Report from America’s River Roots Festival in Cincinnati, OH

By Dan Ritchey

The America’s River Roots Festival took place October 8-12, 2025, along the riverfronts of Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky (Covington & Newport). The festival featured nine majestic riverboats from seven historic river-cities, offering brunch and dinner cruises, and other themed riverboat events. Riverboats in attendance were the NATCHEZ (New Orleans, LA), Belle of Louisville (Louisville, KY), Mary M. Miller (Louisville, KY), Celebration Belle (Moline, IL), Belle of Memphis (Memphis, TN), Three Rivers Queen (Pittsburgh, PA), Anson & Betsy Northrup (St. Paul / Minneapolis, MN), Belle of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH), and the River Queen (Cincinnati, OH).

The Ohio Valley chapter of the ACBS was invited to join in the celebration with our antique and classic boats. Roughly 40 wood boats participated in the 5-day event with some traveling from just as far away as the riverboats. Boats arrived on Wednesday and could be spotted cruising on the Ohio river. As a safety precaution, law enforcement closed the river to the public. ACBS participants were issued special River Roots Festival burgees that had to be displayed at all times and gave us unlimited access to the closed river.

Thursday was the official kickoff of the riverboat cruises and the opening ceremonial parade to mark the arrival of the famous riverboats. ACBS boats traveled 7 miles downriver from our home base of the Manhattan Marina where we met up with the riverboats west of Cincinnati. ACBS boats were assigned to each “corner” of the 9 river boats, and then we escorted the boats in a parade back to town. That evening, folks cruised upriver for dinner at one of Cincinnati’s waterside dining establishments.

Friday, while the riverboats were having their brunch cruises and other events, the Ohio Valley chapter held a river poker run. ACBS boats launched from the marina at 9am and raced to multiple riverfront establishments over the course of the day for food, drinks and to draw a card at each stop. Upon return to the marina, we compared cards to see who drew the best poker hand. Some lucky passenger that day won himself a handsome sum of $500.

Saturday was possibly the busiest day for the festival and entailed yet another parade. We gathered outside the marina and paraded in single file 7 miles downriver along the Kentucky shoreline past festival goers. We then turned and paraded 7 miles back upriver along the Ohio shoreline. As we passed the main festival on the banks of Cincinnati organizers announced information on each of the ACBS boats to the crowd. Saturday night was capped with a fantastic dinner for the ACBS crew at the historic rooftop revolving restaurant “Eighteen” atop the Raddison Hotel in Covington, KY.

Sunday brought the long-awaited race between the riverboats Natchez and Celebration Belle, and the Natchez and the Belle of Louisville. Although we had to depart Sunday morning, the ACBS was scheduled to escort the riverboats during the races and then participate in the closing ceremonies parade. We had a fantastic time at the festival, and the Ohio Valley chapter was beyond welcoming and an absolute pleasure to get to know. We’re so thankful to them for allowing us to join in the festivities!

June 2025 – NCO boaters headed back south highway 77 to Seneca Lake for a rendezvous and mini-show for local visitors.  Dan Ritchey arranged for prime dock space at the restaurant, and once all 7 boats were launched, we had a nice cruise around that very pretty lake.  A short meeting after a lunch was followed by more cruising.  We all helped each other get the boats out of the water by mid afternoon as the temps got into the 90s. As always it was fun not only using the boats but being with a great bunch of boaters.

June 2025 – NCO had a fleet of 6 boats attend the Buckeye Lake show June 14th.  The venue was at a beautiful winery and Matt Zimmerman did an excellent job of planning the event.  Although the weather was supposed to be stormy the clouds never opened up and by afternoon there was a large crowd to see the 22 boats on display.  It was good to see long time friends again at this wonderful lake.

