Living on Big Lake

Mornings on Big Lake start quietly. Coffee on the multi-level deck as the lake surface smooths out, a pair of kayakers pushing off from the shore three houses down, and the occasional bald eagle drifting over the water. The sound of a pontoon starting up somewhere across the lake is your first reminder that it's an all-sports community — but not yet.

A lake community that stays close-knit

Big Lake is a 215-acre all-sports lake in the Davisburg area of Oakland County, Michigan. The lake community includes year-round residents and seasonal homeowners who share a genuine love of the water. Boat parades wind through the coves on summer weekends. Neighbors wave from their docks. And on the Fourth of July, you don't need to leave your backyard — the annual fireworks display reflects off the water in every direction.

Unlike some larger lakes in the area, Big Lake maintains a residential, intimate feel. There are no commercial marinas or crowded public access points. The community polices itself with a quiet respect for the water and each other. It's the kind of place where you know your neighbors' boats by sight and can tell who's hosting based on how many jet skis are tied up at the dock.

Schools and the surrounding area

The Davisburg area falls within the Howell Public Schools and Hartland Consolidated Schools districts, both well-regarded in the region. Students in this area typically attend elementary and middle schools in the Howell district, with Howell High School serving as the primary high school option. The area also offers access to Oakland Schools Technical Campus and various charter and private school options throughout northern Oakland and western Livingston counties.

Getting around from here

Davisburg sits at the intersection of convenience and seclusion. I-75 is roughly 8 minutes away via Dixie Highway, putting you within easy reach of Auburn Hills, Pontiac, and the broader metro Detroit corridor. Downtown Clarkston — a walkable strip of restaurants, breweries, and boutique shops — is about 12 minutes south. Pine Knob Music Theatre and Pine Knob Ski Resort are just 10 minutes away, making this one of the few lakefront locations where you can ski in the morning and boat in the afternoon.

For everyday errands, the Whitmore Lake and Hartland Road corridors offer grocery stores, pharmacies, and services. The Hamburg area along M-59 provides additional shopping and dining options. For anything more, the Oakland Mall area and downtown Ann Arbor are both within a 40-minute drive.

Weekends, water, and the seasonal rhythm

Summer weekends on Big Lake follow their own tempo. Early mornings are for fishing or paddleboarding while the lake is glass. Mid-morning brings the boat traffic — waterskiing, tubing, and the pontoon rides that last all afternoon. By evening, the deck becomes the best seat in the house as the sun drops behind the trees and the lake turns copper and gold.

Fall brings a different kind of beauty. The hardwoods surrounding the lake erupt in color, and the lake community quiets down as boats come out of the water. Winter offers its own appeal — ice fishing, cross-country skiing through the wooded lots, and the kind of stillness that makes you forget you're 45 minutes from Detroit. And then spring arrives, the docks go back in, and the cycle starts again.