Nashville, TN
The Nashville, formerly Julia Belle Swain, has been moved to Nashville. Like the Capitol, ex Spirit of Peoria, she’s now owned and operated by Troy Manthey’s Yacht Starship Dining Cruises.
The boat was designed as Julia Belle Swain by Capt. Dennis Trone. She was built in 1971 being the last boat of Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works, Dubuque, IA. The boat is powered by an engine from 1915, manufactured by Gillett & Eaton of Lake City, MN, and originally used on the central wheel ferryboat City of Baton Rouge. The City of Baton Rouge serves as a landing boat for the MV Twilight.
The Great River Steamboat Company, former owner of the Julia Belle Swain since 1995, offered two-day-cruises during the summer months starting in La Crosse, Wisconsin. For a while, the boat was on idle near La Crosse, WI, with an unclear future after several attempts to renovating her failed.
Eventually, a new renovation project was started, and then the Julia Belle Swain was moved to Steiner Construction in Bayou La Batre, AL, renamed Nashville and underwent much more renovation work, including necessary modifications to comply with new regulations, followed by additional work in New Orleans before she’s supposed to go in service in Nashville later in 2026.
Pictures
Whistle of Julia Belle Swain
Note: In summer 2023, the whistle from the Grand Victoria II will be installed on the Julia Belle Swain, most likely replacing the previous whistles.