Five beachfront communities along Lake Erie
Named for its wooded streets and proximity to Lake Erie, Woodland Beach was once a vacation destination filled with summer homes and active neighborhood associations that held events throughout the summer. Five subdivisions from the 1930s make up the area – Grand Beach, Woodland Beach, Erie Shores, Indian Trails and Baycrest Beach. While the individual communities shifted to permanent residencies in the latter half of the 1900s, neighborly bonds grew stronger, and events spread into the fall, winter and spring months. In the area's early days, lots sold for as low as $150. While homes aren't quite as cheap as they once were, "A decent number of people move here from the beach communities in Wayne County because houses, taxes and insurance costs are cheaper," says Sheila Bussell, a Realtor and associate broker with Key Realty One LLC who lives in Indian Trails. Just over 2,000 people live in the half-a-square-mile area 4 miles north of Downtown Monroe. Although separated by streets and homeowner's associations, the lakeside life connects residents. "It's absolutely a golf-cart, beach-type community," Bussell says. "All the waterfront neighborhoods in Monroe County are."
Gathering for holidays and park cleanups
Though small, the narrow subdivisions have their own homeowner's associations, HOA fees and events. Halloween, Christmas and Easter events occur in each, while some offer additional chances for the community to gather. "Indian Beach is the only community with a clubhouse still standing, and it's actually an old log cabin," Bussell says. The clubhouse is exclusive to Indian Beach residents or friends of residents who can rent it for private events at a higher fee. The Woodland Beach Association website shows photos of the area's history and provides helpful links for residents. Community beach and park cleanups are standard, and the parks are the gathering spots for annual events. One big event that unites the whole community is nearby Sterling State Park's Independence Day fireworks show. Celebrated a day early, on the third of July each year, the sky over Lake Erie bursts with color as residents sit along.
Renovated homes for year-round living
Bungalows and cottages from the 1930s still stand and sell for between $50,000 and $165,000. While their original architecture and foundation remain, most interiors have changed dramatically. "Ninety-nine percent of the homes in the area were once vacation homes for the summertime only," Bussell says. "They didn't have sanitary systems or furnaces, so they all required updates to make them livable year-round." Built in the 1960s and '70s, ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and split-levels range in price from $150,000 to $250,000. Waterfront homes fetch a higher price, between $235,000 and $530,000, and usually require flood insurance. These properties also have the largest yards, sometimes adorned with in-ground pools, decks and docks for boats. Though rare because the neighborhood is almost entirely developed, Bussell says, "Some new builds are going up on empty lots. It's interesting where you'll see a $400,000 house next to a $100,000 house."
Private parks and beaches for each subdivision
Small parks with play equipment, baseball backstops and open fields are throughout the area, but they are exclusive to the residents living in each subdivision, and the individual associations maintain them. Woodland Beach Association replaced the backstop at their central park, planted new trees and installed new playground equipment in the early 2000s. Parkview Lake Erie, in the Baycrest Beach subdivision, has benches and swings on a grassy hill overlooking the water. Residents can fish for walleye from the retaining wall. Sandy beaches are at the end of most residential roads, while houses with water access cap others. The nearest public park is Kiwanis Park. Two baseball diamonds, a playground and a creek for fishing surround the Frenchtown Township Recreation Department Building a mile north of the neighborhood. The Jefferson Recreation Center is located at the high school and is open to the public. It has an indoor track, basketball court, and fitness classes.
Young students can walk to Sodt Elementary
The area is young, with the most recent census reporting that over 38% of the families living there have children under 18. Sodt Elementary serves kindergarten and first grade and is rated a C-plus by Niche. The school is just north of the neighborhood. North Elementary School is farther away, 5 miles northeast, and is rated a C. It teaches second through fourth grade. Jefferson Middle School and Jefferson High School share a campus 2 miles away. Jefferson Middle School is rated a C-minus, and Jefferson High School is rated a C-plus.
Dining out and getting dessert on North Dixie
North Dixie Highway runs through the area and is the main access street for every subdivision. A few locally owned establishments along the highway are a hit amongst residents. Open seasonally, Ice Cream Time serves sundaes, cones, frozen bananas and other novelty teats from the walk-up window of a tiny building. As if the spot weren't busy enough each day with patrons cooling off in the summer, the shop offers children under 36 inches tall a free soft-serve cone on "Not Too Tall Tuesdays." Also on North Dixie is Joe's French Italian Inn, the longest-running family-owned restaurant in the state. Established in 1930, Joe's makes its sauces from scratch and is known for its popular chicken marsala. Many Woodland Beach residents grocery shop at the Kroger on North Dixie and their home shopping at the Walmart, Lowes and Kohl's on North Telegraph Road, 6 miles west.
Remote but accessible
North Dixie Highway, as well as nearby Interstate 75, continues 37 miles north to Detroit. The interstate also connects Monroe to Toledo, which is 25 miles south. Lake Erie Transit buses run regularly Mondays through Fridays and by call only on Saturdays. The buses connect Woodland Beach to the rest of Monroe County and Downtown Monroe. Major employers DTE Energy, La-Z-Boy and ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital are within 7 miles, and the nearest airport with commercial flights is 20 miles north in Detroit. The neighborhood has no sidewalks, and the roads are narrow. Still, driveways and garages provide a spot for cars to keep the streets open for leisurely walks.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
