South Bass Island is the most popular destination on Lake Erie due to the presence of the village of Put-in-Bay.
It is home to a small number of permanent residents, a small public school, and a local post office throughout the winter but explodes into a weekend getaway for thousands of tourists and locals.
South Bass Island is also a popular location for walleye, yellow perch, and, of course, bass fishing.
South Bass Island History
South Bass Island has not always been a place for tourists to go and relax.
It was a safe haven for Native Americans who journeyed there to protect themselves from squalls. The Indian tribes that most likely used the island were the Iroquois, Erie, Shawnee, Miami, and Ottawa.
The Iroquois was a confederation that consisted of the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Mohawk, and Oneida. Of these tribes, the Seneca and Cayuga would have been most likely to use the island.
In the early 19th century, it was the scene for an epic battle during the War of 1812 between the American Army and the British Army at the Battle of Lake Erie.
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry won an important navy battle against the most powerful navy in the world. During the battle, Commodore Perry refused to give up his ship and managed to capture the British.
The phrase, “Don’t give up the ship,” became a famous quote from the battle and is still inscribed on local products. In the present day, there is a monument that now stands in memory of the battle.
A more details account of South Bass Island's history comes from the website Visit Put in Bay
Put-in-Bay History was perhaps most notably shaped when, in 1854, Joseph De Rivera, a Spanish merchant, bought the Bass Islands, including South Bass (Put-in-Bay Ohio) Middle Bass, Sugar Island, Gibraltar, Ballast, and Stave Island, for $44,000. He proceeded to develop the island, first building a stave mill and a sawmill in the fall of 1854. De Rivera hired an engineer to survey the area and began to form 10-acre parcels. 42 of these parcels were sold in the first ten years on the South and Middle Bass Islands. The current-day downtown park at Put-in-Bay is aptly named De Rivera Park in his honor. To this day, a trust manages the park to preserve his wishes. His generosity again impacted Put-in-Bay History when, for the sum of $1.00, he sold the South Bass Board of Education a quarter of an acre for the construction of Put-In-Bay’s first school.
Throughout the 1850s, the Islands continued to develop. The grape-growing and wine-making industry began in the Lake Erie Islands. Put-In-Bay’s attraction as a historical island resort was being developed. In 1852, 1858, and 1859, large celebrations were held to honor Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory over the British in 1813. The Bass islands, particularly Put-in-Bay, had become well known for the excellent wines made from an extended growing season for island grapes. Farmers recognized the rich soil and warm temperatures extended by the breeze across the Lake Erie waters, and many came to the island to plant vineyards and become active in resort-oriented businesses. By the 1860s, over 500 persons called Put-in-Bay their permanent residence.
Put-in-Bay History books document a story that appeared in the Sandusky Daily Register, which ran in 1866 and documented some rather interesting statistics. According to the article, the once uninhabited island was now home to 165 cattle, 103 horses, 206 hogs, and one lone mule. Farmers harvested bountiful crops of wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, hay, clover, sorghum, buckwheat, and oats. An additional 72 acres of Put-in-Bay was now planted with vines, bringing the total to 422 acres. In 1865, the Put-in-Bay grape harvest totaled 1,117,801 pounds, which yielded 33,805 gallons of wine!
As the island continued to grow, Put-in-Bay History documented the first Local island government in 1861. The Ottawa County commissioners were petitioned by John Stone, Simon Fox, and others from the three Bass Islands for permission to organize Put-in-Bay township. On June 22, 1861, the electors selected their town trustees.15 years later, In May of 1876, after the three islands were organized as a township, a portion of South Bass was incorporated as the Village of Put-in-Bay, which we now refer to as downtown Put-in-Bay Ohio.
In 1865, De Rivera again demonstrated his generosity by donating land for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Mother of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, which was established in 1866. The Put-in-Bay Telegraph Company was incorporated in 1873, with a two and seven-eighth-mile cable between Catawba Point and South Bass Island. In the 1930s, dial phones replaced old hand-cranked wall instruments. In May 1906, the street lighting system was converted to electricity.
From the 1850s to the 1900s, numerous steamships, including several holding upwards of 1,500 passengers, included Put-in-Bay as a regular stop. Hotels were constructed for the tourists, and many were treated to the largest, the Hotel Victory, a 300 x 600 foot with 625 guest rooms. At the time, the Hotel Victory was the largest hotel in America, with the first-ever coed swimming pool. When the cornerstone for the Hotel Victory was laid, Seven steamboats brought over 8000 people to Put-in-Bay. Another noteworthy hotel was the Beebe House, with a wide hall 500 feet through the center and a dining room seating 1000 people. Before being able to be fully utilized, the Hotel Victory burned to the ground in a blaze, according to Put-in-Bay History that could be seen from Cleveland.
For over 100 years, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, has attracted tourists to a quaint but vibrant resort island. Today, over one million tourists annually enjoy the eclectic makeup of fun-filled activities, including fishing, boating, caves, winery’s, and a vibrant nightlife.
Transportation
You can get to the island via the Miller Ferry Line, Jet Express, and many other private charters. There is also an airstrip located on the island that allows small aircraft to land.
While on the island, there are many ways to travel.
The Miller Ferry allows you to travel by car, and the island offers tourists golf carts and bikes.
Most folks enjoy renting a golf cart for the day since the small island is easy to navigate, and a group can easily enjoy all the attractions around the island.
The other Lake Erie Islands
Lake Erie is home to a cluster of small islands that allow for traveling, sightseeing, and fishing:
- Middle Bass Island
- North Bass Island
- Johnson’s Island
- Kelley’s Island
- Rattlesnake Island