Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - Saugatuck MI

Address: 6495 Blue Star Hwy. PO Box 885
City: Saugatuck
State: MI
Zip: 49453
County: Allegan
Number of visits to this page: 1631
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

This dune ride is still going strong as of 2022. It looks awesome.

The dune rides date back to 1954 when Ron Jousma, then 21 and home from the Army, decided Saugatuck needed a dune ride similar to those at Silver Lake near Hart. He bought the present dune property west of Goshorn Lake from a Chicago man and turned his 1942 Ford convertible into a dune buggy with seats in the rumble seat.

He added a 1946 and 1947 Ford coupe, cut off the tops, outfitted the cars with super-wide tires and cut trails in the dunes.

In 1961, Jousma and a friend picked up two half-ton Ford truck chassis and drove them back from Kansas City sitting on wooden boxes. They were outfitted with steel beds and seats and joined the fleet.

Still later Dodge Power Wagons were added and equipped with aircraft tires to operate in the sand.

In 1971 Jousma opened a dune ride in Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado and operated both rides until selling them in 1978 to an Indiana family.

In 1981, Linus and Janice Starring purchased the business. The two never had ridden on the schooners until they inspected them prior to purchasing the business. Saugatuck Dune Rides remains a part-time job for the Starring family. Linus, with a degree in heavy equipment, is a railroad engineer for two small freight lines in Michigan during the off-season. Janice manages the office and handles all booking and scheduling.

Even as a part time business, there's plenty of maintenance to do. Shifting sands require daily grading of the trails in the dunes. Driving in sand dunes means the schooners need oil changes and engine maintenance every 100 miles. During the off season, equipment is fabricated and updated for the following season.

Info Updates:
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 Photos:8
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - 2022 Photos From Website
2022 Photos From Website
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - 2022 Photos From Website
2022 Photos From Website
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - 2022 Photos From Website
2022 Photos From Website
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - 2022 Photos From Website
2022 Photos From Website
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - Postcard
Postcard
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - Postcard
Postcard
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - Postcard
Postcard
Saugatuck Dune Rides (Dune Schooners) - Postcard
Postcard
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