
Photo courtesy of Mackinac State Historic Parks
The Mackinac Island State Park Commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Friday, February 6, at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Lyon Meadows Conference Center in New Hudson.
According to the agenda, commissioners will hear a report from auditor Douglas Wohlberg and review a revised 2026 operating budget. Additional discussion items include Mackinac Island airport business, proposed fee revisions, policy updates, use permit and lease renewal requests, and updates related to the Fort Michilimackinac Reenactment.
The Mackinac Island State Park Commission serves as the governing body of Mackinac State Historic Parks and is responsible for overseeing parkland and historic sites on both Mackinac Island and the mainland. The commission was established in 1895, when Mackinac Island transitioned from being the nation’s second national park to Michigan’s first state park.
Today, parkland makes up more than 80 percent of Mackinac Island, totaling approximately 1,800 acres. In all, the commission oversees about 2,500 acres of parkland, more than 110 historic buildings, and an estimated 1.7 million artifacts across the Mackinac State Historic Parks system.
Steve Brisson, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks, said the commission’s work over more than a century has focused on protecting and preserving both the natural landscape and historic resources of the parks, while expanding access and educational opportunities for visitors.
The commission is made up of seven members who are appointed by the governor of Michigan and confirmed by the Michigan Senate. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Current chairman Dan Loepp has served on the commission since 2015 and has held the role of chair since September 2019.

The MIFP Team
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