Gaylord’s Swiss-style setting offers lakes, skiing and golf
Nicknamed The Alpine Village, Gaylord is a small snowy city with Swiss-inspired architecture and year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation. “People are drawn to Gaylord for its small-town charm, friendly community and abundance of outdoor recreation,” says Val Wright, social media & special projects manager for the Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau. “It’s a place where you can really enjoy all four seasons in a beautiful setting.” Residents spend time out on the lake and come together for local events in warmer weather. There are also several ski and golf resorts throughout the area.
Most homes average 1,700 square feet on half-acre lots
Smaller cottages and ranch-style homes often range from around $100,000 to $300,000. Larger two-story properties sell for approximately $300,000 to $580,000. Condos start at about $130,000 to $440,000. Homes average around 1,700 square feet, and the median lot size is a little over a half-acre. The residential area of the city is mainly on the east side of Interstate 75. The neighborhoods are arranged in a grid pattern with sidewalks and large established trees. A little over half of the population is made up of renters.
Parks and forests support active, nature-filled living
The city has plenty of hiking, fishing, hunting and mountain biking opportunities. The North Central State Trail is a 73-mile former railroad line that runs from Waters to Mackinaw City. It has a trailhead in downtown Gaylord. Pigeon River Country State Forest has large free-ranging elk herds that roam its almost 115,000 acres. Gaylord’s Elk View Park is another spot to view the animals.
The waters at Otsego Lake State Park accommodate swimming, fishing and boating. “In the winter, snowmobiling is huge here, with miles of groomed trails,” Wright says. The city has several parks with amenities like playgrounds, ball fields and picnic space. Golfers have a few clubs and courses to choose from.
Downtown Gaylord has local shops, restaurants and Alpine architecture
“Downtown Gaylord is vibrant and welcoming, with plenty of locally owned restaurants and shops to explore,” Wright says. “You’ll also find several big box stores in town, so everyday shopping is easy, too.” Downtown is expected to undergo renovations that will include more housing options. Main Street has many boutiques, clothing stores and gift shops. Timothy’s Pub is one of many spots with Alpine-themed architecture. Snowbelt Brewing Company has a bar-style menu in addition to beer on tap. The Edelweiss Village Shopping Center has a Walmart, and Meijer and Menards are two other shopping options.
Students can earn college credit at Gaylord’s high school
For kindergarten through third grade, students can attend South Maple Elementary, which has a B-plus grade from Niche, or North Ohio Elementary, which is B-rated. Gaylord Intermediate also has a B rating and educates fourth through sixth graders, while seventh and eighth graders attend B-plus-rated Gaylord Middle. Gaylord High earns a B grade. High schoolers can participate in the North Central Now Early College program, which allows them to earn an associate degree while working towards their high school diploma. Students can take classes at North Central Michigan College’s Gaylord campus. Michigan’s Schools of Choice program allows families to apply for open enrollment and out-of-district transfers, although placement is space-available.
Summer events include music, markets and tradition
One of the area’s most attended events is Alpenfest, which includes a carnival and pageant. It ends with a Swiss tradition called the Burning of the Böögg, where attendees write down their problems on a slip of paper and put it in a large snowman-like figure with a head full of fireworks. “In the summer, downtown comes alive every Friday night with free live music located within the social district,” Wright says. The Pavilion Market runs from August to October.
Interstate 75 and bus routes connect Gaylord to nearby cities
The area is car-dependent, although there is some walkability downtown. Interstate 75 runs through Gaylord, with Mackinac Bridge to the north and Detroit to the south. Indian Trails has a bus route that travels to Detroit. Traverse City and Cherry Capital Airport are around 60 miles away. Otsego Memorial Hospital is located in Gaylord. The city is in the middle of the Northern Michigan snowbelt and has a lot of lake effect snow during the winter months.
