Jr. Capt. Gabriel’s SS Badger ferry adventure
SS Badger Entertainer Todd Hansen with Jr. Capt. Gabriel Mary Svacina has had a tradition of taking each of her grandsons on a Round Trip Mini Cruise on the SS Badger ever since they each turned 5 years old. Last summer, she took her youngest grandson, Gabriel. Svacina, 71, lives in Grimms, Wis., located in Manitowoc County, about 15 miles…
1950s ferry waiter rides Badger cross lake ferry 68 years later
In the summer of 2024, Bill Bussell of Round Rock, Texas, along with his daughter and son-in-law, took a special trip on board the S.S. Badger cross lake ferry. Bill worked for the C&O Railroad’s Ludington car ferries during the summers of 1958 and 1959 while attending Michigan State University. Born in Capac, Michigan, Bill’s…
Badger Tale: An Unforgettable Mini Cruise
My wife Sandra and I had planned a cruise after she retired. Then she was diagnosed with cancer. Our travel plans were on hold. Our planned cruise didn’t happen because of the need to stay close to medical care. Since I promised my wife a cruise, I started looking for a suitable substitute. My search…
Badger Tales: Cherished childhood memories on the Badger
Some of my most treasured childhood memories center around my family’s summer pilgrimages from Manitowoc to Ludington aboard the S.S. Badger. Excitement would build for the adventure ahead as we watched our car roll onto the deck. I’ll never forget my dad’s cheerful ritual of knocking on our state room door, calling out “Ludington, Ludington!”…
Badger Tales: 4 generations of Badger riders
Badger Tales “I have been riding the Badger since the early 90s. As a kid my family would take short vacations to visit various museums along the Wisconsin and Michigan sides of the Lake and the ride on the Badger was always a huge highlight of those trips. “My most recent trip was In 2022…