Yearly Archives: 2019

The third annual Bash on the Bay hosted Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker. The event saw over 15,000 flock to Put-In-Bay to enjoy the 2-day event where the airport was shut down and turned into a concert venue. Put-In-Bay hotels, homes and campgrounds were at maximum capacity for the show all while the Miller Ferry and Jet Express extended their hours of service to efficiently transport the thousands of people to and from the island. About Kid Rock The multi-platinum recording artist gave Put-In-Bay a bash to remember. He had Ohio’s most popular island going crazy with his hit songs...

National Play Monopoly Day on November 19th recognizes the iconic board game that lands us on Park Place, Boardwalk or even in jail. The local version, Put-in-Bay-Opoly, features the official Put-in-Bay website that guests have loved for years and years… Putinbay.com !!! Monopoly History Monopoly was originally published by Parker Brothers in 1935, but is now distributed by Hasbro. In the game, players roll two six-sided dice to move around the game board, buying and trading properties, and developing them with houses and hotels. This already sounds like Put-in-Bay! The board game of “Put-In-Bay-Opoly” is a Lake Erie area version...

It couldn’t have been a better day. The lonely, flat gray lake at the end of November, was just perfect for the group of questionable islanders to head to Pelee Island in two boats for lunch. It was a convincing story if there were stopped crossing the border this late in the season.   The group consisted of the “Gray Ghost” running his boat and the “Captain” running the second and faster boat. On board the first boat with Ghost were a (re)tired old captain who we will call “Cap,” his wife the “Island Tree Lady,” the “Diplomat,” and one...

-By Gordy Barr   Twelve billion years ago, a giant star exploded. Stuff was flung everywhere. Among the ruin of debris, a molten chunk began to cool as it spun and took on a circular shape. 1) The Earth was formed! Meadow Lark Lemon would later use this same technique to spin a basketball on his index finger when the Harlem Globetrotters played the hapless Washington Generals. 2) Some might argue that God (substitute your choice of higher being if Christianity is not to your liking) created the earth (and stocked it with interesting creatures) in seven days. Clearly a...

The department director of Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources has designated the Lake Erie Islands Water Trail as Ohio’s 12th state water trail. An ODNR department release says the trail comprises five separate sections totaling over 50 miles around North Bass, Middle Bass, and South Bass Islands, Kelleys Island and along the mainland shorelines of Catawba Island and East Harbor State Park. Department Director Mary Mertz made the designation at a ceremony last Tuesday at Put-In-Bay. “The Lake Erie Islands join a diverse set of trails across Ohio that offer exceptional opportunities for Ohioans to see and explore our state...

Lake Erie Fishing Lake Erie is one of the world’s largest freshwater commercial fisheries and fishing is a popular halftime attraction for visitors. While you don’t have to be an expert, all it really takes is the proper equipment and a whole lot of patience. The fish species available for you to catch depends on many factors. Some of which include the season, and the temperature of the water. We’ve narrowed down five main types of fish you are likely to find when fishing in Lake Erie. Bluegill The first fish you are likely to find while fishing in Lake...

PACE, not too good to be true – By Peter Huston     Imagine if you just happened to attend a Lake Erie Shores and Islands Lodging Partner meeting and some guy gets up to talk and explains that he want to hand you a quarter of a million dollars? $250k! Obviously, the guy is in concussion protocol or is about to explain how he got rich taking out small ads in the newspaper across America. You think, “I have seen this infomercial”!   This fellow’s name is Jerry Arkebauer and he is with the Erie County Port Authority. I...

The Official Spring Fling 2019 at the Island Club is almost here!  This year will mark the First Year that we have partnered with a great local charity, Kids for Christmas.  This organization was created to ensure under privileged children of Ottawa County and beyond will have Christmas presents to open each year.  Moving forward we plan on assisting greatly with this noble cause. All proceeds from the Official Spring Fling 2019 will directly benefit local children.  In short, we are having a PARTY with a PURPOSE! We are very excited for this new arrangement and look forward to making...

News, views, and comments from a South Bass cottager   35,000 islands in the Great Lakes I tossed a big log on the fire and settled down into my soft recliner, seemed to be a good day to just sit back and read. As I was catching up on the day’s news, I stumbled across an article about the Great Lakes: I learned there are over 35,000 islands in the Great Lakes, stretching from far-away Lake Superior to the eastern end of Lake Ontario, some just little bumps in the water, others that spread across the water for miles. But...