$247,714Average Value$148Average Price per Sq Ft14Homes For Sale
Gwinn - a "model town" with scenic lakes and historic homes
In the late 1800s, Gwinn was nothing more than a collection of planned homes for an iron mining company. It was known as a "model town," a moniker this community has embraced, with the "Modeltowners" mascot at Gwinn Middle/High School. About 20 miles south of Marquette, Gwinn is known for its scenic lakes and rural nature-oriented atmosphere. However, its most attractive feature is its concentration of amenities on the Escanaba River, with locally owned restaurants and historic architecture in the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, also known as the UP. "Gwinn has numerous lakes for waterfront recreation, and there are a lot of places to hunt and fish," says Daniel Menard, a UP local and an associate broker at Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors. "Because it is a little farther from Marquette, its housing prices are a little nicer to the pocketbook."
There are many lakes in the Upper Peninsula with excellent ice fishing opportunities.
Residents of Gwinn tend to enjoy its closely knit community.
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Red maple-lined streets and early 1900s architecture
In Gwinn, mature red maple trees and eclectic architecture line the quiet streets. Housing styles include early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquare and split-level homes. Single-family home prices range from $80,000 to $470,000, while manufactured homes cost between $30,000 and $370,000.
Marquette County receives roughly 150 inches of annual snowfall, making it one of the snowiest places in the U.S. This is due to the lake-effect snow, caused by a mixture of cold and warm air on Lake Superior, creating heavy snowfall. Daily temperatures fall into the single digits during January and February.
Some homes in Gwinn have been in the same family for generations.
Homes with attached garages are very common in Gwinn.
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Gwinn’s food scene features a steakhouse and a pizzeria
There is a wide variety of restaurants available to this community of less than 1,300 people. The Gwinn Inn is a local pizzeria with pool tables and a dive bar-style atmosphere. About 3 miles west, the Up North Lodge is a log cabin-style steakhouse known for its ribs. Daisy Jo's has a casual vibe, serving burgers, milkshakes and an all-day breakfast. The area's supermarket is Larry's Family Foods, which is locally owned and operated. The Sawyer Village Shoppette is another grocery store in the K.I. Sawyer area, a former military base around 7 miles north.
The Up North Lodge is a popular hangout in Gwinn.
Larry’s Family Foods, in Gwinn, prominently features a bakery and deli.
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Riverfront parks and lakes offer recreation
The Farquar-Metsa Tourist Park features hiking trails and campgrounds on the Escanaba River, a popular waterway for rainbow trout fishing and swimming. The Forsyth Township Clubhouse is a recreation center with classes for all ages. Also nearby, Peter Nordeen Park has a basketball court, a playground and a pavilion by the river. The area has many lakes. Places like Bass Lake and Little Lake State Forest have campgrounds and public beaches. "Our winter sports are second to none," Menard says. "You can get anywhere across the UP on our snowmobile trails. They go from one end to the other."
Little Lake State Forest Campground offers rustic campsites with direct boat access.
Peter Nordeen Park offers a small playground, benches, and open space for casual recreation.
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Students explore nature and the arts at public schools
Gwinn Area Community Schools serves about 1,000 students with two elementary schools and one middle/high school. George D. Gilbert Elementary School provides online student resources and educational computer games for each subject. Gwinn Middle and High School serves grades 6-12. The Middle School Hike Club immerses students in nature with hiking field trips to local waterfalls and natural attractions. Gwinn High School Drama Club puts on multiple productions yearly, where students can perform or assist with the show's set design. All the community's schools earn C-plus grades from Niche. The Gwinn Area Community Schools District has a School of Choice program, meaning students living outside the attendance zone can apply to attend local schools.
George D. Gilbert Elementary School has 218 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
Gwinn Middle/High School has 505 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1.
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Marq-Tran buses and SR-553 provide easy access to Marquette
The Marq-Tran system provides public transportation with a daily fixed route connecting Gwinn, Sawyer and Marquette with a pickup point at Gwinn Middle and High School. Gwinn sits at the intersection of state Route 553 and state Route 35. Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula, about 20 miles north. Around 10 miles north of Gwinn, the Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport offers daily direct flights to Chicago and Detroit.
Gwinn residents can get around town by traveling on the community’s buses.
The Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport is only a short drive from Gwinn.
