Discoveries

This page: Biking is a great way to see Lake Michigan and the surrounding sites. Opposite page: Saugatuck Village Hall is just one of the many architurally charming buildings around this west Michigan community.

Art Coast Getaways

Saugatuck and Douglas lure boaters, beachgoers, and artists to their charming waterfront paradise

By Marla R. Miller

For boaters, cruising the Kalamazoo River and heading out to Lake Michigan provides one of the best ways to experience the charms of Saugatuck and neighboring Douglas.

On shore, visitors will find plenty to see and do because these southwest Michigan communities combine to create a beach-lover’s oasis, a shopper’s delight, an artist’s paradise, and a hiker’s hideaway.

The towns, situated on the river — which opens up to Kalamazoo Lake, separating the two — enjoy a vibrant boating scene. Large yachts, for example, docked in prime slip spaces, draw admirers along the downtown waterfronts as the river continues on to Lake Michigan.

“Visitors can enjoy so many of the outdoor and indoor activities in our charming coastal towns (in the spring) before the summer crowds start to heat up,” advises Lisa Mize, executive director of the Saugatuck Douglas Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In summer, she says the communities swell with tourists, day trippers, artists, and cottage owners who flock to the area for its distinctive shopping, waterfront dining, and laid-back beach days.

Adds James Brandess, a painter and downtown art gallery owner since 1994: “Part of the appeal of Saugatuck and the uniqueness of Saugatuck is its location. The river runs right through the center of the town.”

Reminiscent of a picturesque New England coastal town, the SaugatuckDouglas area has been the setting of many books and the inspiration for many paintings. Each town retains its own unique character and together they’re called the Art Coast of Michigan because of their array of artistic offerings.

Brandess finds inspiration for his

works among the area’s water, woods, and dunes. Art lovers will often find him at James Brandess Studios & Gallery, located in the old post office building.

“There’s a sparkling light, a particular beauty to the light here,” he says. “It also nurtures all sorts of creativity. The quality of life here is very good. It differs from tourist destinations I’ve been to in that there aren’t a lot of T-shirt shops; it’s not filled with that type of tourist fare.”

In the spring, redbud, dogwood, crabapple, and magnolia trees burst with pink and white flowers throughout the downtown area. It’s nice to take a walk along the river or sit in Wicks Park, visit a few shops, and stop for crab cakes and a Bloody Mary at the waterfront BARge restaurant.

Thanks to a new state law, visitors can take a drink to go and walk around Saugatuck’s Social District until Memorial Day, or enjoy Douglas’s Social District year-round.

Why worry about driving? Plan a weekend getaway at a bed and breakfast, and enjoy a night of laughs at the Coral Gables Comedy Club every Saturday.

Relax and see Saugatuck from the water on the Star of Saugatuck, a paddleboat excursion that runs on the Kalamazoo River and out to Lake Michigan. Various other outfitters offer kayaking, charter fishing, sailing trips, and more.

For an outing with friends and family, Retro Boat Rentals offers retro, donut, duffy, and pontoon boats from early May to late October. Afterward, stop at The Old Boat House Bar, which serves food, craft beer, and cocktails from its perch overlooking the Kalamazoo River.

A trip to popular Oval Beach involves driving through Douglas to the Lake Michigan shore. On the way, visitors can see Saugatuck from a different perspective — the other side of the river. Make time to stop and enjoy fresh root beer from the restored Root Beer Barrel, explore the Saugatuck-Douglas History Museum and The Pump House, and discover Mount Baldhead Park.

It’s fun to climb the 302 steps to the top of the Mount Baldhead sand dune for a scenic view of Saugatuck and Kalamazoo Lake. Don’t want to drive? Cross the river on the Saugatuck Chain Ferry, Diane, and experience the only remaining chain ferry of its kind in the United States. It operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and costs $2 per person per ride.

Many artists, including Brandess, discovered the area through the historic Ox-Bow School of Art, nestled on wooded property between the river and Lake Michigan. The secluded campus serves as a respite for students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ox-Bow also hosts open studio nights, public art classes, and artist-in-residence programs.

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is home to concerts, professional theater, exhibits, films, and classes for adults and children. The Market at SCA is a seasonal farmers market that features local produce, and art vendors on Tuesdays and Fridays. There’s live music on Fridays in the summer.

“I love the SCA market because of its uber-fresh produce, plus the types of artisan baked goods, floral, and high-end crafts you would expect from the Art Coast of Michigan,” says Kristin Armstrong, executive director. “You can grab a beverage and a snack at the bar, and hang out in our garden or shop.”

Saugatuck’s lodging options range from Sea Suites Boat & Breakfast, a large houseboat docked in Douglas, to The Hotel Saugatuck, an upscale boutique hotel in a converted mill built in 1865.

