The Infamous Put-in-Bay Tunnel: An April Fool’s Tale That Won’t Quit
“Tunnel’s closed… take the ferry!”
Every great town has its legends—and Put-in-Bay, with all its charm, characters, and quirky traditions, is no exception. Among the wildest (and most beloved) tales to come from this little Lake Erie island is the story of the Put-in-Bay Tunnel, a mythical underground passage that, while completely fictional, continues to capture the imagination of visitors and locals alike.
It started as a simple April Fool’s Day joke. But like all great island stories, it grew legs… and bumper stickers.
The Legend Begins: A Tunnel Under Lake Erie?
It was one of those perfectly absurd ideas that somehow felt just plausible enough: a high-tech tunnel running beneath Lake Erie, offering a direct, dry, and futuristic route from the mainland to South Bass Island. Forget ferries, forget flights—just zip under the lake and arrive in quirky PIB, where swim-up bars, golf cart taxis, and guys named Coconut await.
“Sure, it’s fake. But don’t you kind of wish it were real?”
The original tale was cooked up as an April Fool’s Day prank, published in a local newspaper. But instead of being quickly forgotten, the idea stuck. The Put-in-Bay Tunnel quickly became the stuff of local legend.
The Spoof Grows: Submarines, Collapses, and “Tunnel Permits”
As with any great urban legend, the Tunnel to Put-in-Bay took on a life of its own.
- One story told of a rogue submarine crashing into the tunnel, causing irreversible structural damage.
- Another claimed that maintenance costs were skyrocketing and the tunnel had been permanently closed.
- “Permits” for tunnel access began appearing—in the form of bumper stickers proudly displayed on cars and golf carts around the island.
🧾 Tunnel Permit holders only beyond this point!
(Just kidding… everyone still has to take the ferry.)
The satire was so well-loved that it earned a spot in the local paper’s annual April Fool’s special edition, a multi-page spread dedicated entirely to fake news, island-style. And among all the tall tales, the Tunnel remains the most remembered—and most quoted—year after year.
A Joke with Staying Power
Over time, the Put-in-Bay Tunnel became more than just a joke. It became an island inside joke, a fun and harmless hoax that locals love to reference and tourists love to ask about.
- 🗣️ “Is there really a tunnel?”
- 🛑 “Nope. Tunnel’s closed.”
- 🛳️ “You’ll have to take the ferry like the rest of us.”
“It’s one of those classic bits of local folklore that makes PIB feel like its own little world.”
What’s Next for April Fool’s at the Bay?
Every April, the island’s creative minds get back to work, dreaming up new hoaxes, stunts, and spoofs that might rival the tunnel story in legendary status. It’s a tradition that showcases the humor, imagination, and community spirit that make the Lake Erie Islands such a joy to visit.
Could this be the year we see:
- A zipline from Catawba to South Bass?
- A golf cart monorail?
- The announcement of Lake Erie’s first volcano?
Time will tell. But for now, the Tunnel holds the crown.
The Real Way to Get to Put-in-Bay: Take the Ferry!
In reality, there is no tunnel under Lake Erie—just a well-loved joke and some very creative islanders. To get to Put-in-Bay, you’ll need to travel by one of the following:
- 🚤 The Jet Express Ferry – Fast and scenic from Port Clinton, Sandusky, or even Cleveland
- ⛴️ The Miller Ferry – A slower-paced, car-friendly option from Catawba Island
- 🚁 Private boat or seaplane (for the adventurous)
- 🕳️ But not the Tunnel. Sorry. Still closed. 😉
“You can’t drive here underground—but you can ride here over the waves, and that’s half the fun.”
Final Thoughts: Long Live the Tunnel
The Tunnel to Put-in-Bay may never exist in real life—but it’s real in the hearts and minds of those who know and love the island. It’s a perfect example of the playful culture and creative energy that make Put-in-Bay so much more than just a destination—it’s a storybook with new chapters written every day.
So next time someone asks how you got to the island, smile and say:
“Tunnel’s closed… I took the ferry.”
See you at the bay! 🙂