Whitehall offers waterfront living with close ties to Montague
Whitehall is a small waterfront community in West Michigan where the White River meets White Lake and flows into Lake Michigan. “We get a lot of people who move here for the outdoor recreation,” says Realtor Tricia Carlson with Five Star Real Estate, who has lived around Whitehall since 1993. “But the nice thing is it doesn’t have that touristy vibe you get with other West Michigan towns.” The city of Montague is just across the bridge over White Lake. Despite a century-old high school sports rivalry, the two towns are connected by a singular community that shares the water and comes together to celebrate holidays.
Boating and fishing on White Lake and Lake Michigan
Whitehall has several marinas where locals can dock their boats. Covell Park has a boat ramp between the White River and White Lake. Boaters can travel 6 miles to a channel that opens up to Lake Michigan, right next to Medbery Park, the closest public beach. During winter, White Lake is frequently populated with snowmobilers and people ice fishing. And when it snows, kids flock to Hanson Hill near downtown to go sledding. The 3-mile White Lake Pathway runs through Covell Park and crosses the bridge to Montague, connecting to the 22-mile Hart-Montague Trail. Goodrich Park features a grassy field with a playground, pavilion and marina views.
From modest century-old bungalows to $1 million lakefront homes
Some of the oldest houses include bungalows and National-style houses built between the late 1800s and early 1900s. They’re mixed with ranch-style and split-level houses from the mid-1900s to the 1990s. Depending on the size and renovations, homes from both eras range from around $110,000 to $340,000. More modern developments feature New Traditional houses built between the early 2000s and today, selling for $250,000 to $380,000. The Tanner Bay development lies next to White Lake with a private beach and double-decked houses ranging from $500,000 to $580,000. Various other lakefront properties sell anywhere from $600,000 to $1 million.
Montague High has a century-old cross-town rivalry with Whitehall High
Kindergarten through second grade students attend Shoreline Elementary School, which receives a B Niche grade. They’ll go on to Ealy Elementary School and Whitehall Middle School, each of which receives a B-plus. Whitehall High School is graded a B and offers virtual learning for all students. The Whitehall Vikings football team has been playing the Montague Wildcats for more than a century. Every year, the two teams compete in the “Battle for the Bell,” the biggest game of the year where the community fills up the stands and the winner keeps the bell trophy until next season’s game.
Downtown shops and restaurants on Colby Street
Downtown is made up of brick crosswalks and century-old buildings with local shops and restaurants on Colby Street. The Gnarly Heifer is a popular spot for burgers and truffle fries. Kids enjoy playing with the restaurant’s many dinosaur toys. Fetch Brewing Co. serves craft beer, hard cider and bar food. The building used to be a bank, and the brewery uses the old vault as a kids' playroom. Locals also enjoy going to Dairy Treat to order ice cream from the window and eat on the rooftop patio. Downtown also has many local shops, including The General Store, which sells various knick-knacks, and Colbys Hokey Pokey, a local consignment shop. For everyday shopping needs, Whitehall has a Dollar General and Walmart. Montague Foods grocery store is just across the bridge.
Parades with Montague and the White Lake Arts & Crafts Festival
Whitehall and Montague residents come together for holiday celebrations, including the Fourth of July and Christmas parades. “They usually start in Whitehall, go over the bridge and end in Montague,” Carlson says. “People will set up their chairs in both downtowns and on the bridge the night before.” Some events are solely in Whitehall, including the White Lake Arts & Crafts Festival, held Father’s Day weekend at Goodrich Park, featuring dozens of vendors with handcrafted products and live music.
Getting to Muskegon and Grand Rapids
Muskegon and Muskegon County Airport are less than 20 miles away via U.S. 31. The drive takes about 20 to 25 minutes. The airport offers daily flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Travelers can also drive 55 miles to Grand Rapids and Gerald R. Ford International Airport, which takes less than an hour.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
