Ahoy, MARP Maties!
MARP Members, Spouses, Family Members, and Friends
Have fun attending MARP’s August 10 meeting aboard a real (but retired) railroad ferry – the S.S. City of Milwaukee. The ship is designated a National Historic Landmark and is permanently berthed on Lake Manistee in the northwest Michigan vacation community of Manistee. We will meet on the rail car deck of a vessel that once shuttled rail cars between Muskegon and Milwaukee for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Members of the City of Milwaukee’s preservation group, meeting the same weekend, will attend our meeting and have invited us to attend their events.
You are invited to treat this meeting, and the weekend of Aug. 9-10-11, 2013, as part of your summer vacation. Decide now to attend, save your gas money, and get ready to enjoy a weekend of history and good company.
As a special treat, we have the opportunity to experience lodging aboard this 1920’s Great Lakes steamship. Most rooms are located in the historic passenger area which features beautiful oak paneling and polished brass. Other rooms are located in the Engineer’s hallway. You can fish from the ship, just enjoy lounging on the deck under the stars, or watch a movie in the observation room.
Passenger, crew, and officer rooms are available at $25.00 for a single, $15.00 per extra person in a room + 11% tax. Options include: 8 rooms with two single bunks, 8 rooms with one single bunk, 1 room with four bunks.
Don’t dawdle – there are 30 bunks total and the one room with a double bed is already rented. When gone, rooms will be offered aboard the former Coast Cutter Acacia at $25.00 person + tax.
For those wishing a less “historical” experience, there are a number of hotels or motels nearby. Because this is a mid-summer vacation weekend in this popular Lake Michigan community, hotel space is limited. You are advised to book early.
Downtown Manistee is 1/2 mile from the ship and restaurants are within walking distance.
Sadly, there is no public transportation to Manistee so carpooling is recommended.
To make reservations aboard ship:
- Call 231-723-3587 during business hours on Mondays and Thursday-Sunday. Or go online to request booking information at http://carferry.com/contact
To make motel/hotel reservations:
- Microtel 231.398.0008 near the ship
- Super 8 231.398.8888 near the ship
- Ramsdell Inn 231.398.7901 historic downtown hotel
- Manistee Inn & Marina 231.723.4000 downtown on the Manistee River
- Days Inn 888.626.4783 opposite end of town
- Arcadia House B&B 231.723.4042 15 miles north
- Little River Casino Resort 888.568.2244 U.S. 31 and M-22, 2700 Orchard Hwy. Manistee MI 49660
For more information about the ship, read Rosemary Horvath’s account in the Spring issue of The Michigan Passenger. Questions? Phone Jim Wallington 517-303-6038 or email marprail.org
SEE YOU IN MANISTEE !
ALERT — Chemical camp style toilets are provided in the communal/shared toilet facilities but the sponsoring group for the City of Milwaukee is striving to have flush toilets installed in June. There are no toilet facilities on the Acacia so guests will use facilities in the adjacent marina building. Showers are available in the marina building adjacent to both ships. The meeting area is handicapped accessible.
S.S. City of Milwaukee