Propelled by a near record-setting June and solid performances in July and August, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore visitation appears headed for its busiest season in at least four years.
That presents a contrast with tourism in the Traverse City area, which the CEO of Traverse City Tourism recently rated as “B minus” compared to recent years.
“We had a great summer,” reported Lakeshore superintendent Scott Tucker. “I was comparing that to an article I read about tourism in the area. But we were up, and we had great numbers. The main reason was the weather was spectacular in July and August, and it’s 85 degrees right now.”
During the three-month summer season, some 1,189,279 recreation visits were recorded in the lakeshore. Summer visitation was limited to 1,119,441 visitors in 2023, 1,057,970 in 2022 and 1,168,108 in 2021.
The figure was 1,274,518 in 2020 when the country was emerging from its COVID hibernation.
August visitation of 434,979 was up nearly 10% from 2023, and July attendance was the best since 2021. June visitation finished at 278,009 — just 247 off the all-time record for the month set in 2021.
Visitation in September traditionally falls off by more than half compared to August.
“We definitely noticed somebody switched the switch,” said Candi Hornacek, a seasonal maintenance worker at the Lakeshore who expects to be laid off in early October. “But it was very populated this summer. From the Fourth of July through August it was unbelievable. But from my perspective I didn’t think it was as busy as last year. But I was rather green last year, my first year, and now it’s a little more routine.”’ As might be expected, Hornacek enjoys working outdoors. She appreciates the views offered when working at the Lakeshore as well as the accolades.
“We hear a lot of compliments. We’re cleaning the vault toilets or picking up trash and people will come up to us to say thank you. Of course, we’re seeing them at their prime moment,” Hornecek said.
She’ll be working over the winter at her former full time job, that as a cook for the Frankfort Pines Assisted Living.
for the Frankfort Pines Assisted Living. She resides in Benzie County.
“I like working outdoors. Kitchen work is kind of lonely,” Hornecek said.
The 2024 visitation figure through August sat at 1,361,488, well on its way to topping 1.6 million. In 2023, some 1,598,248 recreation visits were recorded. The all-time record of 1,722,955 was set in 2021.
