Tulip Town in the time of coronavirus

Andrew Miller and four of his Skagit county high school friends and alumni bought Tulip Town last June from Anthony and Jeannette DeGoede, who owned it for 35 years. The group organized as Spinach Bus Ventures. They felt they could carry on the DeGoede’s tradition, not only as a passion, but as a profitable agricultural business and popular tourist attraction. Miller says, “we are in the smile business here.”

Tulip Town provides an opportunity for tourists and locals alike to photograph, film and spend time in nearly waist high tulip fields and displays. Many purchase their favorites tulips, Miller said, “choosing from approximately 60 varieties, some coming from as far away as Holland.”

The coronavirus pandemic has stopped that completely. Tulip Town is closed to the public. The Tulip Festival is cancelled. The annual bumper-to bumper “tulip traffic” that jams the roads and fills parking lots to capacity, has trickled down to an occasional passerby that dares to stop at the fields and gates to take a few snapshots of the tulip fields from afar.

While no one gets turned away, the contrast is stark.

Tulip Town is helping to “flatten the curve” in hopes that the number of illnesses and death from COVID-19 virus, will be greatly reduced.

This brought a new challenge to the new owners. They had to find different ways to bring their products “to the people” instead. Thus the “Color of Courage” campaign was launched. Miller, an army veteran, has personally delivered tulips to “nursing homes, hospitals and to first responders and essential public utility workers that are courageously battling COVID-19 on the front lines.” His route includes Seattle, Tacoma and other cities and towns. He recently delivered donated bouquets to Conway’s school and to the “Wear the Heart Is” in Burlington. On average, he delivers between 150-200 bouquets a day.

At Tulip Town there is hardly a soul around. Farmhands and family members of the owners diligently continue harvesting the tulips and bulbs. They are making a brave effort to “keep an iconic industry afloat” Miller says. They have mail order deliveries: “500 bouquets were shipped out all in one day,” Miller said. They are also prepping the fields for pumpkins and corn for the fall harvest and, hopefully, festival.

Another option to view the tulips, is a new online app that is a “virtual tour.” To place orders and enjoy Tulip Town from afar, go to: http://www.tuliptown.com