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Mackinac Island likely won’t reopen until late June, business officials say

Pure Michigan campaign

Mackinac Island, one of Michigan’s largest tourist destinations, is still over a month away from opening for business due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials say.

The world-famous Grand Hotel delayed their annual opening another month until June 21, according to the hotel’s booking department.

The Bayview Yacht Club, which hosts the Bayview Mackinac Race on the island every year, also told members the island likely won’t reopen until the third week of June.

“Social activities on the island will be scaled back,” the club advised members in a newsletter. “What does this mean? I do not know. We are working with the Grand Hotel and will make an announcement clarifying the social activities on the island.”

The Mackinac Island Ferry, which takes people from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace to the island, is still offering essential workers rides, but is banning “non-essential travel,” per a mayoral order, through May 28.

State parks on the island are also closed until mid-June.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “stay at home” order was recently extended until May 28.

“We’re hearing that the island will open slowly, gradually, methodically,” says Tim Hygh with Mackinac Island Tourism. “Different businesses … will open the minute they can.”

Hygh says businesses on Mackinac Island could open as soon as May 29, when the stay at home order is slated to expire. 

Max came to IPR in 2017 as an environmental intern. In 2018, he returned to the station as a reporter and quickly took on leadership roles as Interim News Director and eventually Assignment Editor. Before joining IPR, Max worked as a news director and reporter at Michigan State University's student radio station WDBM. In 2018, he reported on a Title IX dispute with MSU in his story "Prompt, Thorough and Impartial." His work has also been heard on Michigan Radio, WDBM and WKAR in East Lansing and NPR.