Photo Credit: Visit Manitowoc
The ending of the S.S. Badger Carferry season has put a bit of a damper on the summer season in Manitowoc.
Many people had intended on taking the vessel across Lake Michigan for business and for pleasure, and the tourism industry will likely take a hit.
Courtney Hansen, the Executive Director of Visit Manitowoc tell us she and her team were saddened by the news.
“Of course, we are really bummed that the S.S. Badger season has come to an end a few months early, but [we] are so thankful that we had the successful May, June, and July that we had,” Hansen said. “The Carferry is a part of our community has been since…well we celebrated the 70th anniversary this year.”
Hansen admits that Manitowoc County will be missing out on some tourism dollars, but the rest of the summer and early fall will not be a complete wasteland.
“My office is busy…rescheduling sports teams…and a variety of groups to still come to our area this year. They just won’t be taking the boat, unfortunately, to get here,” she explained. “They will be coming, I was going to say on foot, but they will be coming on wheels.”
The Badger ended the season after a portion of the landing dock in Ludington broke and fell into the lake.
The Badger team is working on issuing refunds to those who had already purchased tickets.
