Topic starter
17/06/2007 9:18 pm
Hello all,
I am very glad to pass on this information to you. The steamer CHAUTAUQUA BELLE of Mayville, NY is coming back to Lake Chautauqua. She is a true steamboat designed by our own Capt. Alan Bates. She has been laid up for a little over 3 years now.
A phone call earlier today alerted me to the vessels website where it is clear new owners intend to bring her back to the lake in the short term.
There aren't too many times we get to witness the rebirth of a steamboat on the waterways of America...so lets support this valiant effort!
http://www.269belle.com/home.html
http://www.chautauquabelle.com/
US Steam Company Ltd.
850 Fairmount Ave. Jamestown, N.Y. 14701
Owned by Matt & Paul Stage
I have been told nothing but good about this new direction for the CHAUTAUQUA BELLE and wish them the best in their new operation of this deluxe and wonderful little sternwheel steamboat!
~Travis~
17/06/2007 10:24 pm
Thank you, Travis, for bringing us up to date. This little boat is a real gem. Many, if not most of the folks on this board have never been to see/ride her, and they are missing out.
In 1989, we had a vacation scheduled to the Poconos, and took Sharon's little brother with us. He, too, is asteamboat buff (and is now mate on the m/v STARFIRE for ARTCO). Since I had never seen the CHAUTAUQUA BELLE, but had read the wonderful write-up by Capt. Fred Way in the S&D Reflector and had read Alan's description of the boat and his experience designing her, I wanted to see it. We made a detour through Mayville, just to ride the boat, and boy, I'm glad we did! The boat and the operation are first-class in every way, and the lake and surroundings are charming. At the time, my chief complaint was the fact that the only beverages they had aboard were bottled water and white wine - i ciouldn't get a Coke on that hot day!
Well worth a detour, despite the fact that they insist on calling it a "ship". ; ))
18/06/2007 10:13 pm
What is that last little symbol, a double chin? Are you getting fat?
19/06/2007 5:12 am
This is great news about the CHAUTAUQUA BELLE. It helps to temper yesterdays news about the QE2. Bob is right; she's just as cute as can be.
As the crow flies she's only 10 or so miles from Lake Erie, but Lake Chautauqua is part of the great Mississippi River Tributary System.
Also the Chautauqua Institution is a treasure worth visiting. If it's during the Chautauqua season it's worth even more to visit. The experience is truly priceless and at the fraction of the cost of a DELTA QUEEN trip!
19/06/2007 10:44 am
You have it right, Frank, the Chautauqua Belle is only a small part of what can be seen and enjoyed around Lake Chautauqua. A visit to the Chautauqua Institution is a walk back into the Gay 1890's. There is no other architectural gem on earth to compare with it. I do not know if the ferry at Bemus Point is still running, but if it is, don't miss it. Jamestown, at the foot of the lake is a most interesting place as well. Arriving there by air is comparable to a roller-coaster ride and has to be experienced to be believed.
The boat is as cute as a dime-store button.
21/06/2007 11:07 am
Indeed, the CHAUTAUQUA BELLE is a cute little sternwheeler -- and here's a picture of her to prove it!
22/06/2007 1:05 pm
How neat!! You don't see that many genuine small steam paddlewheelers being built these days. In the old days I guess you would have called this a packet boat.
22/06/2007 3:10 pm
Here's another view of the charming excursion sternwheeler!