(WPBN/WGTU) — A domestic incident in Mason County has left a 48-year-old woman in critical condition and a 53-year-old man with severe hand lacerations according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office where they discovered the woman with a stab wound to the chest The investigation revealed that the suspect and victim are married Both individuals were transported to separate hospitals in Grand Rapids while the man is reported to be in stable condition The historic Lake Michigan auto and passenger ferry SS Badger, the last steamship operating on the Great Lakes, is heading to Wisconsin for about two weeks starting April 30 for repairs before it opens its season The SS Badger, which traverses Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, — serving as a link is the U.S. 10 highway — will undergo propeller shaft bearing repair in dry dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding The vessel is expected to depart Ludington between 6 and 8 a.m for a 12-hour trip to Washington Island at the tip of the Door Peninsula then south through Green Bay to Sturgeon Bay originally scheduled for April 29 was delayed for a day because of National Weather Service forecasts predicting gale-force winds on Lake Michigan with surface winds up to 50 knots possible Why does the ship need repairs? Will this affect the 2025 season?The repairs are being made to prepare for the Badger's upcoming season, which will begin May 16 The ship is expected to return to Ludington by May 11 "It is the priority of (owner/operator) Lake Michigan Carferry and our parent company to keep the Badger in its best working condition," Sara Spore "Having these repairs done now will reduce interruptions to our summer sailing season." that the ship is going into drydock because the repair work requires taking the boat out of the water and removing its 13-foot Each of the Badger's propellers weighs 13,800 pounds Together the four-bladed props can propel the ship at 15.6 knots VerVelde said the Badger is heading to Door County under its own power instead of being towed because with the ship's ferry season starting in less than three weeks it'll already have a crew on board doing its preseason "fit out," including getting the engines and machinery ready for the season What is the SS Badger?The Badger is a passenger and vehicle ferry. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2016. Badger (is) an outstanding example of American ingenuity in transportation technology," the National Park Service said "One of two of the largest ferries ever to sail Lake Michigan and the last remaining Great Lakes rail/car ferry in operation designed specifically to handle the conditions of year-round passage on Lake Michigan The ship was built in 1953 by Christy Corp at the same facilities now owned by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding The ship was in drydock at Bay Shipbuilding over the winter of 2021-22 for its routine five-year drydock inspection 72-year-old ship offers the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes and an authentic steamship experience The ship can carry 600 passengers and 180 vehicles The ferry is the last coal-fired ship on the lakes, and may be the last example of its design in the world The ferry takes four hours to cross the lake and commercial trucks across Lake Michigan between Ludington and Manitowoc The Badger operates between May and October as an auto and passenger ferry that also is capable of transporting commercial vehicles The spring season for the four-hour voyage between Ludington and Manitowoc runs from May 16 to June 19 Tickets for those 16 and older are $86 in the summer for one-way travel and $172 for round trips Vehicles begin at $99 and $198 with additional fees for trailers and larger vehicles Spring tickets are $75 and $150 for individuals Reservations are "strongly encouraged." For no additional charge, animals may be kept in a well-ventilated portable kennel on the car deck or transported in the owner’s vehicle no pets of any kind are allowed in any passenger area Service dogs trained to work or perform tasks for a passenger with a disability may accompany that individual The Lake Michigan Lake Express provides daily roundtrip service between Muskegon and Milwaukee Badger passenger ferry arrived in Sturgeon Bay Wednesday afternoon for planned repairs NBC26 was there when it docked and spoke with people who gathered to watch the ship arrive Many saying it brought back memories of their time aboard (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story) "We had to come out and see it make the trip around," said Jackie Vandoren who lives in Egg Harbor and came down to watch the Badger Vandoren grew up in Manitowoc and saw the S.S so seeing the ship come to Sturgeon Bay for repairs felt like a full-circle moment "We had that parked in Manitowoc when we lived there all our lives The S.S. Badger is in Sturgeon Bay for 10 days, docked at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding for propeller repairs Sam Perlman of the Door County Maritime Museum says it’s more than just a repair "The Badger was