Lake Fenton, Michigan
Fenton is located in eastern Genesee County. It was first settled in 1834 by Clark Dibble and originally called Dibbleville. In 1837, William Fenton and Robert LeRoy purchased a large plot of land there and registered it under the name of Fentonville. LeRoy built a hotel there the same year and also became the postmaster. Later, Fenton went on to become lieutenant governor of Michigan. The town incorporated with the name of Fenton in 1863.
Today, the downtown area retains much of its historical look while at the same time including a town square-style shopping plaza nearby. The Shiawassee River also flows over a dam through the park in the center of town. The park is overlooked by city hall and includes an old fashioned gazebo and walkway by the river. Fabulous Lake Fenton is located along the Shiawassee River. Beautiful lakes and fine homes are just a couple of reasons why Lake Fenton/Fenton Township is one of the most highly sought-after residential communities in Genesee County.
Once a resort area, the township has evolved into a haven for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of big city living. In recent years, many of the "cottages" on the waterways have been transformed into year-round dwellings. Small private lakes and larger all-sports lakes are scattered throughout the community. Silver Lake and Lake Fenton, the largest bodies of water, boast prime water skiing opportunities in the summer and ice fishing during the winter.
Convenient driving distances to such major metropolitan areas as Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint and Metro Detroit add to the city's appeal. Tree-lined streets, historical homes and a hometown zest beckon residents to this city situated in the center of what's known as the state's "Golden Triangle."
The area offers such shopping hubs as the Downtown Square where several mom-and-pop type businesses exist, and newer commercial complexes along the U.S. 23 corridor. Nearby lakes offer such outdoor activities as swimming, skiing and fishing for the entire family.
There are around 650-700 families on our lakes, and we certainly have a good time. You can see an example of our parade of lights with the videos that are on the website. There are several islands which are inhabited during the summer, making for the perfect get-away. The public access to the lake is limited to 42 boats, meaning that we are not overrun by non-riparians on the weekends. It's crowded, but not to the extent of some of the other lakes in the area.
There is one larger lake called Lake Fenton. It's about 845 acres. On a typical nice summer day, you can nearly walk across the lake on all the boats that gather. This is a great atmosphere for those who like to socialize to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, there are several accidents throughout the year, but that's the price they pay to live on a "hopping" lake.
Lake Shannon and Silver Lake are 2 of the many others in the area. They are significantly smaller than Lobdell, and the real estate costs are much higher than here. This isn't to say that the homes are that much nicer, but more that the atmosphere they attempted to create early on in their history. I think both of those lakes have websites, but I'm not sure what they are.
Michigan Lakes, Boating, Fishing and Recreation
Courtesy of the 'Fish Michigan - 100 Southern Michigan Lakes' book.
Lake Fenton is located about two miles north of Fenton on southwest Genesee County. The lake is largely surrounded by homes and is popular with water skiers and power boaters. However, fishing opportunities have continued to hold up well over the years. Reasons include a wide variety of cover - irregular contour breaks and points, deep areas surrounded by shoals, emergent and submerged weed beds, and depths of 90 feet.
The public access site is located on the lake's southwest side. The paved ramp can handle large boats and there is parking for 38 vehicles.
DNR District Office: 10650 S. Bennett Drive, Morrice, MI 48857. (517) 625-4600
Campgrounds: Seven Lakes State Park, off Fish Lake Rd. and Grange Hall Rd., between Fenton and Holly. (810) 634-7271
Chamber of Commerce: Fenton Area C. of C. 207 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton, MI 48430. (810) 629-5447
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