Art thrives in Douglas between Lake Michigan and the Kalamazoo River
Bordering Lake Michigan, the small town of Douglas sits across the Kalamazoo River from Saugatuck. Together, the two communities form “The Art Coast of Michigan.” “Saugatuck and Douglas are very artsy communities, and they feed off each other,” says Bradley Wisk, a Realtor with Keller Williams Harbortown who sells homes in the region. “They’re basically the same place, only Saugatuck is larger.” Rainbow crosswalks and Pride flags bring color to downtown Douglas, where locals can check out shops, restaurants and art galleries. The community also comes together all year long for art-themed celebrations and other events.
Local shops, restaurants and art galleries downtown
Douglas has a small downtown area, but it's packed with local businesses. Respite Cappuccino Court serves specialty lattes, homemade pastries and breakfast. Wild Dog is a local brew pub serving burgers and pizza inside and on the patio. Downtown retailers include the Endora gift shop and Brackett & Co home furnishing store, which sit near several art galleries and studios. J. Petter Galleries is one of the most popular in Douglas, featuring a wine bar and works from more than 140 artists. Blue Star Highway has several more places for shopping and dining, such as The Farmhouse Deli & Pantry, famous for its sandwiches, and Douglas Root Beer Barrel, where loaded hot dogs, homemade root beer and root beer floats are served from the window of a giant wooden barrel. Isabel’s Market + Eatery sells and serves gourmet produce, and Supervalu is the place to go for groceries and everyday essentials. It’s also common for shoppers and diners to visit Saugatuck. “You can literally bike across the bridge to Saugatuck and they have tons of restaurants, breweries and shopping,” says Wisk.
Old Victorians mix with newer homes near downtown and the waterfront
The median home sale price in Douglas is about $550,000 compared to $680,000 in Saugatuck. Single-family homes date to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the century-old houses are close to downtown, featuring Victorian architecture. Other housing styles include ranch-style homes from the mid-1900s and New Traditional houses built in the 2000s. Waterfront properties include houses on top of wooded dunes overlooking Lake Michigan and houses on the river with private boat docks. Though not as common, the community has some townhouses and condos as well.
Douglas Beach Park on Lake Michigan and riverfront parks
Steps lead down from wooded dunes to Douglas Beach Park, a narrow sandy beach along Lake Michigan, where locals like to relax and swim. The top of the dune also has tables for picnicking while overlooking the lake. Wade’s Bayou Memorial Park offers a scenic grassy space by the river with a gazebo. Right next to the park, Third Coast Paddling offers kayak rentals. The city has several marinas and yacht clubs for locals to store their boats. There’s also a boat launch at Schultz Park, along with a dog park, pickleball courts and other athletic fields.
Art-themed events and other festivals throughout the year
Art In Douglas is the first big event of the year, when locals head downtown to view the galleries and enjoy live music. Every spring, fall and winter, Douglas joins Saugatuck for the Art Coast Gallery Stroll, another art-heavy event focusing on local galleries and the creative scene. Pride Month kicks off with the weeklong Douglas Pride Festival, featuring a parade, drag bowling, a car show and other activities. In July, many locals head to Saugatuck for the Venetian Festival, which involves a weekend of live music, a lighted boat parade and other events. Come October, Douglas has an adults-only Halloween Parade that draws thousands.
High quality education and an award-winning high school art program
Students attend Douglas Elementary School, which receives an A grade from Niche. They’ll cross the river to go to Saugatuck Middle School, also graded A, which is connected to Saugatuck High School, rated B-plus. The high school won four awards in the 2025 Regional High School Art Competition, featuring competing artists from 10 high schools in the West Michigan region.
About 20 minutes to Holland and 40 minutes to Grand Rapids
Interstate 196 is the main highway that runs through town. It heads 12 miles north for a 20-minute drive to Holland and 40 miles to Grand Rapids, which takes about 40 minutes. The closest hospital is in Holland, and Grand Rapids is home to Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