built right here in Sturgeon Bay so it's always fun to have the Badger come back to its home port," Sam Perlman said originally serving as a ship that transported railcars across Lake Michigan it carries passengers and their cars from Manitowoc to Ludington Dennis Myer and his wife traveled on the Badger just a few months ago "Last summer we went up to Mackinac Island so we kinda drove south and got on at Ludington and we crossed over," Dennis Myer said The strong bond between locals in the area and in Manitowoc with the S.S Badger stems from the ship’s long-standing presence in their communities "The Badger has been operating in that community and in this area for its entire history That's what it was made for," Perlman said The S.S. Badger will make a stop in Manitowoc on its way back to Ludington, Michigan, just in time to kick off the car ferry season on May 16 We cover stories making an impact in Door County. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Door County and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood The road to a popular Michigan State Park will see lane closures starting this month and continuing until June the Michigan Department of Transportation said Thursday morning The work area begins in the city of Ludington The road work coincides with much of the park itself being closed to visitors. The park has been closed since Sept. 3, 2024, and is expected to reopen July 1. Lane closures will be in effect throughout the project with both directions of traffic sharing one lane and alternating travel via traffic regulators MDOT said the project will provide a smoother ride and extend the service life of the road What kind of work is taking place at the park?A project is realigning and repaving the entrance and exit near the entrance booth, expanding and repaving the Lake Michigan beach parking lot, expanding, realigning and repaving the warming shelter parking lot, repaving the Hamlin Lake parking lots, and repaving the entire main park road, Hamlin Township and Visit Ludington said on their websites. we will be adding and improving pedestrian walkways around the entrance and into the beach parking lot to improve pedestrian safety and help vehicles circulate more efficiently On top of all the paving and parking lot improvements the Skyline Trail is going to be seeing renovations We are going to take advantage of the closure to make other upgrades to park buildings and grounds throughout the park," the website explains Where did the park project money come from?The projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and were initiated through the Building Michigan Together Plan of 2022 "The reason that we have closed during May and June is due to the asphalt plants operating season for the paving portions of the project," officials said Are any areas of the park open during the work?"We expect that the south trails and the open dunes in the south part of the park will be open to visitors but parking will be limited," the Hamlin Township website said Visiting the far northern part of the park accessed from Nordhouse Dunes or by boat on Hamlin Lake We just ask that visitors do not venture south towards any of the construction areas." More: Mackinac Island, other Michigan cities among best in Midwest. See the full list The Hamlin Lake day use area will be closed to the public and boats will not be allowed to moor The dunes at the far north end of Hamlin Lake will also be open to the public Visitors can enjoy 2,000 acres of parkland and a 3-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline south of the Big Sable River The park attracted more than 900,000 visitors in 2021, the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau said Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Angela Katherine Kruse Ludington dearly loved wife grandmother and great-grandmother departed this life on Wednesday March 19 at home at the end of a full and active life Gay (short for Angela) was born to Ralph and Felice (Enneking) Kruse in Dayton Her family moved to Pelham Manor when she was four and she spent the next 97 years building a life and a family of her own there where she met the boy she would eventually marry in kindergarten She graduated from the Ursuline School and Manhattanville College and then attended art school in New York where she refined her design skills Vernon and New Rochelle hospitals as her contribution to the war effort She made her debut at the Westchester Cotillion in 1944 1946 after one of the longest engagements on record While Gay was very active in her community she transferred to the Pelham League when it was established She served on its board for many years in different capacities Gay was also a frequent volunteer for Meals on Wheels Gay was also a founding member of the Pelham Larks Shenorock Shore Club and Indian Harbor Yacht Club she was a Eucharistic Minister at our Lady of Perpetual Help Church where she was also a trustee She traveled extensively with her husband Lud she and Lud ran a pilgrimage to Lourdes for 224 people (including 24 terminally ill patients) she played excellent tennis until she was 