Oakland County, Michigan -- 1993
Chapter Five
Diversions
Without balance, Oakland County slips toward mediocrity. Without balance, fortunately, is a hypothetical. Balance exists in excess in Oakland County. Balance between economic opportunity, a solid infrastructure, highly resolved transportation networks, abundant, affordable and excellent housing and -- as if to cap it off, leaving nothing left for discussion -- a true-to-life gigantic variety and profusion of ... diversions.
Nine hundred and five square miles in area, Oakland County is the second largest county in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. With flat topography in the south and east, the county features gentle rolling terraine in the north and west, with elevations extending in some places to 1,220' above sea level and slopes in other areas in excess of 12 percent.
Amid this fascinating topography, glaciers surging thousands of years ago along a southeasterly tack created the basins from which Oakland County's 500 or so lakes took existence. An actual count of lakes is subject to precise definition. Some extend the count to 515 lakes; others refer to 450 lakes. Those exceeding 50 yards in diameter certainly number near 500. The great majority of lakes are found in the central townships and municipalities of the county. Given the fact the physical center of Oakland County is located at approximately the southwest corner of Watkins Lake, near M-59 and Crescent Lake Roads, it follows that most of Oakland's lakes are in Waterford, White Lake, Commerce, West Bloomfield, Springfield, Independence and Orion Townships.
This brief scientific discussion matters because what you see in central Oakland County is ultimately what you get: an honest-to-goodness water wonderland. Fly south over eastern Oakland County, gaze out across the counties mentioned above and what you see looks as much like Florida as it does Michigan. Lakes are everywhere ... lake culture is everywhere ... society is defined by lakes, their movement, their lure, their effect on the psyches of those who come for an afternoon or come for a lifetime.
You can't separate "diversions" from bodies of water in Oakland County -- particularly in the central townships. As a point of historic interest, water once lapped up against shores as far south as Southfield, Troy and even in the extreme south of the county, below Pleasant Ridge. Two hundred years ago a massive, nearly impenetrable bog of sorts stretched out for nearly 15 miles in the area between downtown Detroit and presentday Royal Oak. That formidible body of swamp and inhospitibality was enough to discourage 999 of 1,000 would-be adventurers, i.e., those who came before the developers.
By fate, there were enough exceptions to the rule that exploration parties did indeed find their way through"the bog" to the verdant and promising real estate of south Oakland County. Returning veterans from the War of 1812 followed on the heels of the first settlers, as did many former New Englanders, loosed upon the area with the completion of the Eire Canal. The east coast had been linked to the midwest ... and Oakland County took it more than its fair share of new immigrants from the rocky soil of the east.
Ironically, they found large sand and gravel deposits in their new homeland. Not surprisingly, Oakland County ranked first in the state in value of sand and gravel extracted. There was also an abundance of peat and a certain amount of oil and natural gas. Scientists surmised something in excess of 100,000 acres of organic soils in the county, making it one of themost fertile farming areas in southeastern Michigan. By 1993, there were fewer than 200 farms in the county but those remaining continued to produce cash grains, horticultural specialties, livestock, dairy products and animal specialties.
What Oakland County's early generations learned is basically the same thing longtime residents and newcomers realize today -- Oakland's varied vegetation contains clusters of swamps and marshes, forest, bogs, lakeshores, streamsides, meadows and abandoned fields. Strands of evergreens add to the mix, as do beach and maple forest areas. Couple with a number of small streams, birch and tamarack swamps, cattail marshes and rolling meadowlands, Oakland County is a land of considerable natural wonder. For many, these natural trappings continue to define the Oakland County lifestyle. Even in the most established suburbs in the southern portion of the county, the natural effect is very evident ... very much a part of the way people live and perceive their environment.
Tourists coming to Oakland County aren't neccesarily attracted by tamarack swamps. Or, maybe we shouldn't speak for tourists. Statistically, what does attract people to Oakland County is its dynamic business climate, its vital business centers, as well as attractions like the Palace of Auburn Hills, Pine Knob, the Pontiac Silverdome and area cultural institutions like Meadowbrook Hall, the Cranbrook museums and strikingly unique shopping attractions like downtown Birmingham and the Somerset Mall in Troy.
Certainly tourism, the hospitality industry and convention services bridge the gap between the seekers -- tourists, residents and visiting business people -- and the source, Oakland County with its endless opportunities to relax, enjoy life and/or conduct business.
