Work This Summer on Mackinac Island with the Largest, Greatest Draft Horse Herd in the World
Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, Inc., located on beautiful Mackinac Island in Lake Huron, is the world's largest, oldest, and longest continually operated horse and buggy livery, with approximately 100 freight and passenger carriages put in motion by over 400 horses. Come spend the summer helping to groom, maintain and handle the largest working draft horse herd in the world.
Mackinac Island was the Country's second national park before becoming Michigan's first state park. Automobiles have been banned on the Island for over 100 years. As a result, the horses of Carriage Tours are what keeps the Island moving by providing all types of transportation including tour carriages, taxis, and horse-drawn drays for freight.
About Mackinac Island Carriage Tours
A job at Mackinac Island Carriage Tours can be rewarding and fun!
Being one of the most historic spots in the country, private motorized vehicles are not allowed. Horse-drawn vehicles bring a 19th-century charm to the island and Mackinac Island Carriage Tours provides most of this carriage service.
The majority of jobs offered by Carriage Tours involve working with horses, working with the public, or in most cases, working with both. Therefore, we seek friendly, enthusiastic people who preferably have some horse experience. Preference is also given to individuals who are available for the longest period between May 18th and October 15th. There are also a number of openings for the period between June 1st and late August.
Since horse-drawn transportation is our business and one of the things that make Mackinac Island unique, drivers are very important. Most openings are for sightseeing carriage drivers, which requires an ability to narrate as well as horsemanship skills. In addition, there are openings for dray drivers who help move everything from building supplies and merchandise to UPS deliveries, by way of horse-drawn freight wagons.
Although it is preferable that an applicant has some horse experience, training is provided if an applicant does not have the experience but is a dependable, hard-working person.
For those not wanting to work directly with our horses in the barn or driving a team, working in the Ticket Office or being a Ride Host/Hostess are great opportunities! Work downtown in the Ticket Office or in greeting, directing, and assisting customers in the loading of tour carriages. This is often one of the first impressions a customer gets of Carriage Tours so a friendly, enthusiastic person is a must!
Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Company to offer equal employment opportunities regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, height, weight, disability or handicap or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Michigan law requires that a person with a disability or handicap requiring accommodation for employment must notify the employer in writing within 182 days after the need is known.
Ideal Candidate
Dependable, friendly, enthusiastic persons who love horses and love people.
Room and Board
Dormitory style housing with usually 2 persons per room is available.
The cost is $119.00 per week, which includes breakfast and dinner in the employee cafeteria, and the option of making a brown bag lunch.
The cost for a room only, without meals, is $98.00 per week. The cost of meals only is $98.00 per week. Laundry facilities are available at no charge.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Mackinac Island is located just east of the Mackinac Bridge which is the only connection between Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas. A short ferry ride from either Mackinaw City (Lower Peninsula) or St. Ignace (Upper Peninsula) brings you to the Island. Automobiles have been banned from the Island for over 100 years. As a result, the downtown area is bustling with bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, taxis, and drays. And yes, Mackinac is spelled two ways. Mackinaw with a "w" as in Mackinaw City on the mainland is the English spelling and Mackinac with a "c" as in Mackinac Island is the French spelling, but it is all pronounced the same: Mack-i-naw.
For Fun
Fun on Mackinac? There is way too much fun to list here!! Go to our Tourism Bureau's web site at https://www.mackinacisland.org/ to see more about the Island.