82 Gay was a beautiful person in every way; kind and friendly always helpful and always at hand when any one needed comfort or assistance She brightened and enriched every life she touched Gay was predeceased by her adoring husband of 70 years as well as by her son-in-law Bill Seabrook She leaves behind a loving legacy through her five children – daughter Gay Lucile (Dunkirk MD); son Hank (FHLIII) Ludington and his wife Mary Beth (Princeton Junction NJ); daughter Leslie Elizabeth Orendorf and her husband Mele (Fairfield CT); daughter Mary Felice and her partner Peter Lee (Corte Madera CA); and son Ralph Kruse and his wife Cathy (Ridgewood She was predeceased by her three brothers: Ralph H Kruse Jr. She is also survived by eleven beloved and loving grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren March 23rd from 2 - 5 pm at the Pelham Funeral Home A Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Gay Kruse Ludington will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Pelham Manor at 10 am on Monday Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery donations can be made to the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors IL (formerly from Atlantic) passed away peacefully on March 26 IA to Doris Coder Ludington and Clifford Ludington IA area and spent time on the 40-acre farm of his grandparents He was able to stay in the same rural school district and help with the farm always kind and supportive of his five younger sisters he contracted Bulbar Polio and was treated at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs he survived – the only one on his hospital wing His teachers sent him assignments to keep him caught up After graduating from South Page High School in 1960 Gary attended Iowa State University in Ames he married Sharon Mulkins of Shambaugh on Christmas Eve 1960 Gary and Sharon moved into a small mobile home in Ames while Gary completed his degree Gary had a few short-term jobs before obtaining a job with the U.S where he remained for 30 years before accepting early retirement Gary then earned a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and drove a semi for another couple decades before retiring in full Gary enjoyed taking his family on a summer vacation every year covering most of the contiguous states over several years Gary was proud of his children and attended many of their sporting and other activities He was also pleased that each of his three children completed college Many of his grandchildren remember bike rides Gary participated in RAGBRAI for a number of years and spent months training for the lengthy bicycle ride Gary was always active in church leadership roles and various activities throughout his life Gary married Jane Huff of Keokuk in 1997 and they moved across the Mississippi River to Hamilton Gary and Jane enjoyed traveling in and out of the country Doris Nowels and Clifford Ludington; step-father and Rebecca Stahr (Rob Hansen) all of Atlantic IL; 27 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sisters Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. April 4th at GracePoint Church in Atlantic Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m A visitation will be held at Printy Funeral Home in Hamilton with graveside services to follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton Printy Funeral Homes and Roland Funeral Service are caring for Gary’s family and his arrangements Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com Ludington's New Year's Eve Ball Drop has claimed the top spot in the 2024 USA Today's 10Best rankings beating out the massive celebration in New York City's Times Square The annual New Year's Eve celebration in Michigan is known for its walkability fireworks and a ball drop with 6,000 LED lights against the backdrop of downtown Ludington also known as "West Michigan’s largest New Year’s Eve Ball," is a 90-minute drive from Grand Rapids and about 3.5 hours from Detroit Related: USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards In addition to enjoying the Lake Michigan city's downtown eateries Ludington’s main street shuts down to car traffic at 9 p.m. followed by confetti and a fireworks display over the rooftops of downtown though drinks and merchandise are available for purchase Following the street party, partygoers can run in the Ludington’s Resolution 5K at 11 a.m. Jan. 1 through downtown. Register online or on race day for $35 The top 10 destinations to bring in the new year include: Who does the rankings?The USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards highlights the very best travel The panel includes industry experts who nominate their favorite attractions across a range of categories Editors then vet the nominations and set a final list of nominees to be presented to the voting public Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press Coast Guard is proposing new regulations to manage vessel movement in the Ludington area following a series of near collisions last summer between fishing boats and the S.S The Ninth Coast Guard District Commander and the Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan