Clarkston

Pine Knob's amphitheater and a Main Street that hasn't lost its way.

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About Clarkston

A small downtown, big summer concerts, and lakes for backyards.

Clarkston is the heart of Independence Township, roughly 40 miles northwest of Detroit, with a downtown that still looks the way Michigan small-town downtowns are supposed to look. Brick storefronts, sidewalk benches, the Clarkston Mills shops, and a coffee scene that draws a steady crowd from the surrounding lakes.

The summer puts Clarkston on the regional map. Pine Knob Music Theatre (formerly DTE Energy Music Theatre) is a 15,274-seat outdoor amphitheater that ranked first in the world in Pollstar's 2022 year-end venue rankings. From May through October, the marquee changes weekly.

The housing stock runs from historic homes near downtown to lakefront properties on Deer Lake, Maceday Lake, and Big Lake, plus newer developments out along Sashabaw Road. Clarkston Community Schools is the draw for families.

Lifestyle

What life looks like here.

Dining & Shopping

Downtown Clarkston is small but dense. Coffee at Rudy's, comfort food and craft beer at the Union Joints restaurants, and the historic Clarkston Mills shops just off Main Street.

Parks & Outdoors

Bald Mountain State Recreation Area, Independence Oaks County Park, and a long string of inland lakes that define backyard summers. Pine Knob's surrounding green space connects to the broader trail network.

Schools

Clarkston Community Schools serves the township with a large comprehensive high school, a middle school, and seven elementary schools. The district has a long-standing reputation for athletics and a deep arts program.

Things to Do

Pine Knob Music Theatre headlines the calendar all summer. Pine Knob Ski Resort runs the winter. Add the antique shops, lake activities, and the Concours d'Elegance car show, and the schedule fills.

Local Favorites

Places worth knowing.

Music

Pine Knob Music Theatre

A 15,274-seat outdoor amphitheater ranked first in the world by Pollstar in 2022. The defining Clarkston summer experience.

Outdoors

Pine Knob Ski Resort

Michigan skiing close to home, with night skiing, snowboarding, and lessons from December through March.

Sports

Pine Knob Golf Club

An 18-hole course tucked alongside the resort. A favorite local round.

Outdoors

Independence Oaks County Park

Wooded trails, Crooked Lake, and a nature center within minutes of downtown. A quieter alternative to Pine Knob's amphitheater traffic.

Dining

Clarkston Union

The local Union Joints flagship. Comfort food in a converted historic building, the local go-to for catching up over dinner.

Annual Event

Concours d'Elegance

The Pine Knob mansion grounds host one of Michigan's most respected classic-car shows each summer.

Education

Clarkston Community Schools.

Clarkston Community Schools serves Independence Township and surrounding areas. The district runs Clarkston High School, plus a middle school and seven elementary schools, with a long-standing reputation for athletics, the arts, and a strong sense of community identity.

Clarkston families also have nearby private and parochial options, including Everest Collegiate (a Catholic college-prep school in Clarkston) and access to the broader Oakland County school landscape.

7 Elementary Schools

1 Middle School

1 High School

Strong Athletic Tradition