Mayfield Township

Founded in 1843, Mayfield Township is a rural enclave 60 miles from Detroit. A lumber-producing area with numerous sawmills, land was sold to homesteaders as it was cleared. Today, the township is made up of small farms and locally owned trade businesses. Limited commerce can be found along Highway 24, which runs through the area and will take you two miles into downtown Lapeer for retail shopping. If you don’t have a car, there’s limited public transportation through the GLTA bus system, with routes through Mayfield, Lapeer, Elba and Deerfield Townships. Close to Lake Huron and several smaller lakes, Mayfield Township is 76 miles from Detroit Metropolitan Airport and has its own small private airport for commercial and industrial cargo. Only 35 square miles, the township employs one full-time police officer, has a small recycling center and works with the city of Lapeer to provide ambulance and fire protection services.

Living in Mayfield Township lets residents choose between small subdivisions and mobile home communities or being out in the countryside. The area is filled with small farms and large lots of land for sale. Wooded areas are interspersed with open land, and while you can’t walk along sidewalks, country lanes offer a scenic way to take a stroll. Houses tend to have large yards landscaped with mature trees, and the most popular architectural designs include farmhouses, ranch-style homes, manufactured housing and new construction. Prices range from $190,000 for a two-bedroom ranch-style residence to $750,000 for a historic five-bedroom Victorian.

Students in Mayfield Township attend classes in the Lapeer Community Schools District, one of the leading STEM districts in the state. One pathway a child might take from kindergarten to graduation is through Elva Lynch Elementary, Zemmer Middle and Lapeer East Senior High. Lynch Elementary is a C-minus school, according to the education ranking website Niche. Zemmer Middle has earned a B-minus and is known for athletic teams such as cheer, basketball, cross country and football. Lapeer East Senior High is also a B-minus facility with extracurriculars like the photography society, ski and snowboarding club and the Science Olympiad.

Even among the lush farmland, you can find several dedicated parks and nature preserves. The Lapeer State Game Area is a wildlife conservation area just outside the township. Only sometimes staffed, the preserve has designated field trails and a space for dog training. Located along a lake, the park offers boating and fishing in addition to hunting, camping and target practice ranges. Rowden Park can be found at the edge of the city of Lapeer. At 65 acres, it’s the largest park in the area and is across from McLaren Hospital. The green space provides guests with a one-mile asphalt walking trail, two boardwalks over wetland areas and pedestrian bridges. In the winter months, the park boasts a sledding hill to make snowy days into lifelong memories.

While there’s no indoor recreation at the parks, there’s plenty of fun to be had at the Laser Skating Center. Also called the Lapeer Area Sports Entertainment Rink, the venue was named Lapeer Skating Center when it opened in 1972. Today, the rink hosts three nights of open skating every week, as well as a reduced-price family night. There’s a concession stand with savory or sweet snacks for under five dollars and an arcade with games like Fruit Ninja and Skee-Ball.

While there aren’t many options for dining in Mayfield Township, one of the most popular is Maude’s Alabama BBQ. Named for the owner’s mother and founded on passed-down recipes, the family-owned restaurant makes its traditional Southern barbecue from scratch daily. All the rubs and spices are made on-site, and the eatery sells its sauces, seasonings and apparel. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, Maude’s also has a bakery with whole cakes, specialty cupcakes and cookies.

Rural Mayfield Township offers residents a quiet country lifestyle near the conveniences of Lapeer.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

James Gordon

Video By

Bill Jennings