are advocating for the establishment of a regulated navigation area to oversee movement in specific waters The Coast Guard said the initiative aims to ensure the safety of life which have become hazardous due to increased vessel traffic As the officers arrived there were many people in the area and discovered one person was assaulted with a pipe Officers said that the suspects started to run away and so they chased after them to the 100 block of West Foster but two Ludington Police officers were injured and a Mason County Sheriff’s deputy suffered two broken bones that required treatment at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital All suspects were eventually arrested and sent to the Mason County Jail without further incident Full suspect identification will be provided upon request after the suspects have been arraigned as stated by the Ludington Police Department The investigation by the Ludington Police Department is still active. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. Jacob Miller by email miller209@ci.ludington.mi.us If you need help accessing the online public file due to a disability, please contact us WCOE Public File  |  WLOI Public File There's still time to cast a vote in USA TODAY’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025's 10Best Historic Small Towns in the U.S. Two Michigan cities — Ludington and Mackinac Island — are in the running for the honor. Both were winners of the contest in the past. In fact, Ludington was voters' No. 1 pick for best historic small town in 2024 "We need your vote to maintain our spot as the winner," a recent post on Pure Ludington's Facebook page said. In 2024, Ludington also was voted by USA Today readers as the U.S. town with the Best New Year's Eve Ball Drop Since 2016, Mackinac Island has made the 10Best five times in USA Today's historic small town contest The 20 nominees for 2025 all have populations of less than 25,000 people Visit USA Today's 10Best page to vote in the poll your choice will be counted and a timer will display when you can next vote What small towns are nominated in the poll?In addition to Mackinac Island and Ludington Situated on Lake Michigan, the city of Ludington, according to USA Today “built its economy on the lumber industry and has continued to thrive as a shipping port Ludington has several reminders of its past, according to Pure Ludington: What makes Mackinac Island historic?Situated on Lake Huron, Mackinac Island was claimed by the British in the 1700s and later, by the U.S. Today, what once was America's second national park, is car-free and a summer travel destination for people from around the world Among its historic attractions are Mackinac Island State Park It contains the oldest building in Michigan as well as 13 other buildings from the 1700s According to MackinacIsland.org Mackinac Island is home to several other historic sites: — Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com Between 80 and 100 protesters gathered at the intersection on Lincoln Road and Ludington Streets Saturday to to tell their elected officials to keep their hands off programs such as Social Security The protest was just one of hundreds organized nationwide and throughout the Upper Peninsula Delta County Unified and ares residents took part in the local protest Find out more about the protest in Monday’s edition of the Daily Press GLADSTONE — Voters who live within the Gladstone Area Schools district will have a chance to vote today on the .. IRON MOUNTAIN — Temperatures this summer could be a degree or two above the historical average in the Upper .. ESCANABA — Escanaba will soon have a new activity for families as work begins to replace the former Webster .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan | https://www.dailypress.net | 600 Ludington St. (WPBN/WGTU) -- Hundreds are without power in the Ludington area 1,497 in that community are affected by this Crews are currently in Ludington working to restore power Large construction projects at four Michigan state park campgrounds are on track to be finished by next summer Algonac State Park in Clay and Cottrellville townships Pinckney Recreation Area in Gregory and Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin have all had extended closures with campers itching to get back into campsites Since campers are able to make reservations six months out there's already interest in potential opening dates for these campgrounds More: Michigan state park, recreation area campgrounds: Guide to reservations, costs, more Here's an update on construction progress at all four parks according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Algonac State ParkAlgonac State Park's campground has been closed to convert some sites to full-hookup and repave the roads Most of the project's punch list items have been completed which is weather dependent and may get pushed to spring Anticipated reopening of the Riverfront campground is March 22 and expected reopening of the Wagon Wheel campground is May 15 and I think our park users will be very pleased with all the park improvements including