| Address |
| 401 W River Rd, Louisville, KY 40202, USA (Louisville, Kentucky)
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| Information |
Idlewild
The Belle of Louisville was built in 1914 and was originally christened Idlewild. The ship was built over a steel hull, which only required five feet of water to float and allowed it to navigate almost every waterway in the country. Idlewild operated as a passenger ferry between Memphis, Tennessee and Memphis, Arkansas and was also used to haul a variety of cargo. That changed in the 1920's when the ship tramped (when a ship has no main port site and makes excursions from town to town) the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Illinois River. In 1931, Idlewild docked in Louisville and began to run as a ferry between downtown Louisville and nearby Rose Island. After a brief respite, the ship resumed these duties in 1934 and throughout World War II. After the war broke out, Idlewild was fitted with equipment to push oil barges along the river and also served as a nightclub for USO troops at the various military bases on the Mississippi.
Avalon
The ship was renamed the Avalon at the behest of its former captain, Captain Ben Winters, who made the request on his deathbed. Winters had started his career on another steamboat named Avalon, but had adopted the Idlewild as his own. He was reportedly a strict captain, but a savvy businessman since he installed illegal slot machines and various other forms of gambling aboard the ship. When the ship was raided in 1947, Winters suffered a fatal heart attack in his cabin and died. Avalon continued to be used for excursions, going all around the country, until 1962 when it had to be docked and seemed slated for the scrap yard.
Belle of Louisville
A last minute auction was set up to try and save the ship and the winning bid came from its former hometown of Louisville. Jefferson Country Judge/Executive Marlow Cook purchased the ship for $34,000 with county funds. It didn't go over well with the Louisville citizens at the time and Cook, after calculating that it cost $0.06 cents per citizen, placed a jar of pennies on his desk and offered a refund to anyone that wanted one. After vast repairs and overhauls, the ship was again ready for the open water in 1963 and was re-christened Belle of Louisville. On April 30 of that year, the Belle took place in a race against another steamboat of the area, the Delta Queen. Though it isn't clear who won, the race has become an annual tradition for the city and is run just prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Ghosts
Reports of paranormal activity have made the Belle of Louisville one of the many stops for a local ghost tour. An apparition that is believed to be that of Captain Ben Winters has been spotted in the captain's quarters. Many believe he has never left his ship and still watches over her. Other reported activity includes strange whistling, footsteps, items moving on their own, and even reports of people being shoved when no one is around them.
The Ship Today
Though the ship celebrated its 90th birthday in 2004, the Belle of Louisville is still hard at work. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, the ship offers public lunch and dinner cruises, as well as walk-on sightseeing tours. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989 and is recognized as the oldest river steamboat in operation. For more information about hours of operation, please visit the site below. |
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| Related Sites |
Belle of Louisville
The official site of the alleged haunted steamboat stationed in Louisville, Kentucky. |
Louisville Ghost Hunters Society: Belle of Louisville
The Louisville Ghost Hunters Society entry on the Belle of Louisville, a steamboat stationed in Kentucky that is rumored to be haunted. |
Ghost Walking Tours of Louisville, Kentucky
The official site of the Ghost Walks of Downtown Louisville. Site includes hours of operation and a little tour of the sites they stop at. |
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| Similar Destinations |
| Kent State University |
| Tug Fork |
| The Hermitage Hotel |
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| See Also on TheCabinet.com |
| Blog: The Belle of Louisville (04/30/08) |
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| Available from Amazon.com |
Encyclopedia Of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales From Around The World |
Belle of Louisville,: Ohio River steamboat, |
LEGENDARY LADY: THE STORY OF THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE |
Haunted Louisville |
Ghosts of Old Louisville |
Phantoms of Old Louisville: Ghostly Tales from America's Most Haunted Neighborhood |
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