Guide to Lowell

Lowell, Michigan might be the hometown of crowd-pleasing Red Hot Chili Peppers front man Anthony Kiedis. But Ivan Blough is who residents affectionately refer to as Mr. Showboat. That's because Blough built and maintains the summer river boat attraction that entertains residents, attracts visitors, and spurs investment in the city.

“People rally around that boat,” Blough says. “It is the emblem of our community.”

Of course there's much more to Lowell than the Robert E. Lee Showboat docked downtown. With a population of approximately 4,100 people in the central city, Lowell is a bustling bedroom community located approximately 23 miles east of Grand Rapids, Michigan's second largest city.

It remains predominately a tight knit rural community. But Lowell also projects a vintage Main Street feel with a number of eateries, antique shops, and unique boutiques located in an inviting traditional downtown district. In fact, the charm of the place has become so appealing in recent years that the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce now markets the community as "the next place to be."

“Our community has to grow or it gets strangled," Blough says. "And I like to see the flavor of the town stay while we still get that growth.”

Like a number of more rural towns and villages in the region, Lowell is experiencing considerable increases in commercial and residential activity. Here's a brief sketch of the community profile:

• The population of the greater Lowell area today exceeds 14,000.
• The average home sells for about $160,000.
• The median household income approaches $60,000.
• Most households tend to own two cars.
• The average age is about 35 years old.

They’re Red Hot
In many ways, Lowell's small town appeal revolves around, and is embodied by, the Showboat. The flat bottom boat was originally launched in 1932 to offer residents and visitors entertainment while paddling up and down the wild Flat River. But a wind storm destroyed the floating theatre in 1979, prompting the town's people to commission Blough, then a contractor and home builder, to construct a new one.

Blough had never built a boat before. But the Showboat held a special place in his heart. He and his wife were ushers on the previous vessel. And he was eager to serve his city.

"I do what I can to give back," says Blough, who also volunteers at the local museum.

Today, the Robert E. Lee Showboat is one of Lowell's distinguishing features and the anchor of a resurgent downtown business district. Favorite local eateries include the Backwater Café for a home-style meal, Larkin's for a burrito, Keiser's Kitchen, and the Flat River Grill, which sits riverside adjacent to the Showboat.

"It’s a great place to grab lunch or dinner before a performance," he says, "because you don’t have to move to enjoy the show."

The presence of an authentic old-time Showboat distinguishes Lowell from similar bedroom communities in West Michigan. But the community's quality of life goes well beyond waterfront entertainment.

Fallsburg Park, for example, one of Kent County's more expansive and popular public parks, is located just north of town. The Grand and Flat rivers converge in Lowell, giving fishing enthusiasts, paddlers, and others a convenient outdoor escape. And the recently proposed Lowell Area Trailway aims to provide a place for hikers, inline skaters, cyclists, and others to exercise and unwind.

The community also enjoys an impressive social and cultural network with assets such as the Lowell Area Arts Council, the James Veen Observatory, as well as a local historical society and YMCA branch.

The public school system has been a particular point of pride in recent years for residents. Students not only excel in the classroom – scores on assessment tests regularly exceed regional and state averages in math, science, and reading – they also achieve in extra curricular activities. Both the high school football and wrestling teams won state championships in 2002 and 2004.

“There is always something going on here,” said Judy Straub, director of the Lowell Historical Museum. “Lowell has so much and yet it still has a small town feel. It’s a whole package”

“I have lived here for 20 years and I can’t see myself wanting to move anywhere else,” she added. "We have a nice combo of natural beauty, retail, and culture."

Planning to Show Off
Still, in Lowell, it eventually comes back to the Showboat, the city’s gravitational center in the summertime. Like its hometown, the river boat experienced some economic hardship and neglect in the 80's and 90's. But the community recently restored the boat and, although the vessel is permanently moored along the downtown river walk, resumed a full slate of summer events in 2001.

The annual Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series, which goes off every Thursday night from mid June to late August, is perhaps the main attraction. The lineup this year includes everything from Blues and Jazz to Big Band and Celtic music.

“The interesting thing about Lowell is that it is definitely not cookie cutter,” said Liz Baker, executive director of the Lowell Chamber of Commerce. “When you look at our downtown and our city it appeals to all ages.”

And, like any traditional small town, the city residents tend to take an active role in community affairs. These days the people of Lowell not surprisingly are rallying around the Showboat. This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the city symbol, and the community is uniting to help Ivan Blough scrape and paint the vessel.

“Lowell is such a tight knit community that we step up for each other,” says Staci Messersmith, executive director of the local YMCA, with a paint roller in hand. “We live in such a fast paced world that it is nice to stop and do our share.”

The goal is to finish the job before the summer concert series kicks off and throw the boat a proper birthday bash in late August. Community organizers now are planning a special Showboat Nostalgia gala. The hope is to recreate the original style of theatre with former members of the Showboat Chorus, endmen performing slapstick comedy, amateur acts, and a yet-to-be-named headliner.

Maybe Anthony Kiedis is available.

Directions to Lowell

From the North:
Take US-131 S toward GRAND RAPIDS. Merge onto I-96 E via EXIT 89A toward LANSING. Take the M-50 exit- EXIT 52- toward CHARLOTTE / LOWELL. Turn LEFT onto MI-50 / ALDEN NASH AVE SE. Continue to follow ALDEN NASH AVE SE. ALDEN NASH AVE SE becomes SEGWUN AVE SE. SEGWUN AVE SE becomes S HUDSON ST. Continue to MAIN St. and arrive in Lowell.

From the East:
Take I-96 W toward GRAND RAPIDS. Take the M-50 exit- EXIT 52- toward LOWELL. Turn RIGHT onto ALDEN NASH AVE SE. ALDEN NASH AVE SE becomes SEGWUN AVE SE. SEGWUN AVE SE becomes S HUDSON ST. Continue to MAIN St. and arrive in Lowell.

From the South:
Take US-131 N toward GD RAPIDS. Take the M-6 E exit- EXIT 77- toward LANSING. Merge onto MI-6 E / PAUL B HENRY FWY. Merge onto I-96 E toward LANSING. Take the M-50 exit- EXIT 52- toward CHARLOTTE / LOWELL. Turn LEFT onto MI-50 / ALDEN NASH AVE SE. Continue to follow ALDEN NASH AVE SE. ALDEN NASH AVE SE becomes SEGWUN AVE SE. SEGWUN AVE SE becomes S HUDSON ST. Continue to MAIN St. and arrive in Lowell.

From the West:
Take I-196 N. Take the M-6 E exit- EXIT 64- toward LANSING. Take the M-50 exit- EXIT 52- toward CHARLOTTE / LOWELL. Turn LEFT onto MI-50 / ALDEN NASH AVE SE. Continue to follow ALDEN NASH AVE SE. ALDEN NASH AVE SE becomes SEGWUN AVE SE. SEGWUN AVE SE becomes S HUDSON ST. Continue to MAIN St. and arrive in Lowell.