River Excursions

River excursions in Wisconsin Dells began with Leroy Gates, an expert lumber raft pilot who guided bundled wood planks through the Dells' tricky waters. He turned his skill into a spectacle by performing in a top hat and coat while onlookers lined the riverbank. Seeing a way to make a living from the river beyond rafting, he transformed his knowledge of the waterway into a new business in 1849 by taking visitors out by rowboat to view the scenery, with passengers paddling as he provided commentary. This launched the tourism trade with scenic boat tours and made Gates Wisconsin Dells' first entrepreneur.

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin · United States