Christie Lake--A Gem in Southwest Michigan

Way back in 1977, my parents drove from Chicago to Lawrence, Michigan to spend the day at Christie Lake at a friend's summer cottage. As we took a ride around the lake, my mother spotted a cute little green cottage with a "For Sale" sign out in front.

Before I knew it, my parents announced that they had purchased the cottage along with a tiny brown guest house next to it. Included in the purchase price was a very old ski boat and a wooden pier. A sign above the guest house said, "O So Cozy."

A few weeks later, we hung "O So Messy" over the front of the green cottage.

We have spent many summers on this little slice of southwest Michigan and it is now a permanent home for my parents who have retired there. Christie Lake is located in a very rural part of Lawrence, Michigan. Lawrence can be found on exit 52, just a few miles off Interstate 94.

Indians were the first settlers around the lake and even today, the occasional arrowhead can be dug up. Christie Lake is named after Robert Christie, a man who purchased several lots on the west end of the lake back in the 1850's. The Christie family traveled from Ann Arbor via Territorial Road, a road that snaked from the east to the west, ending in the town of St. Joseph. A stagecoach stop was created and Christie had visions of making Christie Lake into a large town.

Years later, the stagecoach stop was re-routed through the town of Lawrence and tracks were laid for a train route. Christie Lake ended up being a place of summer leisure for families and this tradition continues today. Christie Lake is a private lake and does not have a public access ramp. The lake is two miles long and almost a mile wide and the clear, sparkling waters lead to the frequent mispronunciation of "Crystal Lake" in earlier times. Just a few miles away, Reynolds Lake and Eagle Lake offer public access.

Purchasing a cottage on Christie Lake is no longer a cheap deal. Land prices have soared, and the majority of summer homes have a purchase price over $200,000. Currently on the market are homes ranging from $349,000 (for two old shanties) to a six bedroom home over $600,000. Taxes at the lake have gone up, averaging two to three grand per year. My parents purchased their cottages for a mere $33,000 back in 1977.

One of the negatives of traveling to Michigan from the Chicago area is that you will often be stuck in traffic for a half hour or more. There were some trips where we spent two extra hours sitting in traffic. The good news is that the highways are being widened in Indiana and this should make the commute much better.

A few years ago, I took a ride in my brother's plane and captured a picture of Christie Lake:

http://www.members.aol.com/wskier22/christielake.jpg.

Southwest Michigan is home to many "Chicago vacation" lakes, including Sisters Lakes, a conglomeration of ten lakes with public access. The lakes are located within a two to three hour drive from the Chicago area. Some cottages on Sisters Lakes rent for as much as four grand for a six bedroom home per week.

All of the lakes mentioned are located in rural areas. We often head to Paw Paw or Decatur for supplies and grocery stores. The closest shopping mall is Kalamazoo, about a half hour away. One of our favorite places to go is the Hayloft, an ice cream parlor located in Decatur. The Hayloft offers four pages of ice cream sundaes and homemade pizza. It is often crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. Miniature golf is cheap there-- $7.00 for five kids to play one round.

If you're looking for a unique resort experience, visit Oak Cove Resort (www.oakcove.com) in Lawrence. The owners, Susan and Bob Wojcik, have owned this 1910 resort since 1974 and they've managed to keep the old-fashioned charm while updating the cabins and cottages. The food is excellent and all homemade. Oak Cove is located on beautiful Lake Cora and a stay includes a round of golf at the nearby public course.

I'm determined to buy a summer home on Christie Lake some day. Heck, I figure if five other families want to join, we could purchase that $600,000 house.