Steamboats on the Missouri River

[PotatoeEatsFish]

(Moderator Note: This was split from the Gallup thread)

Slightly off topic, but I wish we utilized the river more with steamboats (not actual steam just in that style). A steamboat style boat that goes from downtown Kansas City to downtown Omaha might be a unique experience. It is roughly 250 miles by the river from Kansas City to Omaha and steamships generally travel at 5mph. This means the trip would take 50 hours which could be marketed as a weekend getaway. There could be stops in Nebraska City and Saint Joe. It wouldn't be a reliable transport method, but it could capitalize on both the cities' histories and draw some tourism. There are already similar experiences along the Mississippi River. Marketing it as a more upscale experience with a restaurant and bar on the ship, along with personal cabins. All of it would be in a Victorian style to provide historical appeal.

[thenewguy]

Slightly off topic, but I wish we utilized the river more with steamboats (not actual steam just in that style). A steamboat style boat that goes from downtown Kansas City to downtown Omaha might be a unique experience. It is roughly 250 miles by the river from Kansas City to Omaha and steamships generally travel at 5mph. This means the trip would take 50 hours which could be marketed as a weekend getaway. There could be stops in Nebraska City and Saint Joe. It wouldn't be a reliable transport method, but it could capitalize on both the cities' histories and draw some tourism. There are already similar experiences along the Mississippi River. Marketing it as a more upscale experience with a restaurant and bar on the ship, along with personal cabins. All of it would be in a Victorian style to provide historical appeal.

I totally agree. Done right, it could be a really cool draw. I mean, they do viking river cruises in Europe, why can't we do something here?

[Louie]

Slightly off topic, but I wish we utilized the river more with steamboats (not actual steam just in that style). A steamboat style boat that goes from downtown Kansas City to downtown Omaha might be a unique experience. It is roughly 250 miles by the river from Kansas City to Omaha and steamships generally travel at 5mph. This means the trip would take 50 hours which could be marketed as a weekend getaway. There could be stops in Nebraska City and Saint Joe. It wouldn't be a reliable transport method, but it could capitalize on both the cities' histories and draw some tourism. There are already similar experiences along the Mississippi River. Marketing it as a more upscale experience with a restaurant and bar on the ship, along with personal cabins. All of it would be in a Victorian style to provide historical appeal.

I totally agree. Done right, it could be a really cool draw. I mean, they do viking river cruises in Europe, why can't we do something here?

We don't have the mountains and valleys of central europe, but I really like this idea!

[Dusty]

Whatever happened with the River Star Steamboat? Does that still operate?

[Louie]

Whatever happened with the River Star Steamboat? Does that still operate?

It ceased operations when the Dam bar closed. I think it went up for auction earlier in the year as well.

[ita]

Whatever happened with the River Star Steamboat? Does that still operate?

It ceased operations when the Dam bar closed. I think it went up for auction earlier in the year as well.

Here's our thread about the River Star.

https://www.eomahaforums.com/viewtopic. ... at#p369569

If someone is enterprising enough, there is a hole now in possible river entertainment with the River Star gone.

[thenewguy]

i feel like they could have a really cool museum type attraction with a steamboat on land in this area, something with more history of the river (beaver pelts, barges, etc) as a museum. there's a really cool museum with tours up in door county wisconsin that does guided tours on the boats that used to cross the great lakes. Then depart on a boat trip from here

[S.O.Boy]

There was talk long ago when Nebraska City was thinking of getting a scenic railroad, you would go to Brownville by train and come back on Spirit of Brownville Riverboat.

[riceweb]

There is now a St Louis to Minneapolis river cruise on Viking: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/crui ... index.html

St Louis to Yankton might be a realistic future expansion if that route does well.

[guy4omaha]

American Cruise Lines has also been running cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio and a Tennessee river for several years now. Same for Florida and Washington state. Given their more extensive US river lineup, perhaps they will add the Missouri sooner.

https://www.americancruiselines.com/cru ... er-cruises