Almont is a neighborly small town
The sixth-oldest village in Michigan, Almont is a historic little community known for its welcoming, small-town atmosphere. “The allure is that it’s just a friendly little town. You see your neighbors around, and people know each other,” says Anthony Nungesser, president of the Almont Library Board, who moved here from California in the 1980s. "When I first got here, I still had my California plates, and someone came up to talk to me about it. I just remember being surprised; that wasn't something I was used to." A lively downtown and events like the annual Almont Heritage Festival and Almont Homecoming, held about every five years, maintain the town’s sense of pride and togetherness.
Single-family homes sell for under $700,000
Cottages, Craftsmans, Colonial Revivals and the occasional Greek Revival and Victorian farmhouse sit closely spaced on the narrow, shady streets close to downtown. On the outskirts, New Traditional and ranch-style homes with attached garages and spacious lots are more common. Prices typically range between about $130,000 and $660,000. Large Cape Cod-inspired New Traditionals with several acres of land can sell for more than $1 million.
The North Branch Clinton River and the Belle River are prone to flooding. Summers in Lapeer County are warm, while winters are cold and snowy.
Highly rated Almont Community Schools
The Almont Community Schools district, which earns an A-minus from Niche, serves nearly 1,400 students across three schools. Controlled out-of-district open enrollment is available. Kids may attend Orchard Primary between preschool and third grade, then Almont Middle for fourth through eighth. Both schools earn A-minuses from Niche. Almont High, which gets a B, offers career and college prep programs at the Lapeer County Education & Technology Center.
Downtown Almont shopping, dining and events
The brick and wood siding-clad storefronts that line the historic downtown strip are filled with offices, small businesses and restaurants. There’s a post office and an H&R Block next to Good Grounds Coffee Company, a popular coffee shop, and Almont Ink, a tattoo parlor. Jocelyn’s School of Dance, a youth dance studio, is close to family-owned eateries like Mikey’s Small Town Bar and The Almont Baking & Donut Company. The Almont Heritage Festival fills the area with vendors, a classic car show and more every September. During Almont’s Homecoming festivities, a parade marches through downtown, where storefronts display quilt show entries and the sidewalks are filled with vendors.
Locally owned businesses, like ReLiteration Used Books and Marjeanne’s Creations, a boutique apothecary, are also scattered along Van Dyke Road outside of downtown proper. For groceries, there’s a Vinckier Foods to the north. Roadside farm stands provide fresh produce and other homemade goods. Blake’s Backyard has a year-round farm shop, taproom and restaurant with outdoor seating.
Almont Village Park, General Squier Park and more outdoor recreation
Almont Youth Baseball Association teams play at the baseball diamonds off Church Street. About a mile away, Almont Village Park has a playground and picnic areas, as well as tennis and basketball courts. It hosts community events like the Music in the Park concert series, held on Thursday evenings between June and August. If it rains, the live music shows are moved indoors to the Almont Lions Club Hall next to the tennis courts.
In the neighboring community of Dryden, General Squier Memorial Park includes an outdoor water park, playgrounds and a sledding hill. Public golf courses, including Heather Hills Golf Club and Bruce Hills Golf Club, are within 10 miles of most homes. The fishable, swimmable lake at Stony Creek Metropark is around 20 miles away. Hiking trails weave through the woods, wetlands and tallgrass prairies around the waterfront. The Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center features seasonal exhibits and offers guided hikes, paddles and animal encounters. Lakeport State Park, on the banks of Lake Huron, is just over 40 miles northeast.
Getting from Almont to Detroit via State Road 53
Washington Township’s Henry Ford Medical Center - Orchard View and the city of Lapeer’s McLaren Lapeer Region hospital are within about 25 miles of most homes. State Road 53 connects north to Interstate 69 and south toward Detroit, nearly 50 miles away. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, on the city’s southwest side, is more than 60 miles from Almont. Romeo State Airport is closer, just under 11 miles away. The Greater Lapeer Transportation Authority provides demand-response, or dial-a-ride, transportation service.
Photography Contributed By
Kyle Arn
