Village of Shelby draws people back with its natural beauty
About 9 miles east of Lake Michigan, Shelby is a small village in Oceana County — the “Asparagus Capital of the World.” This small community of about 2,000 is surrounded by woods and farmland, and a quick drive to one of the state’s most scenic state parks along Lake Michigan. “I feel like we’re all fish swimming upstream back to our birthplace,” says Cathy Nyboer, a Realtor with Five Star Real Estate and native of West Michigan.” A lot of people moving to Shelby are returning home. They move away, but want to come back because West Michigan is just so beautiful.” The village’s small-town vibe is felt at the local shops and restaurants downtown and in the parks that bring people together for movie nights and other events.
Historic homes and new builds offer a range of housing styles
The median home sale price is around $230,000. Houses closer to downtown typically date between the late 1800s and mid-1900s. Some of the oldest homes include bungalows and National-style houses. Mid-century ranch-style homes are also common. Shelby Acres is a newer development in town with ranch-style condominiums built in 2024 and 2025. Some homes are outside of town, surrounded by farms or in more private wooded areas.
On average, homes sell after 74 days on the market, compared to the national average of 52 days. Shelby’s CAP Index Crime Score 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Local shops and restaurants with easy parking downtown
Downtown has local shops and restaurants lining North Michigan Avenue in buildings that date as far back as the early 1800s. Diagonal street parking spots run along downtown’s sidewalks. Deb’s Café serves homestyle breakfast and lunch, including its giant cinnamon rolls and cinnamon roll breakfast sandwich. Brown Bear is a community staple and offers classic bar food while immersed in sports memorabilia and chandeliers. There are also a few shops downtown, including HomeTown Pharmacy, Love INC Thrift Store and Eilers Rod Shop, which sells fishing gear. For groceries and other essentials, Shelby has a Dollar General and Cherry Hill Supermarket.
Two parks, a rail trail and an easy drive to Silver Lake State Park
Locals head to Shelby Community Park for outdoor fun. It features a playground with a tricycle station for little kids. It also has pickleball courts open to the public and several sports fields used by local leagues. Getty Park is right by the community’s three schools, featuring a playground, basketball court and a tennis/pickleball court. The Hart-Montague Trail runs through Shelby along an old rail line. The paved 22-mile trail goes through woods, farmland and other small towns between Hart and Montague. Silver Lake State Park is about 15 minutes away, located along the shores of Lake Michigan with sand dunes, trails and ATV riding. “I took my kids to Silver Lake and we climbed up these incredibly massive sand dunes,” Nyboer says. “We got up there and my son looked at me and said, ‘They could have filmed Transformers up here!’ It’s just an entirely new world.”
Small student body at Shelby High School
In 2021, the community voted for a new elementary school. By 2023, Shelby Elementary School was built. It has not yet received a grade from Niche. It’s adjacent to Shelby Middle School and Shelby High School, both of which receive C-plus Niche grades. The high school has a smaller-than-average student body with about 350 students and a 15:1 student-teacher ratio.
Summer movies in the park and other community events
Many events are held in the summer. From June to August, the village hosts a family movie night at Getty Park on the last Thursday of each month. Locals also look forward to the Chainsaw Carving Festival in July, featuring live demonstrations and auctions for each carving. The Shelby Fruit Festival is held in August at the community park, featuring a pie auction, food trucks, a car show and free carnival rides. Locals also travel to Hart for other events, including the Oceana County Fair and the National Asparagus Festival.
Getting to Muskegon, Grand Rapids and beyond
U.S. Route 31 runs through Shelby and along much of Michigan’s west coast. From the highway, it takes about 30 minutes to drive 30 miles to Muskegon. Grand Rapids, home to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, is about 70 miles away, which is about an hour drive. Travelers can also fly out of Muskegon County Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
