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Taking a truck loaded with people tearing around the Sleeping Bear Dunes would land you in jail. But long before the days of endangered pitcher thistle plants and piping plovers, back when most people thought that a fragile ecosystem was something you better pack with extra styrofoam, there were the Dune Rides.

It all began, according to the brochure:

"In 1935 Louis C. Warnes equipped a car with special motor and giant tires for personal pleasure trips into the vast sand lands near his home. Friends begged him to take passengers. Soon he added other cars and trained drivers...."

The website Oh Ranger! adds more detail, noting that Marion Warnes (D.H. Day's youngest daughter) was a gig part as well of Sleeping Bear Dunesmobile Rides out of Glen Haven.

They started the rides with a used 1934 Ford that took four people at a time to the crest of the dunes and back for 25 cents each. By the time the rides ended in 1978, there were 13 dunes wagons each carrying 14 passengers on a 12 mile, 35 minute excursion.

I haven't been able to find anything specifically on the "Dunesmobiles" themselves, but to the left is a photo of a Travelalls made by International Harvester. The book A Nationalized Lakeshore by Theodore J. Karamanski notes that Warnes, backed by his new ten-year concession agreement, purchased ten brand-new Oldsmobile 88 in 1956. They used balloon tires and the two that I've seen around Leelanau are both Olds 88s.

For over 40 years the Dunesmobiles rode over one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world, bringing those to young, old or lazy to walk closer to the beauty that dwells in the heart of the Sleeping Bear. With the coming of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the days of the dune rides were numbered and in 1978 the dune rides ceased altogether.

Today, the trucks have been pressed into service by Manitou Island Transit and far fewer people get back into the "real" dunes. The result is certainly best for the health of the dunes, but it also means that for folks who won't journey more than a few hundred feet from their cars, memories of the Sleeping Bear Dunes will consist of a few runs up and down the dune climb.

There's a couple of photos from the brochure below and you can see some more (with a few from the dune rides at Silver Lake Dunes thrown in) from Don Harrison's postcards of the dunesmobiles. The photo above is Sleeping Bear Dunesmobile by Seeking Michigan (click to see it bigger!)

Sleeping Bear Dunesmobile Headquarters by UpNorth Memories

The Bear -- which has since disappeared

A "Dunesmobile" on the specially constructed gravel road

 

The Glen Arbor Art Association offers several residencies each year for practicing artists who would like the opportunity for creative exploration in an idyllic setting in northern Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula. The purpose of the residency program is to provide visiting artists with a respite from daily responsibilities to enable them to concentrate on their work.

Participants use studio space provided at Thoreson Farm, a farmstead in the historic Port Oneida district of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A small apartment is provided in the Art Association building in Glen Arbor at no charge for the residency period. Residencies are considered in writing, visual arts, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, ceramics, music, philosophy and creative research.

Applications may be submitted until March 1 for the 2012 season. For more details and how to apply, see their web site!

photo credit: The Road to Pyramid Point by Matt Callow> (produced during a GAAA residency!)

The Leelanau Enterprise reports that plans are in the works for the Bay Area Transit Authority (BATA) to provide a "beach bus" that would provide express service between points of interest along the Lake Michigan shore.

One route would start in Suttons Bay and end at Sleeping Bear Point with intermediate stops at Leland, Good Harbor, The Homestead and Glen Arbor...

Initial reaction to the beach bus proposal was favorable from Tom Ulrich, deputy superintendent of SBDNL.

“It fits right within our goals of providing an opportunity to visit the park without people having to drive from place to place … using gas and filling parking spaces,” Ulrich said. “If it’s simply a bus route to get people to the beach without cars, it sounds like a good idea to me.”

They note that another proposal in the works is a wine country shuttle that will be tested on the Old Mission Peninsula. Don Coe of Black Star Farms commented: “I know that public transportation has been used to promote tourism in other wine regions, such as the Napa Valley. It makes a lot of sense.”

Photo Credit: Empire Beach View by StacyN - MichiganMoments

Here's yet another national feature on Michigan wines that highlights the Leelanau Peninsula. John Flesher of the Associated Press touts the wine industry as one on the bright spots in Michigan’s economy, as it is growing 5 times faster that the state’s economy. The article quotes Leelanau winemaker Dan Matthias as saying "It's one of the brightest spots we have in the state of Michigan." It continues:

Michigan’s reputation for quality wine has surged while its lineup of varieties has expanded. Wineries are now turning highly regarded selections of merlot, pinot noir, pinot blanc, cabernet franc and ice wines, a dessert variety made with grapes frozen before harvesting.