Known for its phenomenal number of lakes and year-round recreational opportunities, Oakland County is heaven on earth for outdoor and indoor enthusiasts. Sports, recreation and leisure activities exist at every crossroads and every hour for everyone with an inkling to participate or just sit back, relax, and watch.
For the record, the sitting back and watching part is exquisite in this county, this occasionally rowdy region that loves entertainment to the extent it can sustain dozens of simultaneous events on any given weekend, at any given time of year, in just about any given meteoralogic conditions.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs at Meadowbrook, as does jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and dozens of other nationally known artists. Broadway and off Broadway plays are on tap on a regular basis throughout the county. Outdoor theaters like Pine Knob in Independence Township typically attract thousands of fans to hear pop music acts as well as classical artists.
1993 marked another sensational year for the arts in Oakland County. Big name talent came from here ... to here ... and throughout here, throughout the calendar year.
The Palace of Auburn Hills stepped up again in 1993, hosting some of the biggest names in show business, as well as numerous special events, including circuses, carnivals and major sporting events, including the home games of the Detroit Pistons professional basketball team. Keeping up with the action, the nearby Pontiac Silverdome hosted the Detroit Lions home games, high school play off football games, as well as several special events from rodeos to truck pulls, from special marketing events to religious retreats and celebrations.
The National Basketball Association staged its annual draft activities in Auburn Hills. World Cup Soccer reared its international head at the Pontiac Silverdome ... on actual grass, for that matter. Hotels throughout Oakland enjoyed brisk business as events as far away as Detroit, Ann Arbor and throughout southeast Michigan kept visitors coming our way.
Some came for bowling, for skiing, for golf on one of more than 60 golf courses in the county. Others came to play disk golf, an emerging pasttime at several county parks. Some came for bicycle races across open terraine courses, known as BMX racing. Windsurfing and pleasure boating on Orchard Lake, Cass Lake and hundreds of other noble bodies of water lured others to Oakland County's heartland.
By the thousands they came to Oakland County's 10 parks, all of which offer a wide variety of year-round recreational opportunities ranging from camping, hiking, boating, golfing and picnicking to cross-country skiing, ice skating and ice fishing. The County park system also operates two wave-action pools, giant waterslides, the country's first dome-covered driving range, a nature center, outdoor ampitheater, conference and banquet facilities, a tennis complex and a mobile recreation program, as well as numerous special activities, events and classes.
Independence Oaks is a naturally-maintained 1,088-acre park near Clarkston on Sashabaw Road. Located at the headwaters of the Clinton River, the park features nearly 12 miles of marked nature and ski trails and an All-Visitors Trail for individuals with disabilities. There is also a Nature Center and a Rubach Sensory Herb Garden with gazebo, located near the Nature Center.
Addison Oaks is located nine miles north of Rochester on Romeo Road. With springfed ponds, a lake, the park features swimming, boating, picnicking, mountain bike trails, an 18-hole championship disc golf course and camping on 93 sites. An elegant Tudor-style conference center is also available for weddings, banquets, receptions and business meetings.
The Springfield Oaks Y.A.C. is located on Andersonville Road near Davisburg in the northwest part of Oakland County. It includes a large activities center and luscious surrounding grounds and is the home of the annual Oakland County 4-H Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival.
Waterford Oaks is located in Waterford Township and is headquarters of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission. Home to Michigan's first wave-action swimming pool and two giant two-flume "Slidewinder" waterslides, the park also features tennis courts, volleyball courts, shuffleboard, horseshoe courts and children's play equipment.
Groveland Oaks on Dixie Highway at Grange Hall Road in Springfield Township focuses on family camping on its 360-acre site. There are 600 primitive and modern campsites, a sandy beach for swimming on Stewart Lake and numerous other outdoor activities.
Orion Oaks on Clarkston Road in Orion Township is a glorious preserve of 927-acres of environmentally-sensitive green space. The park is undeveloped but fishing is available on 90-acre Lake Sixteen. Future projections call for camping, boating, nature study and winter recreation in the future.
