Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Mackinaw Mill Creek Responds to the TV 9&10 Investigation of Mackinaw Visitors Bureau Rate Increase on Campgrounds

February 28, 2018 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

The following video contains Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's response to the TV 9&10 investigation into the Mackinaw Visitor's Bureau's unprecedented 1700% rate increase. Support us by sharing and contacting your local legistator (bills to strengthen the existing tourist bureau act are currently being reviewed in the Senate - these new bills do nothing to establish fairness or oversight).

Hundreds of News Outlets Cover Story of Mackinaw Visitors Bureau’s Outrageous Campground Fee Hike

February 25, 2018 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping thanks the hundreds of news outlets that covered the story of the Visitor Bureau Fee Hike

We are grateful to the hundreds of news outlets across the nation who ran our story about the Mackinaw Visitors Bureau's abusive and predatory rate increase on Mackinaws family owned and operated small campgrounds! (click here to view it)

The battle to make the Michigan Convention and Visitor Bureau fair and accountable has just begun. We ask those so inclined to let their legislators know your thoughts on this!

We, and Mackinaw's other family owned and operated campgrounds are asking not to be overcharged - and to not be made invisible on our local Visitor Bureau site.

The Cost of Camping May Increase In Michigan

February 13, 2018 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Infographic of 1700% membership fee increase. — The Mackinaw Visitor's Bureau unfairly increased fees on Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping by 1700%.

The cost of operating a campground and booking a campsite in Michigan will soar unless an alarming 1,700 percent membership fee increase is reversed on three Mackinaw City campgrounds.

Last November, the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau made a sudden, unannounced membership fee increase that pushed the cost of advertising with the Visitors Bureau out of the reach of the Mackinaw KOA, Tee Pee Campground, and Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, all family owned and operated campgrounds. "My membership fee jumped from around $500 in 2017, to over $10,000 in 2018. The other campground owners and I were stunned!" said Vince Rogala, General Manager and co-owner of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

Illustration of unchecked powers of Mackinaw Tourist Bureau illustration by David Harston. — The Mackinaw Visitor's Bureau has no oversight and is using it's unilateral power to increase fees and to make it unaffordable for campgrounds to be advertised in their number one ranking web portal for Mackinaw City Tourist Information.

In a written explanation to Rogala from the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau's Board of Directors, the Board stated that they "realized no increase had occurred for over 20 years." However, the fee increase solely targets campground owners, as the 2018 rate increase for a gift shop was only $50, a restaurant just $70, and a golf course went up just $30. "How do you justify a $9,910 increase for our campground - in just one year?" asked Rogala.

Don Molosky, attorney for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping said, "It is clear that this enormous 1,700 percent increase is not part of a uniform adjustment to account for cost-of-living changes." Rogala worries, "It is easy to see how Convention and Visitors Bureaus throughout Michigan could unfairly institute these extreme membership increases, forcing Michigan campground owners to choose the lesser of two evils - either pass on these higher costs to their customers, or refuse to pay and get kicked out of their local visitors bureau." At this time, all three Mackinaw area campgrounds have rejected the 1,700 percent increase and for the first time in decades, camping will not be marketed by the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau.

Attorneys for the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau in a written response stated, "Perhaps the increase feels sharp because the Visitors Bureau had been sorely undercharging its associate members (campgrounds) for the past several years." "How I am underpaying?" expressed Rogala, "I already pay $20,000 in room taxes, likely more than most of the board members who voted for this shameful price increase."

The Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau apparently believes it has the right to not only require campgrounds to pay a room tax on their rental cabins, but unlike hotels, also require campgrounds to purchase a marketing membership. "I always thought this "double dipping" was unfair, but in prior years the membership was only $500 so we overlooked it. Now with our fee inflated to over $10,000, plus paying $20,000 in room taxes, it's just unacceptable. Add that up and for $30,000 I can afford to hire my own marketing firm!" stated Rogala.