OTHER FAVORITES: The Felt Estate, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, antique shops, wine and cider sampling at Fenn Valley Vineyards, Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant and Winery, Virtue Cider, Michigan Wine Co., and Modales Wine. Top off the getaway at Saugatuck Brewing Co., the area’s oldest brewery.

PLAN IT! Saugatuck/Douglas Area CVB saugatuck.com

Crooked Lake Prairie Great Lake Story 2022

42° North: Chapter One

Annette and Jeff Brennan were thousands of miles from their home in Kalamazoo, Michigan when the first hints of this Great Lake Story unfolded. Celebrating 25 years of marriage, they dined, and whale watched at a picturesque, cliffside restaurant overlooking Oregon’s Depoe Bay and envisioned where their next 25-plus years would take them. When Jeff asked Annette, "When we're done working and raising children, and if you could have whatever you The Brennans could imagine want, what would their someday family home coming to life in this idyllic that be," she already knew the answer. She wanted a place; place. But they would encounter a large lake house setbacks and misfortunes that, for their children at times, made them skeptical if their dream would be realand grandchildren to visit and come home to. And, while ized. There were obstacles to that could have even purchasing the property, been anywhere, they and the Brennans nearly gave up. That was when Jim Roberts, ultimately decided they wanted to stay in Southwest a local builder and developer Michigan. with his own home on Crooked Lake, entered the picture. Annette had grown up with a family cottage on a lake, and the Brennan’s kids had enjoyed summering there and soaking up lakefront life, too. The Kalamazoo area is known for its beautiful bodies of water, and while that choice of location provided options, finding a property with sufficient land proved to be a bit more challenging. That was until they discovered a sweeping, 32-acre plot on Crooked Lake. While the property was much larger than they needed, it had plenty of appeal—and plenty of potential, too. Located in the quaint, small-but-growing Texas Township, Crooked Lake has the advantages of feeling away from it all while also being quite close to Kalamazoo and the people and places the Brennans love. “This is a really nice, private lake, and the piece of land where we’re building is very special,” Jeff said. “It’s on a little peninsula, with breathtaking views in both directions and lush, wooded surroundings.” The Brennans could imagine their someday family home coming to life in this idyllic place. But they would encounter setbacks and misfortunes that, at times, made them skeptical if their dream would be realized. There were obstacles to even purchasing the property, and the Brennans nearly gave up. That was when Jim Roberts, a local builder and developer with his own home on Crooked Lake, entered the picture.

She trusted he had the skills to fulfill the goal, having worked with him on dozens of homes prior. At the time, Ryan was recovering from a tragic automobile accident, but still conducting business—sometimes even from his hospital bed. The Brennans were impressed with his portfolio—and his determination—and ultimately contracted him for the home’s design, as well as giving him exclusivity to design the remainder of the lots.

Roberts spent most of his life on Crooked Lake and was President of the Lake Association as well. He knew the property the Brennans were interested in; it was right across the lake from his own and he had been gazing upon it for the last 50 or more years. He knew someone would eventually develop it, and he wanted to have a hand in doing it the right way. The Brennans planned to keep some of the plots for themselves and make the others available to other buyers. Roberts agreed to take on the development of the entire property, as well as many of the more complex aspects connected to the project, allowing the Brennans to move forward. “He worked with the road commission to get the road to the property built and also handled all the permits,” Jeff said. “His involvement made it all possible. We wouldn’t be here without Jim.”

The next bit of serendipity came when the Brennans interior designer, Christine DiMaria, introduced them to Ryan La Haie, Principal at 42° North - Architecture + Design. She trusted he had the skills to fulfill the goal, having worked with him on dozens of homes prior. At the time, Ryan was recovering from a tragic automobile accident, but still conducting business—sometimes even from his hospital bed. The Brennans were impressed with his portfolio—and his determination—and ultimately contracted him for the home’s design, as well as giving him exclusivity to design the remainder of the lots.

“Ryan is a really gifted architect, but, more, he took the time to learn about us and how we live,” Annette said. “He really listened and has done an incredible job creating what I think will be our greatest opportunity to make great memories together.”

This year’s Great Lake Story is one of resilience—a telling of heartbreak and triumph, and the formation of lifelong bonds. It follows the vision of two people with a desire to build and feather a nest for family to flock to and chronicles the partnerships that made it all happen.

We invite you to follow the story of Jeff and Annette Brennan and the team of 42° North – Architecture + Design, Jim Roberts Construction, Cnossen Construction, Christine DiMaria Design, and the many other contributors who have helped create this magnificent lakefront home. Look for each chapter on mibluemag.com.