A great place for families
fers five churches: Riverpointe
View of the Detroit River
CC Susan Brown
A unique island experience
Grosse Ile is the only island com-
munity in the metropolitan Detroit
area. The island is part of the
Downriver area, situated at the
mouth of the Detroit River as it
flows into Lake Erie. To the west
of Grosse Ile is Michigan, and to
the east is Canada. Grosse Ile is
10.44 square miles and is home to
approximately 11,000 people.
Rich in history
Originally home to the Potawatomi
Indians, who called it KitcheMin-
ishen, the island was purchased by
the Macomb brothers just two days
after the Declaration of Indepen-
dence was signed, July 6, 1776.
Three flags have flown over Grosse
Ile - French, British and American.
Early French settlers called the
island Grosse Ile, meaning “big
island,” and cultivated the land in
long narrow bands, dubbed “rib-
bon” farms.
For church-goers, Grosse Ile of-
With its natural beauty, pictur-
esque neighborhoods and spectac-
ular views of the water, Grosse Ile
offers the benefits of small-town
living close to all the amenities of a
major metropolitan area.
Islanders fund a bike path that
spans the length of Grosse Ile so
residents can enjoy walking, bik-
ing or roller-blading, taking in
nature and the beautiful views of
the Thorofare Canal, which slices
through the island.
Grosse Ile also offers a well-re-
spected school system. Students
in the Grosse Ile Township School
District regularly score high on
standardized tests, with 98 per-
cent of its graduates going on to
college. To protect the island’s
reputation as a safe, quiet commu-
nity, Grosse Ile has its own police
department and a volunteer fire
department.
Alpaca Farm
CC Susan Brown
Christian Church, Sacred Heart
Catholic Church, St. James Episco-
pal Church, St. Thomas Lutheran
Church and Grosse Ile Presbyte-
rian Church.
Grosse Ile’s business district on
Macomb Street is home to charm-
ing gift shops, casual and fine-din-
ing restaurants, hardware stores,
salons, gas stations, fitness and
dance studios, banks and credit
unions, dental offices, an urgent-
care facility, a gourmet market, a
bakery, a dry cleaners and a U.S.
Post Office, as well as a full-service
grocery store, a drugstore and a
charming bed-and-breakfast inn.
One of the most unique businesses
on Grosse Ile is the Gibraltar Bay
Alpaca Farm on Groh Road. The
gentle creatures are raised for
their wool, which is made into
yarn for sweaters, scarves, mittens,
gloves, socks, blankets and bears.
Ford Yacht Club
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Macomb Street
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A haven for leisure
Grosse Ile is the place for indoor
or outdoor leisure-time activities.
The island is a haven for boaters
and golfers, offering three private
yacht clubs and two private golf
courses, as well as the township-
owned Water’s Edge Golf Course
and Marina. Water’s Edge also
offers an outdoor swimming pool
and a restaurant offering a beauti-
ful view of the water.
The Grosse Ile Centennial Farm is
headquarters for the island’s rec-
reation department, which offers
leisure classes and fun activities
for families and senior adults. The
farm also houses the Grosse Ile
Equestrian Center and the Grosse
Ile Animal Shelter. The Grosse Ile
Tennis Center offers tennis lessons
for all levels and ages as well as
other fitness classes.
 Grosse Ile Lighthouse ©Dave
GI Sign
CC Susan Brown

Bike Path
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... and
Centennial Farm
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For more information about

Home
Grosse Ile, contact:
Welcome
Grosse Ile Township Municipal
Office
734-676-4422
www.grosseile.com

Grosse Ile Township School Dis-

trict Office
734-362-2555
www.gischools.org

Opportunity Grosse Ile Grosse Ile

www.oppgrosseile.org
Leave Reality Behind...
Thorofare Canal Lake Erie
CC Susan Brown CC Susan Brown