One of the many beloved traditions on Mackinac Island takes place at the end of the visitor season when Grand Hotel closes for the winter. On the last Monday in October, the stately resort that opened in 1887 commemorates another successful summer by ringing a bell and bringing the famed rocking chairs in from the world’s longest porch.
Check out these photos from this year’s celebration…
Grand Hotel each year offers a special Close The Grand package that includes a dinner buffet on Sunday night, continental breakfast on Monday morning and a presentation by the hotel’s historian, Bob Tagatz, on the closing process. Guests can even take home a geranium from the front porch!
Just as Grand Hotel shuts its doors for the offseason, most other Mackinac Island attractions close for the winter by the end of October including restaurants, shops and places to stay. That’s also when most Mackinac Island ferry boats stop making regular daily trips back and forth to the mainland.
Take a look at these other videos from the final days of the 2025 visitor season on Mackinac Island:
Although tourism slows to a halt during the offseason from November through late April, visitors can still catch a ferry ride to Mackinac Island so long as the water isn’t frozen over. (Airplane transportation to Mackinac Island is available year-round.) Check out the Mackinac Island Winter Page for details on services and things to do during the offseason.
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