A year-round Lake Erie vacation in Stony Point
Stony Point is one of several beach communities that started as vacation destinations on Lake Erie, but in the past 30 years, it's become a permanent residence for many who enjoy the lifestyle all year long. "Each [neighborhood] has its own personality, and there is a pecking order of desirability," says Tom Wagner, a realtor with Howard Hanna who lives on the Stony Point peninsula. One road leads into and out of Stony Point, and the neighborhood offers a lower entry price for lakeside living than the other communities. "If there were two identical homes, the one in Stony Point would be less expensive," Wagner says. Not much is happening in the neighborhood, and it is physically separate from the other beach communities. Still, Stony Point offers quiet seclusion where deer cross the roads as often as cars drive through. "It really is a one-of-a-kind place," Wagner says. "It feels like being on vacation all year round."
A wide range of homes in three separate areas
Stony Point has three distinct housing sections, each with a signature architectural style and price range. The Bay West subdivision is off Brest Road, next to the Brest Bay Marina. Craftsman and new traditional homes are equally spaced in cul-de-sacs with inground pools, brick siding and multi-pitched roofs. They sell between $350,000 and $540,000. The Brest Bay Grove community is also separate from the main homes of Stony Point, but houses there are less expensive than Bay West – mostly ranch-style homes that range from $180,000 to $300,000. The homes that most residents of Monroe consider to be in Stony Point are in the easternmost section, on the land that juts out into Lake Erie. "That area is very mixed with old homes converted from cottages, and the condition varies greatly," says Steve Hudkins, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway who has been selling in the area since 1988. Many of the bungalows and cottages have been untouched and show their age, while some houses along the peninsula have undergone recent remodeling and feature new decks and additions. Empty plots of land and old cottages sell between $7,000 and $60,000, while ranch-style homes and bungalows range between $100,000 and $230,000. Houses nearest the water, including those on the peninsula, are the most expensive. The beachfront properties with waterfront access and wide windows sell between $250,000 and $520,000. Very few homes on the peninsula have docks, but those with boats can dock and store their vessels for a seasonal fee at Brest Bay Marina. Flood insurance is mandatory for the houses nearest the water so long as a mortgage is in place. "Once a house is owned, insurance is optional for the owner," Wagner says.
Friday football at Jefferson High
Students in Stony Point attend Jefferson School District schools, beginning at Sodt Elementary. The school is rated a C-plus by Niche and serves kindergarten and first grade. North Elementary serves second through fourth and is rated a C. Jefferson Middle teaches fifth through eighth grade, while Jefferson High teaches the standard high school grades. They are rated a C-minus and C-plus, respectively. During football season, Friday night games are a big social outing for students and residents. The high school is also where the Jefferson Recreation Center is. It is open to the entire community and has a gym, fitness center and group workout classes.
Hunting at a state wildlife area
While flooding in the neighborhood is minimal and rare, the water levels in the marshy Pointe Aux Peaux State Wildlife Area fluctuate regularly. The public land is brimming with wildlife, which visitors can hunt with appropriate permits. Hunters must stay 150 yards away from buildings and structures for safety purposes. Water surrounds the park in the middle of the peninsula, and those with fishing poles can expect to catch some sizeable walleye. Outside of the neighborhood, along North Dixie Highway, is Dixie Skateland. The indoor roller-skating rink is open to the public some days. It offers reservable time slots for private parties on the other days. Admission is free, and skate rentals are only $1 on the last Wednesday of each month.
Root beer floats at the drive-in
For pub grub and a beer, locals head to The Point. Being the only restaurant in the neighborhood, it's usually filled with Stony Point residents grabbing a pizza or some deep-fried appetizers. The nearest shopping and dining destinations are outside the area along North Dixie Highway. Kroger and Family Dollar are close for groceries and housewares, while Little Vinny's Drive-in offers another option for dining out. Food is brought right to the car window for those parking under the awning. The bright orange building also has a covered section with seating for those who would prefer to eat hotdogs, burgers and ice cream floats outside their cars.
One road into and out of Stony Point
Pointe Aux Peaux Road is the only road into and out of the eastern parts of the neighborhood. "Some see this as a positive while others see it as a negative," Wagner says. The inconvenience bothers some, but the quietness and safety please others. Lake Erie Transit buses stop in the neighborhood, heading the 9 miles southwest to Downtown Monroe. The nearest hospital and one of the area's largest employers, ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, is downtown. Another large employer is DTE Energy, which owns and operates the nearby Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant. While the smoke towers are an eyesore for some Stony Point residents, the plant emits no sound or smell and isn't considered much of a nuisance by the locals. North Dixie Highway connects Stony Point to the rest of Monroe and Interstate 75. Detroit is 37 miles north along the interstate, while Toledo is 28 miles south.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
