Manitou Island Transit Awarded New Ten-Year Contract at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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Date: June 26, 2008
Contact: Larry Johnson, 231-326-5134

Manitou Island Transit, of Leland, Michigan, has been selected as the concessioner for the operation of the passenger ferry service to the Manitou Islands within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a new ten-year contract term, according to an announcement by Superintendent Dusty Shultz.

“Manitou Island Transit has demonstrated a commitment to the National Park Service and its mission by providing many years of safe and enjoyable passenger ferry service to the many visitors to North and South Manitou Islands at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,” Shultz said.  “We are pleased that their strong family tradition of providing high quality visitor services to the Manitou Islands while ensuring protection of the park resources will continue.”

Operating from their dock in Fishtown of Leland Harbor, Manitou Island Transit operates two boats, the Mishe Mokwa, a 65 foot, 133-passenger vessel providing daily service to South Manitou Island from June 1 to Labor Day, and the Manitou Isle, a 45 foot, 66-passenger vessel providing service to North Manitou Island with daily trips in June and five day per week service from July to Labor Day.  Manitou Island Transit also provides motor tours of the interior of South Manitou Island.

On October 21, 1970, Congress established the 71,000-acre Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore along the northwestern shore of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan’s west border along Lake Michigan, approximately 23 miles west of Traverse City, Michigan, to preserve "outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena . . . for the benefit, inspiration, education, recreation, and enjoyment of the public" (Public Law 91-479, 84 Stat. 1075).

For more information on Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, explore this web site or call 231-326-5134.

For more information on Manitou Island Transit, visit their website at http://www.leelanau.com/manitou/ or call 231-256-9061.



Last updated: April 10, 2015

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