By Captain Mike Nowak – Keeper of Lore, Crusty Truths, and Your Favorite Bay Buddy
Let’s just get this out of the way: beneath Grand Traverse Bay, there are no krakens, no Atlantis, and no sunken pirate ships full of gold. (Unless someone dumped their wedding ring off the bow after a “whoops-too-much-chardonnay” cruise. Then yes, there’s treasure.) But this beautiful stretch of freshwater does hold some serious history, fascinating facts, and a few eyebrow-raising tales that keep life spicy for those of us who practically live on the water.
So buckle up your PFD, grab a bag of cherry gummies, and let’s dive deep—metaphorically—into what’s hiding beneath Grand Traverse Bay.
The Legend of the Submerged Pinto at Haserot Beach
Let’s start local—and strange. Just off Haserot Beach in Old Mission Harbor, there’s a sunken Ford Pinto, and no, I’m not making that up. Legend has it that one fine winter in the 1980s, someone decided ice fishing wasn’t exciting enough and tried a little off-roading adventure out onto the frozen bay. Surprise: the ice said “nope,” and down went the Pinto.
Today, it rests about 10–15 feet below the surface in an eerie, rusted-out glory, slowly becoming an artificial reef for perch and panfish. If you’re snorkeling or scuba diving near the harbor, it’s a quirky sight you won’t forget. Want exact coordinates? Bring me coffee and a decent cherry pie, and we’ll talk.
Or better yet, book a shallow water tour with AmbitiousCharters.com, and I might just take you there—with bonus commentary about every bad decision that led to that car becoming fish furniture.
Lumbering-Era Leftovers: Ghosts of Timber Past
Before tourists showed up with kayaks and selfie sticks, this bay was a lumber superhighway. In the 1800s, logs were floated across Grand Traverse Bay from places like Northport and Old Mission Peninsula to mills in Traverse City. Many of those logs never made it.
To this day, divers still find sunken timbers, iron boom chains, logging tools, and even submerged cribs—those box-like log platforms used to store timber and dock ships. Some are lodged in the silt like giant Lincoln Logs of doom. Others are hiding under eelgrass like bay trolls waiting to stub your fin.
These leftovers aren’t just cool—they’re historical artifacts of an industry that built this region. Want to nerd out and see ‘em? AmbitiousCharters.com knows the spots.
Scuba Hotspots: Not Just for Fancy Tank People
Now, for you brave bubble-blowers: Grand Traverse Bay offers surprisingly awesome scuba diving interest points, especially for freshwater.
- The Metropolis (off Old Mission Peninsula): A 1886 schooner that went down in about 120 feet of water. She’s shockingly intact, beautiful, and a little spooky. Great for advanced divers with a love for ghost ships.
- The Pilot Island Barge: Nestled near Power Island in shallower water—perfect for beginners or curious snorkelers. Good visibility, cool structure, and lots of aquatic life.
- The Haserot Pinto: As mentioned earlier, it’s real, it’s hilarious, and it’s peak Michigan weirdness.
There’s more: remnants of old docks, scow schooners, and even lumber cribs are scattered throughout the bay. If you want to experience them without the wetsuit wedgie, hop on a tour with AmbitiousCharters.com—they’ll take you there in comfort and style.
More Shipwrecks: Graveyard of Freshwater Ambition
While the Metropolis gets most of the fame, it’s not the only wreck beneath Grand Traverse Bay. Some honorable mentions:
- The A.J. Rogers: A mid-1800s schooner that went down near Lee Point. Her final cargo of lumber? Still down there, like a soggy time capsule.
- Two Unnamed Scows: Fragmented and forgotten between Elk Rapids and the south end of the bay. Think of them as the junkyard of 19th-century optimism.
- Collapsed Dock Ruins: Especially near Bowers Harbor and Suttons Bay. They’ve become fish condos and diver playgrounds.
Every one of these wrecks has a story. Most of them end in “and then the storm hit.” All are worth exploring—respectfully, of course.
The Underwater Petroglyphs: Art or Just Rocks Being Weird?
Now here’s where things get spooky-interesting. Over the years, a few divers and sonar hobbyists have reported seeing what appear to be petroglyphs beneath Grand Traverse Bay—rock carvings that look distinctly human-made. These might predate the flooding of the region thousands of years ago, possibly linked to Anishinaabe or other Indigenous cultures.
We’re talking patterns, lines, and even formations that look like symbols. Are they authentic? That’s up for debate. Some say it’s ancient art, others say it’s geology getting creative.
If you want to play Indiana Jones, start near the south end of the bay where ancient shoreline clues and submerged ridges lie. But be warned: real scientists and tribal historians are still working on confirming what’s what. Don’t go down there claiming you discovered Atlantis 2.0.
The (Slightly Haunted?) Underwater Forest
Not everything below the surface is wrecked. Near the southern end of the bay lies a submerged forest, preserved perfectly in cold freshwater. These trees were once above ground, thousands of years ago, before glaciers and rising waters swallowed them whole.
Today they stand like quiet sentinels on the lake floor—leafless, limbless, and still somehow majestic. They’re an eerie reminder that what’s beneath Grand Traverse Bay once stood tall on dry land. Haunting? A little. Cool? Absolutely.
Fish, My Frenemies
Let’s talk living creatures now. Beneath Grand Traverse Bay, you’ll find lake trout, whitefish, bass, perch, and the occasional very angry muskie. These fish aren’t just here to nibble your bait; they’re part of a thriving, dynamic freshwater ecosystem. Respect it—or suffer the wrath of the dreaded seaweed wrap around your ankles. (Seriously, that stuff has ruined more macho moments than I care to admit.)
And don’t forget invasive species. Zebra mussels, round gobies, and the ever-pesky quagga mussels are all down there throwing a party we didn’t RSVP to. They’re causing big changes in the bay’s ecosystem—some subtle, some not-so-subtle. Want to be part of the solution? The folks at AmbitiousCharters.com can school you on clean boating practices and how not to wreck the underwater party.
What You Should Actually Be Scared Of
Forget lake monsters. The real danger beneath Grand Traverse Bay is you not knowing what you’re doing. Cold water shock, unexpected depth changes, rogue waves, and sudden weather shifts are all real and not even a little bit funny.
If you’re heading out, especially to deeper areas, leave your Walmart floatie at home and bring gear that’s worthy of the bay. Want to explore but don’t know where to start? Get yourself on a legit charter—like the ones at AmbitiousCharters.com—and leave the sketchy DIY nautical nonsense at the dock.
Final Words from the Captain’s Chair
This bay is more than just pretty water. Beneath Grand Traverse Bay lies an entire world of natural history, human adventure, and the kind of quiet mystery that keeps even old salts like me coming back every day.
So next time you’re drifting on the water, remember: there’s more below you than just fish and sediment. There’s a Pinto. There are ghost schooners and 1800s timbers. There are petroglyphs, ancient forests, and maybe—just maybe—something we haven’t found yet.
And if you’re not sure what you’re doing? Call me, Captain Mike Nowak, or swing by AmbitiousCharters.com before you end up becoming part of the next blog post.
Stay safe, stay curious, and for the love of Neptune—don’t throw beer cans in my bay.