If you’re looking for something unique to do in Dawson, you won’t want to miss touring the Yukon River on the Klondike Spirit paddlewheeler! Two-hour lunch and three-hour dinner cruises are available, with a licensed bar and knowledgeable interpreters on hand to provide rich historical background on the area, the river and the Gold Rush. The boat is also available to charter for weddings, reunions and other special events. There is no other tour boat like the Klondike Spirit anywhere in the Yukon, and the 20-kilometer round trip is an experience that’s hard to beat for tasting the excitement and authenticity of Gold Rush era travel.
The Klondike Spirit was constructed over a period of five years by Charlie House and Nick Turner of Eagle, Alaska. It has a welded steel hull and side-wheel propulsion, is three stories high with the wheelhouse and provides comfortable seating for 88 people. The captain, engineer, deck hands and interpreters dress in period costume, and there are plans to provide live piano music. Meals are made from local produce and reflect a northern theme. Tours start on or around the 1st of June and run until the beginning of September.
Owner Robert Whitelaw and General Manager Brad Whitelaw took over the Triple J Hotel in Dawson in 2006, and felt the Klondike Spirit would compliment their hotel business, so they purchased the boat in the fall 2007. Brad has lived here since 1987, and has witnessed many changes and opportunities in the town; he hopes to expand the tours and possibly develop Dawson's waterfront. Their vision has been to offer a one-of-a-kind, top quality experience and great food, and to enhance visitors’ understanding of the historical importance of the Yukon River to the Gold Rush, Dawson City and the Yukon.
Tickets are available at the Triple J Hotel, located at 5th Avenue and Queen Street; (867) 993-5323 or toll free (800) 764-3555.