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Written By
Jackson Hardy
Photography Contributed By
Joan Wall
Video By
Vladislav Sedykh
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
David Gunnell,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Gwinn, MI sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Gwinn, MI over the last 12 months is $169,900, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Charming Lakefront Cottage in Michigan's Upper Peninsula! Escape to peaceful Charley Lake and enjoy all the beauty of U.P. lake living. This inviting fully furnished cottage offers convenient main-floor living with abundant natural light, a spacious living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area, and a generous 21' x 12' screened porch—perfect for relaxing or entertaining. The sunroom is sure
This is 40 acres of prime recreational ground on a year-round county road in the heart of Marquette County. The Chocolay River winds directly through the property, creating exceptional habitat diversity and outstanding fishing opportunities. Known for its healthy trout populations — including seasonal steelhead runs — this stretch of river adds both beauty and real sporting value. With frontage
Just five miles from Gwinn, this beautiful property covers 34 acres of U.P. wilderness and boasts 680' of riverfront seamlessly blending seclusion with convenient access to town amenities. It’s the perfect retreat for nature enthusiasts, artists, or weekend warriors offering rich fishing waters, extensive outdoor recreation, and an abundance of wildlife or simply a calming retreat! Bring the
120 ACRES adjoining over 1,000 Acres of MI DNR & State of MI lands! Located less than 5 miles from the town of Gwinn, the property is on a well maintained gravel County Rd, known as Pohlman Rd, and features many possibilities for hunting, camping, or off-grid living, in a convenient location. Watch the short drone video and check out this property today!
31 +/- wooded acres off Bob’s Creek Truck Trail in Gwinn with approximately 330 feet of frontage on the Escanaba River. This property offers a quiet Upper Peninsula setting with mixed timber, natural cover, and river frontage, making it well-suited for hunting, fishing, and recreation. The land features a mix of hardwoods and conifers, with ferns, trails/road frontage, and a remote recreational
A Rare Peninsula Retreat on East Bass Lake Escape to your own private lake retreat! Beautifully renovated and uniquely positioned on a peninsula with East Bass Lake on both sides, this exceptional 5-bedroom home offers a truly special waterfront setting with sweeping water views, shoreline access, and the peaceful feeling of being surrounded by the lake. East Bass Lake encompasses approximately
Flat and wooded 1.14 acre parcel off just minutes from town. Quiet dead-end road, great place to build your new home on this 150 x 330 lot. Convenient location for the Gwinn area and all of its recreational opportunities.
PRIME PRIME PRIME 77.99 acre commercial site in an exceptional location and perfectly suited for retail, hospitality, travel center or mixed use development. This 77.99 acre rare site gives a buyer unbeatable positioning at the center of the Upper Peninsula. It is the only large retail pad with immediate highway visibility, heavy daily truck traffic, airport driven demand and flexible access
This 3-bedroom, 2-bath home sits on a nice large corner lot with a partially fenced yard and a storage shed. Inside, you’ll find an open layout with a spacious living room and generous sized kitchen with plenty of natural daylight throughout. A gas fireplace is the focal point of the living room and adds a cozy touch to the space. The floor plan is well laid out, with two bedrooms and a full bath
Waterfront gem on West Bass Lake, 45 minutes from Marquette and 20 minutes from Gwinn — 3 bed, 1 bath cottage with direct access to crystal-clear water and a small creek running through the property. Enjoy excellent fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow trout and panfish, plus beautiful lake views and easy water access for boating and swimming. Perfect year-round or weekend retreat.
Very nice building site in a great neighborhood. Wooded with a variety of native trees including Maples, White Birch and Evergreens. The land is high and dry with utilities available. Located only about a half hour drive from Marquette, convenient to the Mines and only about 10 minutes from the International Airport. Can be combined with other lots to create a larger parcel or as part of a
Tucked away on 1 acre just outside of town, this 3-bedroom, 2-bath home offers the best of both worlds; privacy and a peaceful setting while still providing quick, easy access to everything downtown. A nearby public lake access adds even more to love about the location! Inside, approximately 1,500 square feet of finished living space features a comfortable open-concept layout connecting the
Investment opportunity in the heart of Gwinn! Conveniently located approximately three blocks behind the police station, this duplex offers a peaceful setting adjacent to a scenic stream and may include a small amount of frontage along the Escanaba River. The property features two 2-bedroom units, with one unit located on the main level and the second on the upper level. Both units are currently
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