Montague united with Whitehall through boating, fishing and football
Montague is a small city just across White Lake from Whitehall. Though they are separate cities with different school districts, they share a special bond with some friendly competition. “It’s basically one town. The only thing that separates them is the bridge across the water and the high school rivalry,” says Realtor Tricia Carlson with Five Star Real Estate Leaders, who has lived in the Montague/Whitehall region since 1993. When the Montague Wildcats and Whitehall Vikings aren’t clashing on the gridiron, the two communities come together to celebrate holidays and spend time boating and fishing on White Lake and Lake Michigan. Montague has a more compact downtown and a smaller population of 2,400, compared to Whitehall’s 3,100.
Year-round fishing, trails and parks at White Lake and Lake Michigan
White Lake is a popular spot for year-round fishing. Carlson says, “In the winter, the lake becomes its own little town because you have all these fishing shanties out there,” referring to the shelters residents use for ice fishing. Locals can use the public boat ramp on White Lake or keep their boats docked at Ellenwood Marina or Maple Beach Yacht Club. For boaters, it’s about a 5-mile trip along White Lake to the channel that opens up to Lake Michigan. Maple Grove Park features a playground, picnic pavilion and open grassy field next to White Lake. The 3-mile White Lake Pathway runs through Montague, passing what is considered the world’s largest weather vane in Ellenwood Park and crossing a bridge over the White River to Whitehall. It also connects to the Hart-Montague Trail, which can be taken 22 miles through the woods to the city of Hart. Montague Township Park serves as a sports complex for local leagues, including baseball and soccer. It also has shuffleboard courts used by the White Lake Shuffleboard Club, a playground and a splash pad.
Housing ranges from 1800s bungalows to modern waterfront condos
Houses near downtown tend to be closer together, while those toward the countryside are more dispersed. Bungalows and National-style houses from the late 1800s to early 1900s range from around $130,000 to $290,000. Ranch-style homes from the mid-1900s are also very common, selling for around $170,000 to $350,000. Newer ranch-style and split-level houses with attached garages built between 2000 and today go for $280,000 to $350,000. Condominiums at Ellenwood Estates offer marina views and feature tuck-under garages. Two-to-three-bedroom units have sold for between $250,000 and $475,000.
Downtown shops and restaurants, more options in Whitehall
Downtown is a small area of local restaurants, shops and other small businesses. Lipka’s is all about nostalgia, known for its 1950s décor and old-fashioned soda fountain, which has been operating since 1878. There are several watering holes, including North Grove Brewers, Sawyers Brewing Company and Jimmy’Z Pub. Dog n Suds is a popular spot to order coney dogs and root beer from the window and eat at a picnic table. Locals stop by The Book Nook & Java Shop to sip coffee, read a book and watch live music. Other stores include Figgs Boutique, The Groove Record Shop and Montague Foods, the town’s grocery store. Whitehall has even more local businesses and a Walmart.
Strong high school football program with a century-old rivalry
Students may attend kindergarten at Montague Area Childhood Center, which receives a B-minus grade from Niche. They’ll go on to B-graded Oehrli Elementary School, followed by Nellie B. Chisholm Middle School and Montague High School, each receiving a B-minus. Montague has a successful football program, winning its most recent Division 6 state title in 2020. The Montague Wildcats and the Whitehall Vikings have a century-old cross-town rivalry. The football teams have been playing each other since 1921, and they compete in the “Battle for the Bell” every year. Carlson says it’s the one game nobody in town misses. “The stands are packed and they ring the bell every time someone gets a touchdown,” she says. "Whoever wins gets the bell for the year, and it’s a really big deal.”
Parades, local markets and other events bring both towns together
Montague and Whitehall celebrate holidays together. Every year, the two communities come together for Fourth of July and Christmas parades, both starting in Whitehall and ending in Montague. The Montague Band Shell sits next to the lake and hosts a free summer concert series on Tuesday nights. Montague Farmers Market and Artisan Market Village, a collection of small cottages where vendors sell various hand-crafted products, are across from each other on Water Street. Both run seasonally on Saturdays from May through October.
Getting to Lake Michigan beaches, Muskegon and Grand Rapids
Montague is about 6 miles from the closest Lake Michigan beach at Medbery Park. U.S. 31 is about 2 miles away. It takes about 25 minutes to drive to Muskegon and Muskegon County Airport, which offers flights to Chicago. Travelers can also drive less than an hour to Grand Rapids to fly out of Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
