Canadian wildfire smoke kept the air quality map in Michigan hazy for a fourth straight day on Saturday, July 18, and the effect reached tourism towns, golf courses and resorts. At Indian River, Vicki Morgan said the summer slowdown was already visible. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offered campers refund options and a delayed-arrival window.
Indian River Tourism
Vicki Morgan, an administrative support specialist with the Indian River Resort Region Chamber of Commerce, said there was a little bit of a downturn in tourism around Indian River. “I think there is a little bit of a downturn,” she said. Morgan added, “Northern Michigan folks are pretty hearty,” and “Neighbors take care of each other.”
The smoke hit during peak travel season, when visitors were already on the road and outdoor plans were set. Health experts generally recommend avoiding outdoor activity, especially for prolonged periods, when air quality stretches into hazardous conditions. That advice lined up with what some travelers were already doing: staying inside or cutting plans short.
Mission Point Resort Closures
Mission Point Resort closed its outdoor restaurants, golf course and bike rentals on Wednesday and Thursday because of the air quality, then reopened those outdoor activities on Friday as air quality began improving. Liz Ware, the resort’s co-owner and chair of the Michigan Travel Commission, said: “They saved up their money and vacation time and all of this, and they're impacted for something we have no control over. It's just sad all around,”
The area was still at an AQI over 180 as of Friday evening, a level that kept outdoor activity limited for many visitors and businesses. The smoke came from Canadian and Minnesotan wildfire smoke, and the pattern had already stretched through much of the week.
Hank Williams Jr Weekend
Hank Williams Jr rescheduled shows at Pine Knob in Clarkston and the Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids for Friday and Saturday because of the air quality. Holland’s Macatawa Water Festival was postponed, while Yacht Rock Detroit was slated to carry on Friday and Saturday. The Bayview Mackinac Race was also planning to move forward.
At the Links at Rolling Meadows golf course in Holland, Mark Veenstra estimated that maybe 30-40% of scheduled tee times had been canceled Thursday and Friday. “People just don't want to be outside,” he said. “It's unfortunate that it happens during a summer weekend.”
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offered refunds for campsite reservation cancellations at state parks because of the smoke, and it said it would hold reservations for people who wanted to delay their arrival until 3 p.m. on Sunday. For campers and other outdoor travelers, that leaves a simple choice: cancel, delay or go inside until the air clears enough to make the trip worth the drive.
