THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996 TAG: 9606010128
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MELISSA GUNDEL, BUSINESS WEEKLY
LENGTH: 47 lines
Recreational Concepts Inc. of Norfolk has begun operating a 48-passenger nature cruise boat on the James River near Williamsburg.
The Jamestown Island Explorer began carrying passengers on May 12.
Recreational Concepts also operates the 400-passenger Annabel Lee dinner vessel in Richmond, the 150-passenger Sea Rocket and the 90-passenger Assateague Island Explorer, both in Ocean City, Md.
``It's really a new kind of tour that is popular with many people,'' said company president Tom Mountjoy.
Passengers learn about the eco-system, wildlife, plants, marshes and marine life surrounding the Island. They will also see the boat replicas in Jamestown and the area where the English colonists landed in 1607.
Mountjoy had originally wanted to operate a dinner boat near Williamsburg and Jamestown. However, two low bridges on the Colonial Parkway blocked passage for a traditional dinner boat, though a nature cruise was suitable.
``I was familiar with the Williamsburg area. I became involved with the nature cruise business in Ocean City and I thought that would be an interesting thing to do in the Williamsburg area,'' he said.
Mountjoy anticipates 95 percent of his passengers will be tourists and groups.
Cruises leave from Jamestown Yacht Basin next to the Jamestown Settlement area, just off Colonial Parkway.
Cruises will run through the end of October.
In other news:
The Downtown Norfolk Council will honor Mayor Paul D. Fraim as the Downtowner of the Year at its annual luncheon on June 12. The award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies leadership and commitment to improving the economic, civic and human vitality of downtown Norfolk and the City of Norfolk.
Also, honored will be Brook and Kelly Smith, owners of American Rover, a sailing cruise vessel on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk. They will be presented with the Roy Badgley Distinguished Service Award.
Thirteen students received scholarships from Norfolk Southern Corp. All students are sons or daughters of Norfolk Southern employees or retirees. Douglas E. Heimburger, son of Ronald F. Heimburger, system manager-Logistics in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Susan Heimburger, was one of the scholarship recipients.
He attends Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake. by CNB