new roads an expanded sanitation station and full hook-up camping sites," Bennett said The 127 new full-hookup sites are in the park's Riverfront campground Ludington State Park's three campgrounds closed in September as part of a project to pave the park's main road and Hamlin Lake day-use area parking lot expand the parking lot at Lake Michigan and warming shelters and enhance traffic and pedestrian flow at the park entrance The work forced much of the state park to close during construction The project is going well and there were few interruptions to work thanks to great weather in October and into November The anticipated reopening is still July 1 due to vagaries of weather and asphalt plant openings is also under construction with a lot of work "in progress." It will remain closed through the winter The Bruin Lake modern campground at Pinckney State Recreation Area in Gregory has been closed to upgrade the sanitation station north toilet and shower building and park roads The replacement of the shower and toilet building began in October and construction is expected to be completed in July the building has been removed and footing and foundation forms are currently being set Repaving of the campground entrance road and remaining loops will begin in April Relocation of the sanitation station will also begin in April and finish in July The park's Silver Lake day use area is also under construction and scheduled to be completed by the end of May Renovations to the beach concessions building started in October and should be completed by April The modern campground at Port Crescent State Park closed for an enhancement project that includes new roads The work is currently on track for a June 27 reopening The date hinges on DTE completing a power upgrade on time "We are excited to be welcoming our campers back with the addition of new full-hookup sites expanded sanitation station with three lanes outdoor showers and so much more," Bennett said The campground will have 12 new full-hookup sites Ten will be located near the entrance and two at the far end of the campground (This story was updated for clarification.) is behind bars after pulling a gun on a Mason County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop the sheriff’s office said a deputy pulled over the man after he saw him driving partly in the ditch on US-10 near Dennis Road As the deputy was speaking with the driver the sheriff’s office said the driver tried to pull a pistol from his waistband The deputy saw the suspect attempting to pull the handgun and drew his service weapon while reaching into the vehicle and grabbing the gun from the suspect’s hand The deputy was then able to get the gun away from the suspect The suspect was arrested on charges of possession of an unregistered handgun felony assault on a law enforcement officer A second handgun was also recovered from within the suspect vehicle ESCANABA — A planned renovation of the east-end of Ludington Street slated to take place this summer drew outcry this week from some residents who were concerned about the impact on businesses summer events and cultural programs in the city “This all started as a sewer project,” City Manager Jim McNeil told the crowd that gathered at Escanaba City Hall Wednesday to hear about the project “It was the Ludington lift station here and replacement of sewer We’ve been able to bring in some other funds to do street restoration in it’s entirety.” the meeting featured a panel of individuals related to the project including Escanaba Water and Wastewater Superintendent Jeff Lampi Assistant Water and Wastewater Superintendent Mike Humbert; C2AE Project Manager Darren Pionk; C2AE Design Engineer Stacy Eagle; and Jim Perry The Ludington Street project is broken into two parts each of which will be completed in three phases over the next two years The first part of all work will be upgrades to the storm sewer system which is being upgraded to avoid rain water and snow melt from ending up in the sanitary sewer system This is both to come into better compliance with environmental rules and to avoid over-stressing the wastewater treatment plant with additional water While the road is torn up to reach the sewer the city will be making any needed repairs to other underground infrastructure and replacing lead service lines and water mains as needed the city will begin the process of restoring the street On the east end of Ludington Street this will include a complete redesign of the roadway and “bump outs,” areas where sidewalks jut into the roadway to increase pedestrian visibility for motorists and reduce the distance a pedestrian has to travel to cross the street The current phases of the project are expected to take about two years to complete The first phase will include the area of Ludington Street that starts at roughly the lift station and runs to 4th Street That phase is expected to begin on or before May 1 and be substantially completed by July 30 will begin at 4th Street and run until 6th Street Because of the way contractors work on projects like the Ludington Street renovation the two phases will likely overlap