[Gary Pruitt]

Delta Queen In Peril
The Delta Queen, one of the last few operational full steam paddlewheelers is in great danger. There is currently an option on the table from a Florida Hotelier Wayne Heller to move the DQ to New Smyrna Beach Florida. If this purchase goes through then one of the first things that will happen is the boat will be dry docked and all steam machinery be removed so it can be converted into a floating hotel. Once the steam plant is removed then the boat will be lifeless. In Tennessee where she is currently moored all equipment is intact and occasionally operated. Mr. Heller has signed a letter of intent with Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the current owner of the boat. As a steamboater yourself or one that supports the age old American tradition of steamboating, your help is urgently needed. Everyone is encouraged to contact Xanterra, and interests in Florida and speak out against Mr. Heller's plans to bring the boat there. Mr. Heller is currently in the process of bidding for a lease on the land needed in Florida and clearing a few final regulatory compliance issues before making his plan a reality. The possibility on the backside of this thing is that if the DQ remains in her current location that a group of people may be able to buy the boat outright and return her to service. People are and have always been working to get her exemption from Congress and that may just be about to happen, but not if Mr. Heller has his way. It would take approximately Four Million in capital to fund a private purchase of the boat.

This situation needs national attention from the media and lovers of The Delta Queen. This is the only chance we have to save our queen from a certain demise. Please do all that you can to spread the word via e-mail, social media, and in any other way possible. Thank-You.