Welcome

Middle Bass Island, Ohio, is a 750-acre island in Western Lake Erie. It is shaped like the Big Dipper and located at the heart of a group of 23 islands. Its more famous neighbors are South Bass Island, with the town of Put-in-Bay, Kelley's Island, and Pelee Island which is the only large Lake Erie island in Canada.

The U.S. mainland lies 7 miles to the south. The international boundary between the U.S. and Canada lies 1.5 miles to the north. The Canadian mainland (Ontario) lies 15 miles to the north. Middle Bass has about 32 year-round residents and 800 to 1000 seasonal residents. On a busy summer holiday weekend, there are typically over 1500 people staying on the island, and many day-trippers visiting.

Called Ile des Fleurs or Island of Flowers by early French explorers, Middle Bass is a low, green island with friendly people, blue water, glacial groves, small houses, rental cabins, camping, beaches, marinas, a historic district, a wildlife refuge, and, soon, an Ohio state park. Access is by public ferries, private boats and planes, and air services.

Descendants of 19th century German settlers still live on the island; their families’ vineyards are gone now, but they play an important role in today’s island community. Some seasonal residents are sixth-generation summer islanders. Newer residents give the island their energy, enthusiasm, and diversity.

Middle Bass Island on the Web, Inc., a nonprofit operation, focuses on community, visitors, commerce, government, and history.

Community: Publishes information on up-coming community events, celebrates island people and places, and provides a discussion forum for island residents and visitors.

Visitors: Provides information that island visitors need, including information on lodging, transportation, and restaurants. An online reservation service is under consideration.

Commerce: Has the goal of helping islanders sell their goods and services; an online ordering service is under consideration. Provides information about non-islanders who have provided useful goods and services to islanders and are available to do so.

Government: Provides links to local and state government information, services and representatives.

History: Provides information on island history with links to relevant non-island resources.

The operators of this site welcome suggestions from island residents and visitors. Tell us what to include. We welcome any information you want to share. This is your site. The copyright notice on the pages is to deter piracy, not to discourage you from providing your input to influence the site.

Reproduction without written permission is forbidden for any purposes other than personal use.

Revised: 21 Jul 2008 07:50:18.

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