This is not a new topic. If you've gone to Mackinac Island in the past several years, you know about the escalating cost. The island isn't a cheap vacation spot, but the ferry trip rides have become unpleasantly expensive very quickly after the Shepler's ferry was bought out my Hoffman that already owned the other Mackinac Island ferry company (RIP Star Line) and forming a monopoly in the process. I'm baffled on why this was allowed to happen.
When I purchased our ferry tickets, here is what my bill came to:
This seems crazy to me. And now the Village of Mackinac Island and the ferry companies are battling over the price increases that Hoffman is sure to put forward next year, with the company threatening to stop service if they don't get their way. Like many places (looking at you, Las Vegas), the Mackinac Island experience will be pricing out those with less money. Add the $25/day parking (or the $75/day for premium parking where you can walk to the ferry instead of taking a shuttle), and this business has clearly become a flat-out money grab.
My daughter and I have made this trip every year since she has been born. But she is in college now and traditions end. Michigan has a lot of wonderful locations. Perhaps it's time to explore some of them.