Michigan Outdoor Economic Growth Slow in 2024

Trap Hills in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (photo by jhy)

from Bridge Michigan

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis has released data from 2024 on the outdoor industry. Outdoor recreation in Michigan added $15.1 billion to the economy, an increase of over one billion from 2023. Although there was growth, it lags behind 35 other state's rate of increase of 4%.

Brad Garmon, executive director of the state’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, said, “One thing about Michigan’s outdoor recreation economy is it’s really diverse. In some ways, that means that we don’t grow as fast as some other states that see a big upswing.”

Since it takes time to collect and process data, these figures from 2024 do not reflect the most recent season. A good snow year suggests that figures for 2025 will look better.

Garmon also stated that slow, steady growth is probably better than volatile peaks and valleys. Michigan ranked in the top 20 states in most categories of outdoor recreaton. Approximately 125,000 jobs are generated in the state from outdoor recerational pursuits.

See the full article with several graphs at Michigan lags US in outdoor economy growth


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Does Michigan Have a Split Personality?

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commentary based on several sources

Michigan simply can't seem to get its head together when it comes to tourism. The "Pure Michigan" campaign, to woo visitors to the state has won national Mercury Awards from the Travel Industry Association of America for both its radio and television advertisements. This campaign has been funded at unprecedented levels by the state, to allow for national advertising, beginning with $45 million dollars in 2008

Just this week, The state House of Representatives passed a bill to continue to campaign, to the tune of $30 million. I guess the budget went down because times are tough. The bill now goes to the Senate.

So, the state wants desperately to pull people into the northland where they will spend money, creating jobs. Tourism has been credited with supporting 193,000 jobs in the state.

But I guess the state only wants tourists who like to stay and play in the places where they will spend the most money. For lack of $100,000 dollars, just 0.03% of the cost of the advertising, all but 8 DNR run state ski trails will remain un-groomed this year. Last year the state groomed 23 trails. "The trails are a non-revenue producer," explained Jim Radabaugh, the trails coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

This is simply the winter component of the same problem that closed 10 state forest campgrounds last summer. The DNR's money comes from the General Fund, and the General Fund is not doing very well.

Meanwhile, the state is going to plow the parking areas at all 23 ski trails. What? Very few people like to ski on un-groomed trails. Those of us who snowshoe might find this an appealing choice, but skiing is generally more popular. Might it have made more sense to both plow and groom maybe 12 trails?

At any rate, once again, no one seems to have applied any common sense to this issue. If only 1% of that $30 million dollars ($300,000) could have been transferred to the DNR specifically for campgrounds and trails, then there would be a guarantee of great places for the tourists who wish to get off the beaten path to visit and recreate.

See Michigan DNR for a list of the areas that will be groomed.
See Grand Rapids Press
See PR News Wire
See Pure Michigan Wins Awards
See Pure Michigan
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Michigan Log Cabin Day

from Log Cabin Crafts

The 23rd Annual Log Cabin Day in Michigan will be June 28, 2009. Festivals and Tours will be held at 100 locations. These will include historic, authentic cabins. Many are off the beaten track in picturesque locations. Some are preserved in pioneer villages. New log cabins may also be viewed.

On December 9, 1986, the Michigan Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming Log Cabin Day on June 28, 1987 for the Sesquicentennial. On that day there was a tour of seven Berrien County log cabins along with four other Log Cabin Day events in the state.

Because of public response, the Legislature passed a bill to make Log Cabin Day annual, signed by Gov. James J. Blanchard on June 15, 1989. As recorded in the Statutes of Michigan: "The last Sunday of June of each year shall be known as 'Log Cabin Day.' "

Michigan is the only state which has an annual statewide log cabin festival. Of the hundreds of log cabins which have been on the annual Log Cabin Day parade since 1987, at least seven were built before 1840.

The Log Cabin Society of Michigan was incorporated in 1988 to sponsor this event and to discover, preserve, and promote log cabins in Michigan. An award of merit was received in 1991 from the Historical Society of Michigan.

For a brochure with map, send $1.00 to: Log Cabin Society of Michigan, 3503 Rock Edwards Drive, Sodus, MI 49126-8700. Admission is usually free unless otherwise stated. Some cabins will be closed but can be seen from highway

A listing of the 100 cabins, their locations, and some additional information can be seen at the web site.

See Log Cabin Crafts
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Free Lake Michigan Circle Tour & Lighthouse Map

from the West Michigan Tourist Association

The West Michigan Tourist Association will provide you with a free copy of the new Circle Tour & Lighthouse map. All they ask is that you sign up and tell them which region of Michigan is your home area, and some of the activities that interest you. The map and guide shows all of the lighthouses around Lake Michigan and provides highlights, accessibility and photos of over 20 lighthouses!

The West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide is a comprehensive year-round travel guide, and is packed with over 1,000 places to stay and play in West Michigan. It contains travel information for each of the four seasons and events across the region. This free guide is essential for planning a West Michigan getaway.

This is the only comprehensive publication encompassing four-seasons of travel planning in the region. Both visitors and residents will find it indispensable.

You have the option to be emailed the URL of where you can download the pdfs, or to receive the booklets by mail.

See Lake Michigan Circle Tour & Lighthouse Map
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Sleeping Bear Cruise Could Be Offered this Summer

Sleeping Bear Dunes- Lake Michigan (photo by Carol Spears, Wikimedia, public domain)

based on a news release of the Traverse City Record-Eagle, "Frankfort to Sleeping Bear cruise proposed," by Melissa Domsic, Jan 20, 2009

It’s possible that one might be able to see the mighty Sleeping Bear from the lake side this summer even if you don’t own a boat. John Madigan, part owner of the Pictured Rocks Cruises, is in talks with Frankfort City officials. Dock space needs to be secured, and a building to lease for a ticket booth.

