Ionia Theatre.
While driving between Lansing and Grand Rapids with a little extra time, I decided to swing north on M-66 to check out Ionia. I had heard of the Ionia Free Fair but not much else.
Ionia, the largest city in Ionia County, is the county seat. The population was 13,378 as of the 2020 census. The city is named after Ionia, a historic region in Greece.
Ionia was first settled in 1833 by Samuel Dexter, who recruited a group of about 63 people from New York to join him. Aided by the local Ojibwe, they settled in and cleared fields, then built log cabins and soon a sawmill. What is now the Ionia Historic District was at first just a scattering of small houses. In 1839, the United States Land Office was transferred to Ionia, and in 1859, a railroad came through the town. Along with other commercial enterprises, these made Ionia a prosperous settlement, and the rapid growth led to prominent members of the community constructing larger brick homes in the district just east of the downtown.
Three of these houses – the John C. Blanchard House, the Frederick Hall House (now the Hall-Fowler Memorial Library), and the Lovell-Webber House – are individually listed on the National Register.
Although some of the early structures in the district are of the mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival style, the most characteristic type is the later Italianate variety, which predominates in the neighborhood, showing the bulk of the district was built up in the later nineteenth century.
Pulling into town, the large fairgrounds, brick buildings and grandstand on the Grand River are hard to miss. I drove around the empty large property, trying to imagine what it would be like during fair week.
Every July, it hosts what is said to be the world’s largest free-admission fair, the Ionia Free Fair. The fair was established in 1915 and brings in hundreds of thousands of attendees annually, with an estimated 400,000 guests in 2023.
The fair started as a way to offer something different and spectacular to people nearby, with the notable feature of free admission that still exists to this day. Originally intended to only last a few days, it has turned into a week-and-a-half’s worth of festivities.
Over the years, Metallica, Deep Purple, the Monkees and other acts have performed here.
The fairgrounds gained some notoriety in 2009 when hundreds of cars were totaled in a flood there at the B-93 Birthday Bash country music concert. It took over a week before the vehicles – over 1,400 of them – could begin to be removed.
Driving downtown, I was impressed with the dozens of large classic buildings lining the brick main street. Downtown Ionia could easily be the set for a 1920’s-era movie.
The library, courthouse, post office and many other government and city buildings are very impressive.
Although many of the former larger department stores have long since closed, Ionia’s downtown still houses several good restaurants and antique stores.
The main street highlight for me was being given a tour of the Ionia Theatre, built in 1931. After years of deterioration, it was taken over by the city and with fundraising and much volunteer work, it has been restored to its original splendor. The smaller theatre comfortably seats 109 people and the main auditorium seats about 700.
The inside and design of the theatre were patterned after the New York Roxy Theatre. Art Deco paintings can be found on the large chandelier and ceiling medallion, lobby murals, original wood furnishings, and side lights. All of these are original to the construction but have been preserved and maintained.
The Ionia Theatre is currently operated and managed by the Ionia Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ionia with a senior manager, manager, and two part-time staff. Regularly scheduled volunteers assist with concession and ticketing for movies. Hopefully something like this can be done with the State Theatre in Kalamazoo.
Bluegrass musician Billy Strings grew up in nearby Muir and one of his first performances was at the theatre as a young boy with a school program. In 2021, he and his band came back to Muir and donated over 200 guitars to his old school.
Equally as impressive as the downtown buildings are the countless Victorian area mansions surrounding the business district.
The Ionia Historic District is located to the east of downtown Ionia. It contains 197 structures. All but seven of these were built as residential homes.
On my next visit I would like to walk or bike the Ionia River trail, a nice, three-mile mostly shaded flat trail that follows the Grand River. Parking is at the Fairgrounds on the west side of 66 just north of the bridge, to start your trip. The Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Rail Trail ( 17 miles) is just up the road on 66. Eventually these trails will connect.
If you love midwestern cities, chock full of classic architecture, you will love Ionia!
