Shutdown closes Sleeping Bear visitors center, ranger programs. But campgrounds, Park destinations remain open

By Jacob Wheeler

Sun editor

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s visitors center in Empire is closed due to the federal government shutdown that started today.

Buses full of schoolchildren visiting from throughout Michigan will not have access to Park Ranger-led educational programing as they do most years. School trips to Sleeping Bear Dunes are particularly popular during the months of September and October. The mitten state is enjoying warm early autumn weather this week, which should attract more visitors to the National Lakeshore.

Nevertheless, the Park is open to all. Visitors can still enjoy the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, popular hiking trails and beaches, and the D.H. Day and Platte River campgrounds, which continue to operate with fee dollars.

Current Sleeping Bear Dunes staff were unable to speak with the media about the shutdown. But according to former deputy superintendent Tom Ulrich, who retired from the National Park Service two years ago, the Park determined during previous government shutdowns that spending fee money to keep campgrounds open does not violate federal law. That’s because the money comes from fees collected at Parks and is not allocated by Congress.

Sleeping Bear’s two campgrounds will remain open, with custodial services provided, until they close on schedule later in October. The Park’s seven law enforcement rangers and a plumber will also remain on duty to ensure visitor safety. According to Ulrich, the Park has determined “they are necessary to protect life, health, safety and property.”

While the Dune Climb and other popular destinations will remain open through the shutdown, bathrooms and trash receptacles will not be emptied or cleaned. That could lead to a messy situation, given the warm weather this week.

The shutdown will also hamper nonprofit partners that work with the Park, including the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, which maintains the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail, a popular 22-mile multiuse trail which runs through the Lakeshore.

“Unfortunately, because our volunteers are supervised by Park staff and many of those staff members are currently furloughed, Friends volunteers are not able to serve at this time,” said Friends executive director Laura Ann Johnson.

“We remain hopeful that a budget will be passed soon. In the meantime, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes is here, continuing our mission to support our extraordinary National Lakeshore.”