Michiganders are blessed to have two Bois Blanc (pronounced “boblo”) Islands. Both islands were named by French explorers because of their thick stands of white birch trees.
The island commonly spelled “Boblo” is located on the Canadian side of the Detroit River between Detroit and Amherstburg, Ontario. The island, which is now residential, was once famous for its huge amusement park.
The second Bois Blanc Island is closer to home. It lies five miles from Cheboygan in the Straits of Mackinac (Mackinac County).
The island is large: 12 miles wide and six miles across.
Bois Blanc has a fascinating history.
Though it was logged extensively in the 1700s by the British to build Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City and Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, today nature has restored the forests and natural environment on the island to their previous glory.
An ongoing archeological dig has found evidence of human occupation back to 900 AD.
The village of Pointe Aux Pins (“The Pines”) was founded in the late 1800s. Today it features a general store, restaurant, church, tavern, post office, historical society, Coast Guard chapel, community building, lighthouse and an active one-room schoolhouse.
Cottages are spread among the trees.
About 60 to 80 people live year-round on the island. The population increases when summer arrives. The fishing is great. In the fall, hunters head to the island for a few days of rest and relaxation from the stresses of the work world.
Roads and trails are unpaved. Depending on the season, people use cars, bikes, ORVs and snowmobiles to get around.
From the northwest shore, you will have a magnificent view of the Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island and Upper Peninsula.
For almost a century, residents and visitors alike have relied on four generations of the Plaunt family ferry service for transport from Cheboygan to the island and back.
The Plaunt family has always been known to provide friendly, reliable and safe service (as well great stories and hearty laughs!). Each way, the trip takes 45 minutes. From April to November, the ferry usually makes three trips daily. In July and August, it goes up to six per day. If stormy weather is expected, trips are canceled. The rest of the year, the boat makes runs in good weather and as ice conditions allow. A small plane and snowmobiles are also utilized when needed.
Plaunt Ferry Transportation Company was founded in 1932 by Capt. Charles Plaunt. His son, Raymond, captained the boat for four decades, until his son, “Capt. Curt,” took over in 1987. Curt’s mom, Patricia (Frid) Plaunt, took care of the business side from 1948 until passing in 1982. Today, Capt. Curt, his son, Capt. Jason Plaunt, and his nephew Capt. Ryan McLaren are all highly qualified and fully licensed boat captains, while Lynn Hansen and Renee McCall crew the office and Ted Spray and Shawn Nelson are also key parts of the company.
The current ferry, “Kristin D” is named after Curt’s daughter. It was built in 1987 by Blount Boats of Warren, Rhode Island. Thirty feet were added in 1998 by Basic Marine of Escanaba, making it 95’ long and 36’ wide. The ferry can now carry a combination of up to 80 people and 15 cars. Semi-trucks and 40-foot motor homes can also be accommodated. Fares are affordable.
Earlier ferries were named “Ada M.” after Charles’ wife, Ada Metevier, and “Char-Leanne,” after Ray’s daughter (and Curt’s sister).
No Plaunt ferry has been involved in a serious accident.
The Plaunt family provides emergency assistance, rescuing people from Lake Huron, transporting sick and injured from the island and passing freighters to Cheboygan for medical care, and exchanging captains between freighters.
As a lasting honor to Ray, the family also sponsors the Capt. Raymond A. Plaunt Memorial Scholarship which they award to students pursuing careers in the maritime field.
Ray passed away Feb. 16, 2016, at age 95. His kindness, business smarts, and love of family, friends and life left a powerful impression on everyone he met.
I salute the Plaunt family for their courage and stamina providing a lifeline for island residents and visitors alike for 92 years and counting.
I also encourage you to visit Bois Blanc Island soon. It is calm, quiet, beautiful and a spiritual adventure for many.
I can ensure you the entire Plaunt family will do everything they can to transport you safely, treat you well, answer your questions and share meaningful stories of people and times now past. It’s who and how they always are.