Long Beach, Indiana

A well-established shoreline town near Michigan City, defined by a mile of sandy beach, a century of architectural distinction, and a community that chose permanence over transience.

Long Beach occupies a singular position along the Indiana Dunes shoreline — large enough to have genuine civic infrastructure, prestigious enough to have attracted Chicago's elite for over a century, and disciplined enough to have protected its residential character through deliberate zoning choices that most lakefront communities never make.

With just over 1,100 homes, a long sandy beach marked by numbered access points dating to the trolley era, and an architectural legacy shaped in part by John Lloyd Wright, Long Beach is a community that rewards buyers who take the time to understand it.

What Life is Like in Long Beach

Long Beach was founded in the early 1920s as a summer colony for Chicago's elite. A century later, it has evolved into something more nuanced — a blended community where longtime seasonal families, retired former weekenders, and a newer wave of year-round professionals from Chicago share a shoreline that still pulses dramatically with the seasons.

Of the town's roughly 1,100 housing units, just under half are primary residences. The median age hovers around 63 to 65 — a reflection of a pattern common across the Indiana Dunes shoreline: people who came for summers stayed for decades, and when retirement arrived, leaving simply wasn't on the table.

What holds the community together — and what distinguishes it from neighboring shoreline towns — is a set of deliberate choices about what Long Beach wants to be. Short-term rentals are restricted in ways that most lakefront communities don't attempt, preserving a residential character that transient tourism would otherwise erode. Traffic is limited. Parking is managed. The shoreline stays uncrowded.

The Stops: A Century of Coastal Geography

The numbered beach stops that define Long Beach's geography date to the early twentieth century, when they marked designated stops along the South Shore Line bus route and local trolley system that carried vacationers from Chicago and Michigan City to their summer cottages. The buses and trolleys are long gone. The nomenclature remained.

Today, each Stop refers to a public or private easement leading from Lake Shore Drive down to the water.

The numbers increase moving northeast toward the Michigan state line — Long Beach proper runs from Stop 13 through Stop 30, with Stop 24 serving as the town's informal center. Beyond Stop 30, the landscape shifts toward the more wooded, dune-heavy character of Michiana Shores.

For locals, the Stop system is coastal shorthand that has survived nearly a century. It is one of the quiet, specific things that makes Long Beach feel like a place with a real history rather than a planned community.

HOMES & ARCHITECTURE

Long Beach's architectural identity was shaped significantly by John Lloyd Wright, who moved to the town in 1923 and remained for over two decades. During that time he designed at least thirteen buildings in Long Beach, his practice was based here, and his work evolved in ways that left a visible mark on the town's landscape.

His early Long Beach work carried the hallmarks of his father's Prairie School influence — low-slung rooflines, strong horizontal lines, deep connection to the landscape. By the 1930s, following a trip to Europe, his designs began incorporating the vocabulary of the International Style. The result is a body of work that captures a significant architectural transition, on a street-by-street scale, in a small Indiana beach town.

Long Beach Town Hall at Stop 24, completed in 1931, is widely considered the first International Style building in Northwest Indiana. The Burnham House — known locally as the Pagoda House — is a five-level residence on Lake Shore Drive that Wright himself called his finest work. The original Long Beach school building, now the Community Center, is also his.

Beyond the Wright legacy, homes in Long Beach range from original cottages and bungalows to substantial lakefront residences and contemporary builds. Lot orientation, elevation, and proximity to specific Stops all influence value considerably. Prices begin around $400,000 for homes away from the water and can exceed $3 million for significant lakefront properties.

Dr. William Scholl

Notable History

Long Beach has drawn accomplished residents since its founding. Dr. William Scholl — the foot care magnate — summered here. Chief Justice John Roberts grew up in Long Beach. John Lloyd Wright not only practiced architecture here but raised his family here, leaving a built legacy that distinguishes the town architecturally from every other community along the Indiana Dunes shoreline.

Beach Access & Outdoor Living

Long Beach offers more than a mile of sandy Lake Michigan shoreline, with beach access managed through its historic Stop system. Resident parking keeps the beach notably uncrowded relative to public beaches in the region — a quality locals value and protect.

Beyond the shoreline, the town sits within easy reach of Indiana Dunes National Park trails, the Mount Baldy area, and the broader network of protected natural land that defines outdoor life along this stretch of the lake.

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Market Characteristics & Considerations

The Long Beach market reflects the town's particular character. Inventory is limited — homes are held long-term, and when they do come to market, they require positioning that accounts for the community's specific dynamics. Buyer expectations here are shaped by history, architecture, and access in ways that differ from neighboring shoreline markets.

The restriction on short-term rentals is a meaningful factor for buyers to understand. It reflects the town's priorities and shapes both the ownership experience and the resale market. Long Beach attracts buyers who intend to use their homes — not operate them as investment properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions about Living in Long Beach

Is Long Beach an incorporated town?

