"The City of Jacksonville" has a nice ring to it!
Great article.
Just think if Jax recreated an historic reproduction of the "City of Jacksonville" that plied the St. Johns River.
What a unique tourist attraction. It could do daytime historic tours, sunset cruises, and overnights to Palatka and Sanford, or travel to Savannah, Charleston, or St. Augustine as an ambassador of the city.
We nearly do stjr, there are two ships at the docks in Green Cove Springs, on the closed Naval Station, nee Clay County Port of Green Cove Springs. I understand they were built by Atlantic in Jacksonville but delivery never took place.
This is a subject I have squawked enough about that everyone should know it by heart. Cut deals with a major airline, Trailways, Annett, Greyhound, Disney Express Bus, and AMTRAK... Every adventurer comes in at JIA/JAX, on a single cruise-Florida tour ticket, they are delivered downtown to the river cruise port facility. They board one of the river cruisers for Sanford, two days on the water, overnight tied up at the downtown/waterfront hotel in Palatka. Day two finds them moving into the Port of Sanford, where they are met by a parade of Disney resort, Universal resort, etc... buses. The buses pull off and they head for 2-5 days of non-stop fun. At the end of it all, they again board the riverboats and head for Palatka. We lay our best meals, treats and honors. Once back in a real city (OURS) they are ready for reserved seat or bedroom home on Amtrak. Mr. investor, give me a call, and we'll talk BIG BOATS!
They go home very lucky, they are among the few tourists since the 1800's to have really seen and experienced The Real Florida. OCKLAWAHA
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