Relocation/Visitor Information

History of the Four Flags Area

More than three hundred years ago, the first European visitors arrived in this area – which had been home to the Potawatomi Indians for two thousand years. The Potawatomi wintered in the enclosed river valley and summered near the cool breezes of Lake Michigan. The early European explorers called this amazing river valley “Paradise on Earth.” The Four Flags Area is the oldest European settlement in lower Michigan and provides rich harvests of fruits, vegetables, fish and game – which continues to attract those interested in natural beauty and a slower-paced respite from the big city life.

A Tradition Rich in Agriculture
The sandy clay soil and cool temperate breezes from nearby Lake Michigan makes the Four Flags Area similar in climate to the great vineyards of France and Germany. This area is home to three award-winning wineries – Heart of Vineyard in Baroda, Tabor Hills Winery and Restaurant in Buchanan, and Lemon Creek Winery in Berrien Springs. All three offer winery tours, wine tastings and breathtaking views of thousands of acres of vineyards. The ideal growing climate also aids area fruit and vegetable farmers, who harvest a rich bounty from spring to late fall. You can taste the freshness yourself at many local fruit stands and farm markets. There are also numerous U-Pick farms in the area at which you can gather your own apples, peaches, pumpkins, strawberries and cherries. Several of these U-Pick farms have added unique attractions for the whole family. In September and October, Sturdy Pumpkins and Haunted Acres in Sodus have costumed Halloween characters, hayrides and a wheelchair accessible haunted barn.

Antique hunters flock to Niles and surrounding towns to search for bygone items – from china and glassware to furniture and linens. Niles is home to a myriad of antique stores and malls, all close enough and large enough for you to plan a weekend of antiquing.

The Niles Train Depot, built in 1892, is listed on the State and Federal “Registries of Historic Places.” Featured in three movies, the Depot is open daily with eight passenger trains serving the Niles Amtrak station providing service between Chicago, Detroit and Toronto, Canada.

Museums
The Four Flags Area’s diverse heritage is reflected in the community’s museums, which make for both educational and fun family outings. The Fort St. Joseph Museum in Niles is housed in the carriage house of the historic Henry A. Chapin mansion and features a large display of Potawatomi and Plains Indian artifacts, French and English period firearms and 18th and 19th century cooking utensils. The museum commemorates the fort, a French military post built on the St. Joseph River in the late 1600s.

The Natural History Museum in Berrien Springs holds a large collection of native plants and animals, including the most complete mammoth skeleton found in the state. The 1839 Courthouse Museum in Berrien Springs is Michigan’s oldest courthouse and the state’s only surviving example of Greek Revival architecture.

A replica of an 1890s blacksmith shop and wagon maker’s shop are located behind the courthouse, along with an 1870s sheriff’s house, a two-cell jail and a fully-restored 1830s log house, the oldest surviving two-story log cabin in the state.

Pears Mill Museum in downtown Buchanan is a working flourmill with a giant waterwheel and leather belts used to drive the millstones. You can watch flour being milled there nearly every weekend during the summer.

A Variety of Housing Options

Waterfront Homes

One of the most appealing features of the Four Flags Area is the numerous inland lakes, streams and rivers. Imagine cooling off on a hot summer's day with a watercraft ride, spending a placid morning fishing in a quiet lagoon, or taking a leisurely pontoon ride to your neighbor's house for an evening barbecue. All this is readily available in your own backyard.

With a local history dating back to the 1680's, the Four Flags Area boasts countless older homes, many on the Historic Record. The City of Niles has more than 2,000 homes that were built prior to 1939. Living in a historic home is like stepping back in time to the days of quiet elegance and refinement. The unique architectural features of these homes not only serve as conversation pieces when entertaining friends, but also provide a thoughtful foundation to begin your own family history. Just imagine if the walls could talk.

The Four Flags Area has agricultural roots sown when the first settlers entered this river valley. The rural areas in the community boast quaint, old farmhouses - many with substantial acreage. This pastoral setting is perfect to care for your own horses, or to tend your own flower and vegetable garden. The kids will love growing up on a farm. There is always something to do, from playing in the barn loft to climbing an apple tree, to watching the deer and wild turkeys feed on a far-off hillside.

The Four Flags Area has seen an increase in new housing developments in recent years. Between 1999 and 2000, more than 200 new homes were built in the Niles area. Local home builders possess exceptional craftsmanship, with many which to choose. A newly-constructed home gives you peace of mind and freedom from costly home remodeling and renovation projects. A wide range of new home developments await you in the Four Flags Area - be they ever so humble, or extravagant!

Four total freedom from yard work and remodeling, apartment living may be the answer. The Four Flags Area has a number of apartment complexes with many attractive amenities. Small, one-bedroom apartments, or up to three-bedroom townhouses in a rural, city or waterfront setting are all available in the Four Flags Area.