Dryden Township

Deep in the countryside of northern Detroit, there is a cozy village that comes with a lot of land – Dryden Township is a rural landscape with plenty of outdoor recreation and a Dryden city center where everyone lives and enjoys life. “The community is very closeknit. A lot of the people have good values and appreciate good homeownership,” says Debora Summers, an Associate Broker and Branch Manager with Coldwell Banker Professionals who lives in Dryden.

Dryden Township, in its entirety, is a heavily rural area with several lakes and river streams that wind throughout it. There is a small village center on Dryden Road that is very condensed, with little property lots and gridded streets, plus Main Street for its commercial businesses. “It’s not a large town. There’s literally one light on the main road, and that’s about it,” Summers says. Interstate 69 and Highway 53 are close by to help residents travel to other Detroit townships in the area for essentials they can’t find here.

Most homes in Dryden Township are located within or around the town center to keep you close to its amenities. You can find smaller Craftsmen with Colonial influence built in the 1990s within a price range of $250,000 to $400,000, alongside younger, modern ones that are newly constructed. These homes come with driveways and large lawns. Farther out in the country near General Squier Memorial Park, Dryden has magnificent estates and large plots of land for around $750,000. There are homes made of stone and others that have wrap-around porches – all of them surrounded by open fields with trees lining the perimeters. Three-acre vacant lots are found all over the neighborhood for anywhere between $30,000 to $90,000 for those who want to build their own property.

Families living within the neighborhood can send their children to Dryden Community Schools for their education. Dryden Elementary School handles kindergarten through sixth grade. Even with a C grade on Niche, the school maintains a 12-1 student-teacher ratio, ensuring your child gets the attention they need. From there, students can attend Dryden High School. It’s B Niche grade, annual class trips abroad and Early College Academy program that lets its students take college classes to earn an associate degree speak to its educational success.

If you love being outdoors, Dryden Township has plenty of options to keep you satisfied. General Squier Memorial Park is a designated Michigan Historic Site that has 80 acres of woodlands and attractions. Take a stroll down the nature trails or visit the renovated historic mill and learn about the site’s history. The land also has two playgrounds, horseshoe pits and a seasonal waterpark to keep you entertained. Farther west into the countryside, Seven Ponds Nature Center serves as both a nature sanctuary and an educational center for the area. With roughly 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, fields and more, you can really immerse yourself in the flora and fauna of Dryden. Take a tour along the six miles of trails or partake in one of the many special events throughout the year.

There are not a lot of options for retail in Dryden Township, though Main Street is where most commercial businesses are located, like a home goods store, The Alleyway Boutique and an auto repair shop. Dryden Bar & Grill is the local hotspot for burgers and beer. Slide over on a Saturday night for live music and fun. For a quick grab-and-go dinner or breakfast, Main Street Coney Island is right next door. The closest grocery store in the area is Vinckier Foods, which is seven miles away from the village center along Highway 53 near Almont Township. You can also travel eight miles north to the intersection of Highway 53 and Interstate 69, where a small shopping center in Imlay City has a Kroger. You’ll also find several fast-food chains like Dairy Queen, Jet’s Pizza and Big Boy while you're there.

When you’re looking for somewhere to settle down and establish roots, you’ll appreciate Dryden Township. Summers says, “A lot of people will grow up here and then move right down the road. New people moving in will stay here too.”

Written By

Brittany Bell

Photography Contributed By

Kyle Arn

Video By

Matt Pangman