Swartz Creek

Swartz Creek is a city of 5,500 people (2019) in Central Michigan. The town is a suburb of Flint.

Understand

Although there's not much to do around Swartz Creek, many people are happy where they live and crime is minimal. However, the city is next to Flint Township, which is considered a part of the Swartz Creek area and is the consumer commercial (including bars, restaurants and other activities) hub of the county.

Get in

I-69 has two Swartz Creek exits on Miller Road and Morrish Road with two others in the area: on Bristol Road, Flint Township near the airport and on Sheridan Road (M-13), Clayton Township. Swartz Creek lies west of Flint and east of Durand on the expressway.

Get around

Although Swartz Creek may not be very big, you will still need a car or a good bike to get around. As there is a good sidewalk system, but it is limited by the Expressway (I-69). The city's main streets: 2/3 of Miller Road, Seymour and Elms, all have bike lanes. The state operates a public parking lot on Miller Road east of I-69 on the south side of the road.

  • Genesee County's Mass Transportation Authority's Swartz Creek location offers Your Ride, a public location to location scheduled service. Rides must be schedule 24 hours in advance.

See
  • Swartz Creek Art Gallery (Swartz Creek Art Guild), 8048 Miller Road (downtown, west of Morrish Road on the north side of the street), ☏ +1 810-630-6076, . Tuesday-Thursday noon-5PM, Friday 3-7PM, Saturday noon-4PM. Staffed by volunteers so call ahead. The Guild also holds drop-in art classes at the gallery. 
  • Swartz Creek Historical Mini-Museum (take Miller or Morrish Road to Paul Fortino Drive to Civic Drive; it's at Swartz Creek City Hall, Civic Drive). Run by the Swartz Creek Area Historical Society with limited hours. Has various documents and displays about the Crapo Farms 
  • Cha-Wa-Use-Skah-Keaug Chippewa Burial Ground (Three Pines Indian burial ground) (off Seymour Road and south of Miller Road). 
  • Swartz Creek City Parks (Swartz Creek Parks and Recreation), 8083 Civic Drive, ☏ +1 810-635-4464. free except for scheduled pavilion rental. 
    • Bicentennial Park, Morrish Road & Miller Road (downtown on both sides of Morrish Road south of Miller Road). 8AM to dusk. A small park with a single first-come, first-served pavilion. free. 
    • Elms Road Park, 4125 Elms Rd (just north of I-69 & Miller Road). 8AM to dusk. the city's premiere park with a playscape, play ground, 5 pavilions, a baseball diamond, football field, volleyball, tennis and basketball courts. During the winter, the hill is available for sledding and there is an ice pond for skating. free except for Pavilion Reservation fee $70 or $120. 
    • Winshall Park, 5225 Winshall Dr., Swartz Creek (located along the Swartz Creek west branch in the city's largest subdivision, Winchester Village). 8AM to dusk. This park has a tot lot play area, multi station fitness trail, play ground, pavilions, basketball court, baseball fields. free except for Pavilion Reservation fee $70. 
  • Swartz Creek Area Veteran's Memorial, Paul Fortino Drive (Miller Road to Fortino Drive). dawn to dusk. Completed on Flag Day 2013 with the placement of the military service animal representative, a service dog. This location should have events on Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day. free. 

Do
  • Cage Fieldhouse (Cage Sports), 4110 Morrish Rd. (north of I-69). W-F 9:30AM-4PM, Tu 9:30AM-8PM, Sa 8:30AM-8PM, Su 12:30AM-8PM. Owned by the Swartz Creek School District, with some leagues held by Cage Sports. Various basketball leagues, tournament and individual instruction for kid like AAU and other youth leagues. Call for Tuesday nights court rental. 
  • Genesee Valley Meadows Golf Course, 5499 Miller Road, ☏ +1 810 732-1401. Golf season is April 1st to December 12th. The Meadow is an 18-hole, 6867-yard golf course with a slope rating of 133 and a 73.2 USGA rating. $30 greens fees. 
  • Swartz Creek Area Historical Society, City Hall, Civic Drive (take Miller or Morrish Roads to Paul Fortino Drive, Fortino Drive to Civic Drive, first left). 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7PM. The group's monthly meeting has historical presentations from "show and tell" to Dr. Mudd to the Crapo Farms to the city's sole and unsolved murder. free. 
  • Swartz Creek Performing Arts Center, 1 Dragon Drive (Miller Road entrance just west of Fairchild Street on the south side), ☏ +1 810-591-1948. varies. It hosts school concert band, choir, live stage events plus professional touring shows and concerts. varies. 

