Ray Township

Ray Township is every outdoor adventurist’s dream – not only does the area have a rolling farmland and woodland landscape, but it also has a 2,380-acre park filled with trails, historical sites, campgrounds and more. You can live a peaceful life in a quaint community and still have something to do every day.

Located 44 miles outside of Detroit along Michigan Highway 53, Ray Township is a primarily rural area with a classic countryside atmosphere. “It’s really spread out. You don’t see house after house down every street,” says Tony Berdych, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Professionals who has almost 20 years of experience selling homes in the area. Residents can expect to travel miles to get to other places, though Ray Community Airport and Romeo State Airport are both in the neighborhood and provide anyone with private planes the chance to fly elsewhere.

Most homes in Ray Township come with their own plot of land and surround the Wolcott Mill Metro Park. You can find small Cape Cods and ranch-style homes that are either brick or cottage-inspired for anywhere between $200,000 to $350,000. If you need a larger home, Craftsman houses in the area are within a price range of $475,000 to $750,000, depending on acreage. Estates that are upwards of $1 million dot the neighborhood and are either farmhouse-inspired or more modern. Vacant lots of two-to-six acres are readily available for anyone who is interested in constructing a new house of their own.

Families with children living in the area have several options on where they can get an education. Endeavor Elementary and Middle School is right on the edge of the neighborhood and belongs to New Haven Community Schools. There is also Amanda Moore Elementary with Romeo Community Schools – both options have a B-minus grade on Niche and after-school programs. If you choose Amanda Moore, Romeo Middle School is the next step with its B-plus Niche grade and above-average test scores. From there, your child can attend Romeo High School. Ranked No. 8 in Best Public High Schools in Macomb County by Niche and given a B-plus grade, the school is known for its special college and career academies that put its students into successful learning communities.

If you’re an outdoor adventurist, Ray Township has plenty of recreational opportunities to keep you entertained. Wolcott Mill Metropark takes up a good chunk of the township and offers everything from hiking and fishing to learning. Walk along the North Branch Trails and explore the wooded areas, grassy fields and riverbanks along the gravel paths and boardwalk. Camp Rotary is a site along the Clinton River that lets you camp with friends and ride horses along the nearby trails. Further up, the Wolcott Mill Metropark Historic Center has one of America’s last remaining grist mills for you to check out, along with a barn museum that showcases antique farming equipment. “There’s even an animal farm where people can visit and pet the animals,” Berdych says. The farm center in Wolcott Mill Metropark is 250 acres with everything from sheep and goats to horses and cows.

Since Ray Township is a mostly rural community, there aren’t many options for shopping within the neighborhood itself. Most residents will travel to the strip mall at the intersection of 26 Mile Road and Romeo Plank Road for their essentials. Get your groceries from Kroger or stop by Jarzyna Farms Fine Meats & Deli for quality cuts. You can grab a bite to eat from the chain restaurants there, like Jet’s Pizza. For something more savory, Coon Creek Restaurant is located roughly 9 miles up on North Avenue. Its gourmet burgers are made with locally raised beef from its farm, guaranteeing freshness. For other shopping needs, people will leave the neighborhood and cross the Van Dyke Fairway to get to downtown Romeo. In addition to the several healthcare practices and one hardware store, there are plenty of restaurants in the area, including Four Corner’s Diner and Jayell Smoke House.

When you live in Ray Township, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of a rural landscape while still having plenty of recreational activities to keep you entertained.

Written By

Brittany Bell

Photography Contributed By

Kyle Arn

Video By

Jonathan Bradley