Straddling Sherman and Broomfield townships, in west Isabella County, the Village of Lake Isabella, Michigan is situated on all sides of the 701-acre lake by that name.
Founded in the late 1960s and incorporated in 1998, Lake Isabella is one of Michigan's youngest villages. In land area, it is the second-largest village in the state, and it has the second-largest street network of any village in Michigan.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of the village include Mt. Pleasant, Rosebush, Barryton, Mecosta, and Farwell, while the unincorporated communities of Weidman, Broomfield Center, and Beal City are within ten miles of Lake Isabella.
The village began as a commercial development in the late 1960s, brought about by Golden Grigg, Nephi Grigg, and Leo Gatehouse.
Beginning as door-to-door salesmen in the early 1900s, the Grigg brothers' business expanded to include a produce and dairy farm, a restaurant, an appliance store, and insurance and real estate businesses. In the early 1950s, they acquired a bankrupt frozen food business in Oregon, as well as a processing plant, and renamed their business as Ore-Ida Potato Products, which they later sold to the H.J. Heinz Company.
Along with Leo Gatehouse, the brothers devised a plan to dam the Chippewa River, creating a lake with a residential development around it. Accomplished in 1968, the community was formed as a four-season recreational community.
Prior to its incorporation as a village in 1998, the Lake Isabella community affairs were in the hands of the Lake Isabella Property Owner's Association, Isabella County, Sherman Township, and Broomfield Township, and the LIPOA continues to be active in the affairs of the community, with control over most of the parks within the village, the Lake Isabella Dam, and interests in the environmental concerns regarding the lake.
When Lake Isabella was incorporated in 1998, the village was the first new village in the state in more than fifty years.
Near the eastern shores of the lake, the Pines Golf Course includes a championship course and a restaurant, and the Cal Brewer Memorial Airport, while situated east of the village limits, is owned by the Village of Lake Isabella.
As the focus of this category is on the village of Lake Isabella, Michigan, online resources for the local government, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities are appropriate for this portion of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Lake Isabella Property Owners Association
LIPOA is a private, non-profit corporation that owns the bottom-land beneath Lake Isabella, but not the water. The organization provides camping facilities and a storage area for its members, which is made up of regular members, special members, and renter/lessee members. Its history, bylaws, and an overview of the organization is set forth, along with a summary of boating regulations on the lake, a list of lakeside amenities available to its members, photographs, and a calendar of events.
https://www.lipoa.org/
Situated on West Baseline Road in Lake Isabella, Michigan, the storage facilities allows for 24-hour access, drive-up access, online bill pay, and a variety of unit sizes available. Bookings may also be accomplished online. Descriptions and sizes of its units are featured on the site, along with monthly rates. Those available now may be reserved online, while a waiting list is available for others. Its address and a map are provided, showing its location, and a phone number is listed.
https://www.lakeisabellastoragecenter.com/
Family-owned for over a century, the Red Barn was built in 1910 by Ernest and Helen Faling and passed on through other members of the family over the years. Turned into a wedding venue sometime before 2020, the barn was remodeled to add dressing suites and room to accommodate up to seventeen overnight guests, with indoor space for up to three hundred guests. Its history, photos, lodging accommodations, rates, and a list of amenities are set forth, and a contact form is included.
https://www.littleflowerbarn.com/
Out-A-Bounds Pizza & General Store
Established by Scott and Landa Slasor in 1999, the pizza restaurant and general store have always been family-owned and operated. Originally a store and pizza carryout, gas pumps were added in 2001, and additional services were added over the years. Its address, telephone number, email address, and hours of operation are published on the site, which includes its menu, special offers, and information about its wine selections, general store, and employment opportunities.
https://www.outaboundspizza.com/
The membership golf club in Lake Isabella, Michigan is on the eastern side of the lake. The 18-hole course is described, including a scorecard, membership levels, rates, and fees, tee times, course details, league information, tournament schedules, and its accommodations and policies for weddings and banquets. The club's restaurant is also featured, with a food menu, and its days and hours of operation. Exclusive deals are posted, directions, staff contacts, and an online store are included.
https://www.thepinesgolfcourse.com/
Incorporated as a village in 1998, Lake Isabella is one of Michigan's fastest-growing communities, and the state's second-largest village in terms of land area. The official municipal website features contacts and information about the municipal government, its services, and schedules, including village council packets and minutes, its master plan, resolutions, and history. Other resources include community maps, attractions, and events. Applications and forms are available.
https://www.lakeisabellami.org/
