Qua-Ke-Zik

Qua-Ke-Zik Sportsmen’s Club has been in the Lowell area for over 50 years but has been serving hunters and sportsmen since 1938.

The first meeting was held at Striker’s Hall on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids with a dozen people present. They decided to name the club after the famous Odawa Chief Qua-Ke-Zik, or Noonday as he was called by the American Settlers. Qua-Ke-Zik was an influential figure over the Grand River Valley. Club member Roy Gillis carved two plaques representing Qua-Ke-Zik. One was from black walnut and one from white pine. Roy enjoyed carving and he loved the outdoors. In his later years, when he wasn’t strong enough to be outside hunting and walking trails, he carved. Roy estimated that he spent over 40 hours on each carving. Roy was a World War II Veteran, serving in the army. Unfortunately, the carving in black walnut was stolen. Today the carving in white pine hangs proudly about the fireplace mantel at the Qua-Ke-Zik clubhouse.

After a few meetings at Striker’s Hall, the group soon moved to people’s homes to save rental costs and began looking for land. The club purchased property on the north shore of Dean Lake. The club’s desire was to focus on wildlife conservation, and they immediately began a winter bird feeding program and a general program on wildlife conservation. It quickly became known as a place where you could train your dog and shoot at clay pigeons.

As the years went by, housing developments crowded in and even an elementary school, far too much activity to make shooting safe. The Dean Lake land was sold, and the work began to find a new site. The club found land on the south side of Foreman Street, west of Alden Nash Avenue. A cornerstone was put in place as the work to build a new clubhouse began. The club moved to Lowell in 1976. The move to Lowell meant a new immediate community. The club became part of the community, offering walk-on events for non-members and supporting local causes.

Again, growth and development caught up with the club, and in 2006 the club sold the land to a developer. The first road put in for new houses was creatively called “Old Gun Club Road.” The club moved to Riverside Drive in Ionia County, just outside of Lowell on double the acreage. An advantage of the new location was that it was heavily wooded, allowing the club to participate in a forestry management program, managing both hardwood and soft wood scheduled cuttings.

Today the club offers beginners, novice and experienced sportsmen the opportunity to participate in shooting sports in a safe, friendly and inviting environment. The outdoor range has spacious, covered shooting benches for shooting in any weather, with beamed backstops. The skeet and trap fields offer shot gunners a variety of single and multiple targets. Everything at the club is 100% accessible. The clubhouse has a kitchen, large patio, restrooms, pool table and archery targets in the basement. The club is not just for men. Unlike some sportsmen’s clubs even today, Qua-Ke-Zik not only encourages women members, but is proud of their numbers of women members and young people. As a way to support and encourage young members, when a member graduates from high school, they will receive a $500.00 scholarship to college or a trade school.

While the club encourages membership, many opportunities at the club are available to the public. A popular event is the annual fall adult fundraiser, a prime rib dinner and raffle drawings. Information can be found on the website quakezik.com.

Qua-Ke-Zik is proud of their past and their present and is excited about the future. Traditions have stayed the same. The priorities are safety first, family second, and the third is to have fun.

Images:

1954 at Dean Lake location.

1980 Qua-Ke-Zik Clubhouse Foreman.

1980 Qua-Ke-Zik Foreman Location.

1980 Qua-Ke-Zik Parade.

Current clubhouse.
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Fireplace with carving.