Michigan Boathouse at Belleville Lake
LOCATION: Belleville Lake, Belleville, Mich.
SIZE: 6,000 square feet
CONSTRUCTED: 1999
COMMEMORATED: Sept. 23, 2000 (Boathouse Day)
FIRST EVENT:
Preseason: Oct. 26, 1997 (Wolverine Fall Classic)
Home Opener: March 28, 1998 (vs. Virginia)
In the fall of 2000, Michigan centered its annual Boathouse Day around the new 6,000-square-foot boathouse on the shores of Belleville Lake for the first time. The successful day provided the groundwork for years of events to be held at the new home of the Michigan rowing program.
The $1.2 million project, which began construction in the summer of 1999, provides Michigan rowers with everything they need to succeed. The lower level of the facility has two large bays with enough room for all of Michigan's competitive and training shells and an area for the coxswains to store and maintain their equipment. The second floor features two offices for the coaches and staff, a fully-equipped training room, a locker room and a large classroom/nutrition fueling station for team meetings and evaluating training film. In addition, there is a grand room with cathedral ceilings which can be used for multiple functions like Erg Workouts, team meetings, and meet day prep.
Adjacent to the boathouse is a wet-well large enough for three coaches' launches and a patrol boat from the local sheriff's department. On the roof of the wet-well is a Trexdeck which can be utilized for gatherings and is large enough to place a tent in case of inclement weather.
Belleville Lake, the largest inland lake in Wayne County, is the home of the University of Michigan rowing team, a site it has used since the team's inaugural varsity season in 1996-97. Both the Wolverine varsity and novice teams practice there daily, in addition to their Indoor Rowing Tank, Erg Room, Row Perfect Training Room, and Locker Room in the Sport Performance Center. Michigan's home events take place at the scenic lake, which has been the venue for such events as the 2001 and 2008 Big Ten Conference Championships.
The vast 1,220-acre Belleville Lake is known for its picturesque morning sunrises as well as scenic photographic opportunities from the shoreline or the water. The 101-acre Van Buren Park, part of Wayne County's Van Buren Township, is nestled in the northwestern point of the lake, just off Rawsonville Road, south of Interstate-94 and east of Ann Arbor. The lake and surrounding parks are used for recreational boating, fishing and hiking throughout the year.
Ergometer Rental Information
Any current student of the University of Michigan is welcome to rent an ergometer from the rowing program, with student ID. A $1,000 check is required as a deposit. The check will be returned upon return of the ergometer. If interested, please contact Emily Sugiyama at eeiffert@umich.edu.
Address and Directions
Michigan Boathouse Belleville, MI 48118
Google Directions/Map
From Detroit Metro Airport and points east: Take I-94 to Rawsonville Road (exit 187). At the end of the exit ramp, turn left and go south on Rawsonville Road. At the first light on Rawsonville Road, turn left onto the I-94 Service Road. Follow the Service Road approximately 1/2 mile to the entrance of Van Buren park, which is on the right just past the shopping center. Turn right into the park. Follow the road all the way through the park to the boathouse, approximately one mile. The boathouse is on the peninsula at the bottom of the hill, just beyond the old boathouse. Parking is located at the top of the hill.
From Chicago and points west: Take I-94 to Rawsonville Road (exit 187). At the end of the exit ramp, turn right and go south on Rawsonville Road. At the first light on Rawsonville Road (there is a Tim Horton's on left corner), turn left onto the I-94 Service Road. Follow the Service Road approximately 1/2 mile to the entrance of Van Buren park, which is on the right just past the shopping center. Turn right into the park. Follow the road all the way through the park to the boathouse, approximately one mile. The boathouse is on the peninsula at the bottom of the hill, just beyond the old boathouse. Parking is located at the top of the hill.
From Toledo and points south: Take U.S. 23 north to I-94 east. Follow directions from Chicago.
From Flint and points north: Take U.S. 23 south to I-94 east. Follow directions from Chicago.
