CATAWBA ISLAND, Ohio — The recent run of warm weather may have you already thinking about island life out on Lake Erie.
For the second consecutive year, the Miller Ferry will be launching service earlier than scheduled and begin making runs between South Bass Island and the mainland this weekend.
"Once the temperature is so cold that the freeze comes onto the decks and up on the docks, that's usually when we shut down. And we did that the first week of January this year," said Julene Market, co-owner of Miller Boat Line. "But as you can tell, we had a very brief window of winter this year, so we're getting ready to be underway."
Along with ice cover, Miller Boat Line also takes into account wind and water temperatures and 10 days ago began runs with a smaller, local crew.
"At peak, we have over 100 employees. At this point is a very basic, very hardy crew that we have on board." Market said.
While it's still early for a large amount of tourism visitors making their way to the Lake Erie islands, the ferry runs have the locals who have been wintering on the island in mind.
Briton Schroeder, the manager for the Miller Boat Line Catawba Docks, said launching the ferry early means the residents and businesses can now get an early start to the 2024 tourism season, too.
"A lot of commercial traffic building, people starting to get ready for the season and just the cottagers coming back and getting their cottages ready for the summer," Schroeder said "The locals are filling up their pantries, you know?"
But visitors are still welcome to the island village.
Some businesses are already open, too, and with warmer weather, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy.
"Of course you can walk the trails and enjoy the lake. We have the State Park and a National Park." said Wendy Chambers, executive director for the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau. "But it is all outdoors at this point, I would bring your vehicle or you can bring a bike."
The first ferry of the season will leave South Bass Island at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and the last ferry to the island will be leaving the mainland at 4 p.m.
The number of ferry runs will increase as the weeks progress toward the official kick-off to tourism season on Memorial Day weekend.
The small Lake Erie community of Put-in-Bay is also looking forward to next month's total solar eclipse.
The Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 'A Monumental Eclipse' event on April 8, the day of the eclipse. The free event will be held on the grounds of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial on South Bass Island.
Attendees will get free solar glasses, but you are asked to bring your own lawn chair.
"We will have handfuls of restaurants and businesses that will be open so we can accommodate visitors that day. We do have some lodging open as well and we are excited that some people are coming for the weekend and some people will come for the day." Chambers said
Miller Ferry will also be offering a ferry ride and golf cart rental package specifically for any eclipse day visitors.