Tour Details
Friends of the Rivers, Inc. owners of Sweet Breeze, is forgoing the 2020 public tour season for the safety and protection of visitors and crew in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tours aboard Sweet Breeze will resume in the spring of 2021. Look for information, activities, and programs available from Friends of the Rivers on this website.
Sweet Breeze, Fort Wayne’s authentic canal boat replica will again offer tours every weekend (May – September) in 2021 and by appointment. This fully accessible experience is fun for everyone! For more Sweet Breeze information, contact Fort Wayne Outfitters: 260-420-3962 or FWoutfitters.com!
All river tours are led by a docent who gives an overview of the rivers, describe the sites you will experience and tell you of Sweet Breeze operations. Questions are encouraged. All tours start and finish from Promenade Park South Dock at 202 W. Superior Street. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour departure time for boarding and Sweet Breeze exploration.
90 Minute Tours
Three Rivers Overview
This route will give a sampling of all three rivers in the downtown environs along with the commerce, wildlife and ecological features of our two tributary rivers showcased.
The boat will travel west on the St. Marys River heading to Guldlin Park coming about and traveling east to the confluence and traveling north on the St. Joe River to Sunset Bay coming about to travel south to the origination of the Maumee River. We will travel east on the Maumee to the Tecumseh Street bridge come about and travel west to the confluence and then debarking at our dock.
Highlights include: Harrison Street Bridge (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge; Guldlin Park (Site of first French Fort – 1720); Return trip: Promenade Park – 2019; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot; Headwaters Park; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Marys and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River; Columbia Street Bridge, Army Corp of Engineers Bank Stabilization; Northside Neighborhood; Tecumseh Street Bridge; Wabash Erie Canal History and nearby locks; Return trip: River Greenway System; Deep Rock Tunnel Project; Confluence with north trip onto St. Joe; Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant; Tennessee Avenue Bridge; Return trip; west onto St Marys River; Three Rivers Apartments; Wildlife Discussion; Spy Run Creek Inflow; MLK Bridge; and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)
St. Marys River – The History and Development of Fort Wayne
This route will explore the city history and early Fort Wayne development exploring the Wabash-Erie canal route and sites to Swinney Park along with the Three River confluence.
The boat will travel west on the St. Marys River heading through Swinney Park coming about at the Junk Ditch inflow and returning east on the St. Marys to the confluence with the St. Joe River forming the Maumee River and returning west to disembark at our dock.
Highlights include: Harrison Street Bridge – 1916 (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge – 1884; Guldlin Park – 1911 (Site of first French Fort – 1720); Wabash Erie Canal Aqueduct Foundation -1840 / Railroad Bridge; West Central Neighborhood & Swinney Park (Tombstone remnants on banks); Junk Ditch inflow (The Glorious Gate – Late 1600/early 1700–); Return trip; Camp Allen and the Nebraska Neighborhood, River Greenway System; Promenade Park – 2019; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot 1889; Headwaters Park 1996; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Marys and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River (Trading Post 1686); Three Rivers Filtration Plant – 1933 and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)
St. Joe River – The Ecology of our Rivers and How We Use Them
This route will explore 20th century downtown development along with excellent exposure to the ecologies of our rivers and their watersheds. Amazing natural environments along with their wildlife will be explored along with their modifications over the years.
The boat will travel east on the St. Marys River heading to the confluence with the Maumee. We will travel north on the St. Joe River and travel to the largest natural island in our rivers, Stevie’s Island, coming about to return downtown. We will proceed past our dock to Promenade Park to see construction progress and then return to disembark at our dock.
Highlights include: Water Sampling Demonstration; Headwaters Park; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American Fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Marys and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River; Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant; Army Corp of Engineers Bank Stabilization; Northside Neighborhood; Tennessee Avenue Bridge; Sunset Bay; State Street Bridge; Northside High School; Levee System; Rudisill Dam Remnants; Stevie’s Island; Return Trip; Economic development areas; City of Fort Wayne Water source; River Greenway System; Deep Rock Tunnel Project; Three Rivers Apartments; Wildlife Discussion; Spy Run Creek Inflow; MLK Bridge; Harrison Street Bridge (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge; Promenade Park; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot; and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)
Maumee River – Managing and Our Interdependence with the Maumee
This route will explore our water cycle in how we deliver the Maumee as it passes through Defiance Ohio and onto Toledo into Lake Erie. Our source of drinking water and our flood control methods give us lessons to learn. We will visit the upstream side of the Hosey Dam to learn more of its control and purposes. River wildlife along with future river plans will be discussed.
The boat will travel east on the St. Marys River heading to the confluence with the St. Joe River forming the Mighty Maumee. We will pass under the Columbia Street Bridge westward down the Maumee under the beautiful Tecumseh Street Bridge. We will be able to explore the upstream side of the Hosey Dam facing Anthony Boulevard before coming about for our return to the confluence. We will venture a short distance northward on the St. Joe River to better examine the Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant before returning west on the St. Marys River to Promenade Park before our return to our Headwaters West dock.
