River City Star
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The River City Star is a passenger excursion riverboat on the Missouri River between Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The boat is docked at Miller's Landing in Omaha and is registered in Nebraska for taxes and alcohol liscensing. The landing is located near mile marker 617 of the Missouri River.
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[edit] History
Originally named the Belle of Brownville, the riverboat now known as the River City Star was built in Brownville, Nebraska, 65 miles downriver from Omaha, in 1967. The Belle of Brownville was modelled after and built by the same owner as the Spirit of Brownville, which, unlike the Belle, still remains in Brownville today. The Belle of Brownville originally started as a single-level barge, with a second level added later. Eventually, a third and fourth level were added, bringing the boat to its present configuration.
The Belle of Brownville was bought in 2000 by Rolling River, LLC and was renamed the River City Star in September of that year.
In 2004, the River City Star moved to its new dock at Miller's Landing. 2005 saw the opening of Muddy Mo's, a bar located at the top of Miller's Landing which could serve waiting passengers as well as passersby on the Back to the River Trail, which passes alongside the landing. That year also saw the addition of 4 Wheels 4 Fun, which rented quadricycles at hourly rates for use along the Omaha riverfront and the Omaha Old Market.
[edit] The boat
The vessel of The River City Star contains four levels and three bars, and can safely accommodate over 350 passengers. The first level is entirely inside, air conditioned, handicap accessible, and has one bar selling food and alcoholic beverages. Staircases on the starboard and port side of the first level lead to the second level, which features another bar and has open-air sides that are sheltered overhead by the third deck. The third deck is completely open and has another bar. Above the third deck is the fourth deck, which is a small elevated area above the pilot house and the third deck bar, which can hold only about 8 people at a time.
[edit] Cruising
The River City Star's cruising season usually begins on April 1 and ends on October 31, with its cruising schedule peaking for the summer months. The boat regularly schedules public and private cruises ranging from one-and-a-half to four hours in duration, and it is not uncommon for the boat to cruise three or four times in one day.
[edit] Public events
Public cruises are usually lunch, dinner or sight-seeing tours (sight-seeing tours often have narration from the Omaha Historical Society).
[edit] Private events
Private charters vary and are often reserved for weddings and receptions, office parties, anniversaries, local clubs and organizations and other special events.
Often, the boat will be reserved as a private charter for parties and concerts with tickets sold or given away to the public, as is the case with events such as the Q-Cruise (tickets are given as prizes by local radio station Q98.5), Blues Cruise (tickets are sold through the Omaha Blues Society), and Musique (tickets sold through Ultra Musique).
