A proposed North Manitou Island dock is treading water before it’s built. Whether from the vantage point of a backpacker, history buff or taxpayer, it’s becoming obvious that engineers designing the dock and Great Lakes captains who will place the safety of their passengers in its care need to iron out their differences.
May we be so bold as to ask for a timeout? First we offer kudos to the National Park Service, which owns North and South Manitou islands, for recognizing the irreplaceable value of the Manitous to Leelanau County. The south island, with its god-engineered natural harbor, was settled in the late 1830s as a fueling stop for schooners. North Manitou followed about a decade later after easily-reached South Manitou wood was harvested.
Both islands have rich histories that were entrusted to NPS care after their purchase by the Department of the Interior. And both are in need of new docks to ensure continued and reliable ferry service in the decades to come, with North Manitou in a dire condition.
