There are only seven places in the United States where motor vehicles are prohibited or restricted. Some restrictions are due to remote locations, terrain, or access. Mackinac Island in Michigan is a designated state park and has had a complete ban since 1901. The ban was incorporated into state law in 1960 and includes very few exceptions.
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The island has, but uses sparingly, one police car, two fire trucks, and one ambulance. Don’t pack your e-bike. Those are restricted within Mackinac Island State Park and the City of Mackinac Island as well. Visitors may request authorization for Class 1 bicycles under certain circumstances, with advance permitting required. Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assist, with no throttle and a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.
Leave your drone and tent at home, too. If you want “aerial” pictures, you’ll have to climb up to a higher vantage point on the island. There are several hotels and bed and breakfast rentals on the island, in addition to the Grand Hotel.
In 1980, the Grand Hotel was the site of the movie Somewhere in Time, filmed on the island.
Exploring The History Of Mackinac Island
The Native American name for the island is Michilimackinac, an Anishinaabek word meaning “place of the great turtle.” The limestone bluffs on the island gave the appearance of a giant turtle, so the name stuck.
The strategic location was important during the Revolutionary War. The French built Fort Michilimackinac in what is now Mackinaw City. When the British took over Fort Michilimackinac in 1761, they relocated the fort to the island across the ice bridge. They shortened the name to Fort Mackinac. On the mainland, they renamed the old fort Mackinaw City in the 1850s.
Did you notice the shift in spelling? Mackinac is pronounced Mack-in-awe. If you have been reading it as Mack-in-nack so far, you’re not alone. Even Michigan residents jokingly mispronounce it. When the British named Mackinaw City, they opted to spell it according to its pronunciation.
The way we say Mackinac Island isn’t the only thing Michiganders joke about. Resident John Kerfoot has been producing spoof videos that poke fun at the Pure Michigan tourism campaign. The spoof advertisement for Mackinac Island is hilarious, although perhaps a bit risqué. TikTok places the video behind a “Sensitive Content” warning, but YouTube lets it flow. You can see more of John’s spoof videos on YouTube at Not So Pure Michigan.
Unplug, get some exercise, have an adventure, and eat some fudge. Mackinac Island is an excellent destination.
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