Isle Royale Line facts for kids
The Isle Royale Line is a special boat service that takes people between Copper Harbor, Michigan and Isle Royale National Park. For many years, different boats have been part of this service, starting way back in 1930. Six different boats have helped people travel to the island, including the Water Lily, Copper Queen, and four boats named Isle Royale Queen.
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History of the Isle Royale Ferries
The First Boat: Water Lily (1930-1935)
Boat trips to Isle Royale began about ten years before it became a national park. The first boat was called the Water Lily, and it was owned by Charles Kauppi. In 1930, Charles brought his small fishing boat, the Water Lily, to Copper Harbor.
Even though it was a tough time because of the Great Depression, Charles started offering rides to the island. He took campers, hikers, fishermen, and people visiting resorts. This was a brave move because Copper Harbor was far from other towns, and the road to it wasn't even paved yet!
The Water Lily was a fishing boat that was changed to carry people. It was 35 feet long and made of wood. Trips to the island were very long, often taking more than six hours. Charles realized he needed a better boat, especially as more people wanted to visit Isle Royale when it was becoming a national park.
New Boats: Copper Queen and Isle Royale Queen (1936-1955)
After five years, Charles Kauppi decided the Water Lily was too small and old-fashioned. He wanted a boat made just for passengers. So, he had a new boat built, called the Copper Queen. This boat was 48 feet long and looked like a fancy yacht. It could carry 48 people, which was much more than his old boat. Charles sold the Water Lily and continued his trips with the Copper Queen.
Later, new safety rules for ferry boats came out. The Copper Queen didn't have special waterproof sections below the water. So, it couldn't be certified to run on a regular schedule. But Charles didn't give up! He just kept running his trips as "charters," which meant they weren't on a fixed schedule.
The Copper Queen also took about six and a half hours to reach the island. It would stay overnight at Rock Harbor and come back the next morning. It also stopped at other places on the island like Tobin Harbor and Belle Isle. A trip to the island cost five dollars back then.
Charles really wanted to have a regular, scheduled ferry service. In 1938, he got a new boat built, called the Isle Royale Queen. This 40-foot ship had all the safety features the Coast Guard wanted. Now, Charles could run his business on a schedule. He kept both the Copper Queen and the Isle Royale Queen.
When Isle Royale officially became a national park in 1940, Charles and his son, Willard (called "Sully"), used both boats to take people to the island. After Charles passed away in 1955, his family sold the Copper Queen.
Ward Grosnik Takes Over (1955-1971)
Charles's family also sold the Isle Royale Queen and the business to Ward Grosnik, who lived in Copper Harbor. Ward wanted to make the service even better. He ordered a new, faster steel ship called the Isle Royale Queen II. This boat was 57 feet long and 18 feet wide. It started service in 1960. Ward then sold the first Isle Royale Queen.
The Queen II was much faster, cutting the travel time to Isle Royale to about four hours. It could carry 57 people and a lot of extra gear. One expert described it as a strong and graceful boat, built for long trips in rough weather.
Ward and his sons ran the Queen II from 1955 until 1971, when Ward retired. He then sold the business to Donald Kilpela Sr. Donald moved to Copper Harbor to continue the ferry service.
The Kilpela Family and Newer Queens (1971-Present)
Donald Kilpela Sr. operated the Queen II from 1971 to 1988. As Isle Royale became more protected (it was named a National Wilderness Preservation System in 1976 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1981), more people wanted to visit. Donald's business grew, and he added gift shops.
He wanted a new boat, but couldn't find one. So, he hired someone to make the Queen II longer. The boat was made 24 feet longer and had a new back cabin. It was now 81 feet long and could carry 100 passengers! It could cross the lake in about 3.5 hours.
In 1989, this improved ship was renamed the Isle Royale Queen III. With its longer body, it could handle rough waves much better. The Queen III was used until 2004, when Donald Kilpela decided it was time for another new boat.
After looking for almost two years, Donald found his next ship, which was docked in Florida. Donald and his three sons sailed the ship all the way to Copper Harbor. There, it was renamed the Isle Royale Queen IV. This new boat is 100 feet long and 20 feet wide, with lots of space inside. It can make the trip to Isle Royale in just over three hours. Donald Kilpela Sr. retired from being a captain before getting the Queen IV. Now, his three sons, Donald Jr., Ben, and John Kilpela, are the captains.
See also
- Ferries in Michigan