Red Oaks Waterpark is located on 13 Mile Road between John R and Dequinder and the Red Oaks Golf Course and Sports Village is on John R between 12 and 13 Mile Roads. The Waterpark was named among the top five waterparks in Michigan by AAA's Michigan Living magazine. It features the largest wave-action pool in Michigan and a three-flume waterslide (the longest in the midwest.) Sports Village offers adventure golf, children's playscape, grand prix track, 60-station driving range, baseball batting cages and concessions.
Springfield Oaks has a 18-hole, par 71 course on Andersonville Road in Davisburg. This golf course is recognized as one of Michigan's most popular and challenging public golf courses and hosts several annual tournaments. Cross country skiing is also offered at this park in the northwest part of the county.
Glen Oaks on 13 Mile Road between Middlebelt and Orchard Lake Roads in Farmington Hills also offers an 18-hole golf course that juts into suburbia across picturesque, rolling terrrain and streams. Its attractive stone clubhouse designated as a Michigan Historical Building and features facilities for banquets, wedding receptions and golf outings.
White Lake Oaks has a 18-hole golf course on Williams Lake Road in White Lake Township. The luscious course is the site of the annual Oakland County Junior Golf Invitational and also hosts tournaments for senior citizens. Again, cross country skiing is available as are lessons and ski rental.
The system's tenth park is called Lyons Oaks. It is located in southwest Oakland County and was acquired in 1992. The 672-acre park is home to hundreds of Great Blue Herons and preserves 200 acres of environmentally-sensitive wetlands. The older parks extend from Farmington Hills' Glen Oaks Park to the northern reaches of the county, where most of the parks offer on-going programs of practically every kind.
The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission, which runs the ten parks, plans to build a 1,000-foot refrigerated toboggan run at Waterford Oaks County Park and The Oakland Press reported the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority has plans for a $10 million water slide at Indian Springs Metropark in White Lake Township. The authority operates three parks in Oakland County. In addition, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources operates five parks and recreation areas in Oakland County: Pontiac Lake Recreation Area in White Lake Township; Proud Lake Recreation Area in Milford Township; Holly Recreation Area; Seven Lakes Recreation Area near Holly; and Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Orion Township.
The parks had a combined attendance of two million people in 1992. Oakland County also offers two county operated parks and five state operated parks that have campsites. One of the parks, Addison Oaks, has bike trails, hiking, paddleboat rental and considerable wildlife among its 770 acres and three lakes. Groveland Oaks is the other county park with campsites.
Throughout the county park system special events for all ages are offered year-round, including golf and tennis tournaments, mountain bike races, a hot air balloon festival, classic car show and ski clinics. Mobile units also go out to points in the county with roller skating, puppet shows, mimes, inflated bounce structure, sports and games and a dunk tank. Portable stages, bleachers and buses are also available through Mobile Recreation. Starlab (an inflated planetarium) and nature discovery programs are scheduled through the Nature Center.
Five state parks in the county provide camping facilities.
Highland Recreation Area has basic family camping and facilities for horses, park manager Ronald Lounsbery told The Oakland Press. "The overnight facilities for horses is a unique feature," he said. "The percent of horsement to family campers is about 50-50. We get a lot of people who come in with their horses, from Bay City, south."
Holly State Recreation Area is another busy camping spot, as are Ortonville Recreation Area, Proud Lake Recreation Area. All offer extensive hiking trails and basic family camping. Besides Oakland's state, county and local campsites, visitors and residents alike have a selection of a limited number of private campgrounds including Holly Hills Campsites in Holly; Family Park Campground in Leonard; Brendel Lake Campground in White Lake Township; Hass Lake Park in New Hudson; and Clearwater Campground in Ortonville.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources maintains 33 boat launches in Oakland County and there are dozens of astonishingly gorgeous Natural Beauty Roads throughout the area, as well as Nature Trails and Centers and other natural attractions. Utilizing abandoned railroad rights-of-way, proposed highway rights-of-way, utility easements and waterways as potential corridors for recreational hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and equestrian travel, Oakland County officials have helped establish trails as part of the Discover Michigan Trail -- a proposed statewide trail network throughout the Lower and Upper Peninsula.
Take extensive public recreation facilities like these, factor in private lakes, swimming clubs, tennis courts everywhere, community recreation programs, ad hoc windsurfing wherever there's water, new age sports like disc golf and rollerblading and what you have in Oakland County is one 905-square mile alive with recreational opportunities ... and more than one million people ready to recreate.
