News Release
NPS Photo
News Release Date: August 27, 2018
Contact: Kelly Kager, 402-661-1748
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus soliciting proposals for the award of a concession contract to provide ferry/tourboat services at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore). The new concession contract will be for a term of 10 years, beginning on its effective date, which is estimated to be January 1, 2019.
This business opportunity is a summer operation for a ferry/tourboat service from Leland, Michigan to North Manitou Island and South Manitou Island. The concessioner will also be authorized to provide motorized vehicle tours on South Manitou Island, sales of limited snacks and beverages, and transportation of kayaks, canoes, and standup paddleboards. The operating season is mid-May through early-November. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located on the northwestern shore of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan’s west border along Lake Michigan, approximately 23 miles west of Traverse City, Michigan. The Manitou Islands are located northwest of the mainland portion of the National Lakeshore, approximately 12 to 17 miles west of Leland, Michigan. The average annual visitation to the park is approximately 1.6 million recreational visitors annually and the ferry boat transports about 11,000 people a year to the islands.
The concession prospectus is available for downloading. If you obtain a prospectus through the website and you plan to submit a proposal, the NPS recommends that you contact Kelly Kager to be included on the NPS contact list, and receive notification of any additional information or updates to the prospectus that may be released.
Read more about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Last updated: August 27, 2018