Latest News, WV Press Videos

Sternwheeler to test Huntington as river tour base

Photo submitted to The Herald-Dispatch
Photo submitted to The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Huntington may have a permanent new fall attraction, depending on the success of a 10-day test run starting at the end of the month.

The Marietta, Ohio-based Valley Gem Sternwheeler riverboat will be docked at the west end of Harris Riverfront Park from Oct. 29 through Nov. 8, offering a full schedule of public sightseeing tours, dinner cruises and a Halloween night murder mystery.

The boat also will be open for rentals for private cruises and events such as educational trips, receptions and business meetings.

 Daily sightseeing tours will be offered, and on Halloween night the ship will play host to Murder and Merriment’s “Ghost of the Valley Gem” murder mystery dinner theater. A dinner cruise is planned for Saturday, Nov. 7. IHeartMedia will do some music cruises.

The Gem can hold up to 290 passengers.

Group and individual tickets are on sale for the two special cruises as well as for the daily sightseeing cruises.

Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tyson Compton said the organization is excited to bring the Valley Gem to town for the extended tour.

“We heard (the Valley Gem) was really well done, and it is,” Compton said. “In our conversations, they were quick to share helpful information, and it also became apparent that they might be interested in looking at Huntington as another business location. There are no concrete plans in effect, but they will see if Huntington could support a riverboat operation…

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

And get our latest content in your inbox

Invalid email address