What’s New on Mackinac Island?

14 new adventures, eateries, and more for all ages

People love Mackinac Island in part because it doesn’t seem to change. The island is, indeed, somewhere in time.

But this lovely place is not a theme park; it’s a community where people live and work, and they are experts at creating special experiences for visitors. If you haven’t been in a while, you’ll be pleased to revisit the old favorites and find new experiences for all ages. Read on to see what the islanders have been up to in your absence.

New Adventures & Activities

If you want a full-body workout, Great Turtle Kayak Tours has added Paddleboarding & Hikes. Explore British Landing, 2 miles northwest of downtown, on a standup paddleboard, and then join the new hiking tour on inland trails with some centuries-old mixed hardwoods and limestone bluffs, with history and geology insights from knowledgeable guides.

For a gentler adventure, Walking Tours with Chad, hosted by island insider Chad Bennett, offers a variety of excursions—in any season—based on customer preferences. “I will make the tour fit [the customer],” Bennett says. Walk the neighborhoods, get off the beaten path, or let Bennett surprise you, and be entertained by his great island stories, accumulated from years of driving carriage tours.

Under the moonlight, opt for Haunts of Mackinac, because sometimes being scared is fun. This is no gimmick with “ghosts” planted in the woods—it’s actually a nighttime walk using military-grade night vision goggles in a deeply peaceful stroll into the quiet of the island. This “super power,” according to the owner, is especially potent on a cloudless night when the stars and the moon “really pop.” Yes, there is haunted history and ghost stories, as well.

Don’t miss the three new or updated exhibits at Fort Mackinac’s Soldier’s Barracks. See the timeline “Mackinac, An Island Famous in These Regions,” which tracks island history from fur traders and soldiers to an award-winning, world-class destination. “A Desirable Station: Enlisted Soldiers at Fort Mackinac” illustrates daily life in the late 1880s. And the “Military History of Fort Mackinac” traces the life of the fort through its construction in 1779 and its military significance through 1885.

For the Kids

The Carousel Arcade is a state-of-the-art gaming center with over 20 choices for all ages, from electronic versions of Ring Toss, Willy Wonka, and Jurassic Park, plus Monopoly-inspired Roll-N-Go, motorcycle and car racing simulators, Fx basketball, Big Bass, Virtual Rabbids, a virtual reality adventure, and more. There are snacks and age-appropriate beverages for both kids and adults.

Just around the corner, Great Turtle Toys is not new, but its in-store events are. Test your jigsaw skills in the Speed Puzzle Competitions or visit the “Dope Slimes” Sundae Station. For overnighters, the “Beary Cozy Nights” is a stuffed-animal sleepover: kids drop off a favorite teddy or plush toy for the evening and pick them up in the morning to learn all about the hijinks that we all know happen at sleepovers.

To get the full island experience, Inside Out Tours hosts a Children’s Treasure Hunt that is as awesome as their immersive two-hour hiking, biking, and walking tours into the island’s interior, but plotted for the younger set. Explorers take treasure maps into the island’s interior for a one-hour excursion, filled with fun, adventure, and local history, while following clues to the hidden treasure.

Eating & Drinking

Hotel Iroquois Cocktail Dock is a 250-foot-long pier-turned-cocktail lounge, seating 60, which extends from the Hotel Iroquois frontage on the straits of Mackinac, and it’s open to both hotel guests and the public.

The Gate House, one of the Grand Hotel’s off-site eateries, has been completely renovated with new interior and furniture, a new menu, and outdoor bar and entertainment space.

The Mackinac Social is an upscale waterfront pub (in the former space of Verdes Taqueria) serving signature wraps, burgers, salads, plus serious entrees including Filet Mignon and Maple Bourbon Salmon.

And be sure to check out Winchester’s Whiskey & Bourbon Room, a wood-paneled, speakeasy-style room with extensive bourbon and whiskey selections, craft cocktails, elevated pub menu, and morning donuts.

Sweet Treats

Word on the street is that the freshly baked creations from Mackinac Island Cookie Company really are the size of your head—or a plate, if that visual works for you—and it’s not hyperbole. These half-pound, two-handed treats are deeply satisfying, with their crispy edges yielding to a chewy center. Try Chocolate Chip Oatmeal with sea salt, Triple Chocolate, or Mackinac Monster (aka trail mix in a cookie), plus all of the standard hits from treasured family recipes. Founded in 2024, this bakery is run by the same family behind Hessel’s Liberty Bay Cookie Company. The shop is strategically situated on the Arnold Transit dock, so you can indulge yourself both coming and going.

For more sugary fun, Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor, a beloved destination at the Grand Hotel, has added a downtown location, Sadie’s on Main, found inside the brand-new Grand Hotel Mackinac Market. Find small batch ice cream produced by family-owned Guernsey Farms Dairy of Northville in flavors both classic and inventive, plus downtown’s only soft-serve. Enjoy a scoop, a cone, or more, with all the sprinkles and toppings you can imagine. Look for no-added-sugar and vegan options, too.

Restoration: Still Grand After All These Years

Beauty can seem effortless—the panache, the presence—but we know it takes work, and so it is with the Grand Hotel, the grande dame of island destinations, which is midway through an ambitious five-year restoration project. This beloved National Historic Landmark has a newly painted façade loyal to its original 1887 design, including restoration of the original roofline and replacement of the upper siding (installed in the 1950s) with original-style shingles.

The 52 porch columns and flag poles have been restored or replaced, and replacement of the porch flooring—all 660 ft. of it—is planned for the off-season. The Garden Terrace level, including the admission and front desks along with the retail corridor, have been updated for the new season with new color treatments, wallpapers, and furnishings, and 25 guest rooms, including five suites, have been renovated, refreshed, or reimagined. A 10-year plan will eventually update all 388 guest rooms. This glow-up coincides with our 250th national birthday, as well as the Grand Hotel’s 140th season.

What’s Up with the Ferry?

Florida-based private equity firm Hoffmann Family of Companies is now in control of Mackinac Island ferry services. Hoffman purchased Shepler’s in 2022 and Mackinac Island Ferry Company in 2024, rebranding the latter as the Arnold Transit Company. The City of Mackinac Island launched a legal dispute regarding monopolistic rate increases, which Hoffman says are necessary to meet rising costs. The ferry service has suggested a possible disruption or discontinuation of services by 2027 (contracts expire June 30, 2027) if an agreement has not been reached. A federal court dismissed the island’s claims, and the Michigan Attorney General has urged mediation. Ferry service continues uninterrupted, while the story will play out in the coming months.

Learn more about island resorts and lodging, entertainments, festivals, and outdoor fun at mackinacisland.org.

Pictured: The view from Fort Michilimackinac (photos courtesy of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau).

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