Keweenaw Excursions Celebrates 5th Anniversary in Charlevoix with October 4 Cruise

In September, 2009, brothers and captains Kraig and Jason Funkey left their hometown along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to make a new home for themselves and their Keweenaw Star in Charlevoix. That next summer, they launched their first trip out of their new port and today, Keweenaw Excursions is proud to celebrate its 5th Anniversary in this Lake Michigan community.

A celebratory cruise is planned for Saturday, October 4 from 5-9pm. The evening will include complimentary appetizers, cash bar and music. Tickets for the anniversary cruise are just $5 per person and space is limited. Tickets are available by calling 231-237-9365.

The Keweenaw Star was originally a crew boat designed to ship crew and supplies to oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. She was commissioned in 1981 and was originally named the Atlantic Star. The boat was then converted to a cruise ship and the Funkey's (Jason, Kraig and their father, Fred) purchased her in May of 2000 in South Carolina. Renamed the Keweenaw Star, the Funkeys ran a tour company in the Houghton-Hancock area on the Keweenaw Peninsula for nearly 10 years.

Fred is trained as a diesel mechanic with a degree from Ferris State University. He began his captain’s career in his hometown area of Houghton/Hancock in the Keweenaw Peninsula. His first gig was owner/ operator of the Lighthouse Boat Cruise – the Star of Keweenaw – in Copper Harbor in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His work took him throughout the Great Lakes region, including running the Voyager II out to Isle Royale and the Island Princess for the Apostle Island Tours. Over his nearly 50 year career he’s also captained oil rig boats in the Gulf of Mexico

Kraig and Jason both began working alongside their dad aboard the Star of Keweenaw and Isle Royale Queen as young boys and teenagers. Both brothers also earned their original captain’s licenses in Duluth, MN. Kraig also honed his skills aboard the Voyager II, captained a charter fishing boat in Copper Harbor and worked in the Gulf of Mexico and has a 100-ton master captain’s license. Jason later went to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City to obtain an unlimited tonnage mates license with a first class pilot’s endorsement.

Upcoming Events:

• September 24 (6-8pm) Historic Sunset Cruise
• September 27-29 3-Day Fall Color Cruise
• October 4 (5-9pm) 5th Anniversary Cruise
• October 11 (3-5pm) Historic Fall Color Cruise

2015 Excursions:

• June 22-25 Explore the Door (Door County Wisconsin)
• July 13-16 Lights of the Sunrise Side
• July 20-23 Soo Grand Tour
• August 3-4 3 Days, 3 Great Lakes

With a capacity of 130 passengers, the Keweenaw Star offers a range of cruises from mid-May through mid-October, including sunset tours, sightseeing trips and multi-day lighthouse and ship-watching cruises. The boat is also available for private charters, for events such as corporate outings, weddings, rehearsal dinners and reunions.

KEWEENAW EXCURSIONS
109 Bridge Park Drive
Charlevoix, MI 49720

231-237-9365
KeweenawExcursions@gmail.com
www.KeweenawExcursions.com
www.facebook.com/KeweenawExcursions
www.twitter.com/KeweenawStar

Keweenaw Excursions Offers Fall History Cruises

Join David Miles of the Charlevoix Historical Society for a pair of narrated historical cruises aboard the Keweenaw Star on Wednesday, September 24 (6-8pm) and Saturday, October 11 (3-5pm). The 2-hour trips cost $25 per person, with a portion from every ticket being donated to the CHS. To purchase tickets, call 1-231-237-9365.

The September 24 Sunset Cruise covers the west and south shores of Round Lake, heading out into Lake Charlevoix, and then turning south toward the Ferry Beach area, turning north to Oyster Bay, Pine Point, Raspberry Bay and the train depot area, before heading back toward Round Lake. From there, the Star travels along the northern shore of Round Lake before heading out into Lake Michigan with hopes of catching a sunset, then along the shore toward the cement plant and finally back into the harbor just as darkness is falling.

The October 11 Fall Color Cruise also travels through Round Lake and then into Lake Charlevoix toward Ferry Beach. From there, the trip continues into the South Arm of the lake all the way past the Sequanota Resort, Ironton and the Ironton Ferry, and down to Holy Island. The boat then turns around and heads up to Oyster Bay and Pine Point before returning to Round Lake.

Both tours offer lively narration and commentary along the way, providing interesting tidbits of local history about this harbor town – which welcomed its first permanent settlers in 1854.

According to Miles, the channels that connected the inland lakes to Lake Michigan were cut in 1869 and by 1897, Charlevoix was seeing more maritime tonnage pass through its waters than any other port on the east side of Lake Michigan, outside of Chicago. By the early 20th century, the Charlevoix area was also the premier resort destination in this region.

“At one time, the town had an importance far outside its size regarding its economic importance to both this area and the whole state,” Miles says. “It has a history, that, as I term it, simply doesn't quit. Its history is so vast that a few minutes cannot even begin to encompass it.”

Established in 1879, the Charlevoix Historical Society was a dynamic part of the community for many years, but sadly faded after World War II. It was resurrected in 1972 and in 1978 the society was given the Harsha House—an 1891 Queen Anne residence downtown that now houses its offices and museum. Today, the CHS is once again an organization interactive with segments of the community.

Miles has been an active member of the Charlevoix Historical Society since 1997 and in 2002 he was named co-director of the Harsha House museum. He’s produced seven books and two full-length DVDs on various aspects of Charlevoix’s history, has given many illustrated lectures and presentations both local and in neighboring towns, and has helped to mount large exhibits about the area’s history.

Operating since 2000, Keweenaw Excursions is owned and operated by brothers Jason and Kraig Funkey. The company originated in Houghton, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and moved to Charlevoix in 2009 – this year celebrating its 5th season. With a capacity of 130 passengers, the Keweenaw Star offers a range of cruises from mid-May through mid-October, including sunset tours, sightseeing trips and multi-day lighthouse and ship-watching cruises. The boat is also available for private charters, for events such as corporate outings, weddings, rehearsal dinners and reunions.