Lady of the Lake Cruising is a labor of love on Clear Lake By Tim & Lisa Trudell, The Walking Tourists Clear Lake’s Lady of the Lake could be nicknamed “The Love Boat.” It seems that the boat has played a role in at least two love stories. As the cruise boat celebrates its 30th year on the lake in 2017, the love story between Lady of the Lake and Clear Lake will continue to grow. Gary and Karen Geist — the original owners of the paddle boat — were married in 1960, the same year the boat was built in Dubuque. The relationship seemed destined. Before becoming Lady of the Lake, the boat served as a ferry near Yankton, South Dakota. It ferried vehicles and people across the Missouri River between South Dakota and Nebraska from 1960 to 1987. The ferry received its second lease on life as a cruise boat when the Geists purchased it in 1985. The boat was the last known paddlewheel ferry in the United States. The Geists named it Sally Ann, but later changed it to one related to the river, said Scott Monson, one of the current owners. The Geists operated the ferry until a new bridge ended the need for ferries.
Photo by Julie Pals
Lady of the Lake Downtown Seawall | (641) 357-2243 www.cruiseclearlake.com Late May - September. Visit website for cruise schedule and rates. Sit back and enjoy a cruise around Clear Lake and listen as the captain tells enchanting stories and directs you to points of interest. Grab a drink at the cash bar on the lower level and then head upstairs where you can be entranced by the churning paddle wheel down below or look out for miles across the spring-fed lake. Feel the fresh air on your face, sway to the beach tunes on the speaker and relax into the lake lifestyle!
The Geists owned and operated Lady of the Lake until 2004. The boat has seen four sets of owners during its life on Clear Lake. The boat was originally open air, but the Geists enclosed the lower deck in the mid-1990s. The current set of owners have their own love story related to Lady of the Lake. Scott and Niki Monson had their first date on the boat. Scott had been a longtime captain at that point. The Monsons, along with partner Jon Berhow, took over as the boat’s owners in 2015. The Lady of the Lake is a family operation. The couple’s son, Cole, helps as first mate. Scott fits the role of captain quite well and seems at home in the pilot’s seat.
Cruises around Clear Lake run almost daily between Memorial Day and Sept. 30. The 90-minute tour offers guests views of the glacial lake and shoreline attractions, such as a state park lodge built during the Great Depression. Scott tosses in a few anecdotes regarding the city’s history, including stories of how bars operated during Prohibition. The owners plan to celebrate the boat’s 30th anniversary with a series of events. One cruise will involve a throwback to the 1980s, Scott said, because that’s when The Lady of the Lake moved to Clear Lake.
The previous owners — Roger and Dotty Nordman and Mike and Marlene Royer — did a lot to improve the Lady of the Lake, Scott said.
The July 4th fireworks cruise may help make the 30th anniversary even more special. The annual fireworks show on the lake attracts thousands of people. Clear Lake swells from about 7,000 to about 100,000 people over the holiday, so plan accordingly.
“Roger was the best thing to happen to the boat,” Scott said. “He took it to new levels.”
More information on themed and public cruises can be found on the boat’s website at www.cruiseclearlake.com.
Dockside Nights Sit back and enjoy a relaxing evening on the Lady of the Lake dockside! Feel the fresh air on your face, sway to the live music, and relax into the lake lifestyle. Cash bar is open. Wednesday nights aboard the Lady of the Lake. (641) 357-2243 www.clearlakeiowa.com
The Walking Tourists, Lisa and Tim Trudell love traveling — locally, regionally, nationally and internationally (not as often as they would like). Whether it’s across the world or in their own backyard in Omaha, Nebraska, they are lovers of all things food, travel and adventure! As their name indicates, they like to walk and take the time to discover the little things along the way. Destination Clear Lake 2017
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