Charlevoix is a small community situated between Lake Michigan and the western end of Lake Charlevoix, which drains into Lake Michigan through the short Round Lake/Pine River complex in the heart of downtown Charlevoix. The Charlevoix South Pier Light Station marks the opening of the channel onto Lake Michigan. Charlevoix’s Round Lake has been called the best natural harbor on Lake Michigan. The only way to get from Lake Michigan to East Jordan, Boyne City and other sites on Lake Charlevoix by boat is via Charlevoix. As a result, much commercial, industrial, and recreational boat traffic passes through Charlevoix.
This European-American settlement was initially by fishermen before 1852. Soon after its formation in the 1850s, the residents of Charlevoix entered into a short-lived conflict with Jesse Strang, leader and namesake of the Strangite Mormons, then self-proclaimed ‘king’ of Beaver Island. Relations between Charlevoix residents and the Strangites were often tense. In 1853, a gunfight broke out between the two groups as the townspeople refused to hand over a man who was called for jury duty on the island, an event known locally as The Battle of Pine River. Strang was assassinated on June 20, 1856. The Homestead Act of 1862 brought many Civil War veterans and speculators to Northern Michigan. It sold 160-acre tracts of land for $1.25 an acre.
Whatever you are looking for in your next real estate purchase, you’ll find it in the Charlevoix, Michigan. This community has World-class cuisine, Wineries, Food Trucks, Michigan craft beer, four seasons of recreational opportunities, nature’s exquisite beauty, boating, exploring other local amenities, exceptional downtown shopping, Mushroom Houses, Castle Farms, and captivating cultural arts.
Visitors flock to the area for a variety of reasons. There’s so much to see and do, one day is simply not enough. Enjoy the crystal clear fresh waters aboard a charted sailboat. Rent a boat, kayaks or paddleboards for leisure activities. Experience recreational opportunities of more than 20 trails and natures preserves. Evoke a sense of years past with the historic architecture of Charlevoix and the majesty of Castle Farms. Step back in time by visiting the setting of Ernest Hemingway’s stories and the former kingdom of Beaver Island. Downtown Charlevoix features boutique shopping, unique restaurants, and world class events set along Round Lake which connects to Lake Michigan below the historic drawbridge.