Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Source of Pride: There’s much to celebrate as Harrisburg’s riverboat turns 25.

Summertime in Harrisburg invites the swarming mayflies, the shudder-inducing Dobsonfly and the humid breeze. Yet, hope and bold relief can be found in the flow of our Susquehanna River and experienced on board the Pride of the Susquehanna, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.

“The Pride,” as it’s affectionately known to locals, is one of only seven authentic paddleboats in the United States and a genuine tribute to a riverboat past. “Most paddleboats are not paddleboats in the pure sense of being propelled and steered by the paddles. They usually use propellers and thrusters under the water level,” explained Richard Spitler, two-year captain of Pride of the Susquehanna and a 30-year captain in his own right.

The Pride is not only authentic in function, but also in style. The old-timey, red-and-white striped canopy outlining the outer deck contrasts with the glimmering elegance of the salon within the boat. Aesthetics aside, the slow-moving and stable boat lulls its passengers into an escape from the present into the enduring river current, while all deck levels privilege guests with fantastic views of the river.

“It’s an opportunity to appreciate the moment and clear my head,” said one passenger aboard the 45-minute daily cruise. “It’s a completely unique experience.”

Led by local businessman Michael Trephan and the nonprofit Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society, construction of the boat began back in 1988 as a learning and entertainment venue for the Harrisburg community. The following quarter century has been marked by many highs, including numerous weddings, celebrations and the sheer majesty of glimpsing the city’s skyline and bridges on glorious summer days.

There have been challenges, too, such as an urgent 2010 call for donations so the riverboat could pay its bills and continue operating. The Pride, in fact, depends on a generous flow of donations, and, to mark its 25th season, will host an anniversary fundraiser in early October.

Daily cruises are the mainstay of the Pride’s six-month operating schedule, which runs from early May to early November. In addition, the paddleboat hosts many special events, such as “Pirates on the Pride,” a fun-filled adventure for the whole family (wherein passengers fight off marauding pirates with water guns and balloons!) to “Wine & Cheese Tastings” for the adult crowd to Thursday night’s “Jazzin’ on the Pride.” The riverboat can be reserved for private occasions, as well.

Although an authentic tribute to the past, the Pride of the Susquehanna incorporates a friendly, modern twist. “Every year, at the conclusion of the cruise season, the Pride is taken off the waters to dock on City Island…for updates and maintenance,” explained Andrew Ponti, executive director of the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society. “This past year, we changed the hydraulic fluid that drives the paddles to a biodegradable fluid. In the event that there is a leak, it’s not a pollutant—it’s biodegradable.”

This newly added efficiency continues the basic idea of a paddleboat as a simple, clean vessel. Using a natural, vegetable oil-based material to pump its paddles, the Pride is even more a part of the Susquehanna, not only utilizing the river as an avenue to display its beauty, but ensuring it won’t pollute it.

This sustainable innovation on a classic paddleboat creates an entrenched sense of the Pride as a community and environmental project. The Susquehanna River School, which teaches all ages about the ecology of the river and its local history, even takes place aboard the boat.

“The Pride is part of the Harrisburg community and very much community-oriented,” said Ponti.

For more information about the Pride of the Susquehanna, visit https://harrisburgriverboat.com.

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