About Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet® Ferry

Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry company was founded by Tom Pfeiffelmann, Sam McIntire, and others in the late 1970s when they purchased Argosy Boat Line. The company was then renamed “Star Line” after its 5 original stockholders, who make up our 5-pointed star. In their first year, Star Line operated slower ferries including the classic Nicolet, Treasure Islander and Flamingo.

In 1979, Star Line purchased our first fast ferry, Marquette. Over the years that followed, the old LaSalle and Nicolet were replaced with sisters to the Marquette. In 1988, Star Line took it up a notch with Radisson, an 85-foot fast ferry which was modeled after a luxury yacht. The Radisson still runs strong and large among our fleet today, carrying up to 350 passengers on each trip.

In time, the LaSalle, Nicolet, and Marquette also added hydro-jets with their trademark rooster tails. In 1990, Star Line added Cadillac to the fleet, and in 1993, added Joliet. These boats were built in the style of the Radisson. In 2005, Marquette was sold to Davis Park Marine of Patchogue, NY. She was replaced by the larger Marquette II. The following year, Nicolet was also sold to Davis Park Marine.

In 2015, Star Line purchased the Straits area’s only catamaran, Mackinac Express, and in 2020, the Straits area’s only pirate ship, Good Fortune! With Star Line, the journey is just as much of an adventure as the destination.

For the 2021 season, the Star Line fleet has grown to 12 mighty vessels of all variety to support our fast, fun, friendly and frequent daily service out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.

About Arnold Line Ferry

Arnold Transit Company was started in 1878 by George Arnold. Coal-fire steamboats transported passengers and goods for almost 70 years to various Michigan ports and islands.

After World War II, Arnold Transit Company, now owned by Lang and Brown, started to add modern diesel boats to its fleet. In June 1946, Arnold, which ran from Mackinaw City to Mackinac, merged with Island Transportation Company which ran a St. Ignace to Mackinac Island route. In 1984, a long-standing competitor, the Mackinac Transportation Company, ended operations. In 1987, the first of three catamaran ferries were added to the Arnold Line fleet.

In 2010, after decades of ownership, the Brown family announced the sale of Arnold Transit parent company Union Terminal Piers to James Wynn. In 2014, the company suffered financially and the investment group backing Wynn foreclosed. The foreclosure resulted in the public auction of two catamarans. Competitor Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Service purchased one of the Catamarans.

In November 2016, competitor Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry announced it would be purchasing the majority of the assets of Arnold Transit Company, including boats, boatyard, its docks and name.