Festivals and events
  • Hometown Days, Kincaid ground on Morrish Road & Bicentennial Park plus a closed off Morrish Road. This festival is held the last weekend starting in May. Includes baby contest, singing contest, a car show on Fortino Drive, fireworks, parade, silent auction, 5-km road race, carnival with rides, entertainment and exhibits. 
  • Art in the Park (formerly Krystal ArtFest), Elms Road Park (north of I-69 on Elms Road). A juried art event with vendors. 
  • The Fred and Phyllis Pajtas Theater, 8099 Civic Drive (take Miller or Morrish Road to Paul Fortino Drive to Civic Drive). An outdoor amphitheater to which you must bring your own seats or blankets. parking at City Center parking, Post Office, Chase Bank and on north side of Fortino Drive. free. 
    • Family Movie Nights, The Fred and Phyllis Pajtas Theater, ☏ +1 810-635-4464. They are held every other week on Friday night June to August. A free bounce house opens at 7:30PM and the movie begins at dusk. Bring your own seats or blankets. free. 
    • Summer Concerts (Swartz Creek Fine Arts Association), The Fred and Phyllis Pajtas Theater. Tu 7PM-9PM. A free outdoor concert running from mid-June to early August at an outdoor amphitheater. Concession and hot dog stands on site. Free prize drawings. Bob Smeets Coney Night on the last regularly scheduled night. Two make-up nights on Tuesday follow the regular schedule. free. 
  • Assenmacher 100. This event is sponsored by Genesee Wanderers Bicycle Club and is non-competitive bicycle ride that starts in the city downtown with five different routes from the 20 miles flat to the Century route (100 miles flat to moderate hills). Started in 1980, the ride is held the third Sunday in August and is endorsed by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. Parking available at Swartz Creek Community School including Mary Crapo at 8197 Miller Road. individual-family $15-35, after August 1: $20/$45 00. 

Buy

Eat
  • Country Carriage Restaurant, 9237 Miller Rd (go west on Miller Road from downtown), ☏ +1 810-635-2431. American general restaurant 
  • Jamie's Place (Jt's Country Kitchen), 8012 Miller Rd, ☏ +810 635-4143. 6AM - 3PM. (updated Jan 2017)
  • VFW-Amvets
  • B&T Pizza Plus
  • Pesto's, 5275 Miller Rd, Flint Township, ☏ +1 810 732-4390. M-Sa 10:30AM-10PM, Su noon-8PM. Mostly Italian fare. (updated Apr 2016)

Drink
  • Jan's Bar. (updated Jun 2019)
  • S&K Hometown Pub, 8006 Miller Rd, ☏ +18106306575. (updated Jun 2019)
  • Scooter's Bar (Hill Road and Torrey Road, Mundy Township). (updated Jun 2019)

Sleep

Gateway area, Mundy Township

These hotels are in the Gateway area, six miles from Swartz Creek center and three miles from the airport terminal.

  • Americas Best Value Inn Flint, 6075 Hill Road 23 Drive, Flint (by highway: I-69 to I-75 to US 23 take Hill Road exit right on Hill Road then left on Hill Road 23 Drive), ☏ +1 810-233-9000, toll-free: +1-877-267-3844, . Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Midscale, smoke-free hotel with elevator, heated indoor swimming pool and free internet access and parking. $81-120. 
  • Hampton Inn & Suites Flint, 6060 Rashelle Drive, Flint (by highway: I-69 to I-75 to US 23 take Hill Road exit right on Hill Road then left on Hill Road 23 Drive which turns into Rashelle Drive), ☏ +1 810-234-8400, fax: +1 810-234-8464. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. indoor swimming pool, fitness center, Free Internet access, free Parking 
  • Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Flint, 5205 Gateway Centre, Flint, ☏ +1 810-232-3500, toll-free: +1 810-232-3500, fax: +1 810-232-7373. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $89-109. 
  • Holiday Inn Gateway Centre Flint
  • Residence Inn by Marriott Flint

Connect

Go next
Routes through Swartz Creek
Lansing ← East Lansing ←  W  E  → Flint → Port Huron


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