Marblehead (Cleveland, Toledo, Sandusky: for sale, real estate, rent)

[Jason Porter]

My wife and I are looking at moving to Marblehead within the next 3-4 months. Housing prices (very affordable) aside, what's there to know about Marblehead?

What's the community like? The people? Is it modern, or like stepping back in time? Best times of year? What's the boating like? Where do you keep your boat in winter? Cable internet available?

Anybody actually live in Marblehead? Anyone think of a better spot on the western coast of Ohio for waterfront property?

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by Jason Porter

My wife and I are looking at moving to Marblehead within the next 3-4 months. Housing prices (very affordable) aside, what's there to know about Marblehead?

What's the community like? The people? Is it modern, or like stepping back in time? Best times of year? What's the boating like? Where do you keep your boat in winter? Cable internet available?

Anybody actually live in Marblehead? Anyone think of a better spot on the western coast of Ohio for waterfront property?

It's a growing community...lots of folks have lived there for generations, so yeah, you will have to deal with people that have known each other forever...though I've never known a decent human being to not find their niche.

It's small....not going back in time...but don't expect more then what it is...a smaller town, next to a small town (Port Clinton) near a small city (Sandusky) in-between two larger cities (Toledo and Cleveland). Yes, things like the internet are available, though if all areas have cable or DSL I don't know, but most probably do.

Do you know anything about the island area? Have you been there? Some of your questions about things like boating seem pretty....well.....ah....it's the Islands....at one time the area it had the largest amount pleasure craft on water. You keep your boat in storage over the winter (normally at the marina you dock at though there are lots of other boat storage facilities.)

Keep in mind the population explodes in the summer time. Nice and quiet in the winter....in season it can be a mad house with tourist and folks that have their summer homes there. (Part of me misses that, part of me is glad I don't have to deal with it anymore except when visiting!)

I grew up on Catawba Island and my family still lives there....but it sounds like you need to do lots more research to before you move to Marblehead. I think the area is great...but it's not for everyone...and not for everyone to live there full time.

[Desdemona123]

Wow...pardon me for taking the time to answer your post. I see you've read it but no further comment or questions?

[Jason Porter]

No offense, but is being rude really helpful in this situation? The whole "right now, gimme gimme" attitude is why I'm leaving Los Angeles to begin with. I haven't had time to write back anything substantial, and I don't just randomly shoot from the hip when it comes to stuff like this. I'm leaning toward a more laid-back lifestyle. Like I said, this is a move that's 3-4 months away.

And while 300K isn't a tremendous amount of money, moving somewhere and investing in that move is, especially when compounded with the cash and family considerations. My wife is also interested in the Punta Gorda and Pensacola areas of Florida, as well as southernmost coastal Texas (better climate and taxes.

Of course there's moving back to NC (my birthplace) but that probably won't happen because of inflated coastal real estate prices and probability of being hit by a hurricane. I realize Florida has it's share of storms as well, but not so much on the western and panhandle side.

As for what I know about boating, I've spent a decent amount of time around boats, but not in the "Arctic Circle" My understanding is that winters in the Great Lakes region can be some of the most brutal in the US, not including Alaska of course. Is the Marblehead area better in regards to this as opposed to say the Michigan side or Wisconsin/Minnesota? How bad is it really? I personally like winter weather, but I don't want to get trapped in dire conditions.

The main reason I'm considering this area is pricing, and the vast majority of boating that is much safer relatively speaking when compared to open ocean travel. Although I must say the allure of making a once a year trip to Cuba for a few cases of cigars is tempting

[AnytimeAnywhere]

Regarding winters. It was 8 degrees this morning with snow. We will be getting more snow tonight and maybe freezing rain this weekend. Winters are not pleasant in Northern Ohio and since you will be on the lake, it will be a wet cold.

Summers are usually hot and humid, but great for boating and going to Put-in-Bay. I live near Marblehead, but cannot comment about the community or the people.

