City Of Mackinac Island And Ferry Companies At War

When I think of Mackinac Island, I think of bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, fudge, and happy people. There is a legal battle between the city and the ferry companies.

Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island has always been known to me as Michigan's happy place.

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People walking, biking, shopping, eating fudge, with the smell of lilacs, with smiles everywhere.

Even though Mackinac Island is next to Michigan's biggest bridge, there is no bridge to the island. The only way to get to and from the island is by ferry. Mackinac Island does not own the ferry companies that transport people to and from the island. Those companies were sold a few years ago to a new company. The City of Mackinac and the ferry owners struck up a new deal. That deal is changing, and the two entities are not happy with each other.

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City of Mackinac Island and Ferry Companies in Legal War

According to WOOD, the City of Mackinac Island claims the company that owns both ferry services has created a monopoly.

Hopefully, this feud between the City of Mackinac Island and Florida-based Hoffmann Marine doesn't hinder visitors from getting on and off the island.

Originally, three separate ferry companies shuttled visitors to and from the island. One company absorbed another, and Hoffman Marine bought the other company. Hoffman Marine now owns all three companies and has consolidated them into Shepler's Incorporated and Arnold Transit.

The City of Mackinac Island is angry with Hoffman Marine for wanting to raise the ticket fees for ferry rides by $2. The city said no and froze the fees. The ferry companies are suing the City of Mackinac Island for overreaching its authority, while the city claims Hoffman Marine is running a monopoly.

Hoffman Marine owns both ferry companies, the docks, the parking lots, and the surrounding buildings. The City of Mackinac Island claims they are trying to protect visitors from price gouging.

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Both groups will get their day in court, and hopefully, the disputes don't lead to people not being able to visit the island.