Pinckney offers country living near Michigan's cities
The Village of Pickney occupies about 1 1/2 square miles of Putnam in Michigan, roughly 60 miles west of the Detroit metro area. Many of its 2,500 residents commute to Detroit or Ann Arbor before coming home to a quiet village surrounded by woods and fields. “It’s close enough to the city, but it’s country living,” says 28-year resident Joe Darwish, a real estate agent with Re/Max Platinum. “Some people say, ‘Wow, you live way out there?’ but people like the quality of life, so they don’t care about the drive.”
Hiking, biking and fishing spots surround Pinckney
Pinckney’s small downtown is centered on Town Square Park, a patch of green space with picnic areas and playground equipment. Loy Bond Memorial Park offers similar amenities within walking distance of many homes in the southern portion of the village. The Mike Levine Lakelands Trail, a popular multiuse path, runs through Pinckney. Parking for the trail is available at the trailhead near the Pinckney Rails-to-Trails Campground and Hell Survivors paintball field. More hiking and horseback riding trails can be found at the Pinckney Recreation Area, which surrounds the nearby Hamlet of Hell, a popular tourist destination. Portage Lake, one of the area’s premier fishing and boating spots, is about 5 miles away.
Tree-lined streets and a mix of historic and ranch-style homes
Tall trees and well-maintained sidewalks line many of Pinckney’s quiet residential streets. Lot sizes vary depending on location. In central areas, they usually measure under a quarter-acre, but some multiacre properties are available on the outskirts. Some National-style homes date to the early 1900s, and midcentury ranch-style homes with attached or detached garages are common. Garages can protect vehicles from damage during the region’s windy and icy winters. Home sales are infrequent, and properties tend to sell about 30 days after entering the market, below the national average of 52 days. Recent sales included National-style homes that sold for $315,000 to $330,000 and a farmhouse on several acres that went for around $450,000. Meanwhile, a soon-to-be-built custom luxury home in the Winans Woods community sold for just under $800,000. “There’s a lot of money in Pinckney,” Darwish says. “I have one listed there now for $3 million.”
Elementary and high schools receive B-range Niche ratings
Farley Hill Elementary School receives a B from Niche and serves students from prekindergarten through Grade 2. For grades 3 through 5, students move to Navigator Upper Elementary, rated B-minus. Next up is Pathfinder School, rated B, and Pinckney Community High School, rated B-minus. Student musicians at the high school partner with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra for Side by Side concerts through the orchestra’s Learning & Community initiative. Pinckney Community Schools participates in Michigan’s Schools of Choice program, which allows students to enroll in schools outside their district boundaries.
Groceries, hardware and eclectic dining options nearby
A handful of shops and restaurants are grouped around Town Square Park. Household essentials are available at Byrum Ace Hardware. Pinckney Diner satisfies a myriad of cravings, from sweet and savory breakfast options to fettuccine alfredo and Coney dogs with chili and onions. Mediterranean cuisine and seafood specialties populate the menu at Bliss & Fish next door, and The Dio dinner theater stages a series of afternoon plays from February through December. Residents will find fast-food chains, Dollar General and groceries at Busch’s Fresh Food Market on the eastern side of the village.
Spring parades enliven the town square in Pinckney
Pinckney's annual Memorial Day Parade includes kids’ activities and a closing ceremony with a rifle salute. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Run for the Gold 5K and live music bring a taste of Ireland to the town square every March.
Highways pave the way to Ann Arbor and Detroit
Michigan Highway 36 is the primary thoroughfare that connects to U.S. Route 23 for the 20-mile drive to Ann Arbor. Health care services are available at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital and University of Michigan Health, also in Ann Arbor. Residents can access on-demand weekday transport from Livingston Essential Transportation. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is about 50 miles away.
