Bon voyage on the S.S. Badger

Rich Palzewic

Staff

April 21, 2023

MANITOWOC – At 410 feet long, 59 feet wide, 106 feet tall and weighing in at 6,650 tons, the S.S. Badger is the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes.

And for the past seven decades, the infamous steamship has provided passengers and cars a four-hour, 60-mile lift between Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan.

A look back in time
Though the ship used today is the same as the one used in 1953, Shelby Soberalski said its purpose and appearance has changed.

“It was built to carry railroad cars across Lake Michigan, so passenger travel was secondary,” she said. “As time moved on, the railroad realized people were using the car ferry for passenger travel. Obviously, the Badger doesn’t carry rail cars anymore – that stopped in the late 1980s – so she went through a refurb in 1992.”

Soberalski said the car deck was leveled off as part of the change.

“We carry all types of vehicles – semis, oversized loads, motorcoaches, normal vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles,” she said. “Some of the more notable passengers have been the Budweiser Clydesdales, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, a L.L. Bean boot vehicle and a banana car.”

Today, Soberalski said, the Badger can carry up to 600 passengers.

“We can also carry from 160-180 vehicles, depending on the load,” she said. “Obviously, a semi is a lot bigger and heavier than your average, everyday vehicle.”

Other uses
Soberalski said the Badger isn’t used just for vehicle and passenger transport.

“It’s also used to transport goods,” she said. “Slightly south of Ludington, there is a wind turbine farm. All those wind turbines were built in the Manitowoc area and brought over to Ludington via the Badger. What a cool way of connecting the communities.”

Of course, Soberalski said, people choose the Badger for many other reasons.

“Our No. 1 reason is probably tourism,” she said. “Many of our passengers go beyond just the port cities and travel to other parts of the state.”

Driving from Manitowoc to Ludington would take about 6 1/2 hours and put more than 400 miles on a vehicle one way – including a drive through Chicago, the third largest city in the country.

“We get a lot of passengers who say they want to visit one of the port cities, but they don’t want to drive through Chicago,” Soberalski said. “I’ve only met a few people who have said to me, ‘I like driving through Chicago.’”

Soberalski said the S.S. Badger also brings back a lot of memories.

“We have quite a few grandparents traveling with their grandkids because that’s what they did back in the day with their grandparents,” she said. 

Mini Cruise Special
To help celebrate its 70th anniversary, the S.S. Badger is offering a special deal.

Shelby Soberalski, director of marketing and sales, said those traveling without a vehicle and departing and returning on the Badger within a 48-hour time frame, would qualify for the Mini Cruise Special.

“In honor of our 70 years, all mini cruise tickets are only $70 (roundtrip),” she said. “In the summer, a normal roundtrip adult ticket cost $155. We’re trying to hone in on what a great deal that is. This is also a way to increase passenger traffic.”
Soberalski said the mini cruise is a “perfect little getaway.”

//tbnapp.cdn.bubble.io/f1682102406274x145057600533832640/richtext_content.webpShelby Soberalski

“You might not be able to afford a week-long vacation somewhere, but with the mini cruise, you can make a day trip out of it or stay a few nights,” she said.

Soberalski said the Mini Cruise Special is only available by calling (800) 841-4243.

“It can be applied any time during the season,” she said. “Ask for the 48-Hour Mini Cruise Special. Also, there is free parking at both locations.”
 
What’s to do?
The Badger has docking ports in Manitowoc and Ludington, Michigan – which are separated by Lake Michigan, the third largest Great Lake.

“It’s about 60 miles of open water,” Soberalski said. “For all but the first and last 30 minutes of the trip (where you can see land), all you see is water.”

For those that may think four hours on a ship is too long with too little to do, Soberalski said, “think again.”

“There are quite a few amenities and things to do,” she said. “The people who say four hours is too long to be on a ship are the same people who get off and say, ‘Four hours wasn’t enough.’ If people want to sit for four hours in the same spot, that is their choice. Our biggest and most popular amenity is Badger Bingo – it’s still free to play. We also have dining areas, a bar, a museum, a movie theater, a gift shop and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating – There’s something for everyone.”

Though the Badger is not meant for an overnight stay, Soberalski said private staterooms – which cost an additional $55 each way – can also be rented.

“The staterooms are authentic to 1953 as well,” she said. “It’s almost like a dorm room. They have two beds, a toilet, a sink, a chair and a full-sized window. Families like to rent those with small children. Truck drivers sometimes rent those because they need to nap.”

//tbnapp.cdn.bubble.io/f1682102439589x597683193174278300/richtext_content.webpThe S.S. Badger makes two daily trips during the season – one from Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan and the other from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc. The 60-mile journey takes about four hours. Submitted Photo

Soberalski said though the special-priced fare doesn’t include vehicle transport, both Ludington and Manitowoc offer a variety of fun things to do – all within walking/biking distance from the dock.

“Adding a bicycle is another $12,” she said. “I realize mobility looks different for each person, but each city has options. If the car deck is full, a person can sail across the lake and rent a car or get a taxi on the other side – you can use different forms of transportation.”

Ludington is home to multiple restaurants, sandy beaches, places to shop and is not far from two lighthouses.

A bit to the north, Ludington State Park sports trails, shoreline and outdoor activities.

“Stearns Park is a must-do,” Soberalski, who grew up in Ludington, said. “The beach at the park has been voted the No. 1 beach in Michigan for several years running.”

Manitowoc, too, has multiple restaurants and downtown shopping.

It’s also home to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Rahr-West Museum and Mansion, Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center, Lincoln Park Zoo, Silver Creek Park, Cedar Crest Ice Cream Parlor, Beerntsen’s Confectionary and more.

A quick look at the Badger website, ssbadger.com, shows two departures per day during the season, which runs from mid-May to early October.

“The Badger leaves from Ludington at 9 a.m. (Eastern Time) and from Manitowoc at 2 p.m. (Central Time),” Soberalski said. “We’re working on training a second captain to get back to overnight trips here soon.”