Clarkston (Michigan)

Clarkston is a small village in Oakland County in southeast Michigan, surrounded by Independence Township.

Understand
Clarkston (officially known as The City of the Village of Clarkston) is a suburb of Detroit, influenced heavily by the American car industries such as Buick, Pontiac, Ford, and GM. Clarkston has a temperate climate, with summer temperatures in the 80s F, and winter temperatures in the 20s F. It has medium precipitation, with usual heavy rain in August.

Clarkston was established in 1832, but organized and named ten years later in 1842. It was named after prominent settlers Jeremiah and Nelson Clark, who did much of the work to establish Clarkston and its government.

Henry Ford paid to have the underground pipe system in the town.

The 1990 Census showed that there were 962 residents.

It is a part of Independence Township, in Oakland County.

Get in
Clarkston is about an hour's drive or 44 miles from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). Residing directly off Interstate 75 it is easily accessed from anywhere. Clarkston is also about an hour from the Ann Arbor Amtrak station. A rental car is advised as there is little public transportation.

Get around
Clarkston features minimal public transportation, so a rental car or bike in the summer months is advised.

See
Historically, Clarkston was the summer home of Henry Ford. You can view his cottage on Main Street, as well as the mill he built on the Mill Pond, which exists near the heart of the town. Depot Park is a small park located off of Main Street. It has a creek running through it and a jungle gym. Its beautiful gazebo is often used for wedding and prom pictures.

One of the first schools built in Clarkston still stands and is now called Independence Township Hall. One of the first settlers houses still exists as well. It was built in 1839 by Jeremiah Clark, one of the important founders of Clarkston. You can view this building at 71 North Main Street.

Clarkston's first and only museum is located inside the Independence Township Library, and features a variety of historical artifacts, as well as photographs and information regarding the town's history.

Do
Clarkston township is home to Deer Lake, which reaches a depth of 968 feet in some areas. It features a no-wake zone perfect for kayaking and a swimming beach with lifeguards. There are also multiple private beaches. Other nearby areas offer popular boating destinations, where it is common to see tubing, water skiing, and wakeboarding. It is also a good place for anglers, with a rich variety of fish and many enclaves that provide the perfect setting. It also has many sandbars which are perfect for exploring.

Clarkston locals may be found fishing or kayaking on one of several ponds, such as the Mill Pond which Henry Ford used to power a historic plant.

Pink Knob Music Center is a concert venue that has featured hundreds of celebrities and is always one of the highest grossing outdoor amphitheaters in the country. It is located minutes away from downtown Clarkston and holds frequent concerts.

During the winter Clarkston is a great skiing or snowboarding destination, it is close to Pine Knob Ski Resort, which features 15 trails and 10 lifts. It is known for its slope called "The Wall".

Antique car fanatics will enjoy Clarkston with its rich history involving Ford, Pontiac, Buick, and General Motors. Southern Motor's Showroom in Clarkston has one of the best varieties of antique cars in the world. There are various car festivals throughout the year.

The Deer Lake Athletic Club offers day passes where you can swim, play racquet ball, or exercise. There are also miles of bike paths around the town.

During the summer, Depot Park offers free concerts in the park every Friday. The park also contains walking paths and a play-ground.

Clarkston is home to many festivals, such as the Crafts & Cider festival, and the Taste of Clarkston festival, which offers food and music from local vendors. Both of these events occur in September. It is also minutes away from the Michigan Renaissance festival that lasts from August to September.

Clarkston is also only a half hour from downtown Detroit, which has an exciting 'Motown' nightlife. The Detroit Museum of Art is home to many notable works.

Michigan has more golf courses per capita than any other state, many located near Clarkston. Fountain Golf and Pine Knob Golf Club are both located in Clarkston.

If you're coming to Michigan for professional sports, Clarkston is the perfect location. The Palace of Auburn Hills is only 15 minutes away and is the home stadium for the legendary Detroit Pistons. Clarkston is only a short trip from Detroit, where the newly built Continental Baseball field has the Detroit Tigers.

A trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes or one of the Great Lakes is a perfect day trip from Clarkston.

Indian Springs Metro Park and Independence Oaks offer cross-country skiing as well as running and jogging paths.

The Deer Lake Racquet club offers tennis.

The Independence Township Library offers a large selection of reading material.

Buy
Clarkston is just minutes away from the largest mall in Michigan, the Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, which features over 180 stores and restaurants, including: Banana Republic, Coach, Express, Bebe, and Bass Pro Shops. The mall also includes a food court and a 25 Screen AMC movie theater. Restaurants include Johnny Rockets, Rainforest Cafe, and Stir Crazy.

Clarkston's Main street also features a variety of independently owned specialty shops selling items such as jewelry, clothing, stationary, or chocolates. The Gateway boasts a 12" State of Michigan Iron Statue which leads to downtown Clarkston.

The Village at Rochester Hills is only a short drive from Clarkston and is an outdoor high-end outlet mall. It contains stores such as Jack and Jill, Talbots, and Coldwater Creek.

Olde World Canterbury Village offers 18 shops and also has a year round Christmas store, perfect for a family day trip.

Battle Alley in Holly Michigan is a historic site with many small shops and a Museum.

Eat
Clarkston boasts a variety of restaurants;

Drink
Clarkston has many bars and pubs including: