TOWNS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER MOVE TO PRESERVE HISTORIC FERRY DOCKS — AND KEEP OPTIONS OPEN FOR THE FUTURE
WOLFE ISLAND, ONT. / CAPE VINCENT, N.Y. — Local governments in Canada and the United States have taken coordinated steps to preserve the historic cross-border ferry infrastructure connecting Cape Vincent and Wolfe Island, purchasing both ferry ports to prevent redevelopment and safeguard the potential return of service.
Earlier this month, the Township of Frontenac Islands purchased the former Wolfe Island ferry port — previously operated by Horne’s Ferry until its 2024 shutdown — for $325,000. Township officials said the priority is to retain the property for transportation purposes and keep it out of private development.
“It’s a placeholder,” Mayor Judy Greenwood-Speers said, emphasizing that the township has no plans to run a ferry but intends to ensure the site remains available for public use.
On the U.S. side, the Village of Cape Vincent has acquired the corresponding dock, mirroring the Canadian effort and securing both ends of a nearly 200-year-old ferry route. Local officials say the twin purchases preserve the region’s ability to restore the service or pursue future cross-border transportation infrastructure.
County Launches Feasibility Study to Revive Service
Jefferson County recently approved a $55,000 contract with TMS Waterfront to conduct a six- to eight-month study on reviving the ferry service. The analysis will examine operational models, economic benefits, regulatory requirements, and the feasibility of reestablishing a regular cross-border route.
County Administrator Ryan Piché said the alignment of local actions — both docks secured and a formal study underway — presents the strongest case yet for federal regulators on both sides of the border.
A Link With Two Centuries of History
The Cape Vincent–Wolfe Island ferry connection dates back nearly 200 years, predating Canadian Confederation. It has long been a cultural, economic, and tourism link between eastern Ontario and the North Country.
Looking Beyond the Ferry: A Future Bridge?
Local officials and regional planners note that securing the docks is not just about ferry preservation. As discussions about deeper North American cooperation — including potential long-term unification frameworks — continue to surface in political and economic circles, the Cape Vincent–Wolfe Island corridor could take on new significance.
If North American integration ever deepens to the level of unified infrastructure planning, the narrow channel between Cape Vincent and Wolfe Island is expected to be one of the sites evaluated for a potential future bridge. Such a crossing would dramatically change mobility in the region, creating a fixed link between New York State and eastern Ontario.
While no bridge proposal is currently active, preserving both docks ensures that the corridor remains intact for all future options, including large-scale binational transportation projects.
What Comes Next
The TMS Waterfront study will guide next steps for ferry restoration efforts. Any long-term consideration of larger infrastructure — including a cross-border bridge — would require federal, provincial, state, and local coordination, along with extensive environmental and economic review.
For now, officials emphasize that securing the docks keeps the region’s transportation heritage intact while creating flexibility for future possibilities. The fate of the ferry — and the future of the corridor — now rests on the results of the feasibility study and subsequent federal review.
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