The Chautauqua Belle
JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua Belle steamer will be making Jamestown its home for part of the year.
On Monday owners of the Chautauqua Belle – U.S. Steam Lines Ltd. – joined city officials in announcing the announced the multiyear lease agreement to have the vessel docked at the McCrea Point Park boat landing.
The agreement means the Belle will be making round-trip excursions from the Boat Landing to the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in May and June and also in September and October. The steamer will continue to operate out of the Mayville area in July and August.
As part of the arrangement with the city, U.S. Steam Lines will pay the city $250 the first year for the use of the dock. The rent will increase $25 per year to a final lease price of $350 in the year 2023 – with an option to extend the lease for another five years after that.
The announced location is appropriate, considering the area of McCrea Point is where dozens of steamers were located a century ago when paddle wheels were one of the primary means of transportation for traveling up and down Chautauqua Lake.
The Chautauqua Belle is currently only one of five operating steamboats left in North America.
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