Located in Oakland County
Measured by land area, Keego Harbor is the third-smallest town in Michigan. But only cartographers view Keego Harbor in those terms. Sandwiched between a trio of lakes responsible for both the town’s tiny stature and its nickname -- “Heart of the Lakes” -- this suburb just outside of Pontiac is one of Michigan's top 30 places to retire according to Niche. “Keego is a cute little town,” says Realtor James Horn of Keller Williams Domain.
With a name derived from the Ojibwa word for “fish,” Keego Harbor makes no bones about its connection to the water. Much of the town is located on an isthmus between Cass Lake, Sylvan Lake and Otter Lake, plus the much smaller Dollar Lake is within Keego Harbor’s boundaries. Despite the lack of space, Keego Lake has eight parks and two public beaches. Cass Lake is the largest and deepest in Oakland County, and boaters can set sail, paddle or motor across the lake from Keego Harbor to Dodge No. 4 State Park. The West Bloomfield Trail, a rail trail which stretches 7 miles from West Bloomfield to Sylvan Lake, runs parallel to Keego Harbor’s southern boundary.
For a town of fewer than 3,000 residents, Keego Harbor’s downtown area packs a wallop. There are 15 retailers, a dozen restaurants and two art galleries packed along the town’s two primary roadways, Cass Lake Road and Orchard Lake Road. For many, Gino’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, opened in 1971, is synonymous with Keego. The same can be said for Harbor Steak House, a Keego Harbor staple since the 1960s. J-Bird Smoked Meats, which offers family-style barbecue plates meant to be shared in groups of two or more, is one of the most acclaimed barbecue restaurants in the Detroit metropolitan area. Locations like B1 Tavern, Mary Donnelly’s Public House and Brewhaus Bar and Grill contribute to a lively nightlife. Nearby Bloomfield has many grocery options, including Aldi, Target Grocery and Costco.
Most Keego Harbor houses are mid-century cottages or bungalows built as lake getaways from the din of factory life in Pontiac or Detroit. There are also ranches and Colonial Revivals that were intended for the town’s permanent residents. Original Keego Harbor houses can start as low as $120,000 and range up to $500,000. “Keego is great because the entry-level pricing is attractive,” Horn says. “You can get lake access at entry-level pricing. Pretty good lake access, typically. And be in walking distance of a lot of stuff.” Horn says Keego’s walkability makes it unique among the lakes communities of central Oakland County. “They tend to be more spread out,” Horn says. “Everything’s pretty condensed in Keego.” There are also higher-end possibilities, with luxury lakefront homes on Cass Lake and Sylvan Lake selling between $1 million-2.5 million.
Keego Harbor is zoned for A-plus rated West Bloomfield School District, though none of these schools are in Keego itself. Grade schoolers attend Roosevelt Elementary, which features a school bell from the original Keego Harbor School that closed in 1963. They’ll move on to West Bloomfield Middle School before attending West Bloomfield High. Newsweek ranks West Bloomfield High in the top 6% of public high schools nationally. High school students can also attend Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory School in neighboring Orchard Lake. Located on a sprawling, 125-acre lakeside campus, St. Mary’s has a regulation NHL-sized hockey arena among its many amenities. Niche rates it the No. 6 Catholic school in Michigan.
Keego Harbor hops between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and the town’s Memorial Day parade kicks off the summer, drawing visitors and participants from around Pontiac and the Lakes Area. “The Memorial Day parade is very popular,” Horn says. “They take that very seriously.”
There are only two ways in and out of Keego Harbor. Cass Lake Road goes north to Waterford Township. Orchard Lake Road runs east to Sylvan Lake and west to Orchard Lake. For many Keego residents -- perhaps the majority -- automobiles aren’t the only form of transportation. “I would call Keego a boating community in general,” Horn says. “Practically everybody’s got a jet ski in the driveway, or some [watercraft] in the driveway.” But Keego isn't just for boaters. Bicyclists can access the 7-mile West Bloomfield Trail, which skirts along Keego’s southern boundary as it stretches between West Bloomfield and Sylvan Lake.
Robert Coburn
RE/MAX First
(586) 576-9389
248 Total Sales
1 in Keego Harbor
$350,000 Price
Anthony Djon
Anthony Djon Luxury Real Estate
(947) 208-5622
513 Total Sales
1 in Keego Harbor
$208,000 Price
Marcy Soufrine
Keller Williams Premier
(213) 933-8545
48 Total Sales
2 in Keego Harbor
$137K - $195K Price Range
Susan Munce
Real Estate Us, LLC
(947) 210-6950
20 Total Sales
2 in Keego Harbor
$118K - $145K Price Range
Brian Yaldoo
RE/MAX Classic
(586) 480-1985
110 Total Sales
1 in Keego Harbor
$145,000 Price
Jeff Kass
RE/MAX Classic
(947) 218-6607
35 Total Sales
1 in Keego Harbor
$125,000 Price
$649,000
Enjoy lake living in this canal front home, just minutes away from the heart of Sylvan Lake and all it has to offer. 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths. Open concept first floor living space with dual sided fireplace, large windows and dry bar. Kitchen has center island, dining space and easy access to screened in porch and backyard/ lake access. Large dual laundry and mud room, 2 bedrooms and 2 baths
Emily Day @properties Christie's Int'l R.E. Birmingham
$625,000
Welcome to Keego Harbor, “Heart of the Lakes,” full of small-town charm, respected schools, and proximity to excellent restaurants and shopping. This 4 bed, 3.5 bath home is 2680 sq ft, built in 2016, and is beautifully situated on the lot to take in calming lake views from the fire-lit living room to the bedrooms upstairs. The first floor has a gracious open floor plan with gleaming hardwoods,
Jessica Cech Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Est
$475,000
**OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY MARY 25TH 2PM-4PM** Welcome to your waterfront retreat on the highly coveted Cass Lake—where sophistication meets serenity. This beautifully renovated canal-front ranch offers an exceptional blend of contemporary style and everyday comfort, making it the perfect full-time residence or weekend escape. Inside, you’ll find an open-concept kitchen featuring stainless steel
Renee Lossia Acho KW Domain
$1,244 - $1,304 per month
$3,800 per month
LIFE IS BETTER AT THE LAKE! This updated Lakefront Home is tucked away on quiet DOLLAR LAKE and only a short boat ride onto ALL SPORTS (1280 Acres) CASS LAKE! Located in West Bloomfield School District, this home features a beautiful brick elevation enhanced with decorative windows, an attached Garage, large Composite Deck, Dock and Seawall. The open floor plan features a Foyer with coat
Team Stockton KW Showcase Realty
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