This Small Town In The Great Lakes Has The Best Downtown
Saugatuck is a lakefront tourist destination in West Michigan. It is located on the shores of Lake Michigan and the Kalamazoo River. While only around 750 reside in Saugatuck, tourism remains its primary industry, drawing in over two million tourists per year. Its popularity comes down to its nearby outdoor recreational opportunities, vibrant art scene, and walkable downtown, complete with 30 art galleries, boutiques, and shops. It has been a top destination in the Midwest for artists, beachgoers, nature lovers, and those seeking a unique blend of small-town charm, arts and entertainment, the celebration of human diversity, and scenic natural surroundings.
Saugatuck's History
Permanent settlement began in 1830 when William Butler and his wife arrived and laid out a village on the flats at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. By the 1850s, sawmills, barrel factories, and other wood product firms took advantage of the natural resources, which contributed to rebuilding Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. By the late 1800s, when the white pines had been cleared, the economy turned to shipbuilding and fruit growing.
While those industries shaped Saugatuck, it is best known as a resort community with a strong appeal to artists and artisans, boasting artistic roots that span over 100 years, which has earned it the title of “The Art Coast of Michigan”. An arts culture emerged in the 1880s and grew significantly in 1910, when a group of Chicago artists established the Summer School of Painting on Ox-Bow Lagoon.
A Walkable Downtown
The Button Gallery in downtown Saugatuck occupies a historic space from 1906, comprising 2,500 square feet of exhibition space and a sculpture garden. The gallery showcases the work of artists who are recognized on both regional and national levels. Visitors to the gallery may witness artists doing demos, new installations, and new arrivals to the gallery.
The Butler is one of Saugatuck’s oldest, continuously used buildings, and is located in the heart of downtown. The restaurant occupies a steam-powered grist mill that was originally built in 1892. It changed ownership in 1900, then reopened as a hotel and restaurant in 1901. Although the restaurant has changed ownership a couple of times and undergone renovations, it has remained a staple of waterfront dining in Saugatuck for over 60 years. It is renowned for quality dining, scenic views of Kalamazoo Lake harbor and the Saugatuck boardwalk, its signature dish, the Butler Burger, and live music during the summer months.
It Is What It Is, a unique gift shop on Butler Street, sells puzzles, cards, handmade signs, plaques, ornaments, mugs, coasters, and magnets that are exclusive to the store. The products in-store change with the seasons and popularity, so be sure to stop in when exploring downtown, as many of their items are available for a limited time only.
Downtown Accommodation
The Wickwood Inn is a historic inn in downtown, just steps away from shops, restaurants, and art galleries, as well as the Kalamazoo River. Initially built in 1937 as the Colonial Revival home of Frank Wicks, the former mayor of Saugatuck, the Wickwood has since been remodeled as Saugatuck’s first bed-and-breakfast. With 11 guest rooms available, ranging from standard rooms to private suites, guests are immersed in the timeless design of this historic inn, blended with modern amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi and an outdoor heated spa pool.
Hidden Garden Cottages and Suites boasts its optimal downtown location, with twenty establishments to eat within a ten-minute radius. There are two cottages and two suites available, all of which feature fireplaces, private baths, and kitchens stocked with a daily in-room continental breakfast.
Summer Festivals
Downtown Saugatuck, which is composed of Butler Street and Water Street, hosts a myriad of festivals throughout the summer months. The Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck is a six-week musical festival held on Thursday and Friday evenings from July to August. Concerts are held in the historic 125-seat Saugatuck Woman’s Club at the intersection of Butler and Hoffman in downtown Saugatuck. The festival features a mix of solo, duet, and small ensemble performances.
Tracing back to the town’s history of arts, the Waterfront Invitational Fine Art Fair is held on the Saturday closest to the 4th of July at Saugatuck's Village Square, located at the corner of Butler and Main Streets. The fair showcases the work of 60 artists working in a variety of media, including painting, photography, glass, woodworking, ceramics, jewelry, basketry, mixed media, fibers, mosaic, printmaking, and sculpture.
Downtown Charm In Saugatuck
For a getaway immersed in a vibrant art culture, that is teaming with festivals throughout the summer, and has a walkable downtown, look no further than Saugatuck. Whether you want to view the broad range of work produced by local artists at one of the many galleries or festivals, enjoy the comfort and modern amenities of a historic inn, or sample signature dishes at local restaurants, downtown Saugatuck has something for everyone.
