Isle Royale Line facts for kids
The Isle Royale Line is a boat service that takes people between Copper Harbor, Michigan and Isle Royale National Park. It's like a special bus on water! This service has been running since 1930 and has used six different boats over the years. These boats were named Water Lily, Copper Queen, and four boats called Isle Royale Queen.
Contents
History of the Boats
The Water Lily: 1930-1935
Boat trips to Isle Royale started about ten years before it became a national park. A man named Charles Kauppi owned the first boat, called the Water Lily. In 1930, Charles brought his small fishing boat, the Water Lily, to Copper Harbor. It was about 35 feet long and made of wood.
Charles used his boat to take campers, hikers, and fishermen to the island. This was a brave thing to do because Copper Harbor was far from other towns. Also, it was the start of the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs. But Charles was very determined! People even said he was one of the bravest captains on Lake Superior.
The Water Lily was a fishing boat, so it wasn't perfect for passengers. Trips to the island took a very long time, usually more than six hours! Charles often asked a passenger to steer while he made coffee. Around 1935, more people wanted to visit Isle Royale because it was becoming a national park. Charles knew he needed a better boat.
The Copper Queen and First Isle Royale Queen: 1936-1955
After five years, Charles realized the Water Lily was too small and old-fashioned. He decided to build a new boat just for passengers. He worked with a local builder to create the Copper Queen. This boat was 48 feet long and looked like a fancy yacht. It could carry 48 people, which was a big improvement! Charles sold the Water Lily and continued his trips with the Copper Queen.
However, new rules came out for ferry boats. The Copper Queen didn't have special waterproof sections below the water. This meant it couldn't be certified for regular, scheduled trips. But Charles didn't give up! He just kept running his trips as "charters," which meant they weren't on a strict schedule.
The Copper Queen still 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 like Tobin Harbor and Belle Isle. A trip to the island cost five dollars.
Charles really wanted to have a scheduled boat service. In 1938, he got a new ship built called the Isle Royale Queen. This boat was 40 feet long and had the special waterproof sections the Coast Guard wanted. Now, Charles could run his business on a schedule! He kept both the Copper Queen and the new Isle Royale Queen.
When Isle Royale officially became a national park in 1940, Charles and his son, Willard, ran both boats. After Charles passed away in 1955, his family sold the Copper Queen.
Ward Grosnik and the Isle Royale Queen II: 1955-1971
Charles's family also sold the Isle Royale Queen and the business to Ward Grosnik. Ward quickly made the service bigger. He ordered a new, much 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 amazing! It could reach Isle Royale in about four hours, cutting the travel time almost in half. It could carry 57 people and lots of extra gear. A marine expert described it as a "strong, graceful, open-water long-voyage, heavy weather ferry."
Ward and his sons ran the Queen II from 1955 until Ward retired in 1971. He then sold the business to Donald Kilpela Sr.
The Kilpela Family and the Queen II, III, and IV: 1971-Present
Donald Kilpela Sr. ran trips to Isle Royale with the Queen II from 1971 to 1988. During this time, Isle Royale became a National Wilderness Preservation System, meaning most of the island must stay wild. It was also named an International Biosphere Reserve. These changes made more people want to visit, and Donald's business grew!
Donald added two gift shops to his business. He also started looking for a new boat. When he couldn't find one, he decided to make the Queen II bigger. The same company that built the original boat added 24 feet and a back cabin to the Queen II. 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 hull, it could handle rough waves much better. The Queen III was used until 2004, when Donald decided it was time for another new boat.
After almost two years of searching, Donald found his next ship: the American Freedom. He and his three sons sailed the ship all the way from Cape Canaveral to Copper Harbor. There, it was renamed the Isle Royale Queen IV. This boat is 100 feet long and 20 feet wide, with lots of space inside. It can make the trip in just over three hours! Donald Kilpela Sr. retired from being a captain before buying the Queen IV. Now, his three sons, Donald Jr., Ben, and John Kilpela, are the captains.
See also
- Ferries in Michigan