with Phase 2 set to be completed by Oct Phase 3 will begin in 2026 and will continue the work from 6th Street to 9th Street areas of the street that are under construction will be closed to motorists The closures — and the imprecise timelines — led some in attendance to be upset about how the lack of traffic and on-street parking could impact their business this summer and next “I have had weddings booked far and beyond your dates that you put forward,” said Tyler DuBord who spoke as the general manager of the House of Ludington and not as a member of the Escanaba City Council “That is hundreds of people for weddings this summer I can contact them and tell them that there’s no parking for 200 guests and I could lose out of that revenue.” were advised that parking would need to be moved to side streets or a block off during the construction work Foot traffic should not be majorly affected and the construction crews will be in contact with business owners to ensure that entrances and exits of buildings are still accessible Another concern was how the street closures would impact events such as the Krusin’ Klassics Car Club Fun Run This year marks the last time the parade will be held but the closure at the east end of Ludington Street will likely impact the system the club has used to line up the hundreds of vehicles that participate in the event An answer for how the car club could reroute its parade lineup was not immediately given Wednesday but McNeil indicated he would be in contact with the club to arrange for an alternative The bulk of the parade is still expected to take place on Ludington Street Also of concern was the city’s Planet Walk a scale replica of the solar system that pedestrians can visit as they make their way down the road the model was updated with new placards last year but we don’t want to screw it up,” said Dan Young of the Delta Astronomical Society Young asked to be alerted when the construction was going to take place so that the society could remove the placards He also warned that the model of the sun would be more complex to remove and asked the city to be careful when removing the posts so everything could be reinstalled Young was told the city was already aware that the model solar system would need extra care in its removal but that it was not possible to know a more specific timeline of the project until construction began Wednesday’s meeting was held immediately prior to a separate meeting on the city’s lead service line replacement projects Those meetings are currently being held on the first Wednesday of every month City Manger Jim McNeil advised the crowd that additional meetings about the Ludington Street project may be held in conjunction with the lead service line meetings in the future to continue the dialogue with the city ESCANABA — At least three vessels from two cruise lines will be making regular appearances as they dock in .. ESCANABA — A new music festival and celebration the area’s logging history is coming to Escanaba June 28 ESCANABA — Escanaba will not move forward with a plan to add a nature trail to Ludington Park after multiple .. ESCANABA — The Bark River Area Draft Horse Club will be tilling the Community Gardens in Escanaba on May 3 historic Lake Michigan auto and passenger ferry that also is the last steamship operating on the Great Lakes will be in Sturgeon Bay for about two weeks starting April 30 The SS Badger which traverses Lake Michigan between Ludington heads to Sturgeon Bay under its own power for a propeller shaft bearing repair in dry dock at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding 72-year-old vessel is expected to depart Ludington between 6 and 8 a.m The approximately 12-hour trip takes the ship from Ludington toward Washington Island and the tip of the Door Peninsula then back south through the bay of Green Bay to the bay of Sturgeon Bay to get to Bay Shipbuilding instead of using the Sturgeon Bay ship canal but delayed for 24 hours due to a National Weather Service forecast predicting gale force winds on Lake Michigan with surface winds to 50 knots possible The repairs are being made to prepare for the Badger's upcoming season said in the press release the ship is going into dry dock because the repair work requires taking the boat out of the water and removing its 13-foot VerVelde also said the Badger is heading to Door County under its own power instead of being towed because it'll already have a crew on board doing its preseason "fit out," getting the engines and machinery ready for the season "Since the crew is going to be aboard anyway we might as well steam her over," VerVelde said It's a return to its birthplace for the Badger which was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2016 The ship was in dry dock at Bay Ship over the winter of 2021-22 for its routine five-year dry dock inspection The Badger operates between May and October as an auto and passenger ferry that also is capable of transporting commercial vehicles. The spring season for the four-hour voyage between Ludington and Manitowoc runs from May 16 to June 19, the summer season from June 20 to