Tell me about Saint Joseph, MI

[SirPorkaLot]

Exploring an opportunity there.
All I know about it is it is COLD and SNOWY!

What’s the positive? If there is any?

[Bill-Chicago]

I know everything there is to know about St Joe's.

Just follow this link:

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/member.php?u=1498

[dadsr4]

If you like nature, Michigan is fantastic. The weather is never boring, and no burn bans. Most of the people that I've talked to who have moved to California from Michigan miss it. You can even surf on the Great Lakes.

[SirPorkaLot]

Originally Posted by Bill-Chicago

I know everything there is to know about St Joe's.

Just follow this link:

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/member.php?u=1498

Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know!
Thanks!

[dadsr4]

We also have internet and technology here, now. And no sharks.

Housing is cheaper than California, too. And LOTS of firewood for stick burners.
You will have to deal with lake effect snow off Lake Michigan. I have the weather link for St. Joseph bookmarked for when we go to Chicago, because that will be the heaviest snow we will encounter. But you will have access to fantastic sand dunes and beaches.
You'll be right next to I-94, which will allow shipping to just about anywhere you will need to send anything.

[SirPorkaLot]

Is the terrain flat, hilly?
Mountains or forests anywhere close?

[dadsr4]

Originally Posted by SirPorkaLot

Is the terrain flat, hilly?
Mountains or forests anywhere close?

Terrain resulted from glaciers, they scooped the edges off a enormous valley. No mountains in Michigan, lots of forest land in the Federal and State parks.
Topo maps are available online for free.

[dharley]

Originally Posted by SirPorkaLot

Is the terrain flat, hilly?
Mountains or forests anywhere close?

Sand dunes near the lake. Deciduous forest inland. Rolling hills. The St. Joesph River enters the lake there. Silver Beach is great. Several festivals dining the summer. A large marina for big boats. It's a beautiful place.

[dadsr4]

Except for the SW corner and developed areas, Michigan is hilly. Basically, all trees are second growth, due to logging.

[Bill-Chicago]

Besides my flippant answer to talk to Neil (who you nearly met last winter at the annual lunch but he had to work) St Joe is nestled in a very lovely place.

Its like nature's intersection.

Now I'm not saying anything about California where you live, but a good portion of of western Michigan is wine country, with both states benefiting from the soils being enriched for 100's of years with sand blowing in from the coast (be it ocean or large ass lake as big as a small ocean). The soil conditions in Michigan are the perfect mix for not only wine grapes to grow, but bing cherries (and a couple other varieties)

St Joe is on wine countries door step. 30 minute drive and you can hit a number of wineries that span all the way up to and past Traverse City.

Lake Michigan. Largest freshwater lake. As Phil said when he was flying into Greg's bash, it's not a lake when you can't see the other side, its an ocean. St Joe's river is part of the tributary system around here. Some great fresh water fishing in certain seasons stretching down into the Indiana watershed.

Easy access to various Dunes parks, if you like snow sports, St Joes gets lake effect snow which is measured more in feet than inches, but also lake effect breezes into the summer.

PM Neil for more accurate information, but Michigan is Chicago's weekend playground. No chit. 80/94 on Friday night and Sunday night is packed with people that have weekend places all along the coast and a little deeper in like St Joe's, as a get away.

[Bill-Chicago]

Originally Posted by dadsr4

. Basically, all trees are second growth, due to logging.

While in Saugatuck last year, I took a historical tour.

You are correct of course, but there is a little more to the story of why so much sand has come inland. Sand stayed on the beaches where it normally would because Michigan was dense forest, at least the western half from what we were told.

Early construction in Chicago had entrepreneurs ferrying back wood from Michigan to "build" Chicago. As the forest was cleared, more and more sand blew inland creating dunes and also creating the wine soil I mentioned in the other response.

Chicago Fire decimated our city. but the need for massive amounts of wood to replace structures decimated your virgin forests.

Not contradicting you Dads, just doing a "Rest of The Story" that I picked up last year that I found interesting.

[SirPorkaLot]

My biggest fear is having to become a Big Ten football fan

[Ron_L]

Originally Posted by SirPorkaLot

My biggest fear is having to become a Big Ten football fan

There’s always Norte Dame

Is this a potential relocation or just a visit?

[dadsr4]

Originally Posted by Bill-Chicago

While in Saugatuck last year, I took a historical tour.

You are correct of course, but there is a little more to the story of why so much sand has come inland. Sand stayed on the beaches where it normally would because Michigan was dense forest, at least the western half from what we were told.

Early construction in Chicago had entrepreneurs ferrying back wood from Michigan to "build" Chicago. As the forest was cleared, more and more sand blew inland creating dunes and also creating the wine soil I mentioned in the other response.

Chicago Fire decimated our city. but the need for massive amounts of wood to replace structures decimated your virgin forests.

Not contradicting you Dads, just doing a "Rest of The Story" that I picked up last year that I found interesting.

Never heard that about Chicago. My maternal grandfather's second wife's family got extremely rich lumbering, so I heard a lot of the history.
Have you ever been to Hartwick Pines State Park? That's what Michigan looked like before the loggers got started.
Diesel Dave lives closer to St. Joseph than I, maybe he has some insight.

[SirPorkaLot]

Originally Posted by Ron_L

There’s always Norte Dame



Is this a potential relocation or just a visit?

Company is based there. It wouldn’t be relocation immediately, but that’s possibly in the cards