Metamora Township

Located in Michigan’s lush countryside, it might be hard to believe Metamora Township is only 52 miles from Detroit. The rural area seems a world away from the big city, but it has plenty of conveniences to offer. Metamora Village is found in the heart of the agricultural area, and Metamora Crossroads Historic District attracts visitors from across the region. There’s also a small commercial corridor along the M-24, with local restaurants, quick service eateries and a Dollar General. The community also has its own golf course at the Metamora Golf and Country Club. This is a tight-knit community with many parades, bar crawls and other events to bring the people together. In fact, each August, Metamora Country Days is an annual heritage celebration with an antique car show, craft vendors and a hot air balloon launch. Public transportation is provided through the Greater Lapeer Transportation Authority, which offers routes throughout the county on a demand-response basis.

The sprawling township is made up of agricultural and equine farms alongside large lots waiting to be developed. Houses are either found in pockets near the village or spread out amongst the countryside. Colonials, ranch-styles and estate houses are popular, although a burst of new home construction is taking place, too. People take great pride in their lawns here, and you’ll see beautifully landscaped driveways and yards. Prices range from $320,000 for a three-bedroom ranch-style residence to over $1 million for a five-bedroom estate house.

Depending on where you live in the township, children will attend schools in the Lapeer, Dryden or Oxford Community School districts. Those in the last might attend Lakeville Elementary, Oxford Middle and Oxford High, all of which have earned a B-plus grade from Niche. Lakeville Elementary has a robotics program where students build programmable robots using Legos and electronics. At the same time, Oxford Middle operates an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, which allows students to work toward an International Baccalaureate diploma recognized by universities worldwide. Oxford High continues the IB Programme and has a dance conservatory to prepare students for college and professional opportunities.

Metamora Village has a small community park along North Oak Street, while the area-at-large enjoys the 723-acre Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area. Built around Lake Minnawanna, the expansive green space offers outdoor fun no matter the time of year. There are six miles of trail systems to take you around the lake at your own pace, and each has interpretive plaques for plant identification. The lake not only provides spectacular scenic views, but it allows for all manner of water activities, including paddling, fishing and swimming. There are also modern campgrounds in addition to mini-cabins. While there’s no indoor recreation, the park is still busy in the winter months with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Whenever you want to spend an afternoon wandering and enjoying classic architecture, Metamora Crossroads Historic District is just the place to go. Found at the intersection of Oak and High Streets, this designated Michigan State Historic Site encompasses 15 buildings, including Greek Revival and Italianate houses and a church. Many of them were constructed between 1850 and 1910, and their state of preservation earned the area a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Part of the historic district, The White Horse Inn has been operating since 1850 despite various name changes over the years. Instantly recognizable by its massive stone chimney, this is the oldest store in the township. Restored and renovated in 2014, the building features many of the original fixtures and doors in surprising ways. For instance, in the washrooms, you’ll find old doors taken from rooms on the inn’s second floor, along with vintage hardware on the sinks. The restaurant serves reimagined comfort food in a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and in the winter months, you can dine outdoors in heated igloos, provided you’ve made a reservation before they’re booked up.

Metamora Township lets residents escape the overwhelming pace of the city for a tranquil home base in rural Michigan.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Owen Kaufman

Video By

Joshua Kassabian