A Journey Born from Curiosity and Community
In late 2021, Stephanie Ware joined the White Lake Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau, diving headfirst into event planning for the upcoming season. As she began sifting through ideas and reviewing events shelved during the pandemic, one concept sparked immediate interest: reviving the White Lake History Cruise—an experience that hadn’t taken to the water since 2010.
“I’ve always loved history, especially our area history,” Ware shared. “The concept of a cruise dedicated to telling those stories really stood out. It felt like the perfect mix of education, community, and experience.”
Although originally imagined as a one-time event in 2022, the cruise quickly transformed into something more. “The community response was so incredible, we just kept going,” said Ware. “Before we knew it, it had turned into a four-year tradition.”
The Heartbeat Behind the Helm
Bringing a History Cruise to life each year is no small feat—it’s a complex symphony of planning, coordination, and heart. It begins with securing the date with Aquastar Cruises, whose team makes the 2.5-hour journey from Muskegon to White Lake, then runs three consecutive cruises into the evening before heading back.
From there, an entire community mobilizes. The Chamber’s event team works with the History Cruise Committee to refine content, secure sponsorships, organize ticketing and refreshments, design promotional materials, and manage countless other details. “It takes a village, but every year it’s worth it,” said Ware.
At the center of the experience is the carefully crafted script, developed in part through a pre-cruise boat ride with historian Roger Scharmer and longtime emcee Billy Mann. “Billy and Roger walk through the script together—verifying historical details, landmarks, and overall flow,” Ware explained. “We always seem to uncover a new story or fun detail thanks to Roger’s incredible knowledge.”
A critical moment in the cruise’s origin story came during the first year of planning. “There was no saved script from the 2010 cruise—each speaker wrote their own segments,” Ware recalled. “All we had was an old program listing the sites.”
The team turned to local historian Dr. Dan Yakes, who, when told that most of the script was still unwritten just weeks out, stepped up in a big way. “He came through in a huge way, sending historical notes location by location, which I then shaped into the script we still use today,” said Ware. That script—further enriched by contributors like Barbara Brow—remains a core part of the event’s identity.
Preserving Legacy Through Story
The White Lake History Cruise has always been about more than sightseeing. It’s a living archive, preserving local heritage through storytelling.
“One of our historians said something that really stuck with me,” recalled Ware. “‘They wouldn’t be around forever—and they were the ones who held much of this knowledge firsthand.’ That moment hit me. We weren’t just planning a scenic cruise. We were creating a record—a shared community narrative.”
The response from guests has been just as memorable. Laughter often bubbles up when the story of Dowie’s Point is told—a fan-favorite stop on every cruise. “We know people are leaving and sharing with others. That’s what we want—learn it, remember it, pass it on. It keeps the stories alive,” said Ware.
A Thoughtful Pause After Four Memorable Seasons
Despite its success, 2025 marks a pause for the White Lake History Cruise. The decision stems from a desire to preserve its unique magic.
“We always wanted these cruises to remain something special—not routine,” Ware explained. “We decided to stop while we were still sailing strong, with a (mostly) sold-out day of cruises and a community that still looked forward to them.”
Ware emphasized the logistical challenges and the importance of keeping the event sustainable. “It’s not something we ever want to do halfway—so we’re choosing to let it rest, with the hope that when it returns someday, it will do so with a fresh wave of excitement.”
A Community Celebration of History
Many hands helped bring the cruise to life over four years, and Ware made a point to thank them all:
- Billy Mann, emcee for every cruise
- Roger Scharmer, historian and script advisor
- Dr. Dan Yakes and Barbara Brow, whose historical contributions remain foundational
- Tom Lohman, Steve Salter, and Greg Johnson for their community leadership
- The White Lake Area Historical Society, Montague Museum, and White River Light Station
- The Aquastar Cruises team
- The White Lake Municipal Marina
- And the dedicated Chamber team, past and present, who poured time and passion into every detail
“This event has always been a community effort,” Ware said. “And we’re proud of what we’ve all created together.”
Keeping the Story Going
While the cruise takes a pause, the stories don’t stop. History buffs and curious locals alike can explore the area’s heritage anytime, thanks to a curated list of resources compiled by the White Lake Area Historical Society and the Chamber:
👉 Local History Resources
And will the History Cruise ever return?
“We’re letting it rest—but we hope, when it returns, it will do so with a fresh wave of excitement,” Ware said with a smile.
Until then, the spirit of the cruise lives on in every story told, remembered, and shared across the waters of White Lake.
📸 2025 History Cruise Gallery
Relive the magic of this year’s White Lake History Cruise!
Check out photos and video highlights captured during the final cruise (for now).
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