Photo of Vince Rogala, Co-Owner of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. — "My membership fees were increased by 1700%," reports Vince Rogala, Co-owner of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping in Mackinaw City, MI.

The Community Convention or Tourism Marketing Act has no oversight agency where members can protest the actions of their Visitors Bureau. "There is absolutely no accountability. There needs to be a State oversight agency to provide checks and balances on unprincipled Visitors Bureaus," voiced Rogala. "Currently, I am reaching out to my State Senator, Wayne Schmidt of the 37th District, as he has introduced Senate Bill 703 & 707 that will strengthen the power of Visitors Bureaus."

"I want to make Senator Schmidt aware of the problems his constituents are experiencing. I hope there is a way to fix the flaws, otherwise I think it would be irresponsible to give Convention and Visitors Bureaus more power. This is a First Amendment violation, no one should be forced to pay for advertising they don't want or need, especially to an organization that uses those funds to act in a hostile manner towards the very lodging facility that pays the room assessment," explained Rogala.

Jo Ann Cooley, owner of Tee Pee Campground, located just outside Mackinaw City, noted that, "Campgrounds attract visitors to the area who support restaurants, gift shops, and the historic parks, etc. Many of our camping guests have friends and family who don't have RV’s but join them on vacation by staying in hotels. In other words - campgrounds arguably promote tourism in our area, not just for our benefit, but for all the local businesses that advertise with the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau."

By law, Visitors Bureaus are exclusively just for lodging owners. Rogala reflects, "I always thought it was odd that area attractions are treated as second-class citizens and not guaranteed a seat on the Bureau's boardrooms. Yet, it's the area attractions that bring in tourism dollars to Northern Michigan. People travel to a destination, 'for an experience,' not for a hotel room. Area attractions should have a seat at the table."

"The creation of a Visitors Bureau as a marketing firm for a tourist district may have been a good idea in the 1980's before the Internet existed. With the advent of Google, Facebook, Expedia, Trip Advisor, and Yelp, the need for such an entity is no longer the same as it was 40 years ago," stated Rogala.

Rogala stated, "It is obvious to any reasonable person that the Convention or Tourism Marketing Act was intended to create a rising tide to - lift all boats in tourism communities - not just to promote a few hotel owners who may dominate a Visitors Bureau boardroom. I hope our Michigan legislators will listen to our concerns, all we are asking is for our Visitors Bureaus to act with integrity."

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's Response to the TV 9&10 Investigation of Visitors Bureau Fee Increase

For additional perspective on how Visitors Bureaus hurt independent businesses, watch the following YouTube video that outlines issues suffered by a Bed and Breakfast at the hands of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Taxing My Free Speech (posted by Mackinac Center)

Michigan bed and breakfast David Gersenson has asked the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation to help him fight a tax for advertising he doesn't want or need.

‘Alley Cat’ Rescued in time for Christmas

December 20, 2016 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

In the late fall, after all our guests have gone, I often walk though the camp. Every year, it seems, I catch a glimpse of a beautiful house cat as it slips into the bushes.

Sometimes campers report a lost kitty, though many do not. If a lost cat stays in a certain area, we might be able to trap it. Yes, trap, as it seems that cats turn quite wiley and dare I say a bit "feral" very quickly. Sometimes, if a cat is seen near our maintenance shops, we'll put food out for it. We even open a kitty door for the cold nights.

If we see a cat we try to help it survive -- IF we can't catch it.

Finding 'Alley Cat'

This year, campers Al and Linda Bloss brought "Alley Cat" with them camping. As so many before him have done, he slipped out and disappeared. Al and Linda had let us know about the cat getting away, so we knew who to call if we could get catch him.

Luckily, Alley Cat picked an area where he was regularly seen. That is important because we can't just set traps out randomly. There is a lot of wildlife that we do not want to disturb or worse yet injure. Not to mention, it is no fun for the ladies to have to deal with an upset and scared trapped skunk, or raccoon.

