07:08 PM
Jul 03
2010

Ferry boats staying afloat after Lonz Winery collapse

Tourism on Middle Bass Island took a blow when Lonz Winery closed, but so did the ferry business that depended on traffic the winery generated.

"We lost three quarters of our business when the winery closed," said John Schneider, captain and owner of the Sonny-S, the ferry boat that makes the quick run between Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island.

"It definitely impacted our business," said Julene Market, who handles marketing for the Miller Boat Line, the only ferry that has a direct connection between Middle Bass Island and the mainland.

Just as they are today, the two ferry services were the main way to the island 10 years ago for people who don't fly, and those who don't own boats.
07:45 PM
Jul 03
2010

Lonz Winery collapse had major effect on island business

When the Lonz Winery went away, so did Middle Bass Island's large crowds.

Since then, owners of the island's main attractions have tried to keep adding features, hoping to bring some of those visitors back.
07:14 PM
Jul 03
2010

Lonz Winery collapse changed island life forever

In the heyday of Lonz Winery, tourists flocked to Middle Bass Island nearly every summer weekend.

The island's local residents mingled with vacationers, and friends toasted their goblets to unforgettable evenings.

Business associates and casual partygoers flooded the winery's terrace, soaking up the sun and Riesling. Some stayed in summer homes, while others came and left by ferry to unwind for just a few hours on weekend afternoons.

The winery still stands as a majestic beacon, visible hundreds of feet from the shore. It's the first thing visitors see when the ferry docks.

But the clinking of glasses, live music and echoes of laughter have long since faded.
08:39 PM
Jul 01
2010

Recreation, then devastation: Medical crews at Lonz put to test

MIDDLE BASS ISLAND

Virginia Mamere, a long-time ER nurse, lounged with a friend on the lawn outside Lonz Winery the afternoon of July 1, 2000.

She basked in the sun and listened to the band, waiting for a fellow nurse’s bachelorette celebration to begin.

“It was a day like today — just gorgeous,” Mamere said Wednesday. 

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