River Discovery Boat Tours
River Discovery Tours
A new boat tour season is here!
Built in 1912 for beer tycoon Adolphus Busch, this electric-powered launch cruised Otsego Lake, the headwaters of the Susquehanna, for over a century. Today the Chief Uncas cruises the Susquehanna 400 miles downstream as the flagship for SNHA’s River Discovery Tours!
Our Boat Tour Team is looking forward to welcoming you aboard this Summer and Fall for a boat tour experience you will never forget! June through October, tours depart from the Zimmerman Center located at 1706 Long Level Road Wrightsville, PA 17368.
See below to view the River Discovery Tour Season Schedule and book your next adventure aboard the Chief Uncas!
Boat Tour Gift Cards
Reserve your seat on the Chief Uncas this summer by purchasing gift certificates!
Each gift card can be redeemed towards any trip on the Chief Uncas. Chief Uncas gift cards make the perfect gift for the ones you love! Give the gift of a boat tour experience they will never forget!
Boarding the Chief Uncas
Currently, 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 our property is fully ADA accessible, our historic vessel is not, but we are working to increase accessibility in the future.
River Discovery Tour
SNHA staff guide 22 passengers on a 1-hour tour of the river, sharing the history of the Chief Uncas, stories of Lake Clarke’s special landscape, and the Susquehanna River’s lasting legacy! You will experience the joy of being on the water aboard a historic vessel, hear stories of the river, and view beautiful scenery and wildlife.
A great experience for all ages!
This 2024 season 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.
Schedule your River Discovery Tour!
Sunset Cruise
Watch the Sunset over the Susquehanna!
Limited to 14 passengers, these 1.5 hour cruises offer you the chance to roam the historic Chief Uncas as it silently cruises the Susquehanna under the setting sun.
Use its original ice box to store your cold drinks and watch its vintage lights glow as evening begins aboard our elegant 110-year-old launch.
Bring aboard food and B.Y.O.B. alcoholic beverages and enjoy a relaxing evening cruise under the setting sun. Tickets cost $50 per person.
Special Themed Tours
Special Theme Tours allow you to experience different parts of the Susquehanna River and discover more stories of the region’s history and heritage! See below to view what Special Theme Tours we are offering this 2024 tour season!
Haunted River Cruise
Join SNHA and Lavender Acres Winery on Saturday October October 26 aboard the Chief Uncas for a hauntingly good time! Start your evening at the winery enjoying appetizers and a complimentary glass of wine, then travel to the Zimmerman Center for your haunted evening cruise. Visit lavenderacreswinery.com/events/ to reserve your ticket on this unique partnership cruise just in time for spooky season.
Park Ranger Tour
Explore the Susquehanna with a National Park Service Ranger from Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail! Learn about the region’s natural heritage as you cruise by the preserved landscape of the Susquehanna River Gorge.
Haunted Heritage Tour
Explore the Susquehanna’s haunted heritage aboard the Chief Uncas! SNHA staff guide passengers on a 1-hour tour of the river, sharing stories of the Susquehanna’s strange happenings, creature sightings, and wild tragedies.
Schedule your Haunted Heritage Tour!
Private Chief Uncas Experience
Request information about a Private Cruise. For more information on booking your private experience aboard the Chief Uncas please review and complete our request form so we can find the best experience for your interest and budget.
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! 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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