Red Arrow Coast – Red Arrow Highway

The Red Arrow Coast starts at the Indiana-Michigan state line along Lake Michigan. This is the southernmost starting point of the Michigan Riviera. The Red Arrow Coast is named after the Red Arrow Highway. U.S. Route 12 was dedicated to memory of the 32nd “Red Arrow” Infantry Division in 1952. When I-94 was built, most of old U.S. Route 12 was turned over to local control (including Red Arrow Highway in Berrien County and Van Buren County.) The part of U.S. Route 12 between the Indiana-Michigan state line and the crossroads of Red Arrow Highway and U.S. Route 12 near Exit 4 of I-94 still has the Red Arrow Highway honorary name. The coastline part of Red Arrow Highway runs along the southern part of the Sunset Coast of Michigan’s Beach Towns.

South to north along the Red Arrow Coast: Michiana, Grand Beach, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Sawyer, Bridgman, & Stevensville.

New Buffalo Harbor, Michigan — New Buffalo Harbor

1. New Buffalo Harbor – The Harbor of Harbor Country

- - New Buffalo Transient Municipal Marina
  - Oselka Marina’s boat and jet ski rentals
  - New Buffalo Sailing Excursions
  - Harbor Country Adventures
  - Michigan Fishing Charter Co.
  - Get Hooked Charters
  - Salmon Hunter Charters
  - New Buffalo Yacht Club
  - Third Coast Paddling Kayaks & Stand-Up Paddleboards
  - Outpost Sports

2. New Buffalo Lakefront Park

- - New Buffalo City Beach
  - Lake Michigan Water Trail National Recreation Trail (the Appalachian Trail of paddling!)
  - New Buffalo Beach Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals
  - New Buffalo Breakwaters
  - Dunewalk
  - City Riverfront
  - West Michigan Pike Historic Marker
  - Whittaker Street Bridge
  - Lions Pavilion Park
  - New Buffalo City Boat Launch

Kayaking in Louis J. Sima Great Lakes Marsh Preserve, New Buffalo — Kayaking on the Galien River through the Louis J. Sima Great Lakes Marsh Preserve, New Buffalo, Michigan

3. Galien River Marsh Water Trail

- - Merganser Point (Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy)
  - Louis J. Sima Great Lakes Marsh Preserve (Chikaming Open Lands)
  - Lake Michigan Riviera Marsh
  - Camp Sokol (Plzensky Sokol of Chicago)
  - Galien River County Park
  - Old Red Arrow Marina (Behner’s Marina – closed)
  - Kruger Park (New Buffalo Township)
  - Red Arrow Highway Public Boat Access (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
  - New Buffalo Rod & Gun Club
  - Glassman Park (New Buffalo Township)

4. Downtown New Buffalo

- - Stray Dog and Gear Shop
  - Customs Imports
  - Nancy’s
  - Casey’s
  - Rosie’s
  - The Villager
  - Brewster’s Italian Cafe
  - Sweetwater Boating Supplies
  - David’s Delicatessen & Coffee
  - Whittaker House

5. New Buffalo’s great eateries beyond downtown

- - Redamak’s
  - Oink’s Dutch Treat
  - Rio’s
  - New Buffalo Bills Wood Fired BBQ
  - Terrace Room at the Harbor Grand
  - Bentwood Tavern at the Marina Grand
  - El Rancho Grande
  - Villa Nova Pizzeria
  - Jackie’s Cafe
  - Song Asian Cuisine

6. New Buffalo’s railroad history places

- - New Buffalo Amtrak Station (NBU – North Whittaker Street at Oselka Drive)
  - Old Pere Marquette Amtrak Platform (NBM – South Whittaker Street at Washington Street)
  - New Buffalo Railroad Museum (replica depot)
  - Pere Marquette Railroad Roundhouse
  - New Buffalo Pere Marquette Railroad Coal Tower
  - Old New Buffalo Pere Marquette Depot (now used by CSX)
  - New Buffalo Rail Yard
  - Old Michigan Central Railroad Co. Bridge Wharf pilings (in Lake Michigan off Dunewood’s beach)
  - Old Pere Marquette Railroad Bridge location (raised land across the Galien River Marsh – old Lake Pottowottomee – between Merganser Point and Louis J. Sima Great Lakes Marsh Preserve – the old bridge connected to Marquette Drive – the old rail line location)
  - Various other old rail line locations where the tracks have been removed, such as along Water Street, near Sand Road, and the removed spur between Walden Way and New Buffalo High/Middle School

