Shepler’s Ferry | Grandma's Ramblings

While in Mackinaw City for our 40th wedding anniversary, we enjoyed a ride on the Shepler’s Ferry. While we did not go the island, we chose a nighttime cruise “A Night of Falling Stars”. We boarded the ferry a little before 9:00 p.m. and enjoyed an hour and a half cruise as we counted the stars and enjoyed cruising under and around the Big Mac bridge. It was beautiful at night with all the lights.

Before 1957 the only way to reach Mackinac Island or to get from the lower peninsula to the upper peninsula was to take a ferry. The first commercial ferry service was started in 1878 by George T. Arnold and LB Coats providing service to the island. When the Grand Hotel opened and greater demand was made for service to the island, other ferry services opened up.

The Michigan State Ferry System operated from 1923 to 1957 providing car ferries to connect the lower peninsula to the upper peninsula. In the mid 1950’s the car ferries carried almost 1 million cars a year. There were times when they had five ferries running with a total capacity of 500 cars. The largest ferry could carry 150 cars. In 1957 when the “Big Mac” bridge was completed, the car ferries providing service across the straits were no longer necessary.

When the government purchased the “Mackinaw City” and the “Sainte Ignace” in 1940 for war purposes, the State obtained a Pere Marquette Railway boat for service at the Straits of Mackinac. The ferry was renamed the “City of Petoskey”. The vessel could carry 105 vehicles. In the winter of 1952, the Highway Department acquired the 10,000 horsepower “Vacationland”. Built by the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan, it cost $4,745,000 and, with a 75 foot beam and a 360 foot length, became the queen of the fleet. The “Vacationland” carried nearly 150 cars and trucks. The five-vessel fleet had a total carrying capacity of about 500 vehicles.

The Shepler Ferry is quite an operation. Along with ferries to and from the island, they offer special cruises like the one we took. They offer 3-4 hour cruises on both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron that give a great view of the many lighthouses in the area. I found it exciting to start the cruise on Lake Huron and end on Lake Michigan.

We forgot to bring any jackets, and it was a little cool out on the lake as we chose to take seats on the upper deck. The lower deck provided more protection from the wind, but your view of the stars was limited. So we just cuddled close to keep warm – and since we were celebrating our anniversary, we really did not need any excuse to do that.

After World War II, Captain William H. Shepler returned to Mackinaw. He started his business by opening a snack bar for passengers waiting for the ferry. He soon saw a need for better ferry services to Mackinac Island. Thus the Shepler Ferry line was born. Over the years they have added more ferries and built a large area for customers to park and to wait for the ferries. There is parking for those who are only taking a cruise on the lake or to and from the island. There is also overnight parking for those who are going to stay on the island since there are no vehicles allowed on the island. It was fascinating to watch the employees as they quickly loaded the people who were staying on the island and all their luggage.

While I enjoyed the ferry ride and the historic fort, I must admit I would not make a return trip to Mackinaw City. For me, there was too much “tourist trap” atmosphere. Lots and lots of t-shirts shops, souvenir shops and restaurants. Too many crowds.

(Pictures of old ferries: https://northernmichiganhistory.com/)