ADRIAN — Horizon Travel and Cruises in Adrian is celebrating its 40th year in business. The company, started by Jim Koehn in 1984, is currently owned by Dawn Harke, who bought the business from Koehn in July 2010.

Harke starting working at Horizon Travel and Cruises 33 years ago.  She got interested in travel when she was in high school, and did a lot of traveling with her parents when she was young. 

“I went to travel school right out of high school instead of going to college, so that’s how I got started,” Harke said. She started working at Imperial Travel in downtown Adrian in 1986 and “just ventured from there.” She moved to Horizon Travel in 1991. 

Harke said the business has changed over the years, from booking plane tickets or car rentals to being a consulting business that helps people plan their dream vacations.

“It used to be when we started that we were order takers,” she said. “Usually people called and we issued airline tickets and rental cars and so forth.”

But now, she said, “We try to take the recommendations of what they are looking to do and try to design the trip for them. So, we are more of a travel designer these days instead of an agent just taking orders.”

Horizon also organizes package tours and has a motor coach division.

Horizon Travel and Cruises can plan anything from an overnight stay to extended vacations. Because they are a consulting firm, they do charge an additional fee for their services.

“I always let people know that,” she said. 

Harke said she has many repeat customers, including those who have asked her to make travel arrangements for years. 

“I still have a customer that was one of my first ones,” she said.  “They moved away and they are still using me.” 

Horizon Travel and Cruises is at 604 S. Main St., Adrian. For more information, call 517-265-6666, go to horizontravelandcruises.weebly.com, or email [email protected].