The Port of Camas-Washougal is set to welcome the largest overnight riverboat west of the Mississippi River to east Clark County this summer.
Port commissioners approved a contract with the American Queen Steamboat Co. during a virtual meeting on March 16, bringing the American Empress sternwheeler to the region in an effort to increase tourism and provide local businesses with a much-needed boost.
“Their company is very big about coming into a community and really being a part of that community. They see it as a positive thing,” Port business development manager Derk Jaeger said during the meeting. “They are really all about supporting events and things that we have in our region. I think it’s a great opportunity to partner with a company like this that will have a good economic impact for our region. Plus it will be kind of cool to see a big paddlewheel boat outside at the marina.”
The Indiana-based company deploys the American Empress for nine-day, one-way river voyages between Vancouver and Clarkston, with motor coach transport to Spokane, and seven-day round-trip voyages from Vancouver, with stops in Astoria, Ore.; The Dalles, Ore.; Stevenson; Richland and Clarkston.
The American Empress has capacity for 224 guests and features four decks and 112 staterooms, including single rooms for solo travelers and luxury suites.
“We are thrilled to be coming to Camas-Washougal,” the cruise company’s director of port services Shelly Hartfield said during the meeting. “It’s been something that we’ve been looking at for five years, so it’s wonderful to see it come to fruition.”
Beginning June 8, the company will use the port’s new and improved breakwater dock at the Parker’s Landing Marina twice a week, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday through November. Motor coaches will shuttle passengers to different stops in the community.
The port is working to make improvements to its breakwater dock at the request of American Queen Steamboat Co. officials, who told port leaders in 2018 that they’d prefer the docks they use to feature Americans with Disabilities Act access and a safe and reliable way for older passengers to get on and off the ship.
Port, city leaders hope for financial windfall
American Queen Steamboat Co. passengers typically spend between $135 and $175 per stop, according to Jaeger.
“Their vessel would carry upwards of 200, but if you (say) 180 passengers each spending nearly $135 over the course of one year, about 40 stops, that’s about $1 million spent in our local community,” he said. “It’s not significant in terms of lease revenue for the port, but we do value the impact for our community and the business within our community.”
Washougal and Camas city council members also expressed their support, adding that the cities and their businesses must be prepared for an influx of visitors this summer.
“My mind’s already spinning about attracting tourism to downtown Washougal and downtown Camas, and what we can do to better welcome the guests when they come,” Washougal city councilmember David Stuebe said.
“I like the idea of the motorcoaches, being able to shuttle (the passengers) around to the different advantages that we have in Camas and Washougal — the dike trail, Cottonwood Park, Pendleton (Woolen Mill Outlet Store), the heritage museum, downtown Camas. There’s a lot of great things for these people to come and see,” Stuebe said. “But June 8 is pretty soon, so we have to make sure we’re prepared for that. That’s a lot of people to, all of a sudden, flood into a town.”
