Continuing a Community Icon….

The Lowell Showboat has been an historical icon of the Greater Lowell Community since 1931, serving as a catalyst in bringing the residents of our town and surrounding area together.   After five showboat structures, we are about to launch Lowell Showboat VI into the waters of the Flat River.

Much nostalgia and happy memories surround the former boats. Many people reminisce about attending shows with popular headliners, singing in the chorus or being one of the end men.   Some also remember running the several outboard motors that allowed the boat to travel down the Flat River, around Cattail Bend to the showboat dock each summer.

Still others remember using the boat as a unique high school graduation backdrop or sitting at Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts, with the boat behind our weekly performers as well as Santa Visits on the Lowell Showboat.

With the continual deterioration which resulted in closing the wooden structure of boat five to the public,  a group of concerned citizens, under the direction of the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, began plans to raise money in order to create a steel structure “that would represent the long, proud history of the Lowell Showboat and last a very long time,” as quoted by one of the members  of the Showboat Committee.  The committee’s vision went beyond having a solid replacement of this community icon, to being able to offer a venue for community gatherings, which is currently much needed in our area.