Mixed Results
Some Businesses Up, Some Down, To Start 2006 Tourist Season
By Karen Gould

More visitors toured Mackinac State Historic Park sites over the Memorial holiday this year than last, and one ferry line reported an increase in travelers to Mackinac Island, although counts at the Mackinac Bridge were down, leaving no clear glimpse of summer traffic in the wake of the first big holiday of the season.

A3.25 percent increase with visitors exploring Fort Mackinac, Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and Historic Mill Creek occurred from Saturday, May 27, through Tuesday, May 30, said Tim Putman, public relations and marketing officer for the parks.

During a similar period, from Thursday, May 25, through Tuesday, May 30, Mackinac Bridge traffic was down 1.32 percent over last year, reported Bob Sweeney, executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority. He did note, however, that crossings on Friday through Sunday were up over last year.

Overall, 92,415 cars made the crossing during the five day period, compared to 93,652 in 2005, said Mr. Sweeney.

Mr. Sweeney also analyzed statistics going back six years and found no parallel between Memorial Day weekend bridge traffic and summer traffic. He said traffic fell last year when gas prices rose.

"Memorial Day travel is a general indicator," he said, "but there are other factors that can affect the season."

Tom Pfeiffelmann, general manager of Star Line Ferry, said the numbers of passengers traveling to Mackinac Island were up over last year, both in crossings from St. Ignace and in Mackinaw City.

Dave Ramsey, dockmaster with Star Line, said business might have been even better if the weather had cooperated on Sunday. He said people tended to hold off going to Mackinac Island in the morning, waiting until the rain stopped.

Mr. Putman at the state park agreed. Sunday, he said, was the only soft day at Mackinac State Historic Parks during the long weekend.

Mr. Ramsey said travelers he talked with from Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and lower Michigan last weekend may indicate that people are going to take shorter trips this year. He speculated high gas prices will keep summer travelers closer to home.

Leading into the Memorial Day holiday, attendance at Mackinac State Historic Parks was mixed. Group tours, primarily school children, were down 12 percent, but individual and family attendance was up 21 percent. The poor school attendance could be a reflection of strained school budgets, said Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks at the Mackinac Island State Park Commission meeting Saturday, May 27.

The early statistics cover fewer than 25 days since the forts opened and do not include the Memorial Day holiday period.

New interest has been sparked with Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse following years of renovations and attendance is up 96 percent, which Mr. Porter attributes to additional marketing to school groups.

Overall park attendance is down seven percent from last year prior to the holiday weekend, and Fort Mackinac's visitor count dropped 11 percent. Colonial Michilimackinac attendance is down four percent and Historic Mill creek is down 10 percent.

Arnold Transit Company and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry also were contacted for this story, but could not return calls before press time.