Vacationland

State of Michigan auto ferry Vacationland

For as long as I can remember, on one of Grandma's bookshelves was a old, dusty copy of a book written by David B. Steinman titled "Miracle Bridge at Mackinac". Inside the front cover Grandma had written.

December 1957
Dear Squire,
Will you remember the crispy early morning rides on the Mackinac ferry, and the scarlet and gold sunsets, or the black fury of a windy night's storm? Even a miracle bridge cannot give the moments of sheer delight I've had with you, on the trips we've enjoyed over the waves of these northern straits.
All my love Sue

Grandma loved to write.

Although I was born after the time of the great straits ferries, I can imagine the thrill of crossing into the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula. As I am today, when I board the ferry to Mackinac Island.

The Vacationland was one of the State of Michigan automobile ferries that shuttled over the Straits of Mackinac between the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. Built in 1952 at Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan, she became the last ferry to join the State of Michigan Highway Department fleet. Being a roll on roll off car ferry ( or Roro ) she was equipped with two bridges and a tunnel that linked the two. Cars would drive on one end and drive out the other. Not having to turn the boat around saved valuable time when docking.

The Mackinac Bridge opened on November 1,1957. The automobile ferries at the straits were put up for sale immediately after so they wouldn't compete with the new spans revenue.

Uncle Allen, Grandma, and Uncle Neil on a trip across the straits

In 1959 the Vacationland was sold to Detroit-Atlantic Navigation Corporation and renamed Jack Dalton. In 1960 it was seized for non-payment. It was then sold to Canada and rechristened Pere Nouvel . She worked on the St. Lawance River between Rimouski and Baie Comeau. In 1967 B.C. Ferries purchased Pere Nouvel. She was sailed to Vancouver through the Panama Canal and renamed Sunshine Coast Queen. After being retired in 1977 due to high operating cost she was sold and was to be converted to an oil drilling support vessel. Renamed Gulf Kanayak. She was sold for scrap in 1987.

On December 3, 1987, while being towed to Japan to be scrapped, the Gulf Kanayak sank in 12,000 feet of water during a storm about one hundred miles from the mouth of the Columbia River.
One of the my great regrets in life was not being able to see that beautiful vessel in my ( and Grandmas) beloved straits.

L.O.A. 344' 6"

Beam 75'

Passenger capacity-600

Automobile capacity 150