What's the scoop on Gaylord? (Manistee, East Tawas: home, jobs, crime)

[Bydand]

I used to live in Gaylord, and other than some really good people, Don't miss it at all. The traffic has always been a pain (Traffic flow is non-existent) but Last month while up there it was downright horrible. Thank goodness I know all the back roads and streets, if it were my first time through town, I wouldn't go back. Maybe check out the Ludington area, they are working on being more artsy, and have a decent collection of murals and bronzes going already.

[wonderkind]

I just talked to UBC and hickarson carpet haus and asked how building was, Both told me they were doing fantastic, I know this is an out and out lie.
I called one person at preston feather and was told that things are very bad. there is some building but not much. I have seen many times over the years I have been in business that people seem to think it is some reflection on them if they say that their business is not doing well even if it is due to external forces.
All you have to do is look around and you can see that michigan is in the dumper. I just hate it when people lie.

[Hanne]

Just an update: we just checked out Gaylord and I don't think it was what we were looking for. It seemed really busy with lots of new building, "chain" shopping and restaurants and that sort of suburbanish sprawl. We did see some areas we felt may be a great fit for us, just not Gaylord.
Hanne

[olblueyes]

Gaylord is not doing well at all, I was in line for coffee at the new starbucks when I visited a few weeks ago. and a lady asked for an application for coffee slinger, the manager said he would be happy to give her one but he already had over 100 applicants for the job. There are many businesses that have closed down, Kbite is gone, GP with over 300 high pay jobs. gone.
along with several other companys all gone.
in a town with only 12000 people there are over 600 homes on the market and the prices have dropped drasticaly.
You can now pick up a nice 3/2 2 car on 6 ac for 125k, this would have been unheard of 5 years ago. the med. home pirce then was 179k. Carter lumber has shut down.
17 real estate agents have let their lisc. go back to the state, to much to pay to keep it up for no income. sales have slumped so bad.
Gaylord was a boom town 5 years ago. now it is bust.
Any one who wants to argue with me on this bring it on, I lived there for 16 years until last june. I still have many people who live there and call me every week.
Gaylord is a place you had better have money from other places to move there.

[M TYPE X]

Gaylord doesn't have enough back streets, especially when I-75 goes down in winter weather and people need to roll through town. Way too much growth that has not been accommodated. There's nothing like playing Petoskey's "Mini Me."

[artfulldodger]

The growth in gaylord is not a neg. one. On the big holidays 4th of july and a few other big holidays 32 can get a bit packed. but I have seen most of the summer you could shoot a cannon down 32 and not hit anything.

[scottmi]

Gaylord's only asset is it's proximity to a state expressway.

The city itself is a tourist dump and depending on your aesthetic likes (alpine crap everywhere!), just a flat-out dump.

[MariAnnaW]

Originally Posted by Hanne

We're still looking for our retirement town....We've been in Gaylord many times, but only passing through on the trip north. What can you tell me about what it's like to live in the Gaylord area??? How does the weather/snowfall compare to, say Manistee or East Tawas? Is this a somewhat conservative or blue collar area? Any thing at all about the area....good or bad would be soooo helpful. Since we'll be retired, jobs aren't an issue. Is this area growing a lot? We prefer lots of natural areas in a low crime area. An artsy town as a homebase would be ideal.
Thanks for any info!!
Hanne in Ohio (but not for long!)

Hi there,

We moved our family to Gaylord from downstate Michigan three years ago, and haven't looked back. We really do love it here in Gaylord. Housing prices are reflecting a buyer's market, and like much of Michigan, you can find a nice property at a nice price. We aren't natives of Gaylord, but we love the natural outdoors that is available everywhere you look. Fishing, swimming, snowmobiling, skiing, hiking...anything you might like to do is available here. It's a great place to raise our kids.

In my opinion, Gaylord is somewhat conservative. Snowfall amounts are pretty high, but have not been unmanageable for us. Our favorite part of Gaylord is the amount of truly friendly and helpful people. Even though we've only been here three years, we feel connected to our community and have no regrets about our move.

I thought it would be a difficult transition, coming from SE Michigan, but surprisingly, we haven't missed the traffic or the noise. We have found that the Gaylord arts scene isn't very large, but it's not much of a drive to TC or other neighboring towns.

I'm rather surprised at the negative posts about this area. I know that a lot of people are disillusioned about the negative economic status in many parts of Michigan right now, but that is true anywhere you go in the state.

My advice? Spend some time in Gaylord. Drive through the country roads and stop for ice cream. Visit a ski resort, rent a snowmobile, have dinner at one of the many great restaurants. Talk to people at the store (I do it all the time!) Let me know if I can help in any way.

[JGatti]

Gaylord is a great town, no matter what Scottmi says. Being close to a freeway is the key to the growth most major cities. How many cities can you think of other than Traverse City that have grown and not been near a freeway? I live downstate( wish I lived in Gaylord) and even though urban sprawl is wide spread. The cities that grow the fastest and draw the most development are right off major freeways. Example. I grew up in Southfield. My sister and brother lived in White lake, Novi and now Brighton. Over the course of my life every area has grown A LOT. Novi is nothing like when she lived there 25 years ago, and Brighton is quickly following Novi. Both are right of 96. Now White Lake even though they have grown since I was a teen has not seen anywhere near the growth and expansion as the other two. It's still right off M-59 but 59 does not bring the people in like 96. So to make a statement saying thats the only thing the city has is in my opinion stupid. To say the other negative things makes me wonder why you bother posting at all. Every post I've seen by you has not added anything to the thread.

[Drmarvin]

Gaylord is haveing a very hard time. building which is the main stay other than tourist traffic are both down.
There seems to be a lot of growth in chain stors that have been working on coming in for the last 10 years but other than that, the real estate is tanking. Homes that sold 2 years ago for 189, you can not pull 140 for now and it is getting worse. the housing supply is over 2 years now.
Building of new homes is at a stand still.
I know of so many trades workers that have moved out of state becasue of no work.
I do not think things will get better anytime soon.