Edmonton Queen Riverboat purchased with sailings to begin in June

Two couples took the helm of the Edmonton Queen Riverboat Monday and plan to offer excursions on the North Saskatchewan River starting June 1.

Eric Warnke, Megan Karius, Rob Davy and Brittany Anderson completed the purchase "with a shared vision of preserving its legacy and creating a unique venue for the city's residents and visitors," the couples said in a news release.

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"We're excited to continue the tradition of the Edmonton Queen Riverboat," Davy said.

The group plan to "enhance" the riverboat's appeal to offer a wide range of events, entertainment and dining options.

"Whether it's a romantic dinner cruise, a corporate event, or a family outing, the Edmonton Queen Riverboat will be a place where everyone feels welcome," Warnke said.

The couples aim to ensure that the riverboat remains a source of pride for the city, providing a unique and memorable setting for all who visit.

The group of owners come from varied backgrounds in Edmonton's business community. Warnke was the co-founder of tech company Mover, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2019. Rather than starting back into the tech world, Warnke wanted something different.

"I was very excited when I heard the riverboat was for sale and I could continue an Edmonton institution, preserving it for my kids' generation," Warnke said.

Davy and Anderson are the owners of Edmonton's Laser City, a chain of laser tag facilities. Davy joked that although there might not be laser tag on the boat, they're excited to bring their experience to the new venture.

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"We're excited to bring our experience from hosting thousands of families every year in our laser tag facilities to the riverboat," Davy said. "We'll be creating amazing memories of a different kind with every sailing."

Davy and Warnke emphasized the importance of community in their plans for the riverboat. "This isn't just a business venture for us," Warnke said. "It's about keeping an iconic piece of Edmonton's history alive and making it accessible to everyone."

They plan to revitalize the boat to make it accessible to everyone.

The Edmonton Queen was built by Scott Steel in east Edmonton and had its inaugural voyage on May 4, 1995. It has gone through a few owners in the past decade before it was put up for auction and was bought by Jay Esterer for more than $550,000 in 2016.

Esterer repaired the boat several times, including in 2020 when the hull was damaged by a sudden rise and fall in water levels, lowering the boat onto an underwater pillar.

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The boat will begin sailing on June 1 with tickets already available online for purchase, and will go into September. It will operate between Dawson Bridge and High Level Bridge on the North Saskatchewan River, but the route may vary depending on water levels.

The boat will offer exclusive bookings for corporate and private parties, and weddings. Cruisers will have their choice of a brunch, dinner or late night cruises, with other events scheduled throughout the summer.

All existing gift certificates and credits for the vessel will be honoured by the new ownership group.

Rated for 399 passengers, the vessel is 51 metres long, has 750 gross tonnage and is powered by two 16-foot diameter wooden and steel paddle wheels to achieve a maximum speed of 10 knots.

zdelaney@postmedia.com

Twitter/X: @ZacharyDelaney

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