Jolene, Amy and Mindy Rogala put in some detective work and set out to rescue Alley Cat. They even called me for advice on baiting the live trap (stinky canned Mackerel does the job!).

Setting the live trap to catch Alley Cat — Jolene sets the live trap to catch Alley Cat before the hard winter arrives.

Canned Mackerel as bait — We found that Canned Mackerel is the winner for tempting an escaped cat.

Live trap is set and covered. — The live trap is set and covered with blankets. Along with keeping the animal warm, the blankets reduce the trapped animals fear and anxiety.

Setting a live trap is no simple matter. If the trap is not set properly, it could misfire and frighten the cat, making it unlikely the cat would go inside it again. After an initial misfire (or maybe Alley Cat was smarter than we thought), the trap was reset and Alley Cat was caught! Once they were notified, Al and Linda immediately made the trek to the camp.

Alley Cat caught in the live trap — Once captured, you have to be careful not to startle the trapped cat. The cat will be frightened and can injure itself trying to escape.

So this time we have a happy ending to our lost kitty story, but please let this be a warning! For your cat's safety, try to find a way for your cat to stay home or in a kennel if you visit. If you must bring it, then make sure it is caged, leashed and never allowed loose. Nothing is easier to lose than a cat that wants to slip outdoors!

Al and Linda Bloss with Alley Cat — Al and Linda Bloss are reunited with Alley Cat who had escaped last summer while they camped at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

Alley Cat under the Christmas Tree. — Alley cat is now home, just in time for Christmas, and has been spared what certainly would have been a rough, if not fatal, Northern Michigan winter!

Leave Kitty At Home

We know folks love their cats (we know we do), but we wish they would find an alternative to bringing them camping. Camping may be fun for humans but for an animal it can be disorienting, confusing and even terrifying. Cats become accustomed to their homes and owners. When you remove them from that environment, even the most docile kitty may go into fight or flight mode.

Once a cat is out, freedom during the warm summer at our camp is intoxicating for them. Lots of critters to chase, fun underbrush to hide and explore in. That kitty napping on your lap can be thrilled by the adventure of the outdoors and may never answer a human call again.

The problem is that during the warm summer, cats do not understand the concept that WINTER IS COMING!

In the freezing winter months, you would hope a smart cat keeps warm by our outdoor wood furnace. Though, remember that the camp is adjacent to thousands of acres of wilderness. So during the off-season the grounds are prowled by most any predator you could imagine.

During the warmer months we have plenty of ground voles, moles, squirrels, chipmunks, etc. to satisfy a prowling kitty. But once that snow hits...

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is the Location for the Pure Michigan Photo Contest Winner

December 18, 2016 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

We were surprised and thrilled to see that the winning photo of the Pure Michigan Photo Contest was taken at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping!

Congratulations to Michael Walsh and all the other fantastic runner ups! Don't know how anyone could choose, as all of the entries are wonderful!

Here is a run down of all of the top photos! Congratulations to all the photographers and thank you for helping to share the beauty of Michigan!

Photo of child in lake at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping — Public-vote winner Michael Walsh captured this adorable shot at the Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground.

Bill Reek Juried Winner Pure Michigan Photo Contest Winner — Juried Winner Bill Reek took this beautiful mirror shot of Gales Pond in Hart.

Sunrise on Lake Huron at Harbor Beach by Karen Murphy — One of three runner-up photos from the public vote includes a sunrise on Lake Huron taken at Harbor Beach, as captured by Karen Murphy.

Photo of Northern Lights by Maggie Wilk — One of three runner-up photos from the public vote includes the northern lights in Charlevoix as captured by Maggie Wilk. — with Maggie Wilk and Maggie Wilk Photography.

Photo under Cut River Bridge UP Michigan — One of three runner-up photos from the public vote includes the Cut River Bridge on Highway 2 in the Upper Peninsula as captured by Sean Chess.