Historic Ferry Boat Returns to Petoskey

» THE OLD EMERALD ISLE has (almost) come home. The former Beaver Island ferry boat, which went into service in 1955, was in use by Detroit-based Diamond Jack’s River Tours when Chris Chamberlain saw it was for sale. As the owner of Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co., as well as riverboats in Lansing and Detroit, Chamberlain was looking for another boat to facilitate private events or tours in addition to the ferry service he was already operating on Little Traverse Bay out of Petoskey.

“When we first went to look at the boat, and we discovered it was the original Emerald Isle that served Beaver Island [from Charlevoix], we knew we had to bring it home,” Chamberlain says. “To avoid any confusion with the current ferry servicing Beaver Island also named Emerald Isle, we have renamed our boat to the Harbor Princess.”

The vessel will operate evening cruises for sunset excursions and private events starting this year.

“It will depart out of the Petoskey dock and cruise … around the harbor, out in the bay, and back to the dock,” says Ami Klykken, general manager for Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co., noting it will have a capacity of 150 for private events and maybe a little less for public use. Catering and bar services will also be available.

Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co. was already running a regular seasonal schedule with 25-minute excursions that take passengers between Bay Harbor, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs.

–Kathy Gibbons

Native Detroiter Founds Luggage Company

Stephen Davis founded Take Off Luggage after experiencing high luggage fees on cheap flights. When a round-trip flight from Detroit to Arizona cost him just $40, the native Detroiter says he was then “hit with $100 in baggage fees.” Davis searched online, looking for suitcases that could fit under airline seats to avoid high fees in the future. Not finding many options, he was inspired to create his own, and ideation for his business was underway.

He first made the luggage for himself, but after being asked multiple times at airports about his suitcase, he was inspired to develop Take Off Luggage. The company’s signature suitcase features 360-degree wheels that can be removed to transform the bag into a personal item that weighs just 5 pounds and can fit under most airplane seats. Take Off Luggage currently offers two carry-on suitcases and a backpack but expects to add new products soon.

“We are expanding right now, we have some accessories that are out and some good accessories that are coming [soon],” Davis says. “I don’t want to give it away because I haven’t seen other companies do it yet, [but] it’s something that people have been asking for.” –Eliana takeo uggage.com

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