MARIETTA, Ohio (WTAP) – Sternwheelers are arriving for the 50th Ohio River Sternwheel Festival, with many boats reaching the city over the weekend.
Boats travel from Pittsburgh
The E-L Thumper and Jenny B, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, left Friday on a 175-mile, two-and-a-half-day journey to Marietta. The boats have been coming to the festival for 50 years.
“It’s fun. They shut the whole city down. City does an excellent job providing festivities for people to do, things to watch, and then it’s always an awesome fireworks show on a Saturday evening,” said Jeremy Meinert, deckhand.
Hobby III arrives from Nitro
The Hobby III also arrived Sunday from Nitro, West Virginia. Captain JD Pauley has been coming to the festival since 1995.
“We enjoy the trip. We enjoy the festival. We enjoy the people, but we enjoy the trip up. Takes us about 3 days. We just take our time. We don’t get in a hurry. It’s relaxing until something breaks, but, and it happens,” said JD Pauley, captain, Hobby III.
Meinert and Pauley share the same reasons for coming.
“Enjoy the festival. 50 years. I mean, it’s, It’s grown. It’s the people that run it. You can’t say enough about the volunteers. They’re just fantastic people.”
Pauley said he and his wife treat the trip as their vacation and prepare for it year-round.
“I tell a lot of people it’s 90% work, 10% play. But we play hard on the 10%, but we’re constantly working on them, doing things,” said Pauley.
Hobby III’s history
The Hobby III was built by Harry Wilson in Belpre, Ohio. Wilson built the boat between 1977 and 1985, launching it in 1985. It was Wilson’s third boat and pride and joy. Pauley said Wilson celebrates the Sternwheel Festival every year, even after his death.
“He actually passed away in the boat. So he’s still here. He’s a prankster. I mean, he liked toys and honestly, he is on the boat. Lights will come on, doors will shut, commodes will flush. He’s here. Harry’s still here,” said Pauley.
Meinert and Pauley advise people to come to the festival and enjoy the 50th celebration.
Keep up with the list of events and schedule by clicking this link.
Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.
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