Day of Arrival Important Information
DRIVING TO SHEPLER’S FERRY SERVICE
Since a Shepler’s Ferry Ticket is included in your registration, the following is written for guests arriving via Shepler’s.
Please make your travel plans according to the schedule online:
www.sheplersferry.com/mackinaw-city-schedule/. You may use either the Mackinaw City or St. Ignace ports.
Guests departing Mackinaw City should proceed directly to Shepler’s gateway for luggage handling and parking information. We suggest targeting a ferry no later than 4 p.m.
FERRY TICKETS:
Upon arrival, please inform the Shepler’s attendant of your name and that you are with the Lutheran Adult Gathering group. They will have a list of names! Please note: bike tags are $21 round trip per bike.
LUGGAGE:
Upon checking your luggage with the ferry service en route to the island, your luggage will be tagged and delivered right to your hotel room at the Grand Hotel. However, it can take up to three hours before your luggage is delivered, so pack accordingly if you plan on arriving close to 6 p.m. (dress options). Upon check-in, you’ll present your luggage tags to the front desk. Please follow the in-room instructions provided for luggage on your return to the mainland.
Please note that an added fee of $16 per person applies for the round-trip transfer of luggage (paid to the Grand Hotel through your lodging bill).
PARKING AT SHEPLER’S:
Overnight guests have two options for parking in both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. On-site Premium Parking at the ferry dock is $50/night [SUN-WED] and $75/night [TH-SAT] and based on availability at time of arrival. Off-site Standard Parking is $25/night and is a few blocks down the street, with complimentary shuttle service to and from the lot. All parking lots are gated and require you to pull a time-stamped gate ticket upon entry. This gate ticket needs to be paid in full prior to exiting the lot. Payment can be done via QR code, from a pay station, or at the ticket office. If paying at the ticket office, you must present your physical gate pass or a photo of it in order for it to be validated for you.
GETTING TO THE GRAND HOTEL FROM THE BOAT DOCK:
The Grand Hotel is a 15–20 minute walk from the ferry docks, so many Gathering attendees may prefer to travel by horse-drawn taxi service. The fare is $9 (cash only) per person from the dock to the Grand Hotel. For walking, hiking, and biking maps of the island, please see the island maps.
CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT:
Check-in time at the Grand Hotel is 4 p.m. and check-out time is 11 a.m.