St. Charles Paddlewheel Riverboats History
Chet Anderson was working at the Pottawatomie Park concession stand in the-mid 1940’s when the idea of buying a boat and offering rides to the park picnickers began to take shape in his mind. Before long, he made his dream a reality when he bought his very first boat, the Honeymoon Queen for $200 in 1945. After extensive repairs had been made, the boat started making trips up the Fox River from Pottawatomie Park, and a business was born that has endured for more than 70 years.
Over the years, several newer boats have replaced the original Honeymoon Queen. In the mid 1980’s, the boats that are currently in service were built: The St. Charles Belle II and Fox River Queen. These boats have spacious enclosed lower decks and open upper decks, which are ideal for watching the sunset and enjoying the beautiful river views.
Chet retired in the 1980’s after captaining his boats for almost 40 years. His son, Rich Anderson, and another captain have now taken over the helms of the iconic boats, which have been an integral part of the local landscape since 1945 and continue to be a beloved symbol of St. Charles.
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