Yes. Long Beach is an incorporated town in La Porte County with a five-member town council government. The town manages its own water system, fire department, and police department — a level of municipal self-sufficiency uncommon among the smaller shoreline communities and a reflection of Long Beach's scale and civic ambition since its founding in 1921. The Long Beach Civic Association supports community life alongside the formal municipal structure.

What is the Stop system, and why does it matter in Long Beach?

The numbered beach stops that run the length of Lake Shore Drive are the primary way residents and visitors orient themselves in Long Beach — and have been for nearly a century. The numbering system dates to the early twentieth century, when the stops marked designated pickup points along the South Shore Line bus and trolley routes that ferried vacationers from Chicago. The buses are long gone; the nomenclature remains. Long Beach proper runs from Stop 13 through Stop 30, with Stop 24 serving as the town's civic center — home to Town Hall and the Community Center, originally the school. Residents don't give street addresses; they say they live near Stop 20, or Stop 27. It is one of the quiet, specific things that makes Long Beach feel like a place with a real history.

Who are some notable figures associated with Long Beach?

Long Beach has attracted accomplished residents since its earliest decades. Dr. William Scholl, the foot care magnate, summered here. Chief Justice John Roberts grew up in Long Beach. Architect John Lloyd Wright — son of Frank Lloyd Wright — lived and practiced here from 1923 to 1946, designing at least thirteen buildings including Long Beach Town Hall, widely considered the first International Style building in Northwest Indiana, and the Pagoda House on Lake Shore Drive, which Wright himself called his finest work. Wright also invented Lincoln Logs during his Long Beach years. Several of his designs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

How close is Long Beach to the South Shore Line?

Long Beach does not have its own South Shore station. The nearest stop is in Michigan City, typically a ten to fifteen minute drive from most parts of Long Beach. For buyers considering Long Beach as a primary residence with regular Chicago commuting in mind, the Michigan City station provides workable access — though the absence of a town stop is worth factoring into the decision relative to communities like Ogden Dunes or Beverly Shores where the train is within walking distance.

Are short-term rentals permitted in Long Beach?

No. Long Beach restricts short-term rentals, a deliberate policy choice that reflects the town's commitment to residential stability and owner-occupied community character. This distinguishes Long Beach meaningfully from several neighboring communities and is one of the factors that has helped it maintain a consistent residential identity over a century of shoreline development. Buyers considering Long Beach for investment or rental income purposes should factor this into their evaluation.

What utilities serve Long Beach?

Long Beach operates its own municipal water system — one of the markers of the town's civic self-sufficiency. Electricity and natural gas are provided by NIPSCO. Properties in Long Beach are on private septic systems rather than municipal sewer, which is consistent with most of the Indiana shoreline and an important consideration for buyers evaluating older homes or planning significant improvements.

Is Long Beach primarily a full-time or seasonal community?

Long Beach has evolved from its origins as a summer-only resort into a genuinely blended year-round community, though it retains a strong seasonal pulse. Of approximately 1,100 homes, just under half are primary residences. The median age of year-round residents hovers around 63 to 65 — reflecting a pattern common across the Indiana shoreline, where longtime seasonal families eventually retire in place rather than leave. The early 2020s brought a noticeable increase in year-round residency as Chicago professionals discovered they could maintain careers while living lakeside full time.

What is the beach access situation in Long Beach?

Beach access in Long Beach is managed through the Stop system, with multiple access points along Lake Shore Drive corresponding to the town's historic numbered stops. Parking is managed to limit through-traffic, keeping the beach notably uncrowded relative to public beaches in the region. The town encompasses approximately 1.6 square miles, and public beach access points, protected dune areas, and neighborhood parks remain central to community life. The Long Beach Country Club sits at the southern edge of the community.

What is the price range for homes in Long Beach?

Long Beach has one of the wider price ranges along the Indiana Dunes shoreline, reflecting the diversity of property types within the community. Homes away from the water start around $400,000, while significant lakefront properties — particularly those near the town's most prestigious stops — can exceed $3 million. Proximity to specific stops, elevation, lot orientation, architectural distinction, and condition all drive value considerably. Inventory is tightly held — turnover is low, and the combination of the STR restriction and strong civic identity means buyers here tend to be committed to the community rather than speculating on it.

BONNIE HAWKSWORTH
REALTOR®
@properties
219-309-7638
bonniehawksworth@atproperties.com

Thinking about buying or selling in Beverly Shores?

"Long Beach is one of those communities where the more you know, the more compelling it becomes. The stops, the Wright legacy, the way the town has actively protected its character through its own regulations — these aren't incidental details. They're why the right buyers fall hard for this place, and why they tend to stay."

— Bonnie

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Bonnie Hawksworth

REALTOR®
219-309-7638
bonniehawksworth@atproperties.com

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