Union Pier, Michigan — Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier, Chikaming Township, Michigan

7. New Buffalo Township

- - Union Pier (New Buffalo Township & Chikaming Township)
    1. Town Line Beach
    2. Berrien Street Beach
    3. Gordon Beach Inn
    4. Pumpernickel Inn
    5. Red Arrow Roadhouse
  - Grand Beach
    1. Lake Michigan Village Beaches
    2. Grand Beach Golf Course
    3. Grand Beach Marsh Nature Preserve
  - Michiana
    1. Stop 37 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Michiana Drive
    2. Stop 38 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Powhattan Trail
    3. Stop 39 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Pokagon Trail
    4. Stop 40 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Seminole Trail
    5. Stop 41 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Tahoma Trail
    6. Stop 42 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Avalon Trail
    7. Stop 43 Village of Michiana Lake Michigan Beach – Court Drive

Sawyer, Michigan — Sawyer, Chikaming Township, Michigan

8. Chikaming Township

- - Lakeside
    1. Pier Road Beach
    2. Veteran Memorial Park
    3. Lakeside Inn
    4. Burnison Galleries
    5. Chikaming Township Park & Preserve
  - Harbert
    1. Cherry Beach
    2. Umbrellas of Harbert
    3. Harbert Community Park
    4. Harbert Swedish Bakery
    5. Cafe Gulistan
  - Sawyer
    1. Michigan Local Harvest Fruit Stand
    2. The Blueberry Patch
    3. Greenbush Brewing Co.
    4. Sawyer Home & Garden Center
    5. Infusco Coffee Roasters

9. Bridgman-Lake Township

- - Warren Dunes State Park
  - Weko Beach
  - Downtown Bridgman – Bridgman Premier Meat Market, Eric’s Bridgman Cafe, Lake Street Eats, China Cafe, and The Sandpiper
  - Hoof-To-Hanger Fiber Mill
  - Rambo Blueberries

Middle Grand Mere Lake — Grand Mere State Park, Stevensville, Michigan

10. Stevensville-Lincoln Township

- - Grand Mere State Park – Grand Mere Lakes (National Natural Landmark)
  - Lincoln Township Beach Park on Lake Michigan
  - Lincoln Township’s North Lake Park
  - Downtown Stevensville
  - Hickory Creek Park and water trail

New Buffalo Ship and Shore Festival ice cream eating contest

New Buffalo’s festivals

- - Ship and Shore
  - St. Mary of the Lake Parish Festival
  - St. Paraskevi Greek Festival
  - New Buffalo Harvest & Wine Fest
  - Winter Fest

Postscript honorable mention to New Buffalo’s lost historic sites. Whether through shifting sand dunes, fire, demolition, or other causes, New Buffalo has unfortunately lost many of its historic sites. Here are a few of the top lost historic sites in New Buffalo:

- - New Buffalo Lighthouse (was located between Eagle and Chicago Streets, lakeward of North Drive – lost to shifting sand dunes)
  - Allen’s Warehouse (was located on the northeast corner of Water Street and Willard Street)
  - Brown’s Warehouse (was located where the New Buffalo Transient Municipal Marina is now)
  - Michigan Central Railroad Passenger House (was located at the northeast corner of Barton Street and the Amtrak rail line)
  - Michigan Central Railroad Freight House (was located at the southeast corner of Barton Street and the Amtrak rail line)
  - Chicago Hotel (was located at the southwest corner of Mechanic and Barton Streets – had a State of Michigan historic marker)
  - New Buffalo The Gateway of Michigan Arch (was located over Buffalo Street near Willard Street)
  - Fairview Hotel (Little Bohemia/Hannah’s – 115 South Whittaker Street – was part of the New Buffalo sesquicentennial historic sites walking tour)
  - Buffalo Books and White Birch Art Gallery (120 West Buffalo Street)
  - The Cafe at Michigan Thyme (107 North Whittaker Street – plus everything else that was in that block)

Thomas Johnson and Ryan Fellows, 2007 — City Manager Thomas Johnson and Assistant to the City Manager Ryan Fellows (me on my first day working for the City), New Buffalo City Hall, January 22, 2007

Please also see my Top Accomplishments in New Buffalo while I was working there (2007-2013).