Samantha, 8, Springer Spaniel

Hi there, this is Todd Ridley. I’m part of the team responsible for putting up this new site, and I wanted to say hello!

I’m also a resident of The Villages for just over 5 years now. I live on Seminole in Indian Village and love it. I had a thought to write this post as a greeting to you, the visitor, and as a description of my day here in this wonderful place.

So I work out of my home office several days a month when not travelling, and love to walk our dogs in sunny day’s like today. Look how pretty our neighborhood is! Who wouldn’t want to walk dogs here? Plus, today it’s particularly cool since the Red Bull Air Races are this weekend and they are practicing just out on the water, probably 1/2 mile from my office window. If you haven’t heard of these races check them out.

Anyway the noise of the prop-planes dive bombing reminded me of how close we are to GREAT stuff. Where else could you walk dogs in such a scenic and serene setting, and be so close to a major international waterway that’s hosting a major, international event. So close you can hear every bit of it!?

And that’s not the only event we’re so close for. Take Movement, the Hoedown, the Jazz Festival, the Fireworks, the Gold Cup Boat Races…and all right here while we enjoy living in such a beautiful, serene neighborhood.

Anyway, that’s one reason I love living here.

Thanks for visiting the site, and I hope you visit us in person soon!

-Todd

The Historic Indian Village Home and Garden Tour is celebrating the 114th anniversary of our elegant, historic neighborhood. This is the tour’s 36th year. It is the second oldest tour of its kind in Michigan, preceded only by the Marshall Michigan Historic Home Tour.

In the mid 1950s, the Women’s Garden Club held many events in Indian Village. Their Garden Fair was a precursor to the current tour, which began its run in the 1960s and became an annual event in 1973. It is now sponsored by the Historic Indian Village Association (HIVA), the Indian Village Women’s Garden Club and the Indian Village Men’s Garden Club.

Today, the Indian Village community consists of 352 households, plus six churches, four elementary schools and 1 nursery school. This historic district includes Burns, Iroquois and Seminole Avenues from East Jefferson running one mile north to Mack Avenue.

Although there are features on many homes that fall into a distinct architectural style, Indian Village can best be described as eclectic. As is so typical of American independence, owners chose elements from different architectural styles when building their homes. Detroit’s most distinguished architects designed Indian Village homes. Among them are Marcus Burrowes, Chittenden & Kotting, Albert Kahn, Louis Kamper, Rogers & MacFarlane, Smith Hinchman & Grylls, William B. Stratton, Leonard B. Willeke, George D. Mason, Robert O. Derrick and C. Howard Crane.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets online!