Porch Notes
Power Island: Henry Ford's Island Getaway
History and culture
In West Grand Traverse Bay, a short paddle from shore near Traverse City, sits a 200-acre island that has gone by at least nine names — and once belonged to one of the most famous men in America.
Today it’s Power Island, but locals long called it Marion Island, and from 1917 to 1944 it was “Ford Island,” owned by automaker Henry Ford as a rustic private retreat. Ford had ties to the area, and by some accounts he entertained guests on the island who reportedly included Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, Babe Ruth, and even a few U.S. presidents. One oft-repeated tale claims the teetotaling Ford had Babe Ruth removed from the island after a little too much celebrating — a fun story, though it’s best treated as island lore.
When developers eyed the island for private cottages in the 1970s, the community rallied to save it. Ann Arbor philanthropists Eugene and Sayde Power funded its purchase through The Nature Conservancy, it passed to Grand Traverse County as a public park in 1975, and the county renamed it Power Island in 1987 to honor the gift. It’s now a beloved boating and camping spot.
Where to see it
Power Island sits about 3.5 miles off Bowers Harbor near Traverse City; reach it by private boat, kayak, or a seasonal shuttle. It has beaches, hiking trails, and primitive campsites.