 

April 2025 – Many of us were excited to see past NCO president Jeremy Goldstein’s new location for his Custom Marine complete boat restoration and storage service. For many years Jeremy has been doing beautiful boat restorations with an emphasis on all sizes of Lymans at a very small shop in Sandusky. His need for more space with a dedicated room for painting and varnishing as well as the ability to store a number of boats going through different phases of restoration greatly improved when he acquired the original Gordon Lumber Co. property in Huron. In the last couple of years while he continued restoring boats at his old location Jeremy also went through the tedious process of renovating the lumber storage buildings into a first-class operation for all types of classic boat restoration services. The monumental feat of moving years of accumulated parts, engines, trailers, wood, boats, and machinery have culminated into a facility that will serve him well into
the future. Over 30 of us were guided through the buildings where Jeremy explained his methods of replacing framing, woodworking of transoms, hulls, and decks and then the time-consuming preparation process for his magnificent paint and varnish work. We saw boats in each of the phases of restoration and ended in the paint room where a 19’ Lyman’s hull paint job had just been finished. That gleaming finish had just been fine sanded with 3000 grit paper then buffed out with rubbing compound so that it looked as smooth as a new Mercedes. Jeremy also showed us
customer boats and his own done as far back as 15 years ago that still look gorgeous, which reinforces the adage that there is no substitute for quality and craftsmanship.

March 2025 – North Coast Ohio Chapter members were treated to an historic railroad adventure on the very unique Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.  Thanks to Brian and Christy Morgan who devote many hours volunteering on the train our club got the VIP treatment on the 26 mile, 3 hour trip.  As we rolled northward from downtown Akron, Brian spoke about the Ohio Erie Canal which was started in 1825 and came from the Ohio River all the way to the Cuyahoga River and eventually to Lake Erie through 146 locks.  In the late 1800’s a railroad was built which followed the canal and linked to other railroads that opened up the rest of the growing commerce and travel throughout the expanding United States.

After the wars of the early 1900’s, economic expansion of all kinds led to much travel in luxurious and well serviced railcars like the “Silver Lariat” that we rode in.  That railcar was built in 1948-49 around the same time as many of our boats were built as recreational boating also expanded rapidly.

Our trip through the Cuyahoga Valley National Forest on the smooth riding historic train was a real treat and we thank Mr. Larry Stevenson, CEO of the railroad, and especially Brian Morgan for giving us this unique experience.

Members enjoyed a January 2025 trip to Motor Boat Garage in Cincinnati.

As shared from member Ted Hall:

“What a wonderful time and opportunity for NCO members to travel to Cincinnati for this open house. Dave Rosenberger, Jan Holmes, and I enjoyed our 450 mile roundtrip drive and visit with other antique boat enthusiasts and NCO members. Brian Keen and his Uncle Dennis and their families and staff at Motorboat Garage again provided a wonderful open house and lunch. The Maringer’s and Ritchey’s along with Dave, Jan and I attended and the open house always provides an eagerness to look forward to the upcoming boating season.”

 

Members enjoying the 2024 Holiday Luncheon at Turkeyfood Island Club.

 

Members attended the ACBS Vintage Boat Week at Gull Lake, MN in 2024.

Memories from our 2023 Annual Chapter Meeting held at the beautiful Turkeyfoot Island Club overlooking Portage Lakes.

Members enjoying the annual picnic to Lake Milton in September 2023.

Six boats from the North Coast Chapter participated in the Chautauqua Lake Twin Tier Chapter’s boat show in New York on June 24, 2023.

The North Coast ACBS Chapter was asked to present a few antique boats by Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens for their annual Father’s Day Classic Car and Motorcycle Show.  The boats were very well received and we hope this becomes and annual event for the club!

2023 February ACBS meeting.  Presentation by member Brian Morgan of his large ship collection.  Items shown included actual item used in the movie ‘Titanic’ with signed script!

2019 Portage Lakes Boat Show – Photos by John Vorhies, Jr. (click on any image to access the larger photo gallery)

2019 Cleveland Boat Show – Photos by David Nau

2018 Portage Lakes Boat Show – Photos by John Vorhies, Jr.

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2018 Mid-America Boat Show – Photos by Jeremy Goldstein