Photos courtesy of Miller Ferry
Had you visited Put-in-Bay in 1905, you would have seen the beginnings of Miller Ferries to Put-in-Bay & Middle Bass Island. It’s now the biggest ferry service on Lake Erie, but it didn’t start that way. Back in the early 1900s, Miller Ferry began as a fishing charter and water taxi business in the summer, and an ice harvesting business in the winter.
Today, Miller Ferry operates the only passenger/vehicle ferries to the Lake Erie islands – South Bass Island and Middle Bass Island – of Put-in-Bay. Owned by siblings Julene, Billy and Scott Market, the business employs 100 people during peak season. Several employees have been employed by Miller Ferry for more than three decades.
With 125 years of history in Put-in-Bay, Miller Ferry is still growing to accommodate demand for transportation in the area. This year, Miller Ferry welcomes the MaryAnn Market, a 40-foot-long passenger/vehicle ferry named for the late matriarch of the Market family. She is currently being constructed at Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wisconsin, and will have a capacity of 600 passengers and 26 vehicles. She will be the fifth ferry in the Miller Ferry fleet and will operate between the South Bass Island of Put-in-Bay and the mainland dock in Catawba. Learn more about the MaryAnn Market
With 125 years of history in Put-in-Bay, Miller Ferry is still growing to accommodate demand for transportation in the area. This year, Miller Ferry welcomes the MaryAnn Market, a 40-foot-long passenger/vehicle ferry named for the late matriarch of the Market family. She is currently being constructed at Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wisconsin, and will have a capacity of 600 passengers and 26 vehicles. She will be the fifth ferry in the Miller Ferry fleet and will operate between the South Bass Island of Put-in-Bay and the mainland dock in Catawba. Learn more about the MaryAnn Market
A render of the MaryAnn Market
Miller Ferry staff members say their favorite part about being on a ferry service on the Great Lakes is the sunrise and sunsets on Lake Erie. With Miller Ferry’s new live webcam, you can enjoy the gorgeous views, too. Mounted at Miller Marina, the webcam showcases the Put-in-Bay harbor, Perry’s Memorial and the stunning sunrises over the bay.
But Miller Ferry staff aren’t just passionate about their work; they’re active in many other aspects of northwest Ohio life. When they’re not honking their horns on Miller Ferry vehicles, they’re exploring Toledo, catching a Mud Hens game or a concert at the Huntington Center. Plus, they never miss a chance to bring out their inner child at the Imagination Station.
But Miller Ferry staff aren’t just passionate about their work; they’re active in many other aspects of northwest Ohio life. When they’re not honking their horns on Miller Ferry vehicles, they’re exploring Toledo, catching a Mud Hens game or a concert at the Huntington Center. Plus, they never miss a chance to bring out their inner child at the Imagination Station.
With summer approaching, Miller Ferry is ensuring its staff members and passengers feel safe traveling and returning to Put-in-Bay. The organization is responding to COVID-19 concerns by sanitizing high-contact areas such as hand rails and door knobs, equipping staff members who are in direct contact with passengers with face masks and ticket collectors with gloves, assessing staff member health daily, stationing hand sanitizer at various locations on the dock, and more.
Did you know?
Did you know?
- With $7.50 one-way tickets for adults, $1.50 one-way tickets for children ages 6-11, and free admission for children ages 5 and under, Miller Ferry offers the lowest fares on Put-in-Bay.
- Miller Ferry offers five free parking areas, group discounts, free passage for pets, and convenient motorcycle and bicycle transportation, making the start to your visit stress-free.
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