, from the Sleeping Bear Dunes to inland Lake Leelanau or the calm waters of Omena and Suttons Bay. Summer ferries to offshore islands, colorful annual celebrations, postcard images like the historic lighthouse at the bay’s edge, acres of cherry orchards and lush vineyards, and the intimacy of small-town living are just a few of the highlights in this natural wonderland. Unique attractions include North Manitou Island, managed as wilderness with the exception of the village and its immediate surroundings, offering a sense of exploration and solitude uncommon in today’s world. Popular activities on the island include hiking, camping, and backpacking in pristine surroundings. Miles of scenic rivers and lakes are ideal for canoeing, boating, and charter fishing. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore features miles of unspoiled bluffs, adding to the area’s natural beauty. Recreational harbor facilities are available at South Manitou Island, Leland, Northport, Suttons Bay, and Grelickville on Lake Michigan.
When the snow flies, visitors and residents flock to acclaimed resorts like Sugar Loaf Mountain and Homestead. Sugar Loaf is surrounded by the spectacular Sleeping Bear Dunes, providing a wonderful resort atmosphere that includes a mountaintop chalet with food service and ranking among the finest snowboard parks in Northern Michigan. Active residents enjoy sports like ice-skating, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding, sledding, and snowmobiling during the months when the terrain is frequently blanketed by fresh-fallen snow.
One of the advantages of the pleasurable and tranquil Leelanau County lifestyle is the area’s close proximity to Traverse City amenities. Major shopping centers, fine-art galleries, theatre, opera, symphony, dance, and regional celebrations are just a few of the amenities that make the city the cultural and retail hub for the four counties that surround it. Because Traverse City plays such a leading role in the regional North Michigan economy, the arts community is unusually well developed for a city with a relatively modest population. The housing opportunities in Leelanau County are varied and attractive, ranging from upscale vacation and permanent homes near major resorts or waterfront communities to quaint farms or historic properties in the heart of a small village. Whether Leelanau County becomes your cherished home or a frequent vacation destination, the magnetism of its indescribable beauty is sure to remain undimmed through time.
Glen Arbor, Cedar, Empire, Maple City
Glen Arbor Offices
231-334-3539
www.glenarbortownship.com
Empire Offices
231-326-5466
www.leelanau.cc/empirevillage.asp
Chamber of Commerce
231-271-9895
www.leelanauchamber.com
The four small towns of Cedar, Empire, Glen Arbor, and Maple City share a rich history and a modern school district. Carved from dense forest in the 1800s, these villages survived through their thriving agricultural and timber industries. Tourism and related services are today’s mainstay, although some farming activity remains. Crowned by the jewel of the Homestead Resort and ski area, the bustling small town of Glen Allen is cradled between Sleeping Bear Bay on Lake Michigan and the Glen Lakes. “Dune climbs” are a popular pastime for active residents, with smaller versions of the great dunes at Glen Haven. One of the finest beaches in the nation surrounds the pristine lake. Another highlight in this area is the old Coast Guard Lifesaving Station that serves today as the Maritime Museum of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Strolling the boardwalks, hiking the beaches, snowshoeing through the woods, exploring village shops and galleries, and savoring fine dining are just a few of the treasures waiting to be discovered.
Leland
Municipal Offices
231-256-7546
www.leelanau.cc/lelandtwp.asp
Chamber of Commerce
231-271-9895
www.leelanauchamber.com
Located south of Northport on the west coast of Leelanau County, the township is ideally situated between Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. This area draws visitors each June to the colorful Leland Wine and Food Festival, although its historic treasures are popular throughout the year. In addition to the village of Leland, the township features the 140-year-old fishing village of Fishtown. Converted fishing shanties are home to quaint shops filled with unique merchandise. Residents and visitors can walk the docks of Leland Harbor and take advantage of a ride on the Manitou Island Transit to visit the nearby Manitou Islands. Leland highlights include a wide variety of restaurants, charming shops, fine galleries, and the Leelanau Historical Museum. The mammoth Lake Leelanau sprawls over the middle of the township, which also encompasses North Manitou Island.
Leelanau Township
Leelanau Offices
231-386-5138
www.leelanau.cc/leelanautwp.asp
Chamber of Commerce
231-386-5010
www.leelanauchamber.com
Encompassing the picturesque villages of Northport and Omena, Leelanau Township is perched at the tip of the county with West Grand Traverse Bay on one side of its peninsula and Lake Michigan on the other. Rolling green hillsides, groves of mature trees, miles of shoreline, and scenic cherry orchards create a breathtaking image against a background of deep waters dotted by watercraft and sailboats. Springtime brings the cherry blossom season, while summer months are the ideal time for water sports or relaxing on pristine beaches. Autumn splendor is unrivaled in the area’s hardwood forests, and winter months offer abundant snowfall for every imaginable outdoor activity. Leelanau State Park is a popular place for cross-country skiers, although the county is home to first-rate downhill and snowboard resorts. Sunsets at Peterson Park, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, wineries, galleries, boutiques, and restaurants are all complemented by beautiful homes.
Northport, Omena
Municipal Offices
231-386-5182
www.leelanau.cc/northport.asp
Chamber of Commerce
231-386-5010
www.leelanau.cc/northport.asp
The villages of Northport and Omena are both located in Leelanau County, with Northport tucked into the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. Spectacular beaches, wonderful shops, and fine restaurants combine with natural playgrounds like Leelanau State Park or Peterson Park with its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum will appeal to history buffs but also offers a truly magnificent view of Lake Michigan from its tower. Northport is incorporated and enjoys a rich history that dates back to 1849. Some of the area’s finest public facilities are located in the village, including the renowned Marston Dame Marina and launch ramp, a bathing beach, and a waterfront park. Just three miles south of Newport, Omena is situated on beautiful Omena Bay to offer a picturesque home for permanent and seasonal residents as well as a popular vacation spot.
Suttons Bay
Municipal Offices
231-271-3051
Chamber of Commerce
231-271-5077
www.suttonsbayarea.com
Located north of Traverse City on M-22, the charming village of Suttons Bay on West Grand Traverse Bay is one of the jewels in Leelanau County. St. Joseph’s Avenue attracts residents and visitors who enjoy the many unique shops and boutiques, fine-art galleries, and the tempting aromas wafting from local restaurants. Quaint touches like old-fashioned telephone booths and hand-made ice cream combine with attractions like the The Bay Theatre for everything from first-run movies to foreign films and stage plays. Other highlights in this scenic community include the Suttons Bay Art Festival each August and the JazzFest in July. Just minutes away from the village is the Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown for gaming thrills as well as stunning golf courses, the Suttons Bay Marina and park, and the Leelanau Historical Society and Museum.
