After a summer of busy traffic, local outdoor businesses are soaking in the last few weeks of fall while looking back on the success of summer.
Networks Northwest released an ‘Outdoor Recreation Economic Impact Study for northwest Michigan in April 2024.
According to the study, the outdoor economy grew 9% from 2002 to 2022 in northwest Michigan.
“We were expecting that the investment in outdoor recreation was going to grow, but didn’t realize it was going to grow at that pace in that time frame due to a number of factors,” said Robert Carson, AICP Community Development Regional Director.
Multiple factors include the increase in tourism through the Pure Michigan marketing campaign that has led to a breakout of visitors from more than just the Midwest.
Carson says from 2002 to 2020 that cars pulling into the parking lot had out of state plates from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, compared to the past five years where a vast majority of plates are from else where in the United States.
“That is coupled with the increase in individuals seeking the outdoors during Covid within industry sectors of lodging, food, beverage, retail and fuel sales, (to name a few)” Carson said.
According to the study, 4,712 (3%) of the regional labor force is in outdoor recreation.
As for the next 20 years, Carson is optimistic for continued growth but their are hinderenses that could stifle growth especially in the employment sector related to housing and cost associated with sustainable living in northern Michigan.
“We are focusing our effort toward housing policy to support those workers,” Carson said.
Carson explains that the outdoor recreation and ag-tourism sectors are closely tied together, especially in Leelanau County. Carson is confident that the areas natural offerings will keep delivering as more people discover Leelanau County and northwest Michigan.
“Leelanau is in a unique position with its abundance of national lakeshore. Also, recreation associated with farm product and direct marketing to consumer including vineyards and distilleries that cross over to the ag-toruism sector. Continuing to support these sectors in Leelanau is very important, particularly with pressure of land values increasing exponentially,” Carson said. “(Leelanau) is unique within the region with some of those (economic) pressures as Leelanau is so limited in land area ... That draw for vacation property, water front homes is going to put pressure on the cultural community.”
Carson reiterates that trying to balance and support the agricultural operations with the pressure for residential development is going to be important.
Other statistics from the April 2024 study: The average earning of those workers is $44,627 and the outdoor economy contributed for roughly $1.15 billion or 10% of gross regional product in 2022.
Approximately 96% of survey respondents indicated sales were increasing or stable, and 73% reported they are planning on additional hiring in the next three years.
According to the survey, business attraction and sector growth include marine services, bikes and e-bikes, ORV and SXS rentals; outfitters, guide, and transportation/ shuttle services; E-boating.
Crystal River Outfitters
Crystal River Outfitters in Glen Arbor didn’t get to operate this September because of road and bridge projects, which has them planning for the 2025 season with a fresh outlook.
Crystal River Recreation manager Nick Killian says the summer was busy and the weather was even better.
“We don’t remember heavy rain days that affected biking or boating. We never had to call staff off. That’s a rarity over the last five seasons,” he said. “At Crystal River Outfitters, it was one of the most beautiful Septembers that we weren’t up and running because of the project on the Crystal River. We had a gangbuster year for everybody coming out and playing on the river and then in the world of bikes I still feel that there’s been a very good, healthy resurgence of people riding bikes, especially through the pandemic with e-bikes being some of the leading candidates in that.”
Crystal River has a fleet of 14 ebikes with traffic picking up by August 15. As the kids go back to school, retirees and visitors are more likely to explore Glen Arbor, Empire and the Heritage Trail that can be done in one full day of ebike riding.
Crystal River did notice an uptick of ebike business throughout spring and summer with a family friendly focus.
“With the amount of distance (ebikes) can cover, we find people taking those and exploring the
