Apple Island Tours – rescheduled for one day only!
Sunday, September 14, 2025, 10 am-3:40 pm
September 2025 Apple Island Tours Advance Reservations are open for GWBHS members August 15 – September 7!
If you are a GWBHS member, click the button below to purchase your advance tickets. If you are not a current GWBHS member, tickets will be available for purchase at Orchard Lake Museum on a first come, first served basis during the event.
September 2025 Apple Island Tours Advance Tickets
About Apple Island Tours
Apple Island Tours is an annual event during the second weekend in June by Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society (GWBHS), in partnership with West Bloomfield School District, City of Orchard Lake Village, and West Bloomfield Parks. Tours begin at Orchard Lake Museum and include outdoor exhibits, volunteer island docents, presenter Mi-kwan-dahn (Mike) Jewell, bus and boat transportation, and a self-paced island tour.
Apple Island, officially known as Marjorie Ward Strong Woodland Sanctuary, is a 37-acre island in the center of Orchard Lake. It is currently uninhabited by people and is kept as a nature preserve with several archaeological sites by West Bloomfield School District. The public can visit the island during the annual Apple Island Tours.
After the unexpected Saturday afternoon cancellation of Apple Island Tours in June, the community will have another chance to visit the nature sanctuary at the center of Orchard Lake and learn more about its nature and history.
About the Trip: The tour begins at Orchard Lake Museum, followed by a quick bus ride to the DNR boat launch (bus transportation provided by West Bloomfield Parks) and pontoon boat ride to Apple Island. The boat will leave approximately every 30 minutes from 10:00 am to 3:40 pm, minus time for driver breaks. There will be no boat to return guests from the island from 11:20 am to 12:20 pm. Guests can stay on the island until 5 pm. The tour of the island is self-paced, with volunteer docents and presenters providing commentary at select locations. 15 steps to access the island. Allow 3 hours for the round trip.
Activities at Orchard Lake Museum: Orchard Lake Museum will be open during the event, with many fun outdoor activities, including: historical costume photo op, archaeology dig box, and old-fashioned games. The Museum gift shop will be open.
Tickets: Tickets will be available for purchase at Orchard Lake Museum on a first come, first served basis during the event. Ticket donations: $25 adult, $15 child (ages 5-12 AND 55+ lbs), none under 5 years old.
Advance Reservations: MEMBERS ONLY August 15 – September 7: GWBHS members* can purchase tickets and schedule their chosen estimated time of departure online! Must be present 15 minutes before planned departure time. Reservations are nonrefundable, except in the case of event cancellation. *Members at the Individual level can purchase one advance ticket. Other membership levels can purchase advance tickets for up to 6 people.
Thank you to our 2025 Apple Island Tours sponsors!
Silver sponsors:
Family of Suzanne Bentley Hadley
Apple Island Champions:
Natures Beauty Inc.
Mind the Gap! Fundraiser Donors:
Anonymous, Benjamin Blumenstein, Hannah Dagg, Carol Fink, Margaret Gregory, Rob
Gregory, Carol Hack, Charles Packer, Michael Patton, Pat Steele
Community Partners
2019 Apple Island Tours poster
2019 Apple Island National Register of Historic Places Celebration Program
The Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors explained the history of surveying during the 2017 Apple Island Tours on Civic Center TV.
2015 Apple Island Tours presenters
2014 Civic Center TV coverage of Apple Island Tours
2024 Apple Island Tours event images