The autumn months are the most magical to enjoy a riverboat cruise. The beautiful hues of red, green, and orange burst forth on every tree along the river banks. The Valley Gem Sternwheeler offers more than a dozen unique paddle-wheel cruises for the entire family. It’s an experience that is difficult to duplicate.

October 10, 13, 18

Lock and Lunch Cruises

Marietta’s unique location allows the Valley Gem to offer a variety of Lock and Dam tours. Tours travel through Devol’s Dam on the Muskingum River. The cruise departs at 12 p.m. and goes through Devol’s Dam and returns at 3 p.m. We feature a Captain’s Lunch Buffet included in your ticket price.

Reservations are required. $42 Adults, $40 Seniors 55+, $32 Children 3-12

 

October 12, 14

Muskingum River Day Cruise

Between 1836 and 1841, a system of 11 hand-operated locks and dams were constructed on the Muskingum to assure a constant river pool for steamboat commerce. This was the first time a complete river had been canalized in the United States. Today, the Muskingum River locks and dams still operate by hand just as they did in 1841. It was an engineering marvel of its day and still works. The Valley Gem was specifically designed to operate through these locks. The Muskingum River lock system is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a Navigation Historic District.

This cruise will travel through three locks, both upriver and downriver and two side cut canals. During this unique cruise, you will get to see the lock operations up close as the lock masters open and close the lock chambers by hand.

This experience cannot be duplicated anywhere in the United States. The Valley Gem is the only passenger vessel that runs the Muskingum River. The tour departs from Marietta at 9 a.m. and returns to the dock at 7 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board the boat.

Reservations are required. $85 per person

 

October 17, 20, 24 and November 3

Willow Island Lock Cruise

This cruise travels up the Ohio River to Willow Island Lock and Dam. You will enjoy our Captain’s Buffet lunch or dinner while cruising up the Ohio River. We will lock through Willow Island, turn around, lock down again and return to our dock in Marietta. Reservations are required.

$47 Adults, $45 Seniors 55+ and $37 Children 3-12

 

October 25

Candlelight Plantation Cruise

NEW! Take a candlelight tour of the Henderson Hall Plantation on Friday evening, October 25. The Valley Gem Sternwheeler will leave the landing in Marietta, Ohio at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served as you travel to the Henderson Landing and cruise the Ohio River. You will have a candlelight tour of the Hall from 7:30-9:30 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. you will board the Valley Gem for your return trip back to Marietta.

$48 for Adults, $46 for Seniors 55+, $38 for Children 3-12

 

October 26

Lockapalooza

Your day starts at 9 a.m. with breakfast served on the way to the hand-operated lock at Devola. During the return trip lunch is served as the boat travels up the Ohio to Willow Island Lock and Dam. The lock systems are very different experiences and this is an opportunity to see both up close. The cruise ends at 5 p.m. $75 per person

 

November 2

Masquerade Murder Mystery

NEW! To add another layer of fun to our already enjoyable Murder Mystery Dinner Cruises, the Valley Gem is hosting a Masquerade Dinner Cruise this year! On November 2 from 7 to 10 p.m. everyone will all be masked and no one will know who is doing all the murderous mischief. Enjoy a lovely dinner and watch how the mystery unfolds throughout the evening.

$50 for Adults, $48 for Seniors 55+ and $40 for Children 3-12

 

November 23

Gobble Gobble Cruise

Enjoy a gobblely good time on Saturday, November 23, as the Valley Gem Sternwheeler staff celebrates Thanksgiving early with a cruise. A Thanksgiving Dinner with all the fixins’ will be provided. Come together with family and friends from 5-7 p.m.

$40 Adults, $38 Seniors, $30 Children 3-12