Vision
inspiration and direction
It is our vision to be a memory maker and difference maker for visitors and local residents by increasing awareness and knowledge of the past, present, and future of Door County.
Mission
vehicle for vision
It is our mission to provide engaging narration on subjects of interest and importance to visitors and residents of Door County, while our boats safely ply the waters that sustain our very existence through sustenance, industry and recreation.
Founder’s Story
Hello, my name is JD Patterson, and I’m here in Door County operating a tour boat business because it brings my life full circle. I’m getting old, and what happens when you get old is you see things a little differently. For me, that means being more grateful and more humble. It means being open minded and curious, like a child seeing and learning things for the first time. It means giving back what I’ve been given.
When I was growing up, I was a lucky kid. My parents were both teachers, so we had the summers off, and we would go out to the mountains camping, usually for a month. My dad was a history teacher and guidance counselor, which means he was a kind and patient teacher. We took our time and stopped at all kinds of little towns. We went to all the State Parks and National Parks. We went to every museum and stopped at every roadside historical marker. We went to all the ranger talks and went on all the ranger walks. We saw a lot, and we learned a lot. It was all very casual, learning was just part of daily life.
With this in mind, I was looking for a retirement business where I could give back what I was given as a child. I ended up acquiring the Shoreline Cruises business in Baileys Harbor and expanded to Sturgeon Bay at the Maritime Museum. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but I knew something felt right. The more time I spent near the Maritime Museum, the more comfortable I felt. One day, I was chatting with Kevin Osgood, the executive director, and he told me that the company that designed the displays in the new Kress Tower specialized in designing displays for National Park Visitor Centers. I was kind of stunned. I knew there was something resonating in my soul, and now I knew why.
This would provide me with my vision and mission for the new business. The on-water boat tours would be the equivalent of the companion ranger walk to the National Park Visitor Centers. Except in this case, the boat tours would be the companion to the Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay and to Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor. To make things even better, we have also aligned ourselves with Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay and The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor. Both of these are fantastic community assets, bringing natural history and environmental sustainability to the forefront.
So this is my story of coming full circle. To give back what was given to me as a child. It is my vision and mission to be a memory maker and difference maker by providing exceptional boat tours that feed our curiosities and immerse us in the natural environs that nurture our souls.
It is with a grateful and humble heart that I welcome you to join us.