AA

[SCBeaches]

I have lived in SC for the past 24 years, but spent the first 25 years of my life in a small town (actually, a village) not far from Lake Erie....and spent my summers living on Put-In-Bay (South Bass Island). As the other posters said, winters near the lake are brutal - cold, bone-chilling, wet winds and lots of ICE. I'm getting cold just writing about it! (it's in the 40's here tonight and the locals think it is freezing! ha)

There is still lots of outdoor activity in the winter up there though...ice fishing, driving cars across the lake (minus doors and with chains on the tires), ice skating, sledding, etc. Summer is when the lake thrives though....people with pleasure boats, people taking the ferries and planes over to the islands, and chartering fishing boats - very busy. South Bass, Middle Bass, Kelley's Island all draw many tourists. It's a fun summer environment - my family went over for years, then I lived in PIB every summer during my college years - it's a crazy place! (or was during the 80's and 90's).

But, I don't know about living in Marblehead, or any of the small lake towns, year-round. Too cold for me 6 months out of the year...and yes, they get snowed/iced in up there, and you would only be able to use your boat maybe 5 months of the year, as opposed to FL where you could use it year-round.

[seekinghome]

Originally Posted by Jason Porter

No offense, but is being rude really helpful in this situation? The whole "right now, gimme gimme" attitude is why I'm leaving Los Angeles to begin with. I haven't had time to write back anything substantial, and I don't just randomly shoot from the hip when it comes to stuff like this. I'm leaning toward a more laid-back lifestyle. Like I said, this is a move that's 3-4 months away.

And while 300K isn't a tremendous amount of money, moving somewhere and investing in that move is, especially when compounded with the cash and family considerations. My wife is also interested in the Punta Gorda and Pensacola areas of Florida, as well as southernmost coastal Texas (better climate and taxes.

Of course there's moving back to NC (my birthplace) but that probably won't happen because of inflated coastal real estate prices and probability of being hit by a hurricane. I realize Florida has it's share of storms as well, but not so much on the western and panhandle side.

As for what I know about boating, I've spent a decent amount of time around boats, but not in the "Arctic Circle" My understanding is that winters in the Great Lakes region can be some of the most brutal in the US, not including Alaska of course. Is the Marblehead area better in regards to this as opposed to say the Michigan side or Wisconsin/Minnesota? How bad is it really? I personally like winter weather, but I don't want to get trapped in dire conditions.

The main reason I'm considering this area is pricing, and the vast majority of boating that is much safer relatively speaking when compared to open ocean travel. Although I must say the allure of making a once a year trip to Cuba for a few cases of cigars is tempting

Hi

I am very familiar with Marblehead OH and will try to share my observations with you.

As far as weather goes, it is very hot and humid quite a lot of the summer in Marblehead and very cold and brisk in the winter. Your boat will go in around mid May but you will only take it out on cold fishing trips for a few weeks most likely and you will take it out end of Sept. or by mid Oct. Your swimming days will likely be mid June through end of Aug. Marina Del Isle is a nice dry rack or dock marina with pool, clubhouse, restuarant etc. that you might want to check out. They have a website-just google it. My parents have had a place in Marblehead for the last 20+ years and we stayed in it this whole past summer. I have spent a lot of time there and have fond memories but I would not like to live there full time. This summer I was there from June through Oct. and was getting really bored by the time we left. Mon Ami is a nice restuarant on Catawba Island (not really an island, it's a small pennisula before you go out on the bigger penninsula where Marblehead is). Mon Ami had an active entertainment schedule on weekends through the summer with a fun bar that the younger locals told us about and seemed to enjoy. (Again, google) There is not that much to do there other than go to the islands. The islands are a lot of fun and I have had more than my share of good times there but it isn't something most people would do every weekend. It is an expensive weekend to go there. Just like any tourist place with a short season, they are trying to make their money in a short period of time and charge accordingly.