Sept. 1 and the fall season from Sept. 2 to Oct. 12. For tickets and more information, call 1-800-841-4243 or visit ssbadger.com Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@gannett.com. MORE: State 57 near Jacksonport to close for two months for culvert replacement MORE: Door County canine search team gets two new members FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website The city of Ludington is ringing in the New Year with more than just fireworks—it’s officially home to the best New Year’s Eve ball drop in the country Voted #1 in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Ludington’s New Year’s Eve celebration surpassed some major competitors Ludington has been hosting its now-iconic New Year’s Eve Ball Drop an event that draws thousands of visitors to the lakeshore town each year As the only Michigan destination among the 20 nominated cities Ludington earned the top spot in a competition that spanned coast to coast beating out unique drops like the Idaho Potato Drop “Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is one of our top two most attended events a perennial favorite that attracts thousands of people annually,” said Brandy Miller executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau “We are ecstatic to be recognized nationally for this honor and we encourage everyone to come to Ludington later this month to experience the best ball drop firsthand!” Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop takes place at Legacy Plaza offering a festive street party that includes a live DJ with Ludington Avenue closed to traffic and transformed into a pedestrian-only zone attendees can enjoy the chilly winter night while staying warm The night culminates with the ball drop at midnight marked by a dazzling display of fireworks and the glow of 6,000 LED lights on the event’s signature ball “The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Ludington combines the charm of a small-town celebration with the excitement of a grand countdown,” said USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards editor Maggie Tyner festive atmosphere that celebrates the new year with joy and camaraderie.” Family-Friendly Fun and MoreFor families with young children Ludington also offers several other New Year’s Eve activities The Sandcastles Children’s Museum hosts a family-friendly Balloon Drop from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $60 for an immediate family or $15 per person the Mason County District Library will host a New Year’s Eve party from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. making it an accessible option for families on a budget For those looking to keep the celebration going well into the night Timbers Prime will host an after-party from 12:30 to 4 a.m either—Ludington kicks off 2025 with the New Year’s Resolution Run 5K which will take place on January 1 at 11 a.m A Long History of RecognitionLudington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop isn’t the town’s only accolade Ludington was named “Best Historic Small Town” by USA Today 10Best the only Michigan city to make the list of 20 towns with populations under 25,000 coupled with the recent win for Best New Year’s Eve Drop cements Ludington’s reputation as a standout destination for travelers looking to experience the charm of Michigan’s Lakeshore For more information about Ludington’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, visit PureLudington.com or follow the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau on social media accommodations are available throughout the area with several lodging specials offered for New Year’s Eve safe rides for those who plan to drink and celebrate responsibly Whether you’re ringing in the New Year with fireworks or spending time with family Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop has something for everyone—just one more reason why this historic town on the shores of Lake Michigan continues to earn national acclaim One of the less-known figures of the American Revolution, Sybil Ludington was all of 16 years old in April of 1777 Ludington’s heroic efforts have earned her comparisons to Paul Revere—though she rode 40 miles was sculpted by Anna Hyatt Huntington and dedicated in 1961 It depicts Ludington holding a stick and shouting a warning while sitting astride on her horse A monument honoring 81 residents of this Scottish town who were executed for witchcraft in the 16th century An art installation commemorates journalist Nellie Bly's undercover reporting inside a New York asylum This sculpture may be the only known depiction of a man who helped finance the American Revolution and inadvertently created the dollar sign The site of a fallen tree that protected Americans from British forces during the American Revolution This outdoor sculpture gallery is a modern-day homage to Andean culture and history This free sculpture garden is home to over 90 artworks and installations from artists around the world This modern sculpture looks out over the sea and amplifies sound from the inside The last remaining vestige of a popular 1999 public art display