The Lewis & Clark Riverboat Will Stay Docked For The 2020 Season

You might have to get creative with your 2020 summer fun. As we still are being told to practice safe social distancing, some organizations are cancelling their 2020 happenings/ events. This afternoon, there was a media release saying that the Lewis & Clark Riverboat will not be operating this coming summer.

On Tuesday (May 5), The Board of DIrectors of the Fort Lincoln Foundation decided that the Lewis & Clark Riverboat will not be leaving its dock this summer. This is to ensure that both the passengers and boat crew stay safe. The President of the Missouri Valley Heritage Alliance (MVHA) issued a statement saying,

"The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic requires the board to make the most sensible decision. As there is no way to socially distance on the Lewis & Clark Riverboat, during the May 5, 2020 meeting the Board of Directors voted to suspend riverboat operations for the 2020 cruise season."

The media release also says that the board will use this summer to make improvements to the boat for 2021. Instead of scrambling to fix the boat up at the end of the year, there will be time to do what needs to be done. Actually, this could be a great time for improvements because next year, we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the riverboat.

As someone who's new to Bismarck, I was so looking forward to checking out the riverboat. I've never been on one, and in all the years I've lived in North Dakota, I didn't know this was a thing before I lived here. It looks like I'll just have to patiently wait for my first Lewis & Clark Riverboat experience until 2021.