Boat tours to begin on Wabash
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
A Tippecanoe County man would like to share his
favorite childhood past time — boating in the Wabash River —
with everyone.
As a boy John Galloway enjoyed spending time on
the river in his self-made boat. After living in several places throughout
the country, Galloway returned to Tippecanoe County and decided to share
one of his favorite places with others.
Galloway wrote a letter to the West Lafayette Parks
and Recreation Board asking the board to allow him to conduct tours
of the river on his airboat. On Monday, his request was approved.
"Anything that affords people an opportunity to
view the Wabash is certainly a benefit to the community," said parks
board superintendent Joe Payne.
However, the tours were approved on a trial basis.
Galloway said the board was worried about the noisiness of the boat.
"They are noisy to an extent," said Galloway. "But
not if operated properly."
Airboats are propelled by air propellers and are
usually wide and flat-bottomed. When they come to shallow areas, such
as sandbars found throughout the Wabash River, the boat can compress
the water beneath it and travel onto more shallow surfaces than other
boats could, said Galloway.
The slow-paced tours are expected to begin in June
and will last through the summer and into October. The one-hour boat
rides will begin near Happy Hollow Park and travel to the Tippecanoe
River before returning to their original destination.
"It would not be a thrill ride," said Galloway.
"It would be more of a nature tour."
The cost of the tours will be approximately $20,
but financial gain is not what he expects. Galloway said he just wants
others to experience the Wabash River.
"Most people consider the Wabash River an inconvenience,"
said Galloway. "But every time I take somebody on a tour on my own personal
boat, they are amazed at some of the pretty sandbars and wildlife there."
Galloway will narrate the tours, pointing out wildlife
as well as trees and plants located in and along the river.
"You don't have to go to Canada to see wilderness things," he said.
"There's some right downtown."
Galloway built his first boat when he was 14 years
old and spent many days with it on the Wabash. Since then he has given
boat tours in other areas such as the Florida Everglades and the rivers
of northern Minnesota.
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