After a most enjoyable excursion on the Three Rivers Rambler, the conference attendees walked the short distance to the Star of Knoxville riverboat and boarded, choosing seats on the main level for lunch.
The Tennessee Riverboat Company offers a unique and enchanting experience aboard the Star of Knoxville, one of only four authentic paddlewheel riverboat in the country. Cruises on this historic vessel provide breathtaking views of the Tennessee River, with options for lunch, dinner and special occasion cruises. The boat is fully-equipped with air conditioning and heating, ensuring comfort year-round. Guests can enjoy live music, dancing and elegant dining while taking in the scenic beauty of the river. The Star of Knoxville is also a popular venue for weddings, offering a magical setting for couples to exchange vows and celebrate with their loved ones.
In addition to its role as a cruise and wedding venue, the Tennessee Riverboat Company hosts a variety of themed cruises and special events throughout the year. From holiday celebrations to sightseeing tours, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The experienced and friendly staff are dedicated to making each trip memorable, providing exceptional service and attention to detail.
Ably led by Bailee Bridwell, her father, Mike Cheek, started working on riverboats in Nashville at the age of fifteen years and has been in the riverboat business for 43 years. After spending a few summers as a deckhand, in walked a new boat photographer, Tammy and they were married and started a little family. Some time later, this little family moved to Knoxville from Nashville so Mike could be the General Manager of the Star of Knoxville. That occurred in 1988 and when the owners decided to move the riverboat in 1994, Mike offered to buy her so she could stay in Knoxville. Bailee and her brother were just babies when the Cheeks moved, so they basically grew up on The Star of Knoxville. and became members of the crew as teenagers.
After college, Bailee left for a few years to gain experience on other boats and when she finally came back to Knoxville in 2019, her parents handed her the keys. Bailee's father, brother and husband are all captains and some members of the crew have literally seen two generations grow up on the boat.
We left the dock to cruise on the Tennessee River and everyone enjoyed the wide array of choices that the lunch buffet offered.
The paddlewheel.
NRHS members enjoying their lunch.
After my meal, I went outside and upstairs to take in the scenery. Here is a channel marker.
Covered hoppers at Ready Mix USA Knoxville Neyland Drive concrete plant.
Part of the Kuwahee wastewater treatment plant.
Cherokee Bluffs as seen from the boat.
A channel marker and part of River Towne Condominiums.
The passengers on this boat were having a really good time.
United States Highway 129.
Hampton Inn and Suites in Knoxville.
We reached our turn-around point.
A large turn to port.
Two channel markers.
Nearing the cement plant from the opposite direction.
The covered hoppers are unloaded here.
River Towne Condominiums.
A barge loader.
Middle Field at Sequoyah Park.
Another speedboat passing our riverboat.
NRHS members enjoying the views from The Star of Knoxville.
The CSX bridge as we approach.
Downtown Knoxville.
Thompson-Boling Arena and Neyland Stadium.
Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Neyland Stadium, home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, although it has hosted large conventions and has been a site for several National Football League exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 101,915. Constructed in 1921 as Shields–Watkins Field (which is now the name of the playing surface), the stadium has undergone 16 expansion projects, at one point reaching a capacity of 104,079 before being slightly reduced by alterations in the following decade. Neyland Stadium is the sixth largest stadium in the United States and is named for Robert Neyland, who served three stints as head football coach at the University of Tennessee between 1926 and 1952.
The Norfolk Southern bridge across the Tennessee River complete with a bird's nest on the top right.
Wayne G. Basler Tennessee Boathouse, a sports complex.
The Sunsphere, built for the 1982 World's Fair, offers a unique experience. Its fourth floor observation deck provides a stunning 360-degree view of downtown Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains, World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River and the University of Tennessee Campus. Visitors can also explore a timeline, gallery and gift shop from the fair.
The paddles of the riverboat.
Calhoun's On The River.
We returned to the dock where the bus was waiting to return us to the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City. I went to Jersey Mike's for dinner before Elizabeth and I returned to the hotel for the night.
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