Highlights include: Water Sampling Demonstration; Headwaters Park; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American Fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Mary and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River; Columbia Street Bridge, Army Corp of Engineers Bank Stabilization; Northside Neighborhood; Tecumseh Street Bridge; Lakeside Park; River City Economic Development; Wabash Erie Canal History and nearby locks; Hosey Dam and Water Level Control; Water Safety; Return trip; River Greenway System; Deep Rock Tunnel Project; Short trip north on the St Joe River; Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant; Three Rivers Apartments; Wildlife Discussion; Spy Run Creek Inflow; MLK Bridge; Harrison Street Bridge (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge; Promenade Park; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot; and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)
45 Minute Tours
Central City River Overview
This route on all three rivers will give you a sampling of the St Marys, St Joe and the Maumee Rivers and their early and current effects on Fort Wayne.
The boat will travel west on the St. Marys River coming about at Guildlin Park and returning east on the St. Marys to the confluence with the St. Joe River forming the Maumee River and returning west to disembark at our dock.
Highlights include: Harrison Street Bridge (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge; Deep Rock Tunnel Project; Guldlin Park (Site of first French Fort – 1720); Return trip: Promenade Park – 2019; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot; Headwaters Park; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Marys and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River; Columbia Street Bridge, Return trip: west onto St Marys River; River Greenway System; Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant; Three Rivers Apartments; Wildlife Discussion; Spy Run Creek Inflow; MLK Bridge; and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)
St. Marys River – History Tour
This route will explore the St Marys River west of Headwaters Park examining the city’s history and early Fort Wayne development discussing the Wabash-Erie canal route and river sites including Swinney Park.
The boat will travel west on the St. Marys River coming about at the Junk Ditch inflow in Swinney Park and returning east on the St. Marys to disembark at our dock in Headwaters Park West.
Highlights include: Harrison Street Bridge – 1916 (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge – 1884; Guldlin Park – 1911 (Site of first French Fort – 1720); Wabash Erie Canal Aqueduct Foundation -1840 / Railroad Bridge; West Central Neighborhood & Swinney Park (Tombstone remnants on banks); Junk Ditch inflow (The Glorious Gate – Late 1600/early 1700–); Return trip; Camp Allen and the Nebraska Neighborhood, River Greenway System; Promenade Park – 2019; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot 1889; Headwaters Park 1996; and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)
St. Joseph River – Commerce and Ecology Tour
This route will discuss downtown development along with the ecologies of our rivers and their watersheds. Presentation on the changing of the riverbanks along with the wildlife will be offered.
The boat will travel east on the St. Marys River heading to the confluence with the Maumee. We will travel north on the St. Joe River and travel to Sunset Bay just south of the State Street Bridge. We will come about to return downtown. We will proceed past our dock to Promenade Park to see construction progress and then return to disembark at our dock.
Highlights include: Headwaters Park; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American Fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Marys and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River; Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant; Army Corp of Engineers Bank Stabilization; Northside Neighborhood; Tennessee Avenue Bridge; Sunset Bay; Return Trip; Rudisill Dam Remnants; City of Fort Wayne Water source; River Greenway System; Deep Rock Tunnel Project; Three Rivers Apartments; Wildlife Discussion; Spy Run Creek Inflow; MLK Bridge; Harrison Street Bridge (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge; Promenade Park; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot; and returning to our dock;
Maumee River – Harnessing the Rivers Tour
This route will explore our how we have attempted to dam, dike and stabilize the Mighty Maumee before its entry into Lake Erie. We will visit the upstream side of the Hosey Dam to learn more of its control and purposes. River wildlife along with future river plans will be discussed.
The boat will travel east on the St. Marys River heading to the confluence with the St. Joe River forming the Mighty Maumee. We will pass under the Columbia Street Bridge westward down the Maumee under the beautiful Tecumseh Street Bridge. We will be able to explore the upstream side of the Hosey Dam facing Anthony Boulevard before coming about for our return to the confluence. We will pass the Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant before returning west on the St. Marys River to Promenade Park before our return to our Headwaters West dock.
Highlights include: Headwaters Park; Spy Run Creek; Historic Fort Wayne – Replica of 1816 American Fort; Old Gas Plant; Confluence of St. Mary and St. Joe Rivers forming the Maumee River; Columbia Street Bridge, Army Corp of Engineers Bank Stabilization; Northside Neighborhood; Tecumseh Street Bridge; Lakeside Park; River City Economic Development; Wabash Erie Canal History and nearby locks; Hosey Dam and Water Level Control; Water Safety; Return trip; River Greenway System; Deep Rock Tunnel Project; Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant; Three Rivers Apartments; Spy Run Creek Inflow; MLK Bridge; Harrison Street Bridge (Lincoln Highway); Wells Street Bridge; Promenade Park; Fort Wayne Outfitters – Passenger rail depot; and returning to our dock. (Severe inclement weather as well as high water levels may cancel tours. Riders receive an email first of the cancellation, followed by a phone call from the staff to discuss rescheduling options.)