I am a fan of warmer weather and would not like to live there through the winter if I had a choice. It can be brutally cold, especially if your frame of reference is NC and southern CA. You would not often get snowed in but it happens. This past week they got iced in. It's a pretty place and it is not very populated except on summer weekends. We would get all grocery shopping etc. done during the week so we didn't have to fight the tourist crowds on the roads on the weekend. There is not much to do other than boating and water activities and those only between Memorial Day and Labor Day, primarily. The general population is older also. I don't know if you are a younger couple or not but it is a place full of second homes owned by mostly older people (65+) from Toledo and Cleveland. Not entirely but look around at the drivers you encounter along Rt. 163 and they are often retirees. Catawba Island is a little more upscale than Marblehead and has some nice housing. We looked at some older places in Marblehead that seemed reasonable but they were a mess inside. Lots of fixer uppers for $200+. There is some new nicer housing available but it's not cheap. My favorites there were $400+, but that seems to be what I like wherever I happen to be. lol

Lakeside is adjacent to Marblehead. It is a Methodist founded community of beautiful old victorian homes. There are several other similar communities in the US. Bay Village in Michigan is one. I love Lakeside but it is a seperate community from much of the penninsula in my opinion. They have a lot of entertainment and activities (mostly very wholesome and family oriented). I believe alcohol is not permited or at least frowned upon in Lakeside. It is a short "season" there, roughly July 4th through Labor Day. You have to pay to enter the gate to the community if you are attending events or just want to drive around and look at how pretty it all is. They have a website also, again google it and look at how pretty it is. Marblehead surrounds Lakeside but is seperated by gates. Generations of families gather there and pass on their property too. Lakeside has some of the nicest lakefront property on Lake Erie.

If you are looking for affordable lake area property, check out Vermillion too. I don't know about the prices there but it is a pretty place and much closer to Cleveland too if the city amenities are important to you. Marblehead is nice but the Sandusky Mall area is the closest shopping and it is marginal at best, especially coming from LA. Port Clinton just passed an ordinance to go forward with some waterfront developement. It is the closest "city" to Marblehead. Check out The Beacon newspaper online to learn more about that area. It is where I went to get to a library and grocery shopping.

I have family in LA and also in Punta Gorda FL. I personally would not live in LA, getting around on a daily basis would drive me nuts. Punta Gorda I think is great but again lots of old folks. What exactly would your ideal place contain? Good luck with your decision. Read local newspapers online. I have found that helpful to learning about an area. PM me if I can answer any specific questions about the area.

[SCBeaches]

Excellent post, Seekinghome! I felt like I was back in the lake community again while reading it! I remember June Stoiber (she and her husband, George, owned Frosty's, the Crescent, and some other places in PIB) had a store over in Lakeside and the only time I ever went there was to go to her shop. Cute town and almost like its own little state...I had never seen a gated town before.

Your post was very descriptive and made me yearn for the fun summers we used to spend on the islands - South Bass, Middle Bass (Lonz's), Kelley's, Pelee... And yes, I've eaten at Mon Ami and drank their wine many times. I haven't been up there in 15 + years, but now I'm homesick and want to go back....in the summer of course!

[seekinghome]

Hi SCbeaches
Yes, you should go back and visit the Lake Erie Islands, but wait for summer. Mon Ami was remodeled and is beautiful. They had great food and entertainment. One end of the building is a bar/nightclub and there are overhead doors that open to a patio with a huge firepit with tables etc. outside as well as those inside. The doors open one whole side of the place to the patio and gardens which are really well done too. The island that housed Lonz Winery is no more. Remember hot summer days dancing and drinking the afternoon away? Well the upper patio collapsed several years ago and one person was killed. They immediately closed and I believe the state recently bought the property with plans for a state park on it last I heard. Kelly's is still quieter but more is there than 15 years ago. We had a fun day there this summer. I like to bike there or rent a golf cart. But my all time fav is The Round House. Never failed to have a good time there.

[SCBeaches]

Yep, loved the Round House! Is the ceiling still a parachute? The McCann's used to own it, I wonder if they still do? I worked at Frosty's and my boyfriend worked at The Round House during summers back in the 80's during our college years. A friend and I won the Island Jam Talent Competition one night in the Round House, still have pictures and the T-shirt to prove it! Crazy times at PIB back in the 80's...I've heard it's really changed up there - much more expensive and "civilized".

I heard about the porch collapsing at Lonz's...that made national news. Very sad, but luckily no more than one death. Aren't there any more year-round residents over there anymore?

Every now and then I look at real estate online to see what's for sale over there - pretty expensive though, for only being able to go up once a year.
I'll have to pay Mon Ami a visit next time I'm up there...it used to be a bit rustic, but then that's what gave it its charm.