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So the port is talking to the tribes to see if there’s some wiggle room. But that would involve working around tribal fishing platforms and negotiating fishing rights. Under the current agreement, Portland Spirit pays the port a monthly concession fee, regardless of gains or losses.
What to expect from a Dinner Cruise aboard the Sternwheeler
Today, thanks to its beautiful location on the river, there are plenty of great things to do in Cascade Locks, Oregon. In Portland Spirit’s last contract proposal, it included a payment increase of more than 50%. But so far, the two parties have been unable to reach and agreement.
take a cruise on a river of stories
Portland Spirit’s contract with the port is scheduled to sunset in December and negotiations are getting tense. Kim Brigham’s family has sold fish in Cascade Locks for as long as she can remember. In 2014, port officials suggested she open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. For generations, members of the Umatilla, Yakima, Warm Springs and Nez Perce tribes have fished for salmon in the Cascade Locks area.
Now offering: Dinner Cruises along the Columbia Gorge
#1 | Are you using Skamania County, Washington as your base camp for adventures in the Gorge? The Columbia Gorge operates on the Columbia River May through October. The captains are well versed in the history of the region including Native American stories, Lewis & Clark tales and the geologic formations and narrate throughout the one and two-hour trips.
It’s best known for the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler, which offers daily and nightly cruises from May – October – but it’s also home to popular attractions like Thunder Island. If you’re looking for something unique and fun to do this summer, we have the perfect thing! Head down to the charming town of Cascade Locks, Oregon, and take a cruise with the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler is one of the most popular things to do in Cascade Locks, Oregon, which itself is a charming town worth visiting. The restaurant gets a few diners from the local Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. But Brigham thinks they’d get more if a larger cruise liner docked in town.
Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge Cruises
Snacks and beverages are available for additional purchase. After disembarking from your Columbia River experience, consider heading north to Alaska for a completely different adventure through the Inland Passage. Travel north on I-5 (or fly into Sea-Tac) and head to the Port of Seattle’s Downtown Cruise Terminals where you can choose from several cruise companies, vessels, and itineraries. Resources such as visitor centers, chamber offices and other informative sites are available for planning your next trip. Discover dining and expedition cruises with breathtaking views along the Columbia River. A navigational canal and a series of locks were installed along the rapids for safer navigation in 1896, giving rise to modern-day Cascade Locks.
River cruise boat breaks loose in winter storm, smashes into footbridge in Cascade Locks - Fox 12 Oregon
River cruise boat breaks loose in winter storm, smashes into footbridge in Cascade Locks.
Posted: Sat, 13 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
After years of financial struggle, port leaders want to build on the city’s economic success. So they are negotiating to bring American Cruise Lines into town. The company’s big vessels can carry more than 200 passengers and staff, who would likely spend plenty of money if they docked locally. In addition, light snacks made by local chefs may be included in this unique experience. The price will vary depending on time of year, but typically range between $50.00 to $75.00 plus tax. All reduced fare tickets can be purchased on-line, but ID will be required to validate the reduced fare ticket at time of boarding.
Expedition Cruises
On Monday, October 3, 2022 we issued a press release to the media sharing the disheartening news that we will no longer operate the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler as of January 1, 2023. Additionally, the Locks Waterfront Grill will permanently close as of November 1, 2022. Aside from boarding the fantastic Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler, here are a few of our favorite things to do in Cascade Locks, Oregon.
Experience the natural and scenic wonders of the Columbia River Gorge and learn about the Lewis and Clark Expedition by taking a boat cruise aboard an authentic triple deck sternwheeler. Watch Native American tribes fish from their legendary platforms as they have for centuries. Scenic rides, brunch and dinner cruises and interpretive tours provide 360-degree breathtaking vistas.
Indeed, during the years of the great recession, the nearby Eagle Creek wildfire and during the pandemic, ridership was so low the sternwheeler did not turn a profit. It kept paying the port however, as busy years supplement slower years. “Our previous contract with (Portland Spirit) has certainly limited the revenue to the port, and the port believes that it could be operated for an increased revenue,” she said.
Your day will be complete with the fresh Northwest cuisine served on board. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler is an authentic triple-decked paddle wheeler that offers visitors 360-degree views of the Gorge as it moves down the river. It was built in neighboring Hood River and launched in 1983, and ever since has been providing exceptional seasonal cruises up and down the stunning Columbia River. #2 | Do you want to experience the full expanse of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area while immersing yourself in the incredible history of this area? Consider a five or seven-day cruise on one of the two riverboats offering those itineraries.
The worst year was during the pandemic in 2020 when only 16,000 passengers bought a ticket. Those ticket fees help Portland Spirit pay for things like the Cascade Locks Historical Museum, the visitor center and the annual fireworks show. The port is small and only has one dock, which is dedicated to the sternwheeler. So port leaders are now trying to decide whether it’s best to move the sternwheeler or build new docks so they can have both the sternwheeler and cruise ships.
These dinner events will allow these local culinary artists to provide a unique dining experience especially made for each cruise. The price for these unique dinner adventures will vary depending on the menu and time of year, but typically range from between $65.00 to $100.00, plus tax. Just as in days of old, join us aboard the replica sternwheeler Columbia Gorge for a truly impressive cruise along the picturesque Columbia River. We will carefully select partner caterers and restaurants, pairing their fares with local craft beers and locally grown wines. Every Sunday during the season, you can board the vessel at Cascade Locks and leave your worries behind for a fun-filled and unforgettable brunch cruise.
Those tourists pay $5,000 for a week on the water, as opposed to $40 for an afternoon on the sternwheeler. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler is the best place to see the Fireworks show in the Gorge off Thunder Island in the Port of Cascade Locks. The ticket price of $46 per person covers the cost of the two-hour cruise.
However, in order to operate smoothly for years to come, the vessel requires a repower (new engines, various propulsion components, control panel, etc.). Additionally, we would like to renovate the interior to better showcase the vessel’s historic beauty. We estimate a cost of approximately 3 million dollars between the repower and remodel, which must be amortized over time in order to justify the extraordinary cost. Cascade Locks, Oregon, is a small yet beautiful town on the banks of the mighty Columbia River. Like most river towns, the history of Cascade Locks is intimately tied to the river itself.
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