[[File:Mackinacferry.jpg|thumb|right|MV ''Mackinac Express'' in her Arnold Line livery]] '''Arnold Transit Company''' is a [[ferry]] boat company serving [[Mackinac Island]] in [[Michigan]] for over 140 years. From 2016 to 2024 Arnold Line's assets including the boats and docks were operated and branded as [[Star Line Ferry]] (later Mackinac Island Ferry Company). Since 2024 it has been operated by Hoffman Marine, part of [[Hoffmann Family of Companies|Hoffman Family of Companies]].

==History== Arnold Transit Company was started in 1878 by George Arnold (1846–1921). Coal-fire [[Steamboat|steamboats]] transported passengers and goods for almost 70 years to various [[Michigan]] ports and islands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.arnoldtransitcompany.com/history/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Arnold Transit Company |language=en-US}}</ref> Mrs. Arnold brought in Otto Lang and [[Prentiss Brown]] to manage the business.

After [[World War II]], Arnold Transit Company, now owned by Lang and Brown, started to add modern diesel boats to its fleet. In June 1946, Arnold, which ran from Mackinaw City to Mackinac, merged with Island Transportation Company which ran a St. Ignace to Mackinac Island route. In 1984, a long-standing competitor, the [[Mackinac Transportation Company]], ended operations. In 1987, the first of three catamaran ferries was added to the Arnold Line fleet.

In 2010, after decades of ownership, the Brown family announced the sale of Arnold Transit parent company Union Terminal Piers to James Wynn.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Arnold Transit Sold to Petoskey Attorney James Wynn {{!}} www.mackinacislandnews.com {{!}} Mackinac Island Town Crier |url=http://www.mackinacislandnews.com/news/2010-06-26/Top_News/Arnold_Transit_Sold_to_Petoskey_Attorney_James_Wyn.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011022036/http://www.mackinacislandnews.com/news/2010-06-26/Top_News/Arnold_Transit_Sold_to_Petoskey_Attorney_James_Wyn.html |archive-date=2017-10-11 |access-date=2025-06-02 |language=en}}</ref> In 2014, the company suffered financially and the investment group backing Wynn foreclosed. The [[foreclosure]] resulted in the public auction of two catamarans. Competitor [[Star Line Ferry|Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Service]] purchased one of the Catamarans, MV ''Mackinac Express'', Pictured Rocks Cruises purchased MV ''Island Express'' and was renamed MV ''PRX'', MV ''Straits Express'', is now in [[New York City]] being used as a commuter ferry for [[Hornblower Cruises]]. Wynn was removed as president and from his position on the board of directors, and operations were taken over by the original investment group out of [[Cincinnati, Ohio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arnold president: Ferry line will keep operating |url=https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2014/04/29/arnold-president-ferry-line-will-keep-operating/45192495/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Petoskey News-Review |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2014-08-28/News/Arnold_Transit_Creditors_Seek_Foreclosure_Sale_of_.html Arnold Transit Creditors Seek Foreclosure, Sale of Assets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110809/http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2014-08-28/News/Arnold_Transit_Creditors_Seek_Foreclosure_Sale_of_.html |date=2015-09-24 }}, St. Ignace News, August 28, 2014</ref>

In September 2015, an agreement was reached to ensure the company's continued access between its [[Mackinac Island]] dock and Main Street, which had been lost in a land deal engineered by Wynn.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mackinacislandnews.com/news/2015-10-10/News/Arnold_Dock_Will_Stay_Open_After_Settlement.html |title=Arnold Dock Will Stay Open After Settlement &#124; October 10, 2015 &#124; www.mackinacislandnews.com &#124; Mackinac Island Town Crier |access-date=2015-11-17 |archive-date=2015-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118133457/http://www.mackinacislandnews.com/news/2015-10-10/News/Arnold_Dock_Will_Stay_Open_After_Settlement.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In November 2016, competitor [[Star Line Ferry|Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry]] announced it would be purchasing the majority of the assets of Arnold Transit Company, including boats, boatyard, its docks and name. The Arnold assets were incorporated into the Star Line fleet for the 2017 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detroit Free Press Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://subscribe.freep.com/restricted |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=subscribe.freep.com}}</ref> Star Line renamed itself [[Mackinac Island Ferry Company]] in 2022.<ref>https://www.mackinacferry.com/as-2022-ferry-season-to-mackinac-island-opens-star-line-mackinac-island-hydro-jet-ferry-announces-new-name-mackinac-island-ferry-company/, As 2022 Ferry Season to Mackinac Island Opens, Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet Ferry Announces New Name: Mackinac Island Ferry Company</ref>

In September, 2024, Hoffman Marine, part of Hoffman Family of Companies, acquired Mackinac Island Ferry Company and rebranded as Arnold Transit.<ref>[https://www.mackinacislandnews.com/articles/arnold-transit-co-is-coming-back/ Arnold Transit Co. Is Coming Back], Mackinac Island Town Crier (2024).</ref><ref>[https://www.mlive.com/news/2024/09/arnold-transit-company-is-reborn-as-one-mackinac-ferry-service-rebrands-hires-new-leader.html Arnold Transit Company is reborn as one Mackinac ferry service rebrands], M Live (2024).</ref>

In 2025, Arnold Transit started offering classic ferry rides to Mackinac Island in the summer, using their older ferries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gmiter |first=Tanda |date=2025-05-29 |title=New Classic Ferry trips to Mackinac Island offer a vintage vibe |url=https://www.mlive.com/life/2025/05/new-classic-ferry-trips-to-mackinac-island-offer-a-vintage-vibe.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref>

==Fleet== [[File:Star Line's Mackinac Island Ferry, Mackinac Express.jpg|thumb|right|MV ''Mackinac Express'' in her Star Line Ferry livery]] *Classic Ferries: MV ''Chippewa'', MV ''Huron'', MV ''Ottawa'', MV ''West Shore'' (formerly Anna May) and MV ''Straits of Mackinac II''. *Non-Passenger Freight: MV ''Corsair'', MV ''The Senator'', and MV ''Mackinac Islander''. *Catamaran: MV ''Mackinac Express'' *Hydro-jet: MV ''La Salle'', MV ''Radisson'', MV ''Cadillac'', MV ''Joliet'', and MV ''Marquette II''.

==Former fleet== * MV ''Island Express'' (1988-2016) renamed Pictured Rocks Express owned by Pictured Rock Cruises in [[Munising, Michigan]]. * MV ''Straits Express'' (1995-2018) owned by [[Hornblower Cruises]] in [[New York City, New York]].

==See also== *[[Ferries in Michigan]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.arnoldtransitcompany.com Official Website] * http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2015/01/arnold_ferry_adds_luxury_boat.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110733/http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2014-01-16/News/Matt_Stuck_Veronica_Dobrowolski_Take_on_New_Roles_.html * https://web.archive.org/web/20150924110820/http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2014-10-16/News/Isle_Royale_Queen_III_Makes_Island_Run_for_Arnold_.html

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[[Category:Ferry companies of Michigan]] [[Category:Mackinac Island]] [[Category:Transportation in Cheboygan County, Michigan]] [[Category:Transportation in Mackinac County, Michigan]] [[Category:Companies based in Michigan]] [[Category:Transportation companies of the United States]]