PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 10, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Ride The Ducks, is expanding its fleet -- adding Philadelphia, Pa. to the growing list of cities in which it operates. The Penn's Landing Corporation is announcing a long-term agreement with Ride the Ducks, Inc., a Branson, MO-based operation, bringing this tourist attraction to the Philadelphia Waterfront.
Duck Rides will be an entertaining and interactive adventure through real world Philadelphia. The unique land-to-water tour will take passengers on a scenic journey through Old City, the Historic district, and South Street, before plunging into the water for a floating tour of the Delaware River along Penn's Landing.
Construction is set to begin in February 2003, after the permitting process is complete. Ramps will be constructed in the Penn's Landing Marina, near the ships' the Moshulu, the Olympia, and the submarine, the Becuna. A second ramp will be constructed North of Pier 11 near Columbus Boulevard and Race St.
Duck-venturers will be invited to "queue up" for the tour in the Historic district of Philadelphia. The route will visit key tourist attractions from the historic district, to South Street and east to the Delaware River at Penn's Landing. Management staff has been selected and the exact tour route and other details of the operation are still being developed and will be finalized in the next 90 days.
The closed loop tour lasts about 80 minutes and includes a 20 minute cruise along the Delaware River. The Landside portion of the tour will include Old City Philadelphia, the Historic District including Independence Mall, Society Hill, and of course, vibrant South Street. After plunging into the Delaware River at Penn's Landing just North of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the water tour along Penn's Landing will include a spectacular view of the Bridge and the city skyline, along with a close up view of the historic ship the Olympia, the newest addition to the Penn's Landing Marina, the Moshulu, and the WWII Submarine, the Becuna.
Ride the Ducks Philadelphia will feature 1945 Army DUKW vehicles, customized to reflect Philadelphia's history and flare. For more than 30 years, Ride The Ducks has been converting 1945 Army DUKW's into comfortable, reliable, open-air vehicles that accommodate 38 passengers each. The DUKW has the automotive characteristics of a conventional 6X6 truck and is equipped with a watertight hull. The vehicle uses six driving wheels and a six-cylinder engine by land, and a marine propeller and rudder by sea. Enhancements such as power steering, dual-line disc brakes, electric curtains, and automatic transmissions make today's Ducks dramatically improved versions of their WWII forefathers, which were used for ship-to-shore transportation. Ride The Ducks' vehicles currently operate in Branson, MO; Boston, MA; Baltimore, MD; and Seattle, WA, carrying an estimated 750,000 passengers annually.
Duck tours are set to begin Memorial Day Weekend 2003. Ride the Ducks Philadelphia will be a seasonal operation, running April through October. "Ride the Ducks will be a key addition to a list of attractions at Penn's Landing, including the RiverLink Ferry, the soon to be announced Penn's Landing Water Shuttle, the numerous restaurants and attractions, and the more than 70 special events taking place at Penn's Landing April through October each season," said Dominic Sabatini, president of the Penn's Landing Corporation.
Meryl Levitz, president of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation commented: "Philadelphia residents and visitors alike will have a new way to see the city beginning Spring 2003. This unique combination of entertainment, sightseeing and history will make the Philadelphia Duck Tours a fantastic addition to Philadelphia's wealth of tourism options."
Ride The Ducks, which is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, partnered with Silver Dollar City, Inc. in July 2002 to help facilitate the company's expansion throughout the United States and worldwide. Silver Dollar City Corporation owns and/or partners with 12 entertainment properties in four (4) states, including the Dollywood theme park, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For more information visit www.ridetheducks.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Opportunities to photograph a "duck" are available. A Duck will be on display at the Blue Cross RiverRink from December 26, 2002 through January 5, 2003.