River Discovery Boat Tours
River Discovery Boat Tours
Unfortunately, River Discovery Boat Tours are canceled for the coming weekends as our beloved historic yacht is undergoing unexpected maintenance and repairs. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding, as our team works with the US Coastguard making neccessary repairs to ensure our elegant cruising vessel is ready soon to welcome aboard passengers again. We hope to be back to cruising in the next few weeks! Keep updated on the Chief Uncas by following SNHA on social media or checking back to this page for updates.
Built in 1912 for beer tycoon Adolphus Busch, the Chief Uncas is a 55-foot ELCO yacht with a remarkable history. This elegant electric powered motor yacht cruises the Susquehanna River each year June through October as the flagship for SNHA’s River Discovery Tours.
SNHA’s River Discovery Tours offer unforgettable experiences on the Susquehanna — perfect for a date night, a family outing, or a fun day with friends. Each year boat tours depart from the Zimmerman Center for Heritage located at 1706 Long Level Road Wrightsville, PA 17368.
See below to view our season schedule, tour offerings, and book your next river adventure!
Season Schedule
See below to view the unique boat tour experiences we are offering this season!
River Discovery Boat Tour
Explore the Susquehanna on our signature introductory tour!
Enjoy being on the water, spot local wildlife, and hear captivating stories of the river’s rich history as you cruise the Susquehanna on a unique boat tour experience the whole family will love.
Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for youth (ages 5 to 17). If you are 65 or older take advantage of the senior discount by purchasing a senior ticket for $22. Children under 5 years old are $5.
Haunted Heritage Boat Tour
Explore the Susquehanna’s haunted heritage! On this 1-hour evening boat tour you will hear stories of the Susquehanna’s strange happenings, ghostly sightings, and river tragedies. Just in time for spooky season view the peak fall foliage on the river as you cruise by haunted places with stories to tell. For cool October evenings stay warm with blankets aboard the Chief Uncas and sip from a cup of hot apple cider. Halloween costumes encouraged!
This is a storytelling cruise recommended for ages 10+.
To see what stories will be told on this special theme tour check out SNHA’s Haunted Heritage Guide: https://susqnha.org/susquehanna-nha-haunted-history-guide/
Tickets go on sale Monday October 19.
Haunted Sunset Cruise
Join SNHA and Lavender Acres Winery for a haunted river cruise at Sunset!
Start your evening at Lavender Acres and enjoy a glass of wine and tasty appetizers. Lavender Acres will transport you to the Zimmerman Center where your haunted ghost ship awaits. You’ll board the Chief Uncas tour boat that has been transformed into a ghost ship for your haunted river cruise at sunset. On this 1.5 hour cruise you will enjoy food and drink from Lavender Acres as you cruise under the setting sun, hearing stories of the river’s haunted history along the way.
Tickets cost $95 which includes a complimentary glass of wine, appetizers, transportation to and from the boat, and your 1.5 hour river cruise at sunset!
Private Chief Uncas Experience
Request information about a Private Cruise. For more information on booking your private experience aboard the Chief Uncas in 2025 please review and complete our request form so we can find the best experience for your interest and budget.
Boarding the Chief Uncas
To board the Chief Uncas passengers must navigate a staircase of 3 metal grated stairs with handrail to reach the height of the boat’s entrance.
Then passengers must navigate the 3 step ladder into the boat with assistance of handrails. A crew member is outside the boat and explains how to board and is there to assist you and the captain is inside the boat doing the same.
While the Zimmerman Center property is fully ADA accessible, our historic vessel is not, but we are working to increase accessibility in the future.
Passenger Reviews
Our team welcomes aboard over 4,000 passengers each year aboard the Chief Uncas! See what our wonderful passengers have shared about their experience over the past 5 years:
“The tour of the river on Chief Uncas was wonderful. The boat is lovely and so unique. The guide narrating the tour and answering questions was terrific. She was friendly, fun, knowledgeable and informative. The price is more than reasonable and so worth it.”
“Our boat tour was an excellent experience! We would recommend this tour to everyone and can’t wait to ride again!”
“The boat history tour was excellent. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. And the views were beautiful!”
Boat Tour Gift Cards
Share the gift of a river adventure digitally or send a physical gift card by mail to your loved ones! Redeemable for any trip aboard the Chief Uncas from scenic history tours to romantic sunset cruises.
Chief Uncas Gift Bags
New this season, you can bring the Chief Uncas boat into your home with our new branded merchandise. The perfect gift for anyone who enjoys cruising the Susquehanna on our historic tour boat! Purchase items from our visitor center gift shop individually or together in our Chief Uncas gift bag. The gift bag includes an etched cocktail glass featuring the Chief Uncas, a baseball cap branded with the Chief Uncas logo, a detailed metal pin, along with a sticker and a magnet for the limited time price of $40.
About the Chief Uncas
The Chief Uncas was built for Adolphus Busch, co-founder of the famous American beer company, to enjoy cruises at his summer estate on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, NY – the very headwaters of the Susquehanna River. After cruising those headwaters for 109 years, the Chief Uncas begins a new chapter in its life 400 miles downriver as Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s flagship tour boat! In 2022, the Chief Uncas became a US Coastguard certified vessel. You can learn more about the history of the Chief Uncas here.
Support the Chief Uncas
Donations are essential to help SNHA provide boat tour experiences aboard the Chief Uncas for years to come. It is your continued interest and support that will make the Chief Uncas cruise the Susquehanna for another century! Your tax deductible donation to the Chief Uncas goes toward the maintenance, storage, and boat tour operations of our historic vessel.
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