“It’s been like an explosion the last couple of years. They’ve been winning medals left and right, competing across the U.S. and internationally,” said Yolanda Daly, director of the Pacific Rim Wine Competition in San Bernadino, Calif. “Beautiful wines are coming out of Michigan.”

As word spreads, businesses in Michigan’s wine regions reap the benefits. About 1 million people visit the state’s wineries each year. They tend to have enough money for dining out, buying gifts and entertainment, said Brad Van Dommelen, president of the convention and visitors bureau in Traverse City, recently named by TripAdvisor.com as one of America’s top 10 wine destinations. (read)

The industry pumps about $300 million into the state’s economy each year and employs thousands of people in wine production and spinoff jobs in hotels, restaurants and shops.

“We’re also making lists of the top foodie towns because of our restaurants,” Van Dommelen said. “When you offer a top-quality wine experience along with that, it’s huge for tourism—and for the entire local economy.”

Beyond the quality of the wines, we have a very special wine touring destination that provides a playground for families and individuals that you just can't match in most other wine regions in the country.

Photo credit: vineyard by beachpiks

"Food was important to have on hand. When I was in the Guard, there was one keeper who knew we were coming and threw all his food out for the gulls. The wind shifted and blew like hell for four or five days--he had to go out to the beach and get what he could from the gulls. As a Group Commander, one of my rulings was to leave canned food in all the lights over the winter. People who got stuck in the ice could often make it to a lighthouse or crib and that food could save their lives."
~former GT Lighthouse resident Doug McCormick (from NMJ)

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is located nine miles north of Northport, Michigan at the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. While the post of keeper was an arduous one in wintertime in the 1930s, it's an easier post now. The lighthouse is accepting applications to live in the historic lighthouse and be a winter or summer keeper for the 2012 season through their Keeper Program.

Keepers live in the fully furnished northern apartment of the lighthouse and have full access to the lighthouse tower which boasts amazing views of the Manitou Passage and Grand Traverse Bay. There are two bedrooms with twin beds, a full and half bath, a well appointed kitchen and large living room, all with views of the lake.

The regular program runs from May through November, and keepers are responsible for greeting visitors at the admissions desk and providing them with historical information. They also run the gift shop, and work on building and grounds maintenance, cleaning and other related lighthouse projects. They must be energetic, comfortable speaking with the public, in good health, able to climb stairs and be on duty 8 to 9 hours per day with breaks. There is a program fee of $195.00 per person per week.

The Winter Keeper Program runs from December through April. For $100.00 per night up to four people can stay at the lighthouse. There is a minimum two night stay. Children are welcome and families encouraged to visit. Although the museum and gift shop are closed to the public the grounds are open for cross country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, bird watching and other wintery activities. Lighthouse work projects will be expected from all keepers.

Get all the details at the link above or contact Lisa Drummond at the GTLM office at (231) 386-7195/progcoor@triton.net.

Photo Credit: Grand Traverse Light, Leelanau St Pk, MI by arrdubyazee

The annual Christmas arts & crafts show will be held this Saturday, December 3 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Old Art Building in Leland. This year’s show features 21 local artisans with holiday gifts, fresh greens, dried wreaths, herbal soaps and lotions, jewelry, specialty foods, ceramics, woven wheat, cards, home accessories, children’s clothing, and hand knit items. There's also complimentary cookies and coffee!

Local artisans include Victoria Gallup, Dee Glass, Mike Hulbert, Kit Knowles, Joy Lang, Roxane Langner, Sara Maleski, Annie McFarlane, Pat McKean, Bill Perkins, Kathy Powell, Shari Prevost, Lisa Psenka, Julie Sanco, Sharecare, Leif Sporck, Greta Stimson, Cookie Thatcher, Cheryl VanZee, Paula Wisniewski and the Wednesday Knitters.

For more information please call 256-2131.

The annual Toast the Season Wine Tour returns to the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail for two weekends - November 5 & 6 or November 12 & 13. The self-guided tour features a special wine & food pairing (yum) at each of the 19 Leelanau Peninsula member wineries.

At your starting winery you will be given a commemorative glass, an LPVA holiday ornament, a souvenir wine key and a holiday gift bag featuring local food including fair trade coffee from Higher Grounds Trading Company of Traverse City, cocoa-coated chocolate covered almonds from Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate in Empire, and (of course) Michigan cherries from Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor!
Tickets are available online along with Toast the Season packages from a number of local lodging partners.

