Watervliet is a small town with lots of waterfront recreation
Watervliet is a small, mostly residential community next to Paw Paw Lake. Though the community has many full-time residents, waterfront properties in Paw Paw Lake are commonly used as vacation homes, meaning the entire surrounding area notices the shift from warmer to colder seasons. “The majority of seasonal residents come for the summer, and by the time school starts, a lot of the community has left,” says Bryon Farmer, a realtor at Coldwell Banker Anchor Real Estate specializing in the Paw Paw Lake area. “It gets quieter in the winter months.” Recreation is the main draw to the community for both part-time and full-time residents, with fishing, swimming and boating on the lake and Paw Paw River.
A wide variety of housing styles with some new construction
Home styles in Watervliet span a wide range of styles and eras. “It’s all across the board,” Farmer says. “There are homes from the ‘40s and ‘50s, and also a lot of new construction in the last 10 to 15 years.” Craftsman cottages and Victorian-era homes are clustered towards the town center, surrounded by midcentury ranch-style homes. These properties tend to be close-set along narrow roads, shaded by towering pine and oak trees. Around the community’s edges, there has been a boost of new construction in recent years, with several new suburban-style subdivisions with new traditional tract homes. Prices generally range from $50,000 to $350,000, though fixer-uppers can sell for even less.
Parks located on Paw Paw River and Paw Paw Lake
Several parks are found on the banks of the Paw Paw River, on the community’s north side. Flaherty Park has river access for fishing and a nine-hole disc golf course, while Paw Paw River County Park has a kayak launch and hiking trails. Hayes Park is the largest green space in the area, with basketball courts, sports fields and a skate park. Further north, Paw Paw Lake is home to more waterfront recreation, including swimming and fishing at Forest Beach Park. Paw Paw Lake Golf Club has an 18-hole course that’s open to the public. Families can visit the Safari Joes Indoor Wilderness Water Park, which has waterslides and arcade games.
Local public schools have many after-school programs
South Elementary, which earns a B-minus from Niche, serves kindergarten through second grade, while the C-plus-rated North Elementary serves third through fifth grade. The B-minus-rated Watervliet Middle has after-school sports programs like wrestling and volleyball. The B-rated Watervliet High offers more extracurricular clubs, including a competitive robotics club, national honors society and debate team.
Businesses and restaurants are found on Main Street
Main Street is lined with shops, hardware stores and restaurants like Local 3 Grill & Tap, which serves standard pub fare like burgers and pizza. La Chula Mexican Market & Restaurant is another popular eatery, that also sells imported grocery items at the front counter. Harding’s Market is a nearby grocery store. Wineries and scenic vineyards are dotted around the surrounding region, including nearby options like Moonrise Winery.
Annual community fun run held in September
The Arsenal City Run has been an annual tradition since 1982, taking place in September with a one-mile fun run and a 5K race. After the race, there is a small street festival at the finish line with live music, food vendors and face painting. Proceeds from the event are donated to the City of Watervliet Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program.
Connected to surrounding towns on Interstate 94
Interstate 94 runs along Watervliet’s south border, connecting the town to Kalamazoo, about 40 miles east, and Saint Joseph, about 15 miles west on the banks of Lake Michigan. South Haven is about 15 miles north. Corewell Health Watervliet Hospital serves the area, and South Bend International Airport is about 40 miles away.
