In the works for a couple of years, the Twin Cities Water Shuttle will have a preview on the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. And the best part is that you’ll be able to ride free as the shuttle boat makes its way around several stops on the St. Joseph River, preparing for full-scale paid operation in 2022.
MoodyOnTheMarket.com sat down with the man behind the Water Shuttle idea, Brady Cohen. Cohen is the general manager of the Inn At Harbor Shores. However, the water shuttle is an expansion of his side business, which has been operating the Southwest Michigan Cycle Boat the past couple of Summers. Brady co-owns the cycle boat and shuttle with his brother and business partner, Brandon Cohen.
Brady Cohen is excited about the Water Shuttle: “This has been in the works for two years. We’re finally going to be able to get people on the water. We’re going to help people experience the Twin Cities’ biggest asset, the water,” says Cohen. He describes the planned route for the shuttle as having several major stops: The Inn at Harbor Shores, the St. Joseph Arboretum, Tavern On theRiver, and Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor (near Breadbar and Babe’s).
Cohen’s vision for the ticketed shuttle in 2022 is for an All Day Pass, in the $10-$15 per person range. He says, “Maybe they’d park at the Courthouse Lot, board at the Arboretum, perhaps stop for a couple of beverages along the way, enjoy dinner, and then come back to their starting point. They could make a day or evening of it!”
Cohen says there’s nothing similar to the Twin Cities Water Shuttle in the immediate Lake Michigan region. However, he’s seen it work in the Naples, Florida area, where he lived and worked for several years.
Cohen describes the recent acquisition of the shuttle boat as “the major hurdle” to his plan. He located what he describes as a “26 foot former Navy Whaler” in Northern Michigan, thoroughly checked it out, and purchased it. The boat arrived in St. Joseph recently. He says it’s expected to handle 20 passengers, once certified by the Coast Guard. And a former Coast Guardsman will be the primary captain. Cohen says that Andrew Vanderveen spent 25 years with the Coast Guard and has been handling the Cycle Boat this Summer. He anticipates Vanderveen will be captaining the Water Shuttle next year.
Helping organize the Water Shuttle, arranging for the dock facilities and providing needed financial backing is Cornerstone Alliance, the area’s economic development organization. Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland shares Cohen’s excitement about the project, and the Labor Day preview event:
“Cornerstone Alliance is excited to offer the community a new amenity, that provides a new mode of transportation, a new way to access the water, and new connectivity throughout our communities. The water taxi is a pilot program that will be used to define the long-term interest of this kind of service during the summer months. It is another key piece of the development of the harbor, along with new features like a kayak launch on Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor. “
Cleveland says the Water Shuttle is a perfect example of the kind of creative development that warrants community support:”
“This is about trying something new and different, and is an attempt to set our community apart from the other communities along Lake Michigan. We’ve heard from many people that this is the kind of thing they would use, if it were available. The ultimate success of a water taxi will be directly dependent upon the community. We need people to come out and try the water taxi. We need people to get out at the stops and enjoy dinner or drinks at the restaurants and bars along the way. We need community partners to financially support the long-term sustainability of the water taxi.”
The free Labor Day preview of the Twin Cities Water Shuttle will run from noon to 8 pm, Friday thru Sunday, September 3-5. Docking stops are confirmed at the Inn at Harbor Shores, the Upton Arboretum, Tavern On The River and along Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor.
