Crockery Township blends quiet living with nearby amenities
Crockery Township offers privacy in a rural setting while still being close to shopping, churches and schools in other townships. Interstate 96 connects the region and leads to Grand Rapids. The largest community within the township is Nunica, which has a few restaurants and plenty of natural areas to explore. While homes are often more spread out, there is still a sense of fellowship. “Everyone is really friendly; everyone is your neighbor,” says Stephanie Langeland, a Realtor with 616 Realty who lives and sells in the area. "If you want a small, close-knit area, this is the kind of place you want to consider.”
Housing ranges from 1940s bungalows to new Craftsman homes
Housing styles in Crockery Township vary from 1940s bungalows to newly built Craftsman-inspired homes. “They have a lot of new small developments moving in,” Langeland says. “A lot of bi-levels and ranch-style homes with basements.” Houses on Hathaway Lake tend to be newer and offer amenities like a clubhouse and community pool.
On average, homes are around 1,600 square feet, and homes under 2,000 square feet typically sell for around $180,000 to $340,000. Larger homes are more in the $375,000 to $850,000 range. Occasionally, a property can go for over $2 million. The median lot size is just under a quarter of an acre; however, some properties have several acres with farm and equestrian amenities.
Schools of Choice allows transfers when space is available
Students zoned for A-rated Spring Lake Public Schools can attend Homes or Jeffers Elementary. Spring Lake Intermediate School serves fifth and sixth grades, while seventh and eighth graders can go to Spring Lake Middle. All four schools earn an A score from Niche. Spring Lake High has an A-minus rating and offers career and technical classes through Careerline Tech Center, which serves several local school districts. Spring Lake Public Schools participates in Michigan’s Schools of Choice program, allowing out-of-district transfers when space is available. Some sections of the township, including some of the Hathaway Lakes Subdivision, are zoned for B-minus-rated Fruitport Community Schools.
Crockery Creek Natural Area offers 330 acres of adventure
The township’s largest green space is Crockery Creek Natural Area. It has over 330 acres, some of which front the Grand River and Crockery Creek, and can be used for kayaking and hunting. There is a small park behind the township hall with a playground and a baseball field that hosts Little League games. The area has a few different hiking spots along the river, including Jubb Bayou, with access to fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Boaters have a couple of marina options for storing their vessels. North Bank Trail runs over 18 miles through five communities, with around 5 miles of the trail located in Crockery Township. The Musketawa Trail, from Marne to Muskegon, is often used in the summer. Terra Verde Golf Course & Banquet Center has a public 18-hole course.
Dining options are limited but include long-standing local favorites
The township doesn’t have many options for shopping and dining, but Turk’s Tavern in Nunica is one of the oldest restaurants in Ottawa County. Their prime ribs are only sold on weekends. “It doesn’t matter what you get there,” Langeland says. “It’s good.” Crockery Creek Saloon has a bar-style menu with weekly specials. There are a handful of small marts and gas stations in the area, but most shopping will require some driving. Nearby Coopersville has a brewery and a Family Fare Supermarket. Target and Meijer are around 10 miles away in Muskegon.
Major highways connect residents to Grand Rapids and beyond
Crockery Township is car-dependent and has no public transportation. “You’re not going to find a lot of Ubers out here,” Langeland says. Interstate 96, M-231 and M-104 all run through the area. The nearest hospital is around 10 miles or 20 minutes away in Grand Haven. Grand Rapids is about 25 miles away on I-96. It’s home to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which has direct flights to several cities across the country, including Boston, Chicago and Las Vegas.
