2024 - A Year in Review

Another year is over, and like every year at Put-in-Bay, there are memorable events and things that have happened that make each year uniquely different. In case you were sleeping, here are some of the things for which 2024 will be remembered.

Like several years in recent history, Mother Nature was not kind to the ice fishermen. The old idea that islanders brave the ice and cold and venture out on the ice to bring home fish to feed their families can now officially be called an island legend.

The solar eclipse in April was quite popular as the sky darkened to the delight of those who viewed the shadow cast when the moon passed directly in front of the sun. Unfortunately, a bit of the eclipse shadow might have remained as the economic fortune of the island tourist season was not as bright as usual.

We’re not quite sure what caused the downturn in visitation in 2024, but several possible factors come to mind.

1. Election years often seem to have people on edge.

2. Inflation saw prices much higher.

3. Exaggerated bad press about unruly crowds and SWAT teams are viewed much more often than the positive messages being put out by the PIB Chamber of Commerce.

4. The switch to paid parking in the downtown also gave way to bad press and was very confusing for both islanders and tourists alike.

Lastly, Put-in-Bay has often been called recession proof. In bad economic years, the island always did OK because tourists were “traveling closer to home.” Some might argue the economy was bad, but with the airlines at times posting record breaking numbers of flights, perhaps the economy was better than we thought, and tourists were “traveling farther from home’ and not to the island.

There were other things that 2024 will be remembered for, too. Here they are in no particular order.

Needing additional revenue, the Village of Put-in-Bay initiated paid parking in the downtown area. It raised money, but the cost to do so went beyond the green stuff. Thirty-five dollar tickets turned people off as evidenced by posts on social media. The main street looked empty and uninviting as parkers unwilling to pay $4 an hour to park looked for spots elsewhere. The empty streets had several vendors complaining about fewer customers. And last but not least, the numerous new signs needed to make people aware of paid parking just added to the dozens of signs already on Delaware Ave. You could have renamed the street “Too Many Signs St.”

Paid parking was indeed a controversial issue, but here are a few figures. It began in mid-July and brought in a total of $119,722, along with an additional $51,983 collected in parking tickets. Island folk forked over $8725 for parking permits. Additional “other” parking tickets totaling $98,085 were written, but not all collected so far.

The seawall project at the Monument was completed along with the erosion protection project at Scheeff’s Preserve on East Point.

Pat Dailey, who put Put-in-Bay on the entertainment map, passed away in July. His contributions to the Put-in-Bay entertainment scene were without question.

Other passings of note were that of energetic PIB Councilman Craig Cox who will certainly be missed, Bill Timmerman, the co-owner of the Cargo Net, and everyone’s island friend, Ty Burgess who stemmed from early island vintners.

Another “one government” group, the Citizens Research Group, was busy researching various options for island government(s). We’ve lost track of how many times this has been done over the years, but we wish them success in their endeavor.

The Duff Homestead and Bayfront Preserve was dedicated. The Tom and Kathryn Duff house underwent many improvements this past year and will serve as a visitor center and offices for island organizations. In fact, the first Lake Erie Islands Conservancy board meeting in the home took place in the summer.

The front room at the Put-in-Bay Yacht Club was redecorated. It’s taking a bit to get used to, but by the beginning of the 2025 season, we won’t remember the way it used to be. Nearby, the patio at the Crew’s Nest was enlarged.

Two new food-stop businesses popped up on Toledo Ave. One was “Sweet Siblings” with ice cream and delicious cookies, and the other the first golf cart fast food drive-thru in front of the Bayshore Resort.

The first “non-lakefront” and non-commercial inland-island home sold for more than $1,000,000.

Halloween trick or treating was not on Halloween night for the first time in recent memory. Due to concerns about horrible weather, it was decided to have it early on the 30th.

Also on October 30th, the new terminal building at the PIB Airport was dedicated. The newly restored Lonz Mansion on Middle Bass was dedicated.

There continues to be a massive renovation of the State Fish Hatchery (aka Aquatic Visitors Center) at the west end of Put-in-Bay’s harbor.

The ratio of full-time police officers patrolling the island to population made Put-in-Bay one the safest places to live on the entire planet. PIBers welcomed Storm, the sheriff’s canine officer, to the islander.

Construction began at the empty lot on Delaware where the Crescent was located. Nobody is quite sure what to expect when John Blanke’s new building is open and in operation.

The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy sponsored the first-ever Monarch Festival at Put-in-Bay.

Thompson Rd. between Heineman Winery and Airport Rd. was repaved, and a new stop sign was installed at the corner of Meechen Rd. and Catawba Ave.

As you can see, 2024 was an eventful year.

Here’s wishing for 2025 to be an eventful year, too.