Commissioners vote to sell Lorena Sternwheeler, won’t be replaced
March 14, 2022
A local icon along the Muskingum River will no longer be owned by the county, though it may fall into private possession and stay docked in Zanesville.
Commissioners recently voted to sell the Lorena Sternwheeler, a boat that has set sail from Zane’s Landing Park in downtown Zanesville since the 1970s.
The popular public and private boat tours hosted on the Lorena were a regular summer occurrence until this past year when Captain William Page had to take a prolonged leave and ultimately announced his retirement.
A replacement captain was not sought and instead, County Commissioners and the Visitors Bureau decided to sell the boat.
According to Muskingum County History, the original Lorena steamboat, after which the current boat is named, was built in the Knox Shipyard at Harmar in 1895. It ran on the Muskingum River until 1913.
The craft sitting in the river today was built in 1949 and converted from a tugboat. It arrived in Zanesville on June 18, 1976, just in time for the fourth Zane’s Trace Commemoration. During its first season, 20,000 passengers reportedly took rides on the Lorena.
Commissioners are now accepting sealed bids for the boat, with a minimum reserve price of $5,000. They will be opened on April 21.
As previously reported by Y-City News, the Lorena was ransacked and vandalized in August.
It’s possible a local entrepreneur could purchase the boat and continue to operate it as an entertainment venue. It could also be sold for scrap.
Lura Parsons • Mar 17, 2022 at 11:18 am
I just don’t understand Y you have a COMMENT SECTION IF you aren’t going to SHOW people’s COMMENTS!? MY comment that I POSTED yesterday was NOT a BAD one, BUT a very encouraging one!!??! So, could you please explain Y it isn’t showing up here FOR THE INTEGRATED PUBLIC to see, !!??
lura parsons • Mar 16, 2022 at 6:04 pm
Hi! Glad this news is being shared with the community[ZVILLE] and everyone else who checks in on Muskingum Co., Ohio news! The ♡LORENA♡ has been an attraction for many Locals AND folks from *near and *far, , & ALL those people have greatly appreciated and enjoyed, not only the smooth sailing of “Miss LORENA!”(my lil add on!) but also the entertainment that has been provided them during their ride!! ~~>, Like was in the article about ♡Her♡ being up for bid[☹️], it was said that Sooo many HISTORICAL places and other things are disappearing. PLZ DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN to THE LORENA! ♥️. !!Someone has to/hopefully, will be able to take on the task of doing repairs and ♡BRING THE LIFE OF ENJOYMENT BACK to the LORENA♥️ For All Who Have Enjoyed Her♡ for So Many YEARS!!!(? ). Thank you!!
Joy peterson • Mar 14, 2022 at 11:29 pm
Not to many “draws”for tourist in Muskingum county. The Lorena was one