If those details can be worked out there may be three tours a day leaving from Frankfort, each lasting about three hours. The boats would cruise past Point Betsie Lighthouse, follow the edge of Platte Bay and continue to Sleeping Bear where they would turn around and return to Frankfort. The tours would be narrated, and the price would be affordable for families.

John Mills, Frankfort city superintendent, is supportive, but says that more of the details need to be ironed out before any promises are made.

Dusty Shulz, superintendent of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, sounded excited when asked what he thought. “It’s a great visual effect of the blueness of the water compared to the dunes.”

Madigan says that he wants to offer another tourist opportunity to help Michigan’s economy. It would be a positive experience for the west Michigan area, with potential for job creation.

See Sleeping Bear Heritage Trailway
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Michigan's Great Outdoors Conference

by Joan H. Young

Michigan's Great Outdoors (MGO) is a an informal partnership of tourism leaders in Manistee, Mason, Lake, Oceana, and Newaygo Counties. It's mission is to promote tourism and stimulate the economies of the member counties.

On October 27, MGO held their fifth annual conference at West Shore Community College. The 2008 Conference theme was "Tourism as an Economic Engine." Participants included Ken Wasco of Gordon Food Services; West Michigan Tourist Association President, Rick Hert; Laurence Farardeau, coordinator for Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Services; Sharon Nunnelee of West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition; and Dave Ivan of Michigan State University.

displays at the 2008 MGO Conference photo credit Wendy Marek

Wasco energized the group with his presentation "Wowing Customers One Generation at a Time." He pointed out that in 1975 consumers waited for seven minutes before forming a first impression. By 1991 that margin had been reduced to two minutes. Now, says Wasco, a business has seven seconds to make a first impression on a customer.

Topics covered by other speakers included tax incentives for filmmakers in Michigan, cultural tourism successes, and trails and tourism.

An expansive luncheon, prepared largely from locally produced foods was served.

Attendees included business owners with services and products related to tourism, and other interested individuals.

Sara Kronlein, Ludington Area Chamber of Commerce, described the conference as "a determined effort to foster local cooperation."

Michigan Great Outdoors President, Sandy Crandall, gave an update on the regional partnership. She said, "the organization is heading in the right direction. I think our group leadership is proactive... and problem solving."

The conference is held annually in late October or early November. If you are involved in tourism in any way, watch for the 2009 dates and register early. For the (early registration) price of $35, the information and networking opportunities is an outstanding value.

See Michigan's Great Outdoors
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Good News for Fish, Bad News for Scottville Park

the Pere Marquette River at Riverside Park

from a news item in the Ludington Daily News, Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008

Travel to Scottville Riverside Park will be severely disrupted in the summer of 2009. The bridge over the Pere Marquette River will be completely removed and rebuilt. This means that the only way to reach Riverside Park will be to cross the river either at Custer or on Pere Marquette Highway (old 31) at Ludington. Custer road is the closest bridge, three miles east.

City Manager Amy Hansen reported at Monday's commission meeting that work on the bridge over the Pere Marquette River will not be allowed to begin until June 1, 2009, instead of March , as was originally planned.

The Michigan DNR will not allow work to be done in the water during fish migrating seasons. The Pere Marquette is a nationally recognized river, known for salmon, steelhead and brown trout. This means that all work will need to be done during the summer to protect the fish. In the original plan, the bridge would have been completed by July 4th, in time for the greatest portion of the tourist season. Now the city is looking for ways to encourage their regular campers to use the park in spite of the serious inconvenience.

The shortest route from Scottville to the park will be via Custer to Custer Road, to Conrad Rd, to Scottville Rd. This detour is about eight miles, instead of the usual five blocks.

Ludington Daily News
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Michigan Great Outdoors - Marketing West Michigan

Representatives from Mason, Lake, Manistee, Oceana, and Newaygo Counties band together to draw tourists

Travel Michigan's public relations director, Dave Lorenz, delivered the keynote address to the Michigan Great Outdoors group, November 5, 2007. He commended the counties on uniting their efforts to attract visitors to the region.

Lorenz noted that since Sept. 11, 2001, Americans have cut back on travel, but regional trips are still popular. $10 billion of Michigan's tourist dollars come from residents traveling within the state. Slightly less, $8.7 billion, comes from those who travel here from other states.

Hospitality is key to success. People want to be informed about what else is available in the nearby area. And more travelers are requesting earth-friendly places. They are asking for hotels and resorts that are green-certified.

When asked the purpose of their trip, 9.4% said they were going to a beach or waterfront, and 8.7% said they were visiting parks. Hunting and fishing tallied 10.2%.

Lorenz encouraged Michigan to promote the "Pure Michigan" campaign to the point where is becomes as recognizable as the I (heart) NY logo.

from the Ludington Daily News
See Michigan.org
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See Get Off The Couch for recreation info in these counties

Michigan Great Outdoors Names Leaders

Michigan Great Outdoors is the name chosen for a five-county cooperative effort to promote tourism in Mason, Manistee, Lake, Oceana and Newaygo Counties in western Michigan.

The Mason County division will be led by Sara Kronlein, vice president of the Ludington Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Kronlein is sure that the wealth of opportunities available within a one-hour driving radius in these counties will draw people to the area. That is, she adds, if the marketing presence is heard.

Partnership will be key. Legislators are more likely to listen to a collective voice.

Co-chair of Michigan Great Outdoors is Sandy Crandall, owner of Northern Escape Lodge, and president of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

Both women bring great energy and enthusiasm to this project. I have had opportunity to work with each of them. West Michigan should expect great things!

by Joan H. Young

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