 

In case you're wondering How Sleeping Bear was voted America’s most beautiful place, the Glen Arbor Sun has your answer. This interesting look at how a relatively tiny market used social media and no small measure of natural assets to score a victory on the national stage is well worth a read. It begins:

Ever since Wednesday, August 17, Northern Michiganders have both embraced and grappled with the news that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding region are considered the “most beautiful place in America” — at least according to 22 percent of 100,000 voters who participated in the ABC show Good Morning America’s online competition the second week of August.

Sleeping Bear narrowly beat out Asheville, N.C., for the top spot and also bested vista heavyweights, Newport, R.I., Cape Cod, Mass., Point Reyes, Calif., Aspen, Col., Sedona, Ariz., Destin, Fla., Lanikai Beach, Hawaii, and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Those vanquished opponents are known worldwide for their beaches, their lobster, their sunsets, their skiing and their peaks. Suffice to say, we’re now on the map too...

Read on at the Glen Arbor Sun and read more about the Good Morning America award on Leelanau.com!

Photo Credit: The Southwest Entrance to the Manitou Passage by jimflix!

Below are your 2011 Labor Day Weekend happenings - if you know of more, add them into the comments!

Summer is almost over - fortunately we get to say farewell over a three-day weekend. Here are some ideas for Leelanau Labor Day fun!

Do something like this ------------------------------>

Start the weekend off Friday night in Northport, at the last Music in the Park for the season with Music in the Park featuring the Leo Creek Band.

The annual Alice Busby Walk - Miles for Mammograms kicks off Saturday at 9 AM in downtown Northport. Monies raised in this walk, which honors Alice Busby who died in 1994 at age 43 of breast cancer, go to pay for mammograms for women who otherwise could not afford them. The walk is sponsored by the Zonta Club of Leelanau County.

As long as you've got your running shoes on, how about the Port Oneida 5k Barn to Barn Run & Walk? It takes place Saturday  in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 9 age categories, awards, food and great give-aways!  1/4 Kids Schoolhouse dash also. A fundraiser for Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear - an official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service since 1998.

On Saturday night, Suttons Bay will hold their annual Labor Day Fireworks at dusk.

Sunday from 1-9 PM the village of Lake Leelanau hosts the Lake Leelanau Barbecue & Blues Festival! Artists include the Sub Prime Blues Band, Broken Arrow Blues Band, Laith Al-Saadi , Pete Fetters and others and there's great food & fun to be had.

On Monday, Leland hosts their annual Labor Day Bridge Walk beginning promptly at Noon on the M-22 Bridge. Certificates, lemonade and cookies will be available for all on the lawn of the Old Art Building following the walk.

You'll have to make a choice because the Labor Day BridgeWalk/Party happens at noon on the Narrows Bridge between Big & Little Glen Lake!

Labor Day Weekend is also a great time to explore all the great beaches in the area.  Many people have heard that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the most beautiful place in (Good Morning) America. For one look at why, check out North Bar Lake with everything from lounging in the sun to swimming in toasty warm North Bar, playing in the waves on a pristine stretch of Lake Michigan shore and even enjoying Leelanau's best skim boarding on the tiny channel that connects the two lakes!  For more, visit our Sleeping Bear Dunes page.

Looking for more things to do, check out the Leelanau Calendar. Please feel free to leave your Labor Day suggestions as comments! We look forward to hear what everyone has planned!

Of course just kicking back with a fishing pole or a barbecue with some friends may be all you need for the perfect holiday weekend, which we at Leelanau.com heartily wish for you!

Photo:  These are days to remember... by John Levanen

"It looks like nothing else in America."
~Josh Elliot of Good Morning America

Good Morning America has named the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore as their Most Beautiful Place in America!

Tens of thousands of viewers voted online for this Michigan park, which is one of the nation's best-kept secrets. The hidden gem boasts 64 miles of beaches along Lake Michigan, two islands, 26 inland lakes, more than 50,000 acres of land, and the monumental sand dunes from which it gets its name.

..."GMA" viewer Jim Madole of Grand Rapids, Mich., nominated Sleeping Bear for its natural beauty.

"It is peaceful and serene, a place for gazing out into the world, night or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic mystery, and humans are just a very small part of it all," he wrote in his submission. "Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the perfection of Mother Nature."

Click through to see what Mario Batali has to say about the Sleeping Bear Dunes and explore it in depth at the official Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore website and in our clairvoyantly titled section,  America's Lakeshore: The Sleeping Bear Dunes! Get some amazing photos in the Sleeping Bear Dunes slideshow from the Leelanau.com group on Flickr!

Photo Credit: Visions in the Manitou Passage by Happyhiker4