River-to-lake living, steeped in lumber and aviation roots
Oscoda sits where the Au Sable River empties into Lake Huron, a shoreline setting that shaped its 19th-century lumber boom and later its aviation chapter with Wurtsmith Air Force Base. The base closed in 1993, yet businesses such as Oscoda Plastics still run production lines in the old hangars while the Wurtsmith Air Museum preserves the military past. “This is an older, slow-paced community filled with retirees who want to live on the water,” says Alan Meyer, a local agent with Real Estate One. Afternoons drift toward the water, with anglers casting for walleye on the Au Sable, boaters idling on the big lake and hikers roaming the nearby Huron National Forest.
Lake-view condos and post-war ranches hold most of the market
Newer condos and townhomes cluster right on the water, their lake views driving prices up to between $275,000 and $350,000. Farther inland, older ranch-style homes – many built in the post-war years – sell closer to the median of $140,000. Properties one or two blocks off the beach often include roomy lots for a garage or workshop, while lakefront complexes trade yard space for direct access to the shoreline.
Small district, big FIRST Robotics reputation
Richardson Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade and holds a C-plus overall grade from Niche. Students in grades 7 through 12 attend Oscoda Area High School, which carries a B-minus on Niche, posts a 95% graduation rate and fields FIRST Robotics Team 7250 on the statewide circuit.
Highbanks Trail, beach skate park and AuSable angling
Outdoor options fan out in every direction from Oscoda. Huron National Forest supplies miles of multi-use routes – Wildcat and Highbanks trails among them – for hiking, biking and winter skiing. In town, Oscoda Beach Park pairs part of Lake Huron’s shoreline with a skate park, splash pad and an amphitheater that hosts free Thursday concerts each summer. Paddlers and anglers favor the Au Sable River’s “blue-ribbon” trout water. Lumberman’s Monument crowns a bluff above the river, offering stair access to river-edge trails and panoramic overlooks.
Newer condos and townhomes cluster right on the water, their lake views driving prices up to between $275,000 and $350,000. Farther inland, older ranch-style homes – many built in the post-war years – sell closer to the median of $140,000. Properties one or two blocks off the beach often include roomy lots for a garage or workshop, while lakefront complexes trade yard space for direct access to the shoreline.
Sunrise Kava coffee to Tait’s prime rib suppers
Sunrise Kava Café, set in a renovated downtown storefront, serves espresso drinks, pastries and sandwiches throughout the day. A few blocks west, Tait’s Bill of Fare has since the 1970s served prime rib, Great Lakes whitefish, and its well-known “Millennium” soup in a setting that feels equal parts supper club and neighborhood hangout. For quick service, U.S. 23 covers the basics with McDonald’s and Burger King, while a short drive north to Greenbush leads to Cedar Lake Grocery, where fresh doughnuts sell out early.
Pier-side movies and Paul Bunyan Days pack the summer calendar
Movies by the Pier brings free, family-friendly films to Oscoda Beach Park every Wednesday at dusk in July and August, turning the shoreline into an open-air theater with blankets spread across the sand. In September, Furtaw Field hosts Paul Bunyan Days, a three-day tribute to the town’s lumber heritage featuring chainsaw carving, live music and a craft show.
U.S.23, regional flights and two nearby hospitals
U.S. 23 moves traffic along the Lake Huron shoreline leading north to Alpena and south to Tawas City. Indian Trails buses stop on River Road for daily runs to Alpena and Bay City. Primary hospital care is at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City, while MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena handles full-service needs. Alpena County Regional Airport offers commercial flights; Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is the nearest international gateway.
PFAS cleanup near former Wurtsmith Air Base
Decades of firefighting foam use at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base left Oscoda with widespread contamination. Groundwater plumes have tainted some private wells, foam advisories dot Van Etten Lake, and state and federal agencies are still working on long-term cleanup while advising affected households to use filtered or bottled water.
