Zach Bryan purchases MA church to create Jack Kerouac Center

Zach Bryan is helping to honor the legacy of iconic Beat Generation novelist and poet Jack Kerouac. He purchased the Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Lowell, MA, Kerouac’s hometown, to turn it into the Jack Kerouac Center, Boston.com reports. The center has been in the works for a few years now, but progress had stalled until now because of issues securing funding.

“Right from the start, it was clear [Bryan] shared our passion for honoring Jack’s legacy while also creating a dynamic, creative space,” Jack Kerouac Estate marketing and business development leader Sylvia Cunha said in a statement. “He stepped up and delivered in a big way, showing incredible generosity.”

Kerouac served as an altar boy at the church, which was also the site of his funeral mass in 1969. A press release says that the 20,439 square foot building will become a “vibrant cultural hub,” hosting live music, readings, community events, and exhibits.

Literary executor of the Jack Kerouac Estate Jim Sampas said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Zach Bryan and his team to honor Jack Kerouac in such a meaningful way. The Jack Kerouac Center will stand as a lasting symbol of inspiration, forever linking Jack and Zach.”

In his Instagram stories, Bryan shared a report about the news, writing, “My life’s greatest honor. Long live Kerouac’ing.” In a second story, he shared Kerouac’s well-known On the Road quote that begins, “the only people for me are the mad ones,” writing, “miss you, Jack.”

Bryan played Stagecoach last month and he has more shows coming up this summer and fall, including a three night run at East Rutherford, NJ’s MetLife Stadium on July 18-20 with Kings of Leon and The Front Bottoms (who Zach is a big fan of). See all dates below.

ZACH BRYAN: 2025 TOUR DATES
Friday, June 20, 2025 Phoenix Park Dublin, IE
Saturday, June 21, 2025 Phoenix Park Dublin, IE
Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 Phoenix Park Dublin, IE
Saturday, June 28th, 2025 BST Hyde Park London
Sunday, June 29th, 2025 BST Hyde Park London
Friday, July 18, 2025 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ
Saturday, July 19, 2025 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ
Sunday, July 20, 2025 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ
Friday, August 15, 2025 Golden Gate Park San Francisco, CA
Saturday, August 30, 2025 Joan C. Edwards Stadium Huntington WV
Saturday, September 6, 2025 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, Indiana
